by Christina Meadows

Marc Brockunier (Open Mic @ Canteen in Hamden, CT - Aug 7th 2026 

Just like most other first Thursdays of the month, I was off to host Open mic at Cantean Coffee & Tea in Hamden. It was  a gorgeous day outside so I wasn't expecting much other than a quiet night. As I was setting up, you had people coming and going in and out, some getting coffees, some getting the new gelato they had just started carrying, and a few people here and there for open mic. One group of customers sat outside on the porch, enjoying the weather, when the music started. They decided to step inside and listen, and I’m glad they did. After a quick introduction, I started us off with a song and passed it along for the next person. With each artist the curiosity grew and I could tell that one of them wanted to play, so I offered my guitar.

Walking up to the microphone shyly and quickly settling in to tune the guitar into a tuning I have not yet heard, I already knew we were in for a treat. I gave a quick introduction, “ Everyone welcome up, Marc” and eyes were glued to him. Not sure what to expect, he started picking and strumming to a song I could only describe as the perfect ending for a tearjerking movie, in the best possible way. A voice of longing, of missing, of knowing, his words fell perfectly. Next, a unique song with a heavy base line, and lightly picked notes, he captured the room. His unique soft, whisper-like voice echoed on Cantean’s small walls. You could feel the emotions pouring through his fingers as they picked his way to a majestical sounding hum. 

In awe, after the night came to an end I got to talk to him and ask about who he was, his incredible picking and tuning styles and how happy we were to have him there. His name is Marc Brockunier, originally from the Jax Beach/St. Paul area, he found his way up to Connecticut about a year ago. He just happened to be in the area and had gotten a coffee ar Cantean, not knowing an open mic was going on. He just recently got back into playing in the music scene after a little while away, and we are so happy to have him! Finding his unique sound from his various loves of many Dream Pop and Folk Rock artists and all that falls in between, his ability to blend them all together in some shape or form, is incredible. Marc also writes and produces all his own music currently available under the name - Drapped Departure on Soundcloud. It was truly the luck of the stars that led our paths to crossing that night at Cantean, and hopefully we will see more of Marc Brockunier in the future!