Stuart Matthews knows firsthand what it means to be a starting out musician trying to make a living after playing in a duo acoustic act based out of Springfield, Missouri.

So when he started and became co-owner of Minglewood Brewery in downtown Cape Girardeau, he wanted to give musicians the opportunity to be heard.

"I wanted to just give a venue for other musicians to come out and play a song they've been practicing, sitting on the foot of their bed in their bedroom," Matthews said. "Maybe they can come out in a live setting and play that song."

Matthews began a couple weeks back what he titled "Late Night Acoustic Open Mic" every Wednesday starting at 9 p.m. He acknowledged his isn't the only business hosting an open mic night, but going until 1 a.m., he does claim a spot for one of the latest.

Matthews takes the stage first for around 30 to 40 minutes to get the night rolling. He kept everything pretty simple. Musicians who want to play put their name on a sign-up sheet and Matthews goes straight down the list following his own set. The remainder of Matthews' job is as the acting host between performers. He'll offer a hand to help in the transition to organize new equipment and prepare for the next performer. Matthews said there's not a specific number of songs allotted. It depends on sign-ups; if there's a few more than usual, performers tend to play around three to four songs apiece, while if one week draws in less of a crowd, five or six songs may fit better to schedule. If there is ever more time than available musicians, Matthews will always jump in again to finish up the night, too.

Ask around and people note Minglewood Brewery as a favorite spot for their in-house brews, their pizza, the open mic nights, but it all comes down to atmosphere. It's not about putting on a perfect show. It's about support for local music, support for good friends.

When a first-time performer forgot a line from Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle," the crowd sang out the rest of the song with him.

Employee and Southeast Missouri State University student Collin Summers compared it to sitting and playing around a bonfire.

"It's just like, 'Just play when you get tired and when you're done, just hand it off to somebody else," Summers said.

In terms of music style, there's no shortage of variety. Last Wednesday, musicians ranged in taking the stage with a guitar or a mandolin to one performer playing an autoharp.

"People are really chill. They're really relaxed, they're very open-minded," Summers said. "You're going to get people that are going to play stuff that everybody knows, but you're also going to have somebody up there on a mandolin and play something that they really like, a little more like bluegrass. It's very open toward new experiences and everything."

It's an "open" open mic night. Summers along with fellow co-worker Roy Leighton have plans in the future to get onstage themselves.

They like the idea of putting an acoustic spin on more well-known songs that wouldn't normally be acoustic but that people can still sing along to.

"We want to open up people's minds toward acoustic stuff," Summers said. "I got a ukulele I might bring up there too and kind of see what we can do with it."

Matthews said so far he's seen a promising turnout. But for now, he'll leave it to a see-where-it-goes basis. He'll keep hosting as long as people keep coming out.

"Food, beer, guitars -- it's everything you want, right?" Matthews said with a smile.

And he added there's a house guitar, so it leaves little excuse to not get up and give something a shot.