5 Open Mic Nights In Liverpool You Need To Head To

For musicians who are just starting out, have new material or just want to get out there; open mic nights are God-sent. Not only do they get you on a proper stage, they integrate you in to the local music scene through the audience, the hosts and those who also perform.

Liverpool is rich in open mics, throughout the city and surrounding areas, therefore this list has narrowed it down to just 5 within the City Centre for you to frequent when you feel the need to perform.

Hannah’s Bar

Held every Tuesday and Sunday, the Hannah’s Bar Open Mic is a great place to showcase your music to a guaranteed crowd. The set up in there is perfect for small acoustic style bands, as well as solo acoustic performers, because Hannah’s bar host live music 6 days a week. I’ve heard tales recently of open mic performers being offered regular gigs at the Hardman Street bar off the back of their small open mic set. The only set back with Hannah’s Bar is that the crowd is usually a mix of those who are there for the music and those just in for a drink, meaning that you might have to win over a chatty crowd, but then again, that’s part of task when performing at any open mic, isn’t it? Watch Hannah’s Open Mic regular and now Brit nominee Frances chat to us above.

Leaf

Hosted by Johnny Sands, every Tuesday, Leaf on Bold Street is the perfect venue to try out or showcase your material. Each week the picturesque, fairy light setting plays host to those who sign up to perform, as well as a featured artist who gets there own set of around 5 to 8 tracks. Similar to Hannah’s Bar, you can fit a more eclectic set up on the stage than just one person and a guitar, but you will have to battle with the chatty, tea-drinking crowd. Although Johnny Sands does give you a hand before and after your set.

The Magnet

The Magnet, just a bit further up Hardman Street, might not seem like the kind of place that would host an open mic night, but Mellowtone deliver a very intimate evening of live music in their upstairs bar. The night is hosted by an array of local musicians, all of whom perform their own material and bring something different to it each time. The only downside here seems to be that it can be hit or miss when it comes to how busy the night is, however, with it being such a small space it doesn’t take much to fill up and generally everyone is there for the music. Also, there’s a free drink in it for those who perform.

Constellations

Now, this is an open mic that I didn’t know much about, in fact I didn’t even know even existed until I looked in to it. However, The Andromeda Lounge, as the night is called, seems to be a  brilliant night for budding musicians. The night generally features guest artists, playing a set of their original music, as well as those who sign up to play for the open mic. This means that you may end up performing to fans of other acts, which is never a bad thing for those trying to increase their own fan base. Constellations/Observatory host The Andromeda Lounge on the first Thursday of every month, meaning that the crowds may be fairly decent, due to the fact that it is on very frequently and the Baltic setting is so picturesque, plus, you get a free drink for performing here too!

The Jacaranda

The Jacaranda’s brand has always been about music, whether that be through vinyl sales or live gigs.

Hosted by Liverpool musician Thom Morecroft, ‘The Thursday Underground Sessions’ have seen the revival of The Jac’s open mic night, a night that has seen many amazing artists pass through it in the early days. With such a wealth of history, The Jacaranda’s open mic night is a pleasure to be part of for any musician. Most of the people who know about it tend to be musicians themselves, which can mean that the nights aren’t as busy as those in Hannah’s and Leaf, but it does mean that you get an engaged crowd and could even meet some potential future colleagues. Do I really need to tell you when The Thursday Underground Sessions take place?