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Bristol's Open Mic Nights

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Bristol's Open Mic Nights Scene

Bristol is home to some great open mic nights, both in the centre, along Gloucester road and in the Bristolian suburbs. As in most citys, open mic nights in Bristol are most commonly found on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in live music pubs. Like quiz nights, open mic gigs provide a cheap way for venues to entertain on the quieter nights of the week. True or not, it's a pleasant surprise to find some of Bristol's best live music at the smallest open mic night. Whats on at open mics is of course hit and miss however it's rare to go to an open mic in Bristol and find a high crap to quality ratio. Even if acoustic music and singer-songwriters aren't your thing some open mics can still be worth a look.

So that's the run-down of weekly open mic nights in Bristol. As you can see there's an open mic night pretty much every weeknight somewhere on Gloucester road, making this a great place to start. If you want to play at an open mic night click the name of the Bristol venue above for contact details. It's also worth mentioning that it's a rarity to find an open mic that isn't free entry so it's always a tempting option if you need some free live music in Bristol! If you think we're missing an open mic event or our information is out-of-date, please contact us with correct whats on info.

Are open mic nights a way to get signed?

Bristol’s vast range of music-focused pubs (the Old England, Stag and Hounds, The Rope Walk) has given rise to a thriving open mic ‘scene’. Maybe the most democratic of gigs, these anything-goes events could be in danger of moving off into directionless jazz noodlings. But they foster an open attitude that feeds into Bristol’s loose jam band scene and encourage the mentality of ‘playing well with others’ And who knows, Bristol’s eager eyed talent scouts or PRS for music representatives might be at the next open mic night.

Buy tickets for open mic nights events in Bristol

What our editors say

“On August 2nd 2025 - take part in the first ever Someday Fstvl with tribute sets from Zack Robertson as Arctic Monkeys, Violet Row as Catfish & The Bottlemen, Belle Dame as Kasabian, FreeFall as The Strokes, The Lolipop Man as The Killers, Athena as The 1975, Sharpie as Scouting For Girls, Anar as Florence & The Machine, Molly Fletcher-Hebden as Blondie & kickstarting with a fun open mic style Various Artists set.”
From: Someday Fstvl 2025 ft Zack Robertson + More

“Come join us for another QPOC Jam at Exchange, a music jam session created by and for Queer People of Colour in Bristol. Whether you're an experienced musician or have never picked up an instrument before, this is a great opportunity to collaborate, experiment with different genres, and hone your improv skills in a safe and welcoming space. No pressure to perform - just come to vibe, enjoy live music, and connect with your fellow QPOC music lovers!”
From: QPOC Jam

“Join us this Sunday as we welcome lyrical contemporary Jazz pianist Mike Collins. A stalwart of the Bristol Jazz scene, Mike has been leading groups performing a a distinctive blend of originals, lesser played compositions by great writers and a sprinkling of standards for over twenty years. Mike will join the house trio for the first set before welcoming guests to join for a jam session in set two.”
From: Mike Collins + Jam Session

“Dub & Down With The Blues is a 5 piece Hip Hop band that formed in Flagstaff, AZ . The members met each other thru playing open mic's and playing shows through the local scene. Each member is from a different part of the world and that is what contributes to their unique style which incorporates Hip Hop with Blues, Rock, and Jazz. Dub & Down With The Blues have made a name for themselves and have become one of the biggest bands in Northern Arizona.”
From: Dub & Down With The Blues

“As the earth tilts towards the sun we will be making merry with live music from Ryan Mcmurtry, a moth talk from BS3 Moth Club, flower hammering, a welly wang, open mic, folktales, a listening tree, fire, tea, marshmallows and more.”
From: Summer Solstice