As a service to our members, NCSC seeks to stay current with gig opportunities across the state, including open mics. We recognize the importance of folks making their own decisions regarding their sense of safety when choosing to go play at an open mic.
An open mic provides an opportunity for newcomers to be heard, for seasoned musicians to try out new material, and for anyone with an act to connect with an audience. Performers and audience members tend to be very supportive. Open mics are a great way to meet other songwriters and musicians and to improve your performance skills. The most important thing is to have a good time!
Use the list below to find an open mic near you. For details, please contact the venue directly. If you know of an open mic that isn’t listed here, or if one of these has ceased operations, please contact us.
TRIANGLE AREA
VIRTUAL
Open Mic America every 1st and 3rd Sunday 8pm (5pm PST) Featured performers!
Wake County
- Abbey Road Tavern & Grill (Apex) – Tuesday – 8pm
- Abbey Road Tavern & Grill (Cary) – Wednesday – 8pm
- Bella Music (Wake Forest) Wide Open Mic Show – Wednesday – 8pm
- Berkeley Cafe (Raleigh) – Wednesday – 8pm – Check Facebook; not currently taking place.
- Bud’s Tavern (Youngsville) Thursday 6:30pm
- Snookers (Raleigh) – Monday 7pm
- Hopyard Raleigh – Monday 7pm
- Desy’s Bar and Grill (Morrisville) Wednesday 9pm
- Fainting Goat Brewing Company (Fuquay-Varina) – Thursday – 7pm
- Fortnight Brewing (Cary) – Monday – 8pm not currently taking place
- Real McCoy’s (Wake Forest) – Wednesday – 8:30 pm
- Gizmo Brew Works (Raleigh) – Sunday – 3-6pm
- Korner Pocket Sports Bar and Grille (Raleigh) – Thursday – 9pm not currently taking place
- London Bridge Pub (Raleigh) Monday 8-11pm
- Lorraine’s Coffee House (Raleigh) – First Thursday of every month – 7:30 not currently taking place
- Mac’s Tavern (Cary) – Tuesday – 8:00pm
- Magnolia Roots (Wake Forest) – First Wed of the month- 6:30-9 not currently taking place
- Niche Wine Bar (Holly Springs) Wed 7-10pm
- North Street Beer Station (Raleigh) – Monday – 7pm (comedy only, on first Mon of the month) not currently taking place
- Ruckus Pizza (Raleigh) – Tuesday – 6:30pm and Ruckus Pizza (Morrisville) – Thursday – 7pm
- Sam Ash (Raleigh) – Wednesday – 7pm not currently taking place
- Shady’s (Garner) Wed 6:30-9:30
- Shenanigan’s Taproom (Benson) Thursday 7:30-10:30
- Sophie’s (Cary) Wed 8:30pm
- The Brickhouse Sports Pub (Raleigh) – Every other Thursday – 10pm not currently taking place
- The Corner Biergarten (Fuquy-Varina) – Tues 7pm-close not currently taking place
- The Corner Tavern & Grill (Cary) – Thursday – 8pm – Check Facebook
- The Piper’s Restaurant & Tavern (Raleigh) – Thursday – 9pm not currently taking place
- The Spring (Willow Springs) – Thursday – 7pm
- Tongue and Groove (Raleigh) – Second Sunday of the month List at 7. Show at 7:30. 7-minute slots. 309 W. Martin St. (VAE)
- Tony’s Tap and Oyster Co (Cary) Thursday 7:30-10:30
Chapel Hill/Carrboro
- Captain John’s Dockside (Chapel Hill) – Every other Wednesday – 5pm
- Gizmo Works (Chapel Hill) not currently taking place
- Local 506 – (Chapel Hill) – Monday – Sign up at 7:30, starts at 8:30 (The infamous open mic from Carrboro’s The Station has moved here.) closed
- Willow Creek Laundromat (Carrboro) – Fridays – 10pm not currently taking place
Durham
- Beyu Caffe (Brett’s Open Mic) – Wednesday – 8pm not currently taking place
- Blue Note Grill (Blues Jam) – Wednesday – 7:00pm
- City Soul Cafe Noir Lounge -Wednesday – 8pm return pending
- James Joyce Irish Pub – Sunday – 9:30pm not currently taking place
- La Piazza Roxboro Friday 7pm
- Skewer’s Bar & Grill – Wednesday – Sign up at 9:30, show at 10-2am
- Starbucks (Parkwest Crossing, 4834 Highway 55) – Fifth Saturday of the month – 6pm not currently taking place
- The House (Durham) blues Thursday 6:30-10pm
Pittsboro
- bmc brewing – 213 Lorax Lane, Pittsboro, NC 27312 – part of “The Plant” – monthly 2nd Thursday sign-ups 6:30pm/7pm, original songs only. Contact: Michael Brennan
- City Tap – Wednesday – 8pm not currently taking place
- Copper Cricket Pub (Sanford) Thursday 7pm
Hillsborough
- Hot Tin Roof (Hillsborough) – Wed 8-11pm
- Yonder: Southern Cocktails and Brew – We host on Tuesday nights from 7:30 to 11, with 30 minutes for spoken word and music beginning promptly at 8. Expected back in June.
- Weaver Street Market (Outdoors) – Thursday – Open mic is encouraged during the break in the scheduled musical act, from 6pm – 8pm; break time is around 7pm
CHARLOTTE AREA
- The Common Market (South End) – Tuesday – 7pm – Check Facebook not currently taking place
- The Evening Muse – Monday – Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm. Features special guest performer; $3 cover not currently taking place
- Tosco Music Party (TMP) at The Evening Muse – 1st Wednesday – 8pm not currently taking place
TRIAD AREA
- Common Grounds (Greensboro) – Thursday – 7pm not currently taking place
- Doodad Farm (Greensboro) – Last Thursday of every month; songwriters circle – 7pm
- El Taco Vaquero (Kernersville) Thursday 6:30pm
- Four Saints Brewing Company (Asheboro) – First Friday of the month – 7pm. Competition awards $100 to winning performer, determined by audience and judge voting not currently taking place
- Mean Mug Coffee Company (Salisbury) – Friday – 7:00pm not currently taking place
- Muddy Creek Cafe and Music Hall (Winston-Salem) – Thursday – 7:00pm
- PB & Java (Greensboro) – Sponsored by Greensboro Grooves – Wednesday – 8pm closed
- Pine Tree Bar & Grill (Winston-Salem) – Thursday – 7:30pm not currently taking place
- New York Pizza (Greensboro) – Tuesday – Sign up at 7 for a 9pm show
- The Deck at River Twist (Jamestown) – Wednesday – Sign up at 7, show at 8pm not currently taking place
WESTERN NC
- Flood Gallery Fine Art Center (Black Mountain) – Thursday – Sign up at 6, show 6:30 – 8:30
- The Marion Wing Factory (Marion) – Wednesday – Sign up at 5:30, show 6
- White Horse (Black Mountain) – Tuesday – 7:00pm
WILMINGTON
- Goat and Compass – Tuesday – 7:30pm not currently taking place
- Juggling Gypsy – Monday – 8pm
- Locals Tavern – Thursday – 7-10pm
- Uprising Bakery – Wednesday – 8pm closed
North Carolina Songwriters Co-op 