The best practice for a budding musician, standup comic, poet or magician is showcasing their skills in front of a live audience.
Thankfully our wonderfully creative city has opened its doors to emerging artists to test their material through the beloved institution of open mic nights.
If you were first exposed to open mic through the masterful saloon singalong, Coyote Ugly, you will know that open mic sessions can lead to stardom *cough LeAnn Rimes classic Can’t Fight The Moonlight cough*. In fact, both the Eyes Closed songwriter who recently sold out the MGC, Ed Sheeran, and Ohio’s singer with the fastest car, Tracy Chapman, started their music careers with this humble tradition. On the comedy cart, Marc Maron, Amy Schumer, Hannibal Burress, John Mulaney, Ali Wong, and Kumail Nanjiani all credit open mic as their launchpad.
It’s an incredible platform for Melbourne artists to make a name for themselves and we’re here to help. Here is our guide to the hotspot venues that offer regular open mic session:
Please note: Registration is generally required for these performing slots. However some venues do take the spontaneous approach and allow registration on site so be sure to check each venue’s policies before arrival.
Check out Melbourne’s most comprehensive gig guide here.
Concrete Boots Bar
- Where: 381 Burnley Street, Richmond
- When: Thursday Nights
- What: Music
From 7PM – 10PM every Thursday night, Concrete Boots Bar is perhaps the most gracious of spaces to test your new material. With a sign-up on arrival policy, each performer not only gets to play in front of a local live audience for a 15 minute slot, but also receives a free pint of beer for their service. That’s a solid offer!
Platform 3095
- Where: 965 Main Road, Eltham
- When: Thursday Nights
- What: Music
If you’re based north-east of the CBD, Platform 3095 has you sorted with weekly open mic nights. This rustic cafe, bar and restaurant is just a short walk from the station and the go-to for locals to test their pipes.
The Drunken Poet
https://www.instagram.com/p/CuOzMZNLpbe/?hl=en
- Where: 65 Peel Street, West Melbourne
- When: First and Third Thursday of the Month
- What: Music, Poetry, Comedy, Storytelling
Hosting six live music events per week, The Drunken Poet is a taste of Ireland in the west of Melbourne. This cosy spot offers open mic sessions on the first and third Thursday of each month from 7PM. With a variety of poetry, music, song, comedy, and storytelling on offer, The Drunken Poet is the perfect spot to try something new in front of an accommodating crowd!
Elwood Lounge
- Where: 49- 51 Glenhuntly Rd , Elwood
- When: First Friday Of The Month + Wednesday Nights
- What: Music and Comedy
Elwood Lounge has designated nights for local entertainment with Wednesday nights made for the budding musicians to test their talent on the big stage and, in partnership with First Friday Comedy, as the name suggests, the floor opens up on the first Friday of the month to the kings of comedy to try out their belly-laughs.
Cherry Bar
- Where: 68 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
- When: Wednesday Nights
- What: Music
Cherry Bar is a rock ‘n’ roll institution in Melbourne’s inner. Tucked down Little Collins Street, Cherry Bar is undoubtedly one of the best live music venues in the state, providing a space for rock to live on through booking the best touring rock acts, tribute bands and local bands. Additionally, they host Cherry Jam every Wednesday night, an open mic session that kicks off from 8PM with free entry. Backline is all provided so just bring your drumsticks, guitar leads and your best Mick Jagger attitude.
The Queensbury Hotel
- Where: 593 Swanston Street (cnr Queensberry St), Carlton
- When: Tuesday Nights
- What: Music, Comedy, MC’s
The Queensbury Hotel is a favourite of the open mic circuit, offering the full experience to the future of fame. With a full backline, mixers, even a guitar and cold drinks on the rider, this is the perfect spot for a spontaneous stage flex. If you’re a musician, comedian or even want to test out your MC abilities, try out Tuesdays at The Queensbury.
Baxter’s Lot
- Where: 302 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
- When: Saturday Nights
- What: Music
Having recently opened Baxters Upstairs to offer even more live music, Baxter’s Lot has long championed the Melbourne local scene including weekly open mic sessions. On the last Sunday of every month they open up their stage for the brave to play their heart out, a brilliant opportunity for emerging musicians to play in front of a devoted crowd.
Bar Oussou
- Where: 653 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
- When: Wednesday Fortnightly
- What: Music, Spoken Word, Poetry
Rotating between singer/songwriter nights and spoken word evenings, Wednesdays at Brunswick’s Bar Oussou are a true showcase of worldly talent. Servicing a diverse cohort under the banner of World Music, Bar Oussou encourages all languages and forms of spoken word with the preface of a “100% survival rate for first-time performers guaranteed”.
Whole Lotta Love Bar
- Where: 524 Lygon Street, Brunswick East
- When: Wednesday Monthly
- What: Music, Comedy, Magic, Poetry
The namesake of a killer Led Zeppelin song, Whole Lotta Love Bar lives up to its name; serving the best in rock music in Brunswick’s east and loving every second. Their open mic nights are no different, churning out the very best up and coming stars. Held monthly on a Wednesday night, these shows are open to 10 acts across any entertainment medium. You have 15 minutes to shine and in exchange receive drink cards for you and up to 4 mates.
Flemington Bowls Club
- Where: 26 Smithfield Rd, Kensington
- When: Tuesday Nights
- What: Music
Tuesday nights are live at the Flemington Bowls Club! Run in conjunction with Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society, Flemington Bowls Club transforms for House of Blues – Jam Night. Kicking off the night with a respected feature artist, the stage opens for a two hour jam session where anyone can jump in and play some smooth tunes.
Ms Carlisle’s Bar & Restaurant
- Where: 137 Carlisle Street, Balaclava
- When: Every second Tuesday
- What: Music
With live music pumping through Ms Carlisle’s veins Friday, Saturday and Sunday, this Balaclava bar and restaurant also open the doors to rising stars every second Tuesday night for open mic. Running three hours from 7PM – 10PM, this is not only a great chance to flex your musical skills, but you also go in the running to win a 30 minute support slot at Ms Carlisle’s with a food and beverage voucher.
Musicland Melbourne
- Where: 1359 Sydney Road, Fawkner
- When: Wednesday Nights
- What: Music
Doubling as a music shop and live music venue, Musicland in Fawkner not only boasts Rat Pack as their resident band, but are the host to the self-professed Biggest Open Mic in Australia. These sessions are not only viewed by the venue’s loyal regulars, but are streamed live on Facebook for their community to enjoy from the comfort of their home.
The Rubber Chicken
- Where: 256 Moray Street, South Melbourne
- When: Tuesday Nights + Sundays
- What: Music and Comedy
The Rubber Chicken will have you chuckling every Sunday from 3PM, opening up their Green Room for comedy-hopefuls to test their biggest laughs on a receptive audience. If music is more your thing, jump across to the Elliot Goblet Bar on Tuesday nights for open mic with Dave Grant in the hosting seat. Whether you’re a singer, drummer, pianist or something in between, The Rubber Chicken has instruments on loan for the night to get you sorted with the slots open from 6.30PM until midnight.
Caz Reitops Dirty Secrets
- Where: 80 Smith Street, Collingwood
- When: Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday nights
- What: Comedy
Have a hand in the more eclectic side of comedy? Caz Reitops Dirty Secrets can keep even the dirtiest jokes safe and sound. From 7PM – 11PM on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and after 5PM on Sundays, this quaint bar has been encouraging the comedy experimenters since 2009 with a loyal local crowd.
Check out the best comedy venues in Melbourne here and the best live music venues in Melbourne here.
