Stories, visits, and reflections from the Bay Area's open mic community.
A visit to the Fluid open mic at 7th West in West Oakland: an open mic with a house band in a cavernous event space/community center focused on independent artists and the local community with a claim to being the longest continually-running live band open mic in the Bay Area.
A visit to the Wednesday open mic at Three Flames Restaurant in San Jose — a steakhouse and bar with serious mid-century character.
A visit to the venerable Monday open mic at The Hotel Utah in San Francisco — likely the oldest open mic in the Bay Area.
A visit to the Saturday Front Porch Music open mic at Lamorinda Music in Lafayette: an open mic focused on adult hobbyist musicians and emerging artists in Contra Costa.
May the Fourth be with you! A Jedi visits Janet and Jeff's first Monday open mic at The Hayward Bistro — a lively community open mic in a lovable craft beer bar in Downtown Hayward.
A May visit to the Swirl on the Square Acoustic Open Mic in Livermore; a Sunday afternoon music event at Blacksmith Square.
A visit to the magical Thursday night open mic at The Bazaar Cafe in the Richmond District — San Francisco's legendary open mic.
A visit to the Thursday open mic at Simple Pleasures Cafe in San Francisco; a cafe at the center of a vibrant, multi-aged community.
A visit to the Secret Song Club Thursday open mic at subterranean club, The Big Easy, in Petaluma.
A visit to the Sunday afternoon open mic at Up the Creek Records in Walnut Creek: a concert venue, record shop, skate shop, and perhaps the coolest shop in the East Bay.
A visit to the extremely popular Monday open mic at Capers in Campbell.
A visit to the Swirl on the Square Acoustic Open Mic in Livermore — a Sunday afternoon music event on the newly refurbished Blacksmith Square.
A visit to the Thursday open mic at Cameron's Pub and Restaurant in Half Moon Bay — a pub, restaurant, and bed and breakfast venue with eclectic anglophile pub decor and a claim to being the longest-running musical open mic in the bay area.
A visit to the Monday open mic at Vinnie's Bar and Grill in Concord; a bar and concert venue with a house rock band and a vibrant community of local creatives.
A visit to the Wednesday Acoustic open mic listening room at Pinot's Palette in Livermore — a wine-and-paint venue with a listening room vibe, a studio-quality house band, and a warm community of local players.
