Open mics, networking events, and artist showcases in Los Angeles.
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🟠 Weekly Music Open Mics
These are the most popular weekly open mics in LA.
8 PM
$5
All genres. Primarily acoustic. Signups are a lottery. Approximately 15 performers. Very friendly.
Doors at 7 PM. Music at 8 PM.
$10
Non-profit music venue supported by donations. 90s living room vibes. Record your performances on video. 1 song only.
Doors at 6 PM. Music at 7 PM
$10
Emerging LA songwriters and performers. 3-4 artists performing 30-minute sets. Intimate room. Apply to perform.
Doors at 7 PM. Music at 8 PM.
$10
Lively bar. Nightly live music and a weekly Monday open mic. 21+ only. Eclectic, low-pressure atmosphere.
7 PM
$5
Open mic on Hollywood Blvd. Locals and tourists sing along. Broadcast by iHeart Radio.
7:30 PM to 10 PM
Free
Open mic located in Santa Monica. Weekly performances every Tuesday at Kavahana Coffee Shop.
Music at 7:30 PM.
Free
Play 1-2 songs, and if you’re good, you may get invited back for a featured spot. Karaoke starts right after the open mic if you want to keep singing.
8 PM
$15
Songwriter showcase. Best new talent in LA, focusing on songwriters and acoustic performers.
Doors at 7 PM. Music at 8 PM.
Free. 2-drink minimum.
Comedy, music, and spoken word make this an always-fun time.
Sign up at 7:30 PM. Music at 9 PM.
$10
Poetry and hip-hop open mic night every Tuesday (except for 3rd Tuesdays of the month). They also accommodate musicians and dancers.
9 PM
Free
Jam session. Acoustic musicians welcome, too. This neighborhood bar has been an institution in the Valley for decades.
Tuesday Night Project is the first and third Tuesday of the month from April to October.
7 PM
Free
(WFNM) helps local musicians get performance opportunities. Chat with artists and performers after the shows. Supportive environment.
Doors at 7 PM. Music at 8 PM.
Free
Authentic Nashville-style songwriting round. Submit on their Instagram to be considered to play.
6 PM to 10 PM
Free
All skills and ages welcome, very friendly jam! Great players and new players alike. Located at Lawless Brewery
5 PM
$5
Instrumental jazz jam session.
Doors at 6 PM. Music at 7 PM.
Free
Cozy coffee shop. Second Thursday of the month open mic in South Bay.
7 PM
Free
Music, comedy, and spoken word are all welcome at UnUrban, an eclectic Santa Monica coffee shop. Bohemian spirit.
Music at 7 PM.
$12
Weekly artist showcase. 5+ years running. Up-and-coming talent. All genres. Different locations weekly.
5 PM
May to November. First Sunday of the month. Lottery system. 4 minutes on stage.
8 PM
$5
Vocal jazz jam session.
🔵 Songwriter Events
These events follow a different schedule.
Check the event organizers’ websites for ticket info and how to perform.
👥 LA Songwriter’s Collective (Inactive)
(Songwriter Meetup) - Various Locations - Monthly
Los Angeles Songwriter’s Collective (LASC) is a music organization that hosts networking events and artist showcases. It brings together songwriters, musicians, labels, and publishers all in one spot to talk about the craft and career of songwriting.
🎉 Breaking Sound
(Artist Showcases) - Various Locations - Monthly
Breaking Sound hosts artist showcases and networking events to help musicians advance their careers. What began as a monthly LA mixer has expanded to hundreds of worldwide events annually. Their LA events connect musicians with producers, songwriters, content creators, and industry professionals.
🌔 Pop Hangs
(Networking Event) - North Hollywood
Pop Hangs are music industry networking events that have grown from small gatherings to full-fledged events with up to 100 people. You can meet songwriters, producers, artists, sync agents, and artist managers. The goal of these events is to build a vibrant music community and support the LA music community.
“Relationships are the single most important thing in the music business. Cherish them and take care of them. Be generous with your time. You never know how someone will play a part in your life along the way.” - Noreen Prunier (Founder, Pop Hangs)
🥧 Republic of Pie
(Featured Songwriter Night) - North Hollywood - Daily
Republic of Pie in North Hollywood is a great supporter of the arts. Every night, they host live music events featuring local musicians in their cafe. Sets are about one hour long and 2 or 3 performers play every day of the week.
🥅 Songnet
(Songwriting Club)- First and third Wednesdays - Pasadena
Songnet (The Songwriter's Network) hosts monthly performances and industry lectures, providing free resources for LA songwriters.
Monthly Zoom talks from industry professionals sharing career insights and songwriting tips. Free monthly events in Pasadena where performers get 10 minutes or two songs on stage.
🦘 Sunday Jump - First Sunday of the month (May to November)
Location: Glendale
Link: https://www.sundayjump.com/
Sunday Jump is an open mic event held on the first Sunday of every month from May to November in Glendale. Players can sign up for the list starting 15 minutes before the event which usually starts at 5PM. Prioritization is given to new players.
🫖 Tea at Shiloh - First Monday of the month
Location: Downtown LA
Link: https://teaatshiloh.com/
Familiar Voices is an open mic event held at Shiloh’s teahouse in Los Angeles on the first Monday of every month from about 7 PM to 11 PM.
Inspired by the tradition of tea houses as places for exchanging oral narratives, the event welcomes performers to share their stories through poetry, prose, music, and theater.
Guests can sign up to perform, with each performer given 5 minutes on stage. Doors are at 7 PM and the event begins at 8 PM. Signing up doesn’t guarantee a spot, but getting there early increases your chances!
This is an intimate, quiet and chill atmosphere to share your lighter music.
🌃 Tuesday Night Project - Every Other Tuesday (April to October)
Location: Downtown LA
Link: http://www.tuesdaynightproject.org/
The Tuesday Night Project (TNP) offers a free and donation-based public arts series rooted in the Asian American community and based in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.
Featured artists are curated performers booked in advance for each show. An open mic takes place before the performances.
🟢 FAQs
What are these events?
These are music events where anyone can perform. We feature acoustic open mics, hip-hop open mics, jam sessions, vocal jams, artist showcases for pop musicians, and much more. We check and update this list every month.
Do I have to pay to attend and play open mics?
LA has both free and paid open mics. Paid open mics usually offer guaranteed stage time.
How do I find open mics tonight in LA?
Aside from our list, check out Eventbrite’s list of LA open mic nights. You can also search Instagram for the popular hashtag, #openmiclosangeles to find new and recent open mics that are just getting started or only happening once.
What days of the week can I perform?
There are open mics and networking opportunities almost every single day of the week in LA. However, many open mics tend to be at the beginning of the week.
Most of them are in the evening between 7 and 10 PM. Some of my favorites like Kulak’s Woodshed and Springbok are both on Monday nights.
Are there hip-hop open mics in LA?
There are many hip-hop, rap, and poetry-themed open mics.
Specifically, Plugged in LA at The Lost But Found Bar hosts a monthly open mic.
There’s also The World Stage which hosts weekly instrumental, vocal, and jazz jams.
Also, check out Da Poetry Lounge, where poets and rappers share their stories every Tuesday.
Are there poetry open mics in LA?
There are a few poetry open mics and poetry slams every month! Check out Los Angeles’ Literature list of poetry open mics. You can also check out the calendar for Da Poetry Lounge, which hosts weekly and monthly poetry-related events.
What should I bring to an open mic?
Usually, you’ll need your instruments like an acoustic guitar, ukulele, or electric piano. Open mic events provide a microphone, stand, and a quarter-inch guitar cable to plug into most acoustic instruments.
Open mics specify if they’re “acoustic only” or if you can also bring MP3 backing tracks. These days, it’s common for pop or hip-hop artists to bring an MP3 of their song on their phone to perform.
Bring an extra auxiliary cord in case the venue doesn’t already have one.
Can anyone attend an open mic? Even if I’m not playing?
Of course! Local bars and restaurants love to have audience members in to participate, even if you’re not performing.
Universal Bar and Grill, for instance, is in a vibrant area near Universal Studios. You can pop in for a pint and enjoy some live music from LA’s own. If you decide to go, bring some money to tip the musicians!
What’s the difference between comedy open mics and music open mics?
Comedy open mics and music open mics are different. And most venues don’t mix genres for open microphone nights.
Comedy open mics are usually focused exclusively on comedians. And music open mics are focused on musicians.
There are a few open mics that mix things up and let anyone perform who wants to. But in general, if you find an open mic that also allows comedy, you shouldn’t bring your guitar.