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Music Open Mic's In the San Francisco Bay Area

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Below is a listing of Open Mic's for Musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area for every day of the week. (This is not a listing for spoken word/poetry open mics). Many open mic's move to different days, hosts change, some events are not held every single week and others simply wither away; thus this list may not be completely accurate. Always check the venue's web site and/or call first before attending any of the open mics listed below to verify that they are still continuing. We try to keep this list up to date. Notice a mistake, have updated information or know of an open mic that is not listed please contact us. Need to record a demo, CD or mp3's? Cosmic Circuit Studio provides professional digital recording & production services with an Apple Logic Pro certified engineer & provides direct on disc CD color printing.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
4th Street Tavern
711 Fourth St. (x Lindaro)
San Rafael
8:30 pm.
415.456.4828
Brainwash
1122 Folsom St.,
San Francisco.
Sign-up 8 pm, show runs until 10 pm. P.A. system.
Hosted by Guinevere Q.
415.255.4866

Green Tortoise International Hostel.
494 Broadway (x Kearny), San Francisco.
Musicians, bands, comedians, drummers, beatboxers, etc - anything goes. International travel minded clientele. Free beer & chips. Starts 8:30 pm. Sign up online only! Email tortoisepubcrawl@yahoo.com
before 10 am Tues. Host Carrie Wolberg
415.834.1000

Blondie's,
540 Valencia St., San Francisco.
Hosted by Mike Fleming. Performances through a PA system.
415.864.2419
Bazaar Café
5927 California St., San Francisco. 6:30 pm sign up day of show (can also sign up days in advance). Runs 7 - 9:30 pm. Original songs only, no covers (very strict about this due to ASCAP issues). Contact Tom Meshishnek.
415.831.5620
Café International
508 Haight St., San Francisco.
7:30 sign-up, 8:00 pm event begins.
Mix of music & poetry. Hosted by Ramu. 415.552.7390

Saturday Afternoon Gallery Acoustic Music Open Mic Series
Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru Street, Alameda
1st Sat of each month. 2 - 4 pm
Sign-ups 1:30 pm. Composers & musicians have opportunity to perform up to 3 originals. Co-hosted by Sarah Dunham & Boundless Gratitude.
510.847.3903

Kings Head
201 Orchard City Drive, Campbell
Sign up 7:30, starts @ 8 pm. Acoustic/Non-electric from 8 - 10 pm. then 10 - 11:30 pm. Small band/light electric ok if fast setup. 3 songs or 12 minutes. PA provided.
List recycles until end. Featured performer slot (1/2 hr) at 10 pm. Eddie Clay hosts. eddieclay@kellyagent.com
408.871.2499

19 Broadway
17 Broadway Blvd. Fairfax
9:30 pm
Hosted by Derek Smith. (Call first because this is not every week).
415.455.0948

Starry Plough Pub
3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
7:30 pm signup, 8 showtime. You can perform 2 songs. Featured acts are picked from the acts that go over real well with the audience. No cover. Hosted by Joan Pez and Girl George.
510.841.2082

Last Day Saloon Santa Rosa
120 Fifth St. @ Davis St.
Santa Rosa
Sonoma County Blues Society Jam. Stage, dance floor. Sign up at 7 pm
Runs 7:30 - 11 pm.
$3 all ages.
707.545.2343

Notes From the Underground
2399 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
415.775.7638
McDonald's Book Shop
48 Turk St. (near Powell & Market), San Francisco
Open Mic on the last Friday of every month at 5:30 pm. All performers are welcome.  Call to confirm.
415.673.2235.

drumming on the guitar

Silverado Brewing Co.
3020-A N. St. Helena Highway
 St. Helena, CA. 94574
Sign up @ 8pm.  Show runs from 8 pm-12 am
All ages.
Hosted by: Brooke Aved
707.967.9876

Red Rock Coffee House
201 Castro St., Mountain View.
Runs from 7- 10 pm with a featured artist at 9:30 pm. Hosted by Steve Cavin, Scott King on sound. Free, all ages.
650.967.4473
Freight & Salvage Coffee House,
1111 Addison St., Berkeley. Various Tuesdays - check calendar. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show starts at 8 pm. $5.50 ($4.50 in advance). Piano available. All ages. Stay entire night you get a free ticket to a show of your choice.
510.548.1761
Java
320 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur 8:30-10:00 pm.
415.927.1501


Atlas Café
3049 20th Street,
San Francisco.
Open Bluegrass jam on the last Thursday of every month.
415.648.1047

Coffee Catz
West Coast Songwriters event.
6761 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol.
Songwriters Showcase: competition for WCS members. Every 3rd Fri, 7 pm sign-up, 7:30 pm perform. Playoffs in Aug. (No event in Sept.). Hosts: Kate Sholl/Ken Risling. Contact ksholl@sonic.net
707.799.4349
Ken Risling
707.799.4349

Red Ink Studios
1035 Market St. (right before 6th), San Francisco. 7 pm. Hosted by Guinevere & Warren. Musicians, poets, & artists.

Hotel Utah
500 Fourth St. San Francisco. Sign ups up until 7:30 pm. Performance order drawn from hat. Music starts at 8:30 pm. Hosted by J.J. Schultz, Featured artist. Free 21 & older. More info at: http://www.theutah.org
415.546.6300
415.421.8308

Mission Coffee
151 Washington Blvd., Fremont,
1st & 3rd Tuesdays every month. 6:30 - 9 pm. (Call to confirm if this is still continuing - may have moved to only 3rd Friday of month)
More info, contact Kat at
510.623.6920

Plough & Stars,
116 Clement Ave. at 2nd., SF. Every 1st Wednesday of the month. 8 pm. Bluegrass and country music jam. Acoustic instruments, no cover. Hosted by Jeanie & Chuck.
415.751.1122


Coppa d'Oro,
3166 24th St. (@ Shotwell), San Francisco.
415.826.8003

Winters Tavern
1522 Francisco Blvd,
Pacifica
Backline, PA system. Starts roughly at 8:30 pm and ends at 1 am. Style of acceptable music is blues to heavy metal
they like 80's stuff like the cars and the babys.
605.355.6162

San Francisco Brewing Company
155 Columbus Ave.,
San Francisco 94133
The SF Artist Brew Acoustic Open Mic starts at 8 pm. Sign up early! Show is open to original music of any style - blues, folk, rock, jazz, R&B, etc.
House piano available.
415.434.3344
Blake's on Telegraph
2367 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley 94704
Acoustic only. Lottery-based sign up, guest appearances, and performance incentives. 8:30pm Sign up/ 9pm show | $1 pre 9pm, $3 gen, $2 musicians/students
510.848.0886
Coffee to the People
1206 Masonic Ave. (x Haight St.), San Francisco.
Sign up at 6:30, starts 7 pm . Ends 9:30 pm. Hosted by Dogman Joe. PA system.
Performers get 2 songs or 10 minutes
Performers get 20% off food and drinks. Become a Featured Artist by talking to the host

415.626.2435 
Mission City Coffee
2221 The Alameda
Santa Clara
Sign up at 7:30 pm. Open Mic from 8 -10:30 pm. Usually 3 songs. Mostly vocal & guitar or keyboards, but small bands are ok. Comedians, magicians & poets are infrequent but welcome.
408.296.4473
Belrose Theatre
5th & E street,
San Rafael.
8 - 10:30 pm. Singers,poets, comedians, dancers, bands..well behaved dogs, all welcome. $5 cover.
415.454.6422

Mission Coffee
151 Washington Blvd., Fremont,
3rd Friday of every month.
510.623.6920


Black Magic Voodoo Lounge
1400 Lombard St. (@ Van Ness), San Francisco
Every other Sunday. 4 - 9 pm. No "sign up time", show up any time during the show. Mostly musicians, but all performance arts, & small bands are welcome. No drum
kits. They offer longer sets, up to a half hour. Hosted by Ray Alvarado.
415.931.8711

Dylan's Pub
 2301 Folsom St @ 19th in the Mission.
San Francisco
Kyra Brown hosts an open mic for singer/song writers.
 8:30 - 11:30 pm. (Note: This open mic is on hold until fall '05 - call first to confirm it is still going).
415.641.1416

Vino Locale
431 Kipling St.
Palo Alto, CA
6 - 9 pm. Acoustic acts only. Check first before coming because they sometimes have other events scheduled on Tuesdays.
650.328.0450

The Park
747 Third St., (x King & Townsend), San Francisco. Every non-game day Weds. 8 - 11pm. 10 min slots. 10 to 15 slots total. Free. Music, poetry, spoken word, improv, & performance art.
12 channel PA, stage, lights, speakers, monitors, & engineer. Full bar. Hosted by Jeff Yates. Email promotions@theparksf.com or call after 3pm on day of show.
415.974.1925.


In the Company of Wolves
737 1st Street
Benicia, CA   94510
707.746.0572

Java Source
343 Clement St., San Francisco
415.387.8025

singer
The Riptide
3639 Taraval @ 47th in the
Sunset District of San Francisco. Alisha hosts. Piano available.
Sign up 8:30 pm, begins at 9 pm.
415.681.8433
Anna's Jazz Island
2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. Singers Showcase & Open Mike with Ellen Hoffman, piano.
Featured Singers:
Denice Williams, Tina Marzell & Alan Medeiros
Bring your voice and heart - and sheet music if you have it. 8 pm.
510.841.5299

Kelly's of Alameda
1313 Park St.,
Alameda. Jazz oriented.
8pm to close.
510.769.1011


Dallimonti's Restaurant
1932 Oak Park Blvd
Pleasant Hill
8:30 to midnight
Hosted by Steve Star.
Mostly vocals & guitar.
Actors, comedians, all performers welcome.
925.944.5224

Swig
(formerly the Blue Lamp)
Ed Ivey's Blues Jam,
561 Geary St. @ Taylor
San Francisco 9pm - 1:30am.
Blues oriented performers.
415.884.1464

Rasselas
2801 California St., San Francisco.
9:30 pm.
Jazz standards, improv. Free; all ages
415.567.5010

Essanay Cafe
37533 Niles Blvd., Fremont
2nd Tuesday of every month. (Check online calendar).
510.792.0112

Pat's Bar,
1517 Franklin St.
(@ 14th), Oakland
Blues Jam,
8pm-midnight
510.452.3338
Sea Mi Restaurant
856 San Pablo Ave, (x Solano), Albany
Hosted by Girl George.
9 pm - midnight. Gay/lesbian friendly.
510.845.5692

Caffe Trieste
1667 Market St. (x Gough) San Francisco
2 - 5 pm Open Mic Sing-Off. Broadway type Show Tunes, Musical Theatre & Light Opera (in Italian or English) Last Sunday of the monthwith prizes ($50, $25, $10) for the winners. Piano available or bring an instrumental CD. Plan to perform acoustically. They take late sign ups 1 hr before the event (1- 1:45pm). Recommended to reserve slot via email
carlo@caffetriestedowntown.com
510.334.5300

1751 Social Club
1751 Fulton St.
(@ Masonic) San Francisco.
Every 4th Monday of the Month. Sign-ups are 7:30 and the Open Mic starts at 8:00 pm. E-mail events@1751socialclub.com
415.441.1751

McGrath's Irish Pub
1539 Lincoln Avenue
Alameda
8 pm. Over 21 venue
Open to music of any style - blues, folk, rock, jazz, R&B, etc.
Available house instruments: piano, acoustic guitars, congas, stand-up bass, violin.
Sound system available, or mic your instrument.
For fun & variety this event has a rotating host; email Kimberly if interested in hosting an evening.
kimbercafe2@yahoo.com
925.522.6263

Barefoot Coffee Roasters
5237 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara, 7pm-10pm. Hosted by Avery Burke.
408.248.4500

Cameron's Pub
1410 S. Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay.
3 songs or 15 minutes. Plugged in (venue provides the PA & sound engineer). Sign up around 7 pm. Starts at 8 pm & goes until the last performer has finished. Ari hosts. Food available.
650.726.5705

singer

Finnegan's Marin
877 Grant Avenue
Novato, CA 94945
Hosted by KC Turner Sign-ups at 7 pm on 1st come 1st served basis at the bar or number below. Show starts at 8 pm. Free admission. All performers are welcome. House P.A.
573.289.0373

ReTox Lounge,
628 20th St.,
San Francisco.
Hosted by "Open" Mike Fleming.
415.626.7386

Skip's Tavern
453 Cortland Avenue, San Francisco. Blues oriented.
415.282.3456
Ireland's 32
3920 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, 94118. Sign ups at 8 pm, performers begin 8:30 pm. 21 and older. Hosted by Dak.
415.386.6173

Sausalito Cruising Club,
Blue Monday Blues Jam
Located at the Foot of Napa Street
in Sausalito - floating next to Dunphy Park
 8 pm - 11 pm.  
Hosted by Billy Dunn.
415.332.9922

Angelica's Bistro
863 Main Street, Redwood City 94063. Hosted by Randy Bales. Runs from 7- 9:30 pm. First come first serve, and usually ends up with a community jam at the end.
650.365.3226


Missouri Lounge
2600 San Pablo Ave,
Berkeley
Hosted by Paul Pot
Sign up 7:30 pm.
21 and over.
510.548.2080

 

Sweetwater Saloon
153 Throckmorton Ave,
Mill Valley, 8 pm.
(Currently closed - moving to new location).
415.388.2820

drummer

Clayton Valley Bowl
5300 Clayton Valley Bowl, Concord
Show starts at 8 pm. 21 and over. PA available. Hosted by Doug Caldwell.
925.689.4631 (ask for lounge)

 

 

St. Stephen's Green
223 Castro St,
Mountain View.
Hosted by Chris & Steve. PA system. Piano available. Sign up 8 pm.
info@theopenmic.org
650.964.9151

 

last update: November 4, 2008
by Joe Rizzo
Cosmic Circuit Studio