NYC Open Mic’s

New York City has a very lively indie music scene. If you want to check out live music of musicians that haven’t quite gained a large following yet, going to an open mic night at a bar or café is the ideal place. If you wish to participate in the open mic it is best advised to arrive early, and of course I would advise everyone to call the venue before going to make sure the event is being held.

Sunday’s

Bar Matchless – 9pm; 557 Manhattan Av, Brooklyn, NY, 10027, 718-383-5333, www.barmatchless.com; Subway: G-Nassau Av; L—Bedford Av.

Common Ground – 7pm; 2006 Av A, NY, NY, 10009 , 212-228-6321. Subway: L—1^st Av.

Smith’s Bar & Restaurant 1:30pm; 1 drink min; 5 min limit; host: Obsidian; 701 8^th Av, NY, NY, 10036, 212-246-3268. Subway: A,C,E—42^nd St/Port Authority Bus Term.

Continental – 7-8:30pm; host: Eric Toast; 25 Third Av, NY, NY, 10003, 212-529-6924. Subway: 6—Astor Pl

Back Fence – 3-5pm; poetry; host: Brigid Murnaghan; 155 Bleaker St, NY, NY, 10012; 212-475-9221. Subway: 6—Lafayette/Bleeker St Note: The Back Fence, which opened in 1945, claims to be the oldest bar poetry reading in Greenwich Village.

Hope Lounge – 8pm, every other Sun; host: Jaime Garamella; 10 Hope St, Brooklyn, NY, 718-218-7191. Subway: L—Bedford Av.

Pete’s Candy Store – 5-8pm; 3 song limit; 709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn, NY, 11211, 718-302-3770. Subway: L—Bedford Av; G—Metropolitan Av.

Vox Pop – 7-11pm; 2 drink min; host: Punxsutawney Jesus; 1022 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn, NY, 11218, 718-940-2084. Subway: Q,F—Cortelyou.

Mondays

Baggot Inn – 7pm; 82 W.3^rd St, NY, NY, 10012, 212-477-0622. Subway: A,B,C,D,E,F,V—W.4^th St.

Café Vivaldi – 6:30-11pm; 2 songs min; no covers; 32 Jones St, NY, NY, 10014, 212-691-7538. Subway: A,B,C,D,E,F,V—W.4^th St.

Cattyshack – 8pm-12am; no cover; hosts: Caroline & Ilan; 249 4^th Av, Brooklyn, NY, 11215, 718-230-5740. Subway: M,R—Union St.

Don’t Tell Mama – 9pm; 343 W.46^th St, NY, NY, 10036, 212-757-0788. Subway: A,C,E—42^nd St

Sidewalk Café – 7:30pm; 1-2 song min; 2 drink min; lottery open mic; host: Latch;, 94 Av A, NY, NY, 10009, 212-473-7373. Subway: L—1^st Av, F,V—2^nd Av. This is the home of the urban indie folk movemet known as anti-folk, and the former stage of some of today’s leading indie musicians like Kimya Dawson and Regina Spekter. It should be noted that the open mic is done by lottery, so it doesn’t matter if you show up first or not, and it goes all the way into the night.

Nightingale Lounge – 7pm; $3 cover; 2 drink min; host: Su Polo; 213 2^nd Av, NY, NY, 10003; 212-473-9398. Subway: L—3^rd Av

Tuesday

Bar 4 – 7:30pm; host: Tanya; 444 7^th Av, Brooklyn, NY, 11215, 718-832-9800. Subway: F—7^th Av

Carlito’s – 8:30pm; 1701 Lexington Av, NY, NY, 10029, 212-534-7168; Subway: 6—110^th Av. This is a great and friendly open mic in Spanish Harlem. The café also serves as a gallery and host to many social issues. I’d recommend drinking their Che Guevara wine.

Kili – 9pm; host: Tasneem; 81 Hoyt St, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, 718-855-5574. Subway: A,C,G—Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts.

Nightingale Lounge – 8pm; every Tues except first Tues of the month; host: Cliff Schwarz; 213 2^nd Av, NY, NY, 10003, 212-473-9398. Subway: L—3^rd Av

Pyramid Club – 8pm; admission: $10, $5 for ladies; host: Mental Supreme; 101 Av A, NY, NY, 10009, 212-228-4888. Subway: L—1^st Av

The Lucky Cat – (7pm; host: Edward Gorch; 245 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY, 11211, 718-782-0437; L—Bedford Av, G—Metropolitan Av)

Stain Bar – (8pm; first Tue of every month; spoken word; 766 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY, 11211; 718-387-7840; L—Grand Av)

Wednesday

Nuyorican Poets Café – (9:30pm; host: Flaco Navaja; 236 E.3^rd St, NY, NY, 10009, 212-505-8183; F,J,M,Z – Essex St-Delancey)

Laila Lounge – (7pm; host: Gabriel Levitt; 113 N.7^th St, Brooklyn, NY, 11211, 718-874-6484; G—Metropolitan Av, L—Bedford Av)

Spike Hill – (8:45pm; host: Zack Dinerstein; 184 Bedford Av, Brooklyn, NY, 718-218-9737; G—Metropolitan Av, L—Bedford Av)

Thursday

Artland Bar – (8pm; host: Hank Starr; 609 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY, 11211, 718-599-9706; G—Metropolitan Av, L—Bedford Av)

Micheline’s – (9pm; host: Brer; 1124 Broadway, Brooklyn, 11221, 718-453-3223; J—Myrtle Av)

Café Shane – (7:30pm; host: Toyia T & Mani; 794 Washington Av, Brooklyn, NY, 11238; 718-399-9001; C,S – Franklin Av)

Mooneys Pub – (8:30pm; first Wed of month; host: Edward Coyne; 7710 3^rd Av, Brooklyn, NY, 11209; 718-491-3155; R—77^th St)

Friday

Postcrypt Coffeehouse – (8:20pm; no microphone; Earl Hall Center, 2980 Broadway, NY, NY, 10027, 212-854-1953; 1—116^th Columbia University)

Wicked Monk – (9:30pm; select Fridays, call; 8415 5^th Av, Brooklyn, NY, 11209, 917-842-6585; R—86^th St)

Saturday

Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar – (5:30pm; host: Rick J; 519 2^nd Av, NY, NY, 10016 , 212-686-1210; 6—33^rd Av)

SoulFire Suites – (7:45pm; host: Rob & Shay; 373 Broadway #B4, NY, NY, 10013, 212-219-2133; N,Q,R,W – Canal St, 6—Canal St, J,M,Z—Canal St)

Also see: www.openmikes.org