| Austin Open Mics List |
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| It is highly recommended that you call these places before making plans. Open mics change with the weather, and I would be shocked if all these places are even still in business. Everything I can think to say is listed here. Your comments, if reasonably appropriate, will be added if you write adamgerow@yahoo.com. This list was quite current in spring 2006, however, I only add comments or new listings that are emailed to me - I don't scan the Statesman, etc.. I have no goals with this list, you are welcome to copy it, host it, pass it off as your own, and make lots of money on it, if you can figure a way to do so. |
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| SUNDAY |
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| BB Rovers Int'l Cafe
& Pub |
“Jollyville City Limits Open Mic w/ Brian Shirk;
Someone wrote: “Really well run, good quality musicians/vocals/songwriting overall. Awkward space (when I went, it was outside on the patio in a corner, so the audience was split and the performer is facing the corner of a building. But everyone there is really into the quality of their songwriting. Not all great vocalists, but it was a nice evening. I'd definitely recommend it. The sound quality was decent, too, and the hosts introduced everyone and watched the board to some extent. Probably better if it's indoors, though the weather was really nice the night I went. Decent food, too.” |
| The Water
Tank |
Sing with a live band backing you up on your favorite hits. You can do the singer songwriter stuff from 7:30 till about 9:30 or so depending on the croud, you can also bring your own band or jam with other musicians as well. |
| Riley's Tavern
|
midway between Austin and San Antonio. the first licensed tavern to open in Texas after Prohibition. |
| Hanovers |
Singer Songwriters Circle. |
| 311 Club |
Blues Jam |
| Artz Rib House |
Central Texas Bluegrass Association JAM |
| Friends Bar |
Open Mic Blues Jam |
| Nuno's on Sixth |
Blues only??? |
| Alligator Grill
N |
Sketchy information. “While our employees don't wear flair, the movie Office Space was filmed here.” |
| Triple Crown
|
Terrible, rude people, awful experience. The opposite of recommended. |
| The Pier |
R.I.P. |
| MONDAY |
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| RCC Dancehall |
Between Back Alley Social and Bessos Cantina by 5th and Lavaca. |
| Cactus Cafe |
“It'll go for 2-3 months and then disappear. It's the absolute best listening space in town for acoustic music.” |
| Tambaleo |
“intelligent austin lounging”. hosted by 50-something country veterans Brad Brobisky and Calvin Russell. |
| The Water
Tank |
Sing with a live band backing you up on your favorite hits. You can do the singer songwriter stuff from 7:30 till about 9:30 or so depending on the croud, you can also bring your own band or jam with other musicians as well |
| Dallas Nightclub |
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| Elephant Room |
Michael Mordecai's Jazz Jam |
| Flamingo Cantina |
cancelled??? |
| The Hideout Coffeehouse |
cancelled? conflicting reports. |
| TUESDAY |
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| Cafe Caffeine |
Best I’ve been to, very small and clean with an artsy atmosphere. Stopped for summer 2006. |
| Trophy's |
Someone wrote in, “Jason Weems is very attentive to the musicans, very approachabley. you get good time, good sound, and the crowd is alright for a rough bar like this. you may, after time, earn yourself a featured arist slot - 45 minutes on a tuesday. a hole in the wall dive bar - in a good way.” |
| Rockin Tomato |
R.I.P. |
| BD Riley's Irish Pub |
R.I.P. As of summer 2008, a songwriter showcase instead. |
| Graffiti's |
Someone Wrote in February '09: “I tried their phone number and it has been disconnected. I was checking to see if they still have the open mic on Tuesday…. Looks like they don’t.” |
| Sam's Town Point |
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| Pardners |
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| Artz Rib House |
Texas Olde Time Fiddlers Jam |
| Ruta Maya |
A lot of work to play for a flaky, disinterested (but large) crowd, rude staff. |
| 311 Club |
Blues Jam |
| Cypress Falls Tavern |
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| Tavern in
the Gruene |
“air-conditioned live music venue with a full bar, pool table, shuffleboard table, jukebox, garden patio, and both indoor and outdoor stages” |
| Roper's Nightclub |
Cancelled? |
| WEDNESDAY |
|
La Fuentes |
You can contact Luke Lagrange for more details at lukelyluke11@yahoo.com |
| Ross' ol Austin Cafe |
advertised on craigslist as “songwriters open mic”. a cool old fashioned kind of place... I've heard it's sorta old-time country music mostly. Someone wrote, “The night I went, it definitely was what your list says...old style country, mostly. Though a couple of young guys got up and did some more contemporary singer-songwriter stuff. The guy who runs it is a pretty decent singer/entertainer and he's got a bit of a back-up band that'll back up whoever gets up to play, if you want them to. The sound was decent, though somewhat loud for the space. And the band was decent, too. But it's pretty loose and it seems like you need to be a bit assertive to find a space to play. I'd sorta recommend it, though, just because it's sort of unique and entertaining in its own way” |
| Poodie's Hilltop Bar
& Grill |
interesting joint outside of town in the hill country. friendly staff/people that know good music...might be worth the drive. |
| Buddy's Place |
Acoustic jam. It's all about playing music and having fun, all styles welcome. Someone wrote, “I go to Buddy's every wednesday night, it older cats playin in the house band but a lot of different sounds and people come thru, its a dive, but the beers are cheap (my girlfriend and I get drunk + tip for $20) and the house guys are REALLY good musicians. I sit in with them and have a blast and learn a lot! Good place for country fans but a lot of other things get played too.” “everyone was very friendly.” |
| Gino's Italian Grill |
A little dive restaurant back in a strip mall. Sometimes all old-timers when I've been there, but see for yourself. |
| Hill Top Bar & Grill |
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| Ventana del Soul |
a really cozy space that's good for small acoustic groups. |
| Cheatham Street
Warehouse |
Adapted from the website, “Kent Finlay hosts, songwriters(are) treated as equals. Kent asks that everyone who attends pays attention. People don't play and then leave.. As informal as it was in the beginning – songwriters gathered around the old wood-burning stove and passing a guitar. Kent kicks it off every Wednesday night at around 9 p.m. He generally has one special guest who will perform twice... Songwriters sign up on a yellow legal pad that is on the bar, each perform 2 songs. The list fills quickly so get there early to sign in. The songs must be original compositions by the performer – and generally performed with a guitar. Cheatham Street Warehouse is renowned for its quality sound.” |
| Elmo's (Cedar Park) |
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| Hanovers |
Moved to Mondays. (March '09) |
| 503 Coffee Bar |
Now the Green Muse on Thursdays. |
| THURSDAY |
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| Giddy Ups |
Scene described as “True Texas honky-tonk”. No idea how friendly it would be to other genres. |
| Green Mesquite |
Exerpt of a write-in saying, “I was looking forward to great burgers and open mic on the patio and organized 16 friends to meet there, confirmed on website and by phone. Arrived to find that they closed it to a private party. No apologies, no suggestions on where else to go. I called 5 times next week, finally spoke with the manager, she was defensive, no apologies, said open mic night was again this coming Thursday, but no guarantee if they'd not change their mind. No, they won't put up anything on the website to let people know either. So in summary, the food there is good, the venue would be great, but don't organize a big group to meet there.” |
| Green Muse Cafe |
All summer long in the Green Muse Café courtyard, 15 minutes to each performer. Jones is enthusiastic and hoping to create a positive and encouraging environment and adds: Sign-in at 7:30 p.m. Featured performance at 10 p.m. (different band
each week) The Green Muse has great coffee, yummy food (get the Mediterranean
plate or a panini sandwich), sweets, beer and wine ... I look forward
to seeing you on the stage!
http://www.myspace.com/green_muse_open_stage |
| The Loading Dock |
http://community.georgetown.org/listings/?p=57 |
| Roadhouse Bar and Grill |
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| Texas Bar & Grill |
“unbelievably smoky when it gets crowded” |
| Circle Country Club |
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| Nat's Pub |
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| Aunt Tilly's Island
Cafe & Bar |
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| Java Lounge at Austin Java |
Music and poetry. |
| Rubicon Events Center |
R.I.P |
| Crosseyed Bull |
R.I.P. |
| FRIDAY |
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| 290 West Bar & Grill |
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| Genuine Joe Coffeehouse |
Small and clean coffee house. About 5 people there when I went. Someone wrote: “I went a couple of times. One time there were very few people there and it was pretty haphazard. But the second time, there were a lot of people there. There was noone "running' it, but there was a sign-up sheet (which was sorta ignored in the early part of the evening and people were jumping in front of others.) That was really irritating. And a couple of people played for about 30 minutes instead of doing the nice 2-3 song limit. BUT, having said that, the quality was generally good. Some better than others, but mostly listeneable and entertaining. Someone really needs to run it, but it's a really cozy space and a nice place for an open mic.” |
| Saengerhalle |
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