Downtown/4th Ave Open Mic Night Roundup

For a change of pace this week, I have decided to write about open mic nights in the Old Pueblo. This will not be a comprehensive review of Tucson open mic nights, but a brief look at three open mic night opportunities in and near downtown.  Please read on to learn more about Sunday Acoustic Open Mic at The Hut, the new(ish) Tuesday Open Mic Night at Maker House and the long-enduring Wednesday Night Open Mic Night at Sky Bar.

Acoustic Open Mic Night at The Hut typically begins Sunday around 5:30, though the host band, Cadillac Mountain takes a somewhat loose approach to start and finish times with their event (I will say that it usually ends around 8:00, but that time is definitely subject to change).  Signups are done on a sheet of paper which is prominently displayed when one walks into the establishment.  Cadillac Mountain usually starts and ends the evening with a short set of bluegrass tunes.  The band always consists of Joel on guitar and lead vocals and bandmate Rudy (who, on a relatively unrelated note, gives some of the best hugs in Tucson) on banjo and harmonies.  Often times, the band is augmented by a double bass, a fiddle, a dobro, sometimes even a trumpet or a djembe (it is open mic night after all).  Cadillac Mountain always puts on a great show, and this open mic night is worth coming to just to see the host band play, even if you do not plan to perform yourself.  The stage set up is such that there is one condenser microphone, and the sound is typically quite good.  Though it is "acoustic" open mic, I have seen people bring equipment and plug in with no hassle. (Bonus - one can often see Aztral Folk or members of that band performing at this open mic).

Open Mic Night at Maker House started shortly after the opening of this "collaborative artisan, maker, education, tech, and gathering space" last Fall and has become quite popular since that time.  The open mic night is hosted by Lee and Jessica.  Signups are when the event starts on Tuesday at 8:00 PM and things fill rather quickly.  The open mic night officially goes until 11 PM, but it often runs long.  One great thing about this open mic night, is that Maker House has such an expansive site, there is actually another whole fun event taking place simultaneously in their space.  Tucson Blues Dance holds a Blues Dance Class from 7-8:30 followed by Open Blues Dance until 11:00 PM.

Finally, Sky Bar continues to offer a full 6 hour open mic night every Wednesday, That's 6 HOURS PEOPLE!  It runs from 6:00 PM- 12:00 AM, and it often runs even longer than that.  DJ Odious has been running this open mic night since before my time in the Old Pueblo, and all manner of acts are encouraged and all manner of acts are presented.  According to the event's webpage, "Sign up by calling 520-622-4300 to reserve a time spot (after 5:30 pm) or just walk in (after 5:00 pm) and grab any free 15 min slot. Bands are welcome to perform or “try out” at Skybar as well. We have a full PA to accommodate all your tech needs and a great built in 4th Ave audience!

Please feel free to comment and let me know what open mics I have missed or any pertinent information about these and other open mic nights you wish to share.  Get out there and support local live music!

Cheers, Brian