Thumbnail Guide to Paris Open Mics, Jam Sessions and other Live Music
Open Mics in Paris:
Sunday – Pop’ In – only two songs, and you have to be there early to sign up because they accept only 15 singers, or slots. It starts at 9:30 PM , but you have to be there by 7 PM to be sure of getting a spot, and even then sometimes you might be 14 th . Still, they go like clockwork, so it runs basically 9:30 to midnight . Address: 105 Rue Amelot, 75011, Paris, Tél : 01 48 05 56 11. Metro Oberkampf or Filles du Calvaire.
Lizard Lounge, only on the first Sunday of the month, often ends in a jam with all musicians: 18, Rue Bourg Tibourg, 75004 Paris
Monday – Tennessee Bar traditional open mic, three or four songs, starting around 8:30. 12 Rue André Mazet, 75006 Paris, 01 43 54 36 10 One of the most successful and long-standing open mics in Paris – MCd by expat American, James Iansiti in the cozy basement of a cool bar. Good sound system, handled with care by James.
Galway Pub (get three or four songs in, normally): Adresse : 13 quai Grands Augustins Paris 6, Téléphone : 01 43 29 64 50
Coolin Irish Pub Sign up is at 8:30 and the music starts at 9:30 at the open mic at this genial Irish pub in Paris. A great atmosphere: Young, fun, anything goes, tolerant, a nice sound system. Only two songs per person or band, though. Adresse : 15 Rue Clement, 75006 Paris,
Phone: 01.44.07.00.92 Metro Mabillon or Odeon.
Abracadabrabar Just once per month, on the third Monday of each month, a traditional open mic with a good sound system, bright lights and good organization. Write in advance to benoit@abracadabar.fr to be put on the list. ABRACADABAR 123 avenue Jean Jaurès 75019 PARIS
Tuesday – Le Baroc, 36, Rue de Sambre et Meuse, 75010 Paris, 01 42 40 17 93. The atmosphere varies from week to week.
Acoustic Bazar. A fabulous open mic that has been around for 20 years but is only the first Tuesday of each month. And only two songs on your first try there, and you have to be there at 8:30 to get a spot. Le TEMPO, 18 rue Brochant 75017 PARIS Métro Brochant Tel.: 01 47 00 48 87
French Flair, 40 rue Pixéricourt – 75020, métro place des fêtes – I have never been to this one. It just changed location. Takes place every Tuesday. But it looks like a classic open mic.
Wednesday – The Highlander, rue de Nevers, 75005, 4-year-old open mic hosted by Thomas Brun, a classic, but get there soon after 8 PM for a good spot. Each performer gets three songs. The atmosphere is always lively, the pub always full, the list of musicians invariably long.
Au Vieux Léon, 18 Rue de la Grande Truanderie, 75001 Paris, France. This new open mic – fall 2012 – is hosted alternately by Avalanche and Kim Giani. Kim is also a musician, and one of the longtime hosts of the Pop In open mic. So far so good for this one, as it is a low-key alternative to the Highlander on the same night – and unlike at the Highlander if you arrive after 8:30 you may not be condemned to playing as late as 1 AM. A classic French bar with a little bit of a hip feel to it, it is near Chatelet, the Pompidou Center, etc.
Swan Bar , 165, Bld du Montparnasse, 75006 Paris, 01 44 27 05 84 – an open mic that starts at 9:30 and is mostly jazz, but they accept people with a guitar doing any kind of music… But if you bring sheet music, a pianist will accompany you.
Bandeàgudule Lesguduleries – Chez Gudule, is a kind of cabaret show on the first floor of this bar/restaurant. It is necessary to book a slot first, and you may have to wait for several weeks before you have a chance. This is an open mic, but one with a concept. There is only usually one musical act per evening, and the other acts are comics, actors, whatever. The audience votes the best performance of the night, and if you win that a few times you get the room to yourself for your own show. Contact Candice Carité to book a slot: 06 76 65 22 14, 65 Bd de la Villette M° Colonel Fabien ou Bus 46 arrêt Sambre et Meuse
Les Chansonniers, located in the small lobby of a small hotel in Menilmontant, this is a classic open mic, which runs the third Wednesday of every month. Starts at 8 PM. A warm environment, a cool quarter of Paris. 113 boulevard de Ménilmontant, 75011 Paris, Metro Menilmontant.
Thursday – Culture Rapide blues jam session, a small bar in Belleville that has an open mic for music, poetry, spoken word. Very cool blues jam session with the Belleville Blues Band running the show and playing a first set before the stage is opened to anyone wanting to play. You can generally play on your own or with members of the band in a jam. It is not really strict as to whether the music is pure 100 percent blues, either, so this is a great place to go and play any blues-inspired pop/rock. 103 rue Julien Lacroix 75020 Paris, M° Belleville / Pyrénées, 01 46 36 08 04. Starts at 10:30 PM.
Tennessee Bar traditional open mic, three or four songs, starting around 8:30. The same location and MC as on Monday night: 12 Rue André Mazet, 75006 Paris, 01 43 54 36 10 One of the most successful and long-standing open mics in Paris – MCd by expat American, James Iansiti in the cozy basement of a cool bar, started this second night weekly. The only difference to Monday’s open mic is that this one has a featured guest who plays a longer set. Good sound system, handled with care by James.
Anthracite open mic, 20 rue de la Reynie, PARIS 4, Réservation : Tél. 01 42 77 50 50, contact@anthracite-paris.com. Although they call this an open mic, it is more like the Cavern vocal jam/live karaoke, whereby there is a house band that plays a repertoire and singers from the audience are invited up on stage to sing a song from the band’s repertoire with the band as backing. Having said that, when I went I was allowed to use my guitar as well – which the Cavern does not allow – and I did a song from the band repertoire, playing my guitar and singing, along with the band. There is a 15 euro cover charge that covers a drink as well, and the show starts around 10:30 PM and runs until 2 or 3 AM. Call to make sure the open mic is happening, as I am not sure if it is every Thursday or not.
Friday – Culture Rapide Barman’s open mic is an open mic for music, poetry, spoken word. Can be very cool, and guitar singer/songwriters really welcome. Only problem is, unlike with the aforementioned blues jam, there is no microphone or amplifier. But in my experience the audience is often quiet and it’s a cool environment. 103 rue Julien Lacroix 75020 Paris, M° Belleville / Pyrénées, 01 46 36 08 04. Starts at 10:30 PM.
Swan Bar – Mentioned below for its open mic on Wednesday, this also has a kind of open mic on Friday night and Saturday night starting at midnight to 2 AM . But it’s not always easy to get on, a little disorganized. Really the best is Wednesday for this, but if you’re in the area you can drop by at midnight to see. See address below.
Saturday – Also again on Saturday nights the Swan Bar has a midnight to 2 AM open mic, mostly jazz.
Quiet Man, is a longstanding mainstay of Irish music in Paris, and on Saturdays, starting at 18:00 there is an open mic for beginners, followed by a jam session for more advanced musicians that starts at 22:00 and goes on until 2 AM, or closing time. A wonderful feeling of really being in Ireland, but watch out: the emphasis is on reels and jigs and not so much on songs and singing. 5, rue des haudriettes, 75003 Paris, Metro Rambuteau or Hotel de Ville.
The main places you would probably want to start looking at for full-fledged bands and other cool stuff are:
- Bus Palladium, 6 rue Fontaine, 75009 Paris
There are shows there almost every night.
- L’International, 5, rue Moret 75011 Paris
Another bar/venue place that has concerts all the time, and mostly young people, new groups, etc.
- OPA, 9 rue Biscornet, 75012 Paris, bastille
Another place with bands, concerts, usually no cover charge (as with the above places)
- Le Truskel, 12 rue Feydeau, 75002 Paris, Metro Bourse.
- Le Motel, 8, passage Josset, Paris , France , 75011 more often a bar with DJ, it does have bands, concerts, usually no cover charge (as with the above places)
- Le Point Ephemere, 200 quai de Valmy 75010, Paris, France
You get off at Metro Jaures and this place is located down on the canal below. You’ll see all the people outside, usually. An art space, concert space, bar, DJ thing, restaurant, (even has some privately run recording studios where I recorded four songs in the summer).
Here are some places where the focus is jazz:
- Petit Journal,one in Montparnasse, 13, rue du Commandant Mouchotte, 75014 PARIS, or the same one in St. Michel, 71, boulevard St- Michel, 75005 PARIS
- New Morning, 7-9, rue des Petites Ecuries, 75010 Paris
- Caveau de la Huchette, 5 rue de la Huchette, 75005 PARIS
- Swan Bar, Montparnasse, mentioned above, which is owned and run by an American who has lived in Paris for years and always wanted to create a kind of NYC jazz bar in Paris – and did so; although it’s not alway jazz! It’s at 165 Blvd du Montparnasse, 75006
David
November 25, 2010 at 3:28 am
Just a little note on the Cavern. After asking if drummers could play and was told no they let another drummer play a couple of songs. One of the girls I sat with ask if I could play, and was told know because everyone elese would want to play. As a working drummer from new orleans I can understand that. However there was only 3 people in the bar so what was the chances that all 3 of us were going to rush the stage at one time.
On a good note all of the bar tenders tried to make it work for me. A little note for management.
Dump the ass hole.
Good luck to a Grat bunch of bar tenders. You will need it.
bradspurgeon
November 25, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Thanks for that information, David. It is true that I have seen guest musicians, but I never knew how they were selected. I always thought they were friends of the house musicians. In any case, ANYONE can go up to sing. But I once asked to go up with my guitar to play and sing, and they said no….
Jack Handyside
November 26, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Hey Brad!
Your work on the site has been really great to read and be informed on, as a fairly new musican of the age of 16 I’m at the point where I want to push through and meet other musicians, or at least gain experience playing more, where would you suggest is a good place to start? My musical roots tend to stem in blues acoustic, jazz.
Cheers
bradspurgeon
December 1, 2012 at 12:33 am
Hi Jack, sorry to take so long… I was traveling and bogged down by work. That’s why I had this sudden hole on the blog too. Your question is easily answered: Start out at open mics and open jam sessions. Find the ones that most suit your kind of music and your kind of personality – ie, you want to feel comfortable with the people there too. I don’t know what city you live in. But if it is Paris, then my list of open mics on the blog is the place to start looking for places. If you are in another city, just do a search on google for open mics in that city. Best of luck, and maybe we will meet some day. Sorry again for the delay. I am just surfacing from the busiest period of work in my life!!!!!
gigsinparis
January 13, 2011 at 9:50 am
You should also probably check out Popin (live bands on most days and open mic on a Sunday), and occasionally Truskel have some good stuff on.
bradspurgeon
January 14, 2011 at 3:23 pm
By the way, the Truskel no longer does an open mic – but there is music all the time…
gigsinparis
January 13, 2011 at 9:51 am
Ah, I see you already have Pop ‘in. Apologies.
bradspurgeon
January 14, 2011 at 3:22 pm
No problem, thanks for the comment. I checked out your web site and mentioned it in a post today. Will put up a permanent link.
Conrad Miller
May 12, 2011 at 6:09 am
Brad:
Thanks for doing this. Will be visiting the last week of May and will report back to you. If I am blues focused and play the keys will there be a spot somewhere?
Thanks,
CM
bradspurgeon
May 13, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Hi Conrad, thanks for the comment. For blues and keyboards, if you have your own portable keyboard it would be good to do it at Cabaret Culture Rapide on the Thursday. Also, there is a piano at the Tennessee Bar and you can certainly do blues on the piano, so that’s on the Monday night open mic. I have seen someone use a portable keyboard they brought to the Ptit Bonheur la Chance on Tuesday night, but it is not usually a place where this are long blues jam-type things. Again, if you have your own portable keyboard, try also Be There, on Sunday night. And finally there is the Caveau des Oubliettes, 52 rue Galande
75005 PARIS. Check them out on the Internet because they have different days devoted to different open jams. But I think you can do that there, and most of their nights are blues oriented.
Brad
Hugo Kensdale
July 10, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Hi, I’m a singer-songwriter from Manchester, UK. I’m coming to Paris tomorrow, monday 11th July to start a busking tour of France. I’ll be in Paris for a few weeks. Can anyone recommend any decent open mics/gig venues that are still running? Cheers, Hugo.
bradspurgeon
July 11, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Hi, if you check out my open mic list under my articles page, you will find the best list in the world for open mics in Paris. It is on this very site! I’ll no doubt see you at one of them. Cheers, Brad (in St. Pancras on the way back to Paris from Oxford)
Hugo Kensdale
July 30, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Hi Brad, really sorry for the late reply! I’ve just found your page again…Thanks for the info it really helped. Played a few of the open mics and got a gig at Le Motel on tuesday so all good. Thanks again!
Hugo.
bradspurgeon
July 30, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Great news Hugo. Amazing you got a gig at the Motel already! Cool stuff….
bradspurgeon
July 30, 2011 at 1:00 pm
PS, I just listened to a couple of your songs on your myspace and it sounds really interesting. Hooves of the Herd the musical part at the beginning reminds me a lot of Space Oddity….
thomas casey
September 13, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Hi Brad! Many thanks for your super helpful blog, I cannot believe what you have to offer in a one stop shop! An artist I work with is on travel in Paris for the month and just arrived today. She is a singer and plays piano/keys. I noticed above that the Tennessee Bar has a piano, by chance do you know of any other venues that might be able to accommodate? She very excited about being active in the Paris open mic scene. Thanks again! Thomas thomas.j.casey@gmail.com
bradspurgeon
September 14, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Hi Thomas, thanks for the wonderful compliments! It keeps me driving onward…. Off the top of my head I can think of the Bus Palladium, the Swan Bar and the Baroc that also have pianos, in addition to the Tennessee bar. That’s a pretty good start!
thomas
September 14, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Hi Brad! I cannot thank you enough! I had my friend – Zahra – http://www.zahrauniverse.com/main.php – stop by The Swan Bar tonight to discuss performing – and she now has a gig this Saturday at 730 PM! And may stay for the open mic later on Saturday. I will post the flier once I make one for her. Not sure if you will be in town or available, but would be cool if you two could meet. She will be performing her original songs acoustically – playing piano and signing. Your blog has been a life saver and with the other venues to contact she might have a steady schedule over the next month while in Paris. All the best! Thomas
bradspurgeon
September 15, 2011 at 12:27 am
Excellent! I am in town this weekend and might be able to drop by the Swan Bar on Saturday. It did occur to me that she might be able to get a gig there, but I didn’t say anything, since I know nothing about her playing….
Thomas
September 16, 2011 at 6:38 am
Hi Brad, if you can make it to the Swan Bar on this Saturday, Zahra would love to meet you. I will have her look out for you and maybe you can introduce yourself. If all works well and she can land a few more gigs, maybe I will fly over from the US to join her for a few on acoustic guitar. She is forever grateful for your blog/guide and will be in touch with the other venues in the hopes of lining up more gigs while she is over in Paris promoting her music and videos. In fact she has a song (Dancin by the Fire) with the artist Sorprano, who I understand is doing quite well on the charts over there.
Izabella
September 18, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Hi Brad! After another look on your blog I found the page I was searching for. Really helpful so thanks. Hope to see you at the Highlander or elsewhere soon again!
bradspurgeon
September 18, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Hi Izabella, thanks for letting me know you found it. Now I hope you find other places to go that you like!!!! Maybe I will see you at the others…. I’m off for a week on Tuesday, but certainly back in the open mics after that….. cheers, Brad
Milena
September 27, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Hi Brad,
Thank you for the great job: so fortunate to have eyes and years in far off places
I was wondering whether you can advice on which open mics are indie singer/songwriter friendlier?(as in blues/jazz friendly places). We’ll be in Paris for a week starting this Sunday, and having a clue about it will be priceless 
Thanks again!!!
bradspurgeon
September 28, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Thanks very much for the comment. I was unable to hear your music, so I’m not really sure what it’s like and that makes it difficult to match up a place with the sound. (Maybe you have a myspace?) I’d try the Tennessee bar on Monday, the Ptit Bonheur la Chance and the Bus Palladium on Tuesday and the Highlander on Wednesday – oh, and not to forget the one that might be the most “Indie” of all, the Pop In on Sunday. Hope to see you!
Milena
September 28, 2011 at 5:14 pm
And absolutely – It would be great to meet you! Let me know – if after you give it a listen -you have a better idea for open mic.
Thanks a million, Brad!
Doréa SisDee
October 4, 2011 at 3:12 am
Nice job !! But you forgot to mention the Nilaja’s on mondays !!! Yesterday and some of the jams are also drived by the bluesman Boney Fields…… See ya !!
(PS : this thursday I’ll be MCing the Soüp Session Jam at the Centre Barbara Fleury in Barbès ; very big hall, and good artists in show case, with one of the founders of the legendaries Last Poets…..) Bizoux Brad !
bradspurgeon
October 4, 2011 at 3:38 am
Thanks for the comment, Doréa. No, I did not forget the Nilaja. I just have not yet done it! Updating such a page is easier said than disciplined! I’d love to drop by Thursday, but I leave in a few hours for Japan, then South Korea…. so out of town for a while….
Patricia Lundelius
October 13, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Thank God for your site! My 18 year-old daughter is headed to Paris in a little more than a week. I told her she had to find somewhere to play while she is there. She is currently doing a Gap year in Oxford and working on her career. She has fall break starting on the 22nd and decided to go to Paris for the week. She has a friend there to stay with, but I told her she needed to get out and find somewhere to play while she is there. Her french is not very good, so I think she is sweating it a bit. Do you have any recommendations or advice for a young American girl who has 4 years of High School French, but is not very good at speaking the language?
bradspurgeon
October 14, 2011 at 3:07 am
Hi Patricia,
Well, thank God for your comment, since this kind of thing keeps me feeling like the site is worthwhile! I think you already found the best idea for your daughter, which is to go to the open mics, even if she doesn’t want to play – but obviously if she does, then all the better. But the thing is that at most of these open mics there is a good mix of international students and young people and French and English. So she will meet people there and have no problem wading into the French world, without being stuck in the English-only expat world. The best for her would be the Ptit Bonheur la Chance one on Tuesdays, and the Tennessee and Galway ones on the Monday, starting with the earlier Tennessee; and also the Highlander one on Wednesdays. She might like the Pop In on Sundays, too. Other than that, there’s no sweat, no big deal about her level of French in Paris – there are so many foreigners that the French are used to it….
ste
October 26, 2011 at 7:42 am
Hi,Im in Paris now so looking forward to seeing how they like my act,kind of bluesy funky solo bass with a bit of loops and a bit of singing….Maybe i’ll meet some of yers…I was wondering,what is the law regarding busking in paris?ive read and heard so many contradictory things,you seem like the kind of chap who’d know for sure..ps thanks for this guide,its great.Peace x
bradspurgeon
October 26, 2011 at 2:51 pm
HI, I actually just arrived in India until next week. And I don;t know the law on busking in Paris. I do know that in the metro stations you are supposed to have a licence that you audition for. You get moved on if you don’t have it, and maybe worse can happen. I have friends who have busked in the streets and I have not heard of anything bad happening. But I imagine it is like anything to do with the law…it can range from nothing to very bad.
Patricia Lundelius
October 28, 2011 at 5:25 pm
You are going to love this! My daughter Tina, who never bothers to fully read what I send her, showed up at Petit Bonheur la Chance on Thursday night, with her guitar and 2 friends in tow. They informed her of course that the open mic was on Tuesday instead of Thursday. However, a clever manager quickly invited her to stay and play for them. They quickly set up the performance area and quieted the crowd. She played her original music for an hour! The patrons LOVED her! She made a lot of new friends. Thanks for your guidance. Even though she screwed up, it all worked out in the end.
bradspurgeon
October 29, 2011 at 6:15 am
Hi Patricia,
That is great news. You’re right, just the kind of thing I love – and to think that this blog had a part in it is even better. I hope she returns for the open mic when I’m there. Yes, the owner/manager is a fine, open guy and that doesn’t surprise me he said to just go ahead and play! I had a similar thing here in India the other day as I arrived in the country on the Wednesday and wanted to attend an open mic here, but as it was a national holiday the bar was closed. I had contacted them in advance, and they decided to set up a gig for me for the following night. So I played two one-hour sets. Nothing better for a budding musician, of any age….
Karen Wikstrom
November 10, 2011 at 5:22 am
I’m not sure which place you’d most recommend for for singer/songwriters with acoustic guitars — is it Petit Bonheur la Chance?
bradspurgeon
November 10, 2011 at 11:47 am
They are all good for singer songwriters with acoustic guitars… except the obvious ones that are not, such as the Cavern, as the details mention…
Karen Wikstrom
November 10, 2011 at 5:25 am
also- do any of the places provide amps?
bradspurgeon
November 10, 2011 at 11:47 am
Basically they all provide amps. They’re like open mics just about anywhere in that way.
castille
November 11, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Un nouveau lieu pour les Open Mic à Paris : Le French Flair (75 bis bd de clichy – Paris 9e) :
http://www.bar-rugby.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=24
C’est un mercredi sur deux à partir de 21h00
bradspurgeon
November 12, 2011 at 8:56 am
Merci pour ca. J’irai voir!
bradspurgeon
November 12, 2011 at 8:57 am
…par contre je ne suis pas a Paris le 30 Novembre, donc il va falloir que j’attends le 14 Decembre.
Rob Moore
November 25, 2011 at 6:39 pm
I am a professional blues guitarist from Chicago currently living in Miami. I will be in Paris from December 16 until Dec. 22
bradspurgeon
November 25, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Great. Hope to see you! Minimum, you should try the Caveau des Oubliettes several nights a week, and the Cabaret Culture Rapide on Thursdays.
Prita
December 13, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Hi Brad, thanks for your fantastic detailed blog of open mic spots in Paris! it is such a great resource and I just wanted to thank you for compiling it! I’ll be in Paris tomorrow for a week – I’m a singer songwriter, I use a loop pedal and my style is ‘hip-soul-folk’ I am looking forward to checking out a few venues! great! x prita
bradspurgeon
December 14, 2011 at 12:26 am
Hi Prita, well, I hope to see you then!!!! Keep in touch and hopefully we will meet up…
Freddy Marx Street
January 7, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Brad! Thank you for this detailed information. I’m a singer/songwriter from Ukraine, going to Paris in February. Definitely will attend some of them.
Gary Chase
February 27, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Brad, your blog is just what I was looking for (#1 result in Google.)
My family and I will be traveling from Boston to Paris this summer from June 28th to July 7th. My son, who is 9, regularly performs at local open mics. He usually plays his electric guitar (e.g. Creedence, The Kinks, Chuck Berry, and lately Nada Surf) but will be bringing only his acoustic guitar along on our trip. He’s very good for his age, so he’s not picking out 3 Blind Mice or anything childish.
Just wondering if you have any suggestions on a venue that would be best. Obviously we need an all-ages place (at least for the performers) and a starting time that’s not much later than 8-9pm.
Thanks again for your very helpful site!
bradspurgeon
February 28, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Hi, I am so glad the blog is a help and so prominent in the search! Love hearing these things. And I would love to hear your son! Must be cool. I will give some thought to this, but it could be tough, given the fact that kids under 18 are not allowed in bars… but there must be a way….
Tim Menees
March 3, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Brad:
Great blog.
My wife and I will be in Paris for 10 days in October and I hope to find a couple of blues (or country or jazz) jams in clubs that have a piano or keyboard. Also, are there any cafes/bars with a piano that folks may play? I play piano in a band and a duo in Pittsburgh — a real mix of stuff — and would love play a few songs while in the City of Light.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
bradspurgeon
March 3, 2012 at 8:06 pm
Thanks very much Tim. Yes, the Tennessee Bar with its open mic on Mondays has a piano. So does the Baroc on Tuesdays. I’ll try to think of others, but that’s a start. They are both on my list of open mics…. Hope to see you….
Tim Menees
March 4, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Hello, Brad:
Many thanks for the reply. I did notice on your blog that the Tennessee Bar has a piano, and mercy as well for letting me know about Baroc.
Along with piano, I also play a bit of accordion in our band here — we do mainly Louisiana music, including some Cajun, zydeco and New Orleans blues (along with a few originals) but doubt I’ll haul that along in October. Lately a guitar player and I have been playing old blues and jazz with a little Gospel and folk tossed in, and doing some gigs in Pittsburgh. I’ve done a couple solo gigs.
PS: I see you have also been in journalism. I figure Paris must still be a great place to write. I drew cartoons for the morning paper in Pittsburgh for 30 years, and wrote (and illustrated) several Sunday magazine pieces.
I do appreciate your blog and any other info you may pass along to me.
Best,
Tim
bradspurgeon
March 5, 2012 at 2:31 pm
France loves accordions, of course, so you wouldn’t be out of place – but it would be heavy to carry, wouldn’t it…. I just remembered that there is also a piano at the Swan Bar, so you should check that one out as well.
I am still working in journalism, in fact, which is the job that pays for my living – and my travel! This blog is just for fun….
Heather
March 14, 2012 at 4:46 am
Wondering – Is Swan Bar the only place the provides an accompanist? Or do any of the others? Are there open mic nights that are most specifically for Singers?
Cool list – thank for the info!
Best – Heather
bradspurgeon
March 15, 2012 at 1:52 am
The Swan Bar is the only one I know of where you can go and bring your music and give it to the pianist and have him accompany you like that. But at many other open mics you can ask the MC to play guitar with you and he will do it – Tennessee bar I have seen this, probably at the Highlander too, and at the Mazet. Specifically for singers, there is the Cavern on Wednesday nights where you have a band playing pop standards, and you go to the mic and sing. Same at the Caveau des Oubliettes, where there is a vocal and music “jam” several nights a week.
Susan
March 31, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Hi Brad,
What a fantastic resource you have here! I’m planning a trip to France in May but not planning to go through Paris this time. I’ll be visiting friends around Grenoble, Nice and Bordeaux. Any idea how I could find out about open mics in those areas? I’m especially interested in places that can provide accompaniment (guitar or piano)
Cheers,
Susan
bradspurgeon
April 1, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Hi Susan, the only place I can help you with is Nice. THere is a new open mic every second Monday in the cosy basement bar of an Irish Pub called the Snug. Don’t have the address, though. There are a few other places that sometimes have open stages. Some may not still exist, but you can ask at Shapko if they have any possibility of accommodating you. There is a pub on the old port that has one on Sunday nights – or did – called Ma Nolan’s. There is another pub that has an open mic sometimes as well, called, Paddy’s Pub. Also try King’s Pub. It’s all pretty changeable though, so I leave you to your own devices mostly! I will be there myself in late May….
Christy Moore
June 14, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Hey Brad, What a great resource. Thanks so much. I played open mic at the Highlander four years ago and had so much fun. I’m going to be in Paris next Thursday and Friday nights. I can’t find a schedule for The Mazet and wondered if it still has an open mic on Thursday nights.
Christy
bradspurgeon
June 15, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Hi, and thanks very much for the compliment. I first saw this comment while sitting in a taxi in the early hours of the morning last night/today, on my way back home from the Mazet bar open mic! Unfortunately, though, it was the last one before it takes a summer break. So you missed it by one week. It will start again in September. Also, I will not be in town when you are here, so we will miss each other. Good luck, have fun!
Christy Moore
June 16, 2012 at 8:09 pm
Sorry to hear that the Mazet open mic is closing for the summer and that I won’t get a chance to see you perform. I see in your blog post on the last night at the the Mazet, that you say there are others on Friday night. It looks like from your list above that Culture Rapide Barman’s and the Swan Bar are the other choices. Are there others? Also, do you think I would feel comfortable going to these places alone?
Christy
bradspurgeon
June 16, 2012 at 11:46 pm
You would have no problem in them alone, I assure you. They are not the busiest of open mics, or the most traditional. But if you have to do something on a Friday, that’s all that exists that I know of.
sophie
August 11, 2012 at 9:30 am
Hey Brad, great blog! super useful thank you.
I’ll be in Paris for work for a short few days from Wed Oct 3 till Monday Oct 8th and looking for open mic opportunities. I’m also a pop singer/songwriter with a few albums under my belt so keen to find opportunities to play in Paris whilst i’m there! I may be returning in April 2013 also, so i’m keen to investigate music venues for gig opportunities whilst i’m there in October. Are Ptit Bonheur la Chance and Pop-in still the best places to go for a solo acoustic act as far as open mic is concerned?
Thanks!
sophie (from Australia)
bradspurgeon
August 11, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Hi Sophie, sounds like a great plan. Yes, those two open mics are still good. Depends what you’re looking for out of them. The Coolin open mic on Mondays is a fun new one, and the others, Tennessee, Highlander, etc., remain excellent. You might want to try out the Cavern as a venue to play at, although the open mic is just a live karaoke with a band. I’m sure you will meet lots of people and make connections for venues while you’re here. Your time here coincides exactly with when I will be in Japan, so unfortunately we won’t meet….
Christy Moore
November 11, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Hey Brad, I wondered if you’re coming to Austin to cover the F1 races. I’d love to catch you at an open mic here in the live music capitol (I believe we claim “of the world,” which may sound arrogant to the international visitor, but still might well be true). Actually, I have a niggling aspiration to follow in your footsteps and compile a list of open mics in Austin and/or blog about my experiences at open mics here. Let me know if you’re coming in for the big event, and I’ll give you a run-down on the open mics I know about. Yours, Christy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSYzSMbwpx8
My current blog which has nothing at all to do with open mics http://signsofsomething.blogspot.com/
bradspurgeon
November 11, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Hi Christy! I will be in Austin starting on Wednesday night and lasting until the following Wednesday. I am indeed looking for open mics to play in – if you can help, that would be great. I have some names of places from people I have met from Austin (in Paris) but the choice is still pretty limited, and I understand there are a massive number of places. Would be great to meet you.
Ian Mooney
September 13, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Really great Blog. Helped me Find some Open mics When I moved to Paris. It really is a one stop shop for everything, you wont find it anywhere else. So far I have been able to try Tennessee and Coolin. Tennessee I found to be really really good. Its was packed downstairs and i got to do 4 songs and during the more quiet songs the crowd was quiet and listened and during the faster ones they joined in. a really good experience. James who ran it was really nice and helpfull. I also tried Coolin 2 times and its very well Organised and Run, I would say stay away from quiet songs there though as its hard to hear yourself with the busy crowd. 10 out of 10 to Brad for the blog and work putting it together
bradspurgeon
September 13, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Thanks a million Ian, nice comments! Makes me want to continue!
Judy
September 18, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Hi Brad, Thanks for the really helpful information. I live in London and visit Paris from time to time. Do any of these venue allow a cappella singing? Would you know whether some of the house bands play for ‘instrumentless’ singers?
Thanks, Judy
bradspurgeon
September 20, 2012 at 3:40 pm
In my experience they all allow acappella, and at most you can ask someone to play along with you. If you want to sing with a full-fledged band, the Cavern is a place to go. Thanks for the compliments.
Romain Gaia
September 25, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Hello !
A friend of mine saw you playing a couple of weeks ago in Paris. Then he was like: you have to invite this guy to your open mic, he is amazing and likes your kind of music.
So here I am ! I do organise an open mic every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. So next one is October 4th. The place is called “la kolok” it’s in the center of Paris (20 rue du croissant métro bourse or grands boulevards). and the music begins at 8pm, till midnight.
Like every other open mic i guess, we have mics…sono, guitars etc….most of the time we do have a drummer playing cajon, shaker, very little cymbals, to play along with any artist without a rhythm section. Indeed it’s free to play and there’s an happy hour from 5 to 8 in the bar.
You can find us on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Kolok-Paris/120835964646965
We really try to promote jams ! Mainly with rock covers (N.Young, Radiohead, coldplay, pink floyd…)
feel free to contact me if you have any questions: romaingaia@hotmail.com
See you soon,
Romain
bradspurgeon
September 26, 2012 at 12:36 am
Thanks very much for that, and thanks for the compliments. I really want to go to this open mic, and I will as soon as I can. Too bad it is not EVERY Thursday. I am travelling so much at the moment that I miss a lot of Thursdays in Paris. I will be in Japan next week, so I will miss it then. But I will go as soon as it is on when I’m in Paris. Thanks again.
Bruce Anfinson
October 1, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Brad, I’m a Montana Cowboy singer songwriter and have been playing for a living for 40 years. I’ve performed around the world some and have a short notice trip coming up to Paris. Would you give me any direction of places to check out to perform as a gig or open mic that I might get some good exposure and response? I leave Montana Oct 9th and return the 19th. I own a ranch here and have wagonride dinners shows during the summer. The music web site is http://www.CharlieRussell.com ( then select about the artists) and the ranch site is http://www.LastChanceRanch.biz. thanks in advance for any information you might be able to give me.
Bruce Anfinson
Helena, Montana
bruce@mt.net
bradspurgeon
October 1, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Thanks very much for the comment, and interest. I am travelling through the first part of October, but I might be around in your final days in Paris. So I hope we can meet. The best place for you to find all answers to your question is in fact precisely on the page you have written this comment. I really can’t do any better than refer you to all the places listed on this page: http://bradspurgeon.com/articles-as-opposed-to-posts/thumbnail-guide-to-paris-open-mics-jam-sessions-and-other-live-music/
Tim Menees
October 14, 2012 at 5:41 am
Brad: Will probably play a couple songs on the piano at Le Tennessee Bar this Monday night (tomorrow). Played a couple last Monday. What talent they have at Open Mic — very impressive! If you’re in town and can stop by, would be great to meet you. Keep up the good work. Tim
bradspurgeon
October 14, 2012 at 6:27 am
Good luck, and thanks for letting me know. I will be playing at an open mic in Seoul, South Korea on Monday night, and flying back to Paris the following day for arrival on Wednesday – So I’ll miss you.
Tim Menees
November 13, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Brad: Sorry I missed you this time around. I got to the Le Tennessee Bar twice and played the piano a bit. It’s a fun spot and the open mic is very well run. As I said earlier, it gets a lot of talented musicians. Next time I hope to stop by a couple other spots you’ve listed. Again, many thanks for your blog and all the help you pass along. It adds a special note to a special city.
bradspurgeon
November 13, 2012 at 8:23 pm
Sorry we missed each other, but thanks for the compliments – I’m glad the blog has been helpful….
Christy Moore
November 13, 2012 at 4:42 am
Brad,
I started writing you back last night, but I don’t think I ever sent it. Did you get long-winded description of Poodie’s Hilltop Bar from me? Anyway, I’m thinking of going to the open mic at Flipnotics on Thursday night with a friend. I’ve never actually been there, but it’s kind of a funky little coffee house/bar on Barton Springs Road. Love to meet you there or somewhere in the next week. Or let me know if you need a ride.
Christy
bradspurgeon
November 13, 2012 at 5:26 pm
I didn’t receive your long-winded description, unfortunately – you can tell by my blog that I am a fan of “long-winded.” But I check out these names and compare on my list, and let you know what I can do. Thanks.
bradspurgeon
November 15, 2012 at 11:59 pm
Christy, really sorry to take so long to respond. I will explain later if I see you. I am definitely going to Flipnotics tonight. It turns out that it is within a fairly short walking distance from my hotel!!!!
Christy Moore
November 13, 2012 at 9:13 pm
What I was trying to say in the long-winded comment I started and never sent was this: there are two main categories of open mics in Austin. Most of them are hip coffee houses, restaurants and bars in central Austin. But there’s another category of divey honky-tonk sorts of bars outside the city limits. The patrons lean more toward Nascar than F1. My favorite is Poodie’s Hilltop Bar which is about 10 or 15 miles outside of town. It’s a humble, low-ceilinged place with a bar on one side of the room, a ground level stage on the other side, and several 4X4 pillars between the two that you have to crane to look around if you want to see the stage. Poodie was Willie Nelson’s roadie, and sometimes Willie would show up unannounced at midnight after a local performance (Willie lives out in the that neck of the woods). Poodie died a few years ago and I think Willie’s surprise appearances have come to a halt. One night I was at Poodie’s and on my way to the ladies room I passed by a table that had been vacated temporarily by the patrons who had been sitting there. It appeared they were on their way back – probably just stepped out to the parking lot to get high. There were bags and sweaters thrown over the backs of the chairs crowded around the table. The ashtrays on the table were full. There was a half-eaten bowl of nuts. And a jug of some brownish liquid that looked homemade. The kicker is that one of the empty chairs around the table was a wheelchair. Poodie’s open mic is on Wednesday so I think it doesn’t fall into your schedule, and I’m not sure it’s what you’re looking for anyway. But it’s certainly an interesting patch of local color and they let you play more than two songs.
bradspurgeon
November 13, 2012 at 10:36 pm
Wow, thank you so much! This is invaluable! Just in time before I go to bed, then get up and travel, travel, travel to Austin. Thanks again!
Christy Moore
November 14, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Welcome to Austin.
bradspurgeon
November 15, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Thanks!
Jack Handyside
December 1, 2012 at 8:48 am
Haha not a problem man!
I’m currently in Paris as an expat. So I’ve been eager to break through the language barrier and play with other musicians in the area,
Would you recommend any open mics in particular for a decent experience? I was looking at the highlander the other day and it seemed pretty ok!
All the best!
bradspurgeon
December 1, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Highlander or Vieux Léon for Wednesday. Tuesday Ptit Bonheur la Chance. Monday Coolin.
martina
December 10, 2012 at 8:31 am
hey, very nice article, thank you!! do you maybe know open mics where there are drums ??
bradspurgeon
December 10, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Hi Martina, I should start incorporating that information my descriptions, since I have people asking often about pianos, now drums…. Off the top of my head… last night the open mic at the Lizard Lounge, which unfortunately is just once a month – next one on 6 January – always seems to have a drum set. Otherwise, the vocal jam at the Cavern has one, but it is not for use by the people who sing – there is a house band. So not much good…. I think all of the jams at the Caveau des Oubliettes have a drum set for use by whoever wants to play them. That’s all I can think of off the top of my head… oh, they seem to have a single drum machine box thing that the organizer of the open mic at the Baroc on Tuesday nights plays with and he would perhaps let anyone use it.
Anthony Bernhauser
January 17, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Hello Brad,
My name is Anthony Bernhauser and I am a professional singer/songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. I will be traveling to Paris the last week of March in 2013 and I am looking forward to playing at some of the Open Mics listed on your amazing Blog! I am looking to play as many Open Mics as I can in one, two, or three nights. I have even considered trying to book a show at a venue like the Galway club but I don’t know if that would be possible. Any advice? My music is acoustically driven and is reminiscent of a Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Ben Harper esq vibe, but I’m told my originality still shines through. With that being said I play Rock/Pop and everything in between. You can check out my music at http://www.abernmusic.com if you would like to have a listen. I read your blog about playing 3 open mics in one night (at the Tennessee, Coolin, and Galway Pub) and I wonder if that is something I also may be able to do? Any recommendations that you can make to me would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks so much,
Anthony
bradspurgeon
January 19, 2013 at 12:26 am
Hi Anthony, thanks for the nice comment. I listened to your music, and it sounds great. I hope I’m not traveling when you are in Paris so I can see you perform.
For doing as many open mics as possible in Paris I suggest if you are only here one to three days then it is best to choose Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Doing three open mics in one night is possible, but often a difficult balance and a bit of luck is required. On Mondays, if you get to the Coolin by 8:30 you can sign up there, but the music starts at 9:30, so you can run over to the Tennessee, which is not far off, and play there if you get lucky – the MC does not make a list – then run back to the Coolin, and then walk to the Galway if it is still only around 11 PM or so. The Galway only goes until 12:30 usually.
On Tuesdays if you want to try more than one open mic it is more complicated, as the two main options are the Baroc – near Col. Fabien metro – and the Ptit Bonheur la Chance, near the Pantheon. These are far away, and both tend to be crowded, so it is rare to be able to do both. I usually just do the Ptit Bonheur la Chance, which is one of the very best.
Then on Wednesday it is another difficult thing, but if you get to the Highlander very early – 8:00 – and get early on the list, then chances are you can walk over the 15 minute walk to the Vieux Leon and play there to finish the night – although it often ends around midnight.
All those are on my open mic list that you saw.
As far as a gig somewhere, well, that is something that tends to grow out of playing at a place and being heard and meeting people – as with anywhere. But I see no reason why you should not try to contact people at the bars on my list and see if they want to hire you for a gig (although little money, if any, ever gets paid in most of those places). Same as everywhere on earth!
Matt Baca
January 28, 2013 at 7:47 pm
thanks for this list. I’m a standup comedian from Denver, Colorado and will be doing some shows in London next week. How are the shows for standup comedy? and would you recommend any show to drop in and do a 5 min set in English? thanks!
bradspurgeon
January 29, 2013 at 2:32 am
THanks for the comment, Matt. I’m not very knowledgable about the comedy open mics in Paris, and it is not common to mix comedy with music open mics here. I can say that I do know that you can do comedy at the open mic on Friday night at the Cabaret Culture Rapide, which is on my list here. And English will pass OK, even though it is primarily a French open mic. But there are often English language people in the audience, and lots of the French will understand. I have seen a magician at the Baroc open mic on Tuesdays, so it might be possible there, but it could be more difficult there. I have seen some theatrical comedy and spoken word at the Ptit Bonheur la Chance open mic on Tuesdays, and it is a very cool and hip audience in general. You might want to check it out and see how it feels, then ask the MC if you can do a comedy routine. It’s pretty open, even if predominantly just music.
Matt Baca
January 30, 2013 at 12:15 am
Hi Brad! Thanks so much the information. I’ll confer with my comedy buddy, and we’ll go from there. Hope to see you soon in the City of Light!
Ceri
February 13, 2013 at 8:01 am
Hi, My boyfriend and I are in Paris 25th – 28th Feb, he plays jazz drums and I would love to find an open mic where he could play do you have any suggestions? Thanks x
bradspurgeon
February 15, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Hi Ceri, yes, definitely. Go to the Caveau des Oubliettes on the rue Galande. They have a drum set and it’s an open jam session. Do a google search to find their hours and exactly what kind of jam it is on which day… I know they do several per week in the early part of the week. The styles vary by theme each day. That’s the only one that really jumps out in my mind. You won’t want to do it every night, I am pretty sure, anyway, so that should do it!
Oh, also, there is a jazz jam at the Duc des Lombards, but I think it is on the weekend. You could find their site too on the web.
Anthony Bernhauser
February 15, 2013 at 9:27 pm
Hey Brad,
Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. Thank you so much for all your help. I plan on Trying to perform at the Tennessee and the Galway Open Mic on Monday, and then Highlander on Wednesday. Are these venues close to a subway or tain stop?
Thanks,
Anthony Bernhauser
Eric
February 16, 2013 at 11:26 am
Hi Brad,
This is great thanks for this highly usefull list. I tried to compile one (and keep it updated) and i know it takes a bit of work.
I would add that the biz’art jam has unfortunately stopped,
And I would add the “Piston Pelican” as a nice little bar regularly featuring live music .
Thanks for all this
Eric (harmonica player – we met a couple times in the biz’art)
bradspurgeon
February 17, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Thanks very much Eric. I’m going to cut out the Biz’art…. too bad! I remember you and your harmonica….
Katherine Curnow
February 27, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Hi Brad,
Firstly, thank you so much for your blog! I found it ages ago but am heading back to Paris in April so went straight to google to find it again. I’m a soul/R&B singer and am really interested in hitting up one or two of the open mic nights but unfortunately I don’t play an instrument (yet). I’m really into the neo-soul/r&B/hip hop scene but also am a lover of jazz. Is there any open mic nights that you’d suggest I definitely check out? I will be in Paris from a Friday to Monday. I was quite keen on going to Anthracite but won’t be able to go to that. Are there ones that have house musicians that could possibly accompany me?
Thanks so much and keep it up with the blog, really enjoyable read!
KC x
bradspurgeon
February 27, 2013 at 3:05 pm
Hi, thanks for the comment. Friday and Saturday are the worst nights for open mics in Paris – almost nothing to speak of. Sunday night, it depends which Sunday of the month, often. Monday, if you are here in the night, you have the Tennessee where there is a piano and often musicians who can accompany you. But not certain. Unfortunately the one that is completely and entirely custom made for you is the one at the Cavern, which is on Wednesday nights and has a house band with which you sing. Even so, check out the web site for the Caveau des Oubliettes, which has musicians who jam together as a group and a vocalist who also joins them – but I cannot remember which nights are which for the kind of music they do. If you google the name you should find the site that lists when they have jams – it would work too. Oh, a final thought is the Swan Bar, which has its open mic on Wednesdays, but also does a kind of open stage late on Fridays and Saturdays, usually from midnight to 2 AM – but you should check first with them. There is a pianist who can accompany your singing, and the style will work. The Swan Bar is on my list.
Katherine Curnow
March 4, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Hi Brad, Thanks so much for your swift response! Well I get in at 3pm on the Wednesday so I might actually check out the Cavern. Would you suggest I get there really early? Or maybe check out their website and contact them directly? If I have time the other nights, I might check out the other venues you mentioned. Thank you again, I really appreciate it!
bradspurgeon
March 4, 2013 at 2:42 pm
No need to arrive early, and I suspect that writing to their web site might be a waste of time. I suggest you arrive around 10:45 PM, as the jam starts at 10:30…but never does. Then you just raise your hand and say you would like to sing. They take you. You could even arrive at midnight and do the same thing, in my experience.
Tom Doublier
May 22, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Hi, I was wondering where there would be a jam with a drum set there that I could “sit in” I am in paris at the moment for the next 8 days.
bradspurgeon
May 22, 2013 at 5:26 pm
Go to any of the jams at the Caveau des Oubliettes.