OPEN MICS

This is a current list of open mics within New London county (and select Westerly, RI)

*Last Updated 5/12/25


Weekly Mondays: 
Songwriter's Open Mic @ Perks & Corks (Westerly, RI)
(A weekly open mic every Monday; Sign ups 7:30-8:30pm. Original music only, solo acoustic and must sing and play an instrument; 8-11pm)


Weekly Tuesdays: 
Unplugged / Acoustic Open Mic Night @ Strange Brew Pub
(Hosted weekly by locally based musician Danny Fleet! Acoustic open mic with weekly featured musician, free, music at 7:30pm,!)

Weekly Wednesdays: 
Open Mic / Jam Night @ Milestone
(Hosted by Greg Sherrod; 8-11pm)


Weekly Wednesdays: 
Open Mic Night @ The Barn
(Weekly open mic 7-10pm / 21+)


Monthly 1st Thursday:
Open Mic @ Hygienic Art
(Monthly open mic hosted by comedian, Dame FK; all talents welcome! 
2 song time slot for musicians; 5:30-7pm)


Monthly 2nd Thursday:
Open Jam @ Strange Brew Pub Norwich
(Open jam every second Thursday of the month at Strange Brew Pub in Norwich; bring your band, play solo or collaborate with other musicians or come down and enjoy the open mic talent; full back line of drums, percussion, amps and more; 7:30pm / free admission /21+)


Monthly Thursday:
Open Mic @ Golden Owl 
(Monthly open mic hosted by Goose. Guitars and piano available for use or bring your own instrument. All ages and skill levels welcome. Check Golden Owl website for event dates.7-10pm)


Monthly 2nd Friday:
Open Mic @ Nightingale's Acoustic Cafe
(Monthly open mic hosted by Terri & Rob; Minimum 3 songs for each performer (additional, if time allows). House piano and sound system available. Bring your instrument, your originals, your covers, your friends. All ages welcome! $5 pp door donation; 7-9pm).


Monthly Last Friday:
Teen Open Mic @ Nightingale's Acoustic Cafe
(Monthly teen open mic held on the last Friday of the month; Calling all teens 11-19! Stop in to sing solo or with other teens in the area. All levels invited to drop in to perform their music and try out new songs with our growing audience of you music enthusiasts Lots of fun... meet new teens who just love to perform and learn to perform in front of a live audience; $5 door donation; 6:30-9pm)


Monthly 4th Sunday:
Open Mic @ Custom House Maritime Museum
(Monthly Open mic co-hosted by Kenny "Doc" Frazier and Christina Corcoran. We welcome music, poetry or prose. Open to all ages and abilities for fun camaraderie! Bring instruments and perform or just sit back and enjoy! Last Sunday of every month 6-9pm)


Bi-Monthly on 4th Sunday:
Youth-On-The-Mic  @ The Knickerbocker (Westerly, RI)
(Presented by The United Theatre and The Knickerbocker Music Center; Held every other month on the 4th Sunday; an open mic series for 6th to 12th graders who want to perform, sing or play music (whether original or covers) to an audience; 5-8pm)





LOVE & PRESS

"I just wanted to thank you for all you do for the local music community. I have tonight off so I went to the wailing city site to see who was playing. It’s amazing all the work you put in for all the local musicians and venues and I just wanted to thank you."
- Phil Smith (musician)

"...my new best friend Meghan Killimade, who's site Wailing City, lets me find all the latest local bands -- where they are playing and the times -- has suddenly been a big help in letting me find some events outside of my usual box!"
- Stephanie Shawn "Bar Fly Journals"
(Sound Waves Magazine)
Published December 2024

"Wailing City is this absolutely fantastic local music blog here in CT. They've been the place to go to find out what's happening, what's new and why you should care for well over a decade. Graciously, they interviewed us about the new album, the book, the film and all that. While touring throughout the years, we've sometimes felt like 'one foot in, one foot out' with the local scene, but they've always made us feel right at home. Thanks Wailing City."
- Pocket Vinyl (band)

"There are a staggering 64 documented live music performances in my home of New London county, CT today alone! The population of this county is only 268,805 and it is only 772 square miles. That is an incredible saturation of venues hosting live music and is a stark contrast to places I've lived in the past! You would be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the country that has so much live music. Amazing really! Thank you for the hard work documenting and promoting Wailing City!"
-Travis Hyll (musician)

"Wailing City appreciation post: true champions of the New London county music scene. Follow them!"
-Dirt Pile (band)

"We wanna take a minute to shout out our friends over at Wailing City for always helping to spread the word about our shows. They've been curating the most comprehensive live music calendar for SECT since 2006. If you don't already, give them a follow."
- 33 Golden Street (venue)

"Wailing City should be your first check in for all local music schedules. Thank you so much for all your efforts in promoting the scene!!
- David Schena (musician)

"Wailing City has been keeping the calendar up to date since I first started going to shows 20 years ago. We’re lucky to have Meghan volunteer her time to help keep the scene going!"
-James Burke (musician)

"With a little footwork and a short drive I managed to visit three live music shows on Bank Street last night... New London ROCKS...and all made possible searching out local music on Wailing City... thanks Meghan."
- Don Diederich (musician / local music fan)

"If you don't have ears, then it's possible you're not aware that southeastern Connecticut - specifically New London County - has an incredibly vibrant music scene. Over the years, it's gone from a hotbed of indie rock to an area of musicians, fans and venues that support a complex and varied number of artistic styles. The wailingcity.com web site - newly and lovingly redesigned - is a tremendous resource. A labor of affection and devotion conceptualized in 2006, wailingcity.com boasts artist bios, reviews and interviews, a club and band data base and calendars, videos, audio streaming, and cross-referenced links on all of the above - as well as lists of music services such as instrument instruction, record and retail stores, related media and periodicals, festival information, and so on. It's the brainchild of musician/artist Meghan Killimade, (and contributors), and they do a terrific job."
- RICK KOSTER (The Day) Published April 03. 2014

“Wailing City, is, as of now, probably the most successfully comprehensive listing on local and area shows in Southeastern Connecticut on the Internet; the folks at Wailing City are doing an excellent job of making sounds from the underground.”
-Ben Johnson (The Day) Published July 27, 2006