The Lure of an Open Microphone

Up for a unique musical experience? Itching to sample the area’s wealth of musical talent? Got an urge to perform in public yourself? There’s no better place to indulge these whims than at an open microphone, or “open mic,” evening. They’re happening most weekday nights at local watering holes, restaurants , and meeting places (see listing below). They deliver a lot of fun for free or at very low cost. 

Anyone who wants to can perform. On any given evening, you’re likely to hear professional as well as amateur musicians; sometimes a comic or poet pops in. Genre-wise, singer-songwriter ballads with folk or rock roots dominate, but at The Barn at the Egremont Village Inn recently I heard blues, an original song in Dutch, and Hawaiian pop à la Don Ho. The most delightful thing: you never quite know what’s up next.

Open mics are for songwriters trying out new material as well as for cover versions and sing-alongs of favorites. They’re for taking risks, which can be exciting. You may get an up-close, ground-floor view of a young performer destined for stardom, or be first to hear a song that later becomes a hit. Or you may hear talented amateurs who have quietly nurtured their music for decades while working their day jobs. You’ll hear guitars—lots of guitars!—but you may also hear fiddles, harmonicas, mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, keyboards, horns, drums, tambourines, flutes and rap.

“It’s authentic, in a comfortable setting, with nice atmosphere,” said audience member Emma Wiltshire, at The Barn on a recent Wednesday night. A recent transplant from East Hampton, Long Island, she compared the evening favorably with more ostentatious open mic shows she had attended in the New York City area.

Indeed, performers at the Northwest Corner open mic events typically sing with heartfelt emotion and honesty — a breath of fresh air from today’s commercial pop. Quality can range from absolutely amazing to cringe-inducing. If you don’t like a particular performer, however, relief is just a song or two away: there’s typically a 10- or 15-minute limit to each performer’s set, and every act gets applause.

I gathered up my courage and my Martin guitar and did my first open mic performance two years ago at Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk. I covered a Robbie Robertson ballad and also sang about squirrels darting in front of cars. The audience was very kind, and I was hooked. These days, I’m the MC every other Tuesday at Great Falls Brewing Company’s open mic in North Canaan, but I still visit other venues when I can.

Here’s a sampling of open mic nights in the area. There’s typically no cover charge, but you may be asked for a small donation.

Tuesdays: 7 to 9:30 p.m., Great Falls Brewing Company. 1 Railroad Plaza, North Canaan, CT. www.greatfallsbrews.com. 860-453-4076. Mostly acoustic tunes in a delightful brew pub.

Wednesdays:  7:30 to 10 p.m., The Barn at the Egremont Village Inn. Electric and acoustic performances with a great sound system at a musician-friendly bar/restaurant, 17 Main St. South Egremont, MA, www.theegremontbarn.com, 413-528-1570. 

Thursdays: 8 to 10 p.m. Infinity Music Hall and Bistro. Feel inspired by nationally acclaimed acts performing onstage next door.  20 Greenwoods Road West (Route 44), Norfolk, CT www.infinityhall.com/norfolk-bistro/special-events. 860-542-5531.

Thursdays: starting at 7 p.m., Hootenanny at The Guthrie Center, you can sing anything you want. 2 Van Deusenville Road, Great Barrington, MA.  www.guthriecenter.org/programs. 413-528-1955. 

First Saturday of every month:  7 to 10 p.m. 12 Moons Coffeehouse,  The Center on Main, 103 Main St., Falls Village, CT. Great acoustics and yummy snacks in renovated church. https://sites.google.com/site/twelvemoonscoffeehouse.

Second Wednesday of every month, 7:30 p.m., Mizza’s Pizza Song Swap,  Sit on the porch with your favorite pie.  6 Ethan Allen Street, Lakeville, CT. www.mizzas.com/events.html. (860) 435-6266.