5 of London’s Best Jam Nights and Open Mics
With so many budding musicians in the capital, it’s no surprise to find the tradition of the jam night alive and well in London. With a plethora of great bars, pubs and venues hosting their own take on this live music mainstay, jam nights and open mics give music-lovers a chance to get up on stage with other musicians. Perfect for professionals honing their improvisational skills, or hobbyists looking to have fun and meet new people.
Today we’re highlighting just a few of the very best regular jam nights taking part in London, so if you’ve long been itching to show off your hidden talents, read on.
HOXTON JAM @ TROY BAR
(Wednesdays)
Shoreditch’s Troy Bar specialises in jazz, funk and soul and attracts a devoted community of music obsessives. As such, the bar is able to draw on the passions of its community for one of London’s most successful regular jam nights, Hoxton Jam which boasts players of all ages and all styles coming together to share their skills and socialise. The venue also hosts their Spirit and Soul open mic night every Tuesday Night at which stars such as Macy Gray, Jessie J, Erykah Badu have made surprise appearances.
OLD FASHIONED @ THE OLD QUEENS HEAD, ISLINGTON
(See Facebook for dates)
An open mic with a pleasingly retro twist, The Old Queen’s Head’s Old Fashioned nights place a “pre-1965” restriction on any prospective performers, leading to a night that’s full of jazz standards, rock n roll, blues, and rhythm & blues tunes (and mercifully free of some guy with a guitar doing a “stripped back” acoustic cover of Mr Brightside). With backing provided by the venue’s exceptional house band, it’s a no-brainer for anyone looking to enjoy some classic sounds. Check out more pics at oldfashionedlive on Instagram.
MUSIC MARMALADE JAM NIGHT @ THE CHELSEA LODGE, FULHAM
(Every other Wednesday)
Now entering its fifth year, this fortnightly open mic night has found a new home for 2019 at The Chelsea Lodge in Fulham. Featuring a top quality live band lead by vocalist Chelsey Chantelle Rydzinski, Music Marmalade is sure to be a hit with Fulhamites and West Londoners looking for their jam night fix. Events take place every other Wednesday so it’s worth checking Facebook for upcoming dates.
GREEN NOTE OPEN MIC @ GREEN NOTE, CAMDEN
(Last Tuesday of every month)
With a friendly, fun atmosphere and a reliably high standard of performances, Green Note’s Open Mic night is a huge hit for musicians from Camden and beyond, attracting packed houses and even a healthy queue to sign up for a slot. If you’re just lookiong to check out some great performances, the music starts at 7 pm, but if you’re eager to sign up, it’s worth turning up early to book your place.
RONNIE’S WEEKLY JAZZ JAM @ RONNIE SCOTT’S UPSTAIRS
(Wednesdays)
No respectable list of London’s best jam nights would be complete without a mention for the capital’s most famous jazz venue. There was a time when Ronnie Scott’s Weekly Jazz Jam was only known among the most obsessive jazz-lovers, but over the years its reputation and popularity have grown, attracting famous faces like Alex Zane, Alicia Keys, Paul Weller and Ian McKellen. Trumpeter Andy Davis leads a world-class band for an hour-long set, before opening the stage to the audience with music going on till 3 in the morning.
That’s all for today’s post but we’ll be back soon with more of our favourite jam nights and open mics. For more news and info on the latest live music events in London, be sure to follow HUM on Facebook and Instagram.
Did we miss any of your personal favourites? Or do you have an event you’d like to share with our followers? Let us know in the comments if you have any suggestions.
