"There's Always Something To Do" Cincy/Ohio Open Mic & Event List
- SoL
- Feb 15, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: May 18
I remember back in High School while I was riding the Metro Bus up the hill of Montana Ave to West High. I was having a ‘delusion of pessimism’ moment, as all angsty teenagers may have, thinking with a limited perception of all it was. And said to myself "There ain't nothing to do in this city." Besides the fact I had no car and was a lazy brat when it came to researching my city, that statement couldn't have been further from the truth. I have been exploring events, particularly open mics in Cincinnati since 2018. I found through my active research, talks with others, and sometimes dumb luck by getting out more, there is SO MUCH TO DO in this city. And then I thought, I said to myself "If I had that thought back then, someone else has also had it as well.
In the first year of going to as many poetry, and music, open mics in the city, it became clear not many people knew what was happening in the city to express themselves. So, I compiled a comprehensive list of open mics, and poetry events happening in the city. As the pandemic came and went, many open mics disappeared or have changed almost entirely.
So, I decided to reintroduce myself and others to where we can go to express themselves artistically. I've been excited to know more events have been coming up in the past year, and there are still some that are not currently on the list that I'm still researching, or have not even heard about...yet. This is an ever-growing list that features open mics, poetry events, music showcases, and more as I begin to explore the city (and in nearby cities) that always has something to do!
If you are familiar with open mic events, artists showcases, musical events that I should check out, or have any other questions on the list, then please leave a comment or send me an email. Enjoy the list, and go out and do something, because there's plenty to do, you just have to go look! :)
Original SoLar Open Mic List! on February 16, 2019 via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/composedinsolprofile/posts/424081931664274
FORMAT:
Event Name
Host / Curator
Event Type & Artistic Expressions
Intended Audience | Age Requirements
Frequency | Next Event Date
Timestamps
Location
Address
Event & Venue Details
Parking Details
Sound System & Audio Connections
Price of Admission
Event Page
Host, Curator, Team, Venue Contact Info(s)
POETRY OPEN MICS
VERSES & VIIBES "A Collective of Artistry"
Hosted by Maia & Queens Jurnee / Curated by SoL
Artist Night for Poets, Writers, Singers, Rappers, Comedians, Dancers, Visual Artists, Craftsmen, Business Owners, Actors/Actresses, Vendors, etc.
Open Ended for Mature Audiences, Children Welcome If Supervised
Monthly on the 2nd Wednesday (Wednesday, June 11, 2025)
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
@ Muse Café
3018 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45211
Event & Venue Details
Venue Parking Available
Bluetooth Boombox Speaker w/ Wired Microphone & AUX Cord for Artists Using Audio Tracks
Free Admission
SoL
513-487-8312
Maia
Queens Jurnee
Muse Café
MoPoetry Phillips Presents: Hit the Mic Cincy's Open Mic
Hosted by Nanci Mays
Spoken Word/Poetry & Open to Other Artistic Expressions
All Ages | Open Ended (Minors Must Be Accompanied by An Adult)
Every Month on a Friday (Friday, April 25, 2025)
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
@ Oasis at Grace
5524 Belmont Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224
Private Venue w/ cash bar for food, alcoholic drinks and refreshments. Parking available on the side of the building and across the street in College Hill Recreation Center parking lot.
Bluetooth Boombox Speaker w/ Wired Microphone. Artists Using Audio Tracks, Send Files to ??? @ ???.
$5 Presale / $10 At The Door
https://eventbrite.com/o/regal-rhythms-poetry-llc-33474191507 | CashApp: $MoneecaPhillips | PayPal: 1mopoetry@gmail.com | Venmo: @moneeca-phillips
MoPoetry Phillips
513-344-0870
Nanci Mays
Hit The Mic Cincy
The Oasis at Grace
Wordplay Thursdays
Hosted by Lucky Lee, Curated by Def Poets Society
Spoken Word & Acapella Open Mic w/ Feature
Mature Audiences / Open Ended
Every 3rd Thursday of the Month (Thursday, June 19, 2025)
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
(7 - 9 Networking | 9 - 10 Open Mic | 10 - 11 Featured Poet)
New Location TBA
Address
Venue Info
Venue Details
Wired Microphone w/ Venue's Speaker System
Free Admission / Donations Optional to Def Poets Society &/or Featured Poet
Lucky Lee
Nick Fury
Def Poets Society
Somerset Bar
Poetic Vogue @ The Greenwich
Hosted by Fresh the Poet
Spoken Word Open Mic w/ Live Band Music
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
Every Final Friday of the Month | Friday, May 30, 2025
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
@ The Greenwich
2442 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Venue Details/Parking
Sound/Audio File Setup
Free Admission
Fresh the Poet
David Oxner
Def Poets Society
Culture Club at The Jazz Spoon
Hosted by Jugh Jefner
Spoken Word & Artist Open Mic
Mature Audiences
Every 1st & 3rd Tuesdays | Tuesday, April 15, 2025 & May 6, 2025
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
@ The Jazz Spoon
610 Northland Blvd, Cincinnati, OH, 45240
Venue Details
Venue Parking Available
Wired Microphone w/ Venue's Speaker System & Bluetooth Connection for Artists Using Audio Tracks
Free Admission
Jugh Jefner
The Jazz Spoon
Perfect Verse Spoken Word + Poetry Night
Hosted by Ty Victoria
Spoken Word Performance w/ Live Band
Ages 16+
Open Ended/Mature Content
Every Last Wednesday of the Month | Wednesday, April 30, 2025
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
@ Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge
1432 Vine St, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Jazz Lounge w/ Bar, front/back patio for smoking or fresh air, two lounge areas (one near the bar, one near the stage). Parking lot next door is available. If not, other parking lots in the city and/or meter street parking in varying accessibility.
Microphone Connected to The Venue's Surround Sound System Accompanied w/ Live In-House Band & Musicians
Free Admission / RSVP is Recommended @ https://nostalgiaotr.com/reservations/
Ty Victoria
Nostalgia
Word of Mouth Cincinnati
Hosted by Jim Palmarini
Poetry Reading Open Mic w/ Feature(s)
All Ages | Open Ended (Minors Must Be Accompanied by An Adult)
Every Last Sunday of the Month | Sunday, April 27, 2025
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
@ MOTR Pub
1345 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Restaurant/Bar w/ front concert stage, downstairs area, & back patio. Street parking, metered and free, and Ziegler Park parking lot is available.
Wired Microphone w/ Venue Speaker System
Free Admission
Jim Palmarini
MOTR Pub
MOTR Open Mic Tuesdays - TO BE ANNOUNCED -
Host/Hostess
Poetry Open Mic
All Ages | Family Friendly
Date or Frequency/Day Of The Week | Date of Event
Time-Frame
The Warehouse Church (691 Fleming Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45231)
Event, Venue, & Parking Parking
Sound/Audio File Setup
Entry Fee
Ticket Link (If Entry Free or RSVP)
For More Info Contact:
Poetry Night at Sitwell's hosted by Ellen Austin-Li
Poetry Reading Open Mic w/ Feature(s)
All Ages | Open-Ended/Family-Friendly
First Tuesday of the Every Month | Tuesday, May 6, 2025
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Sitwell's Act II Coffeehouse (324 Ludlow Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220)
Coffeeshop w/ small brunch food options, back sitting and front sitting near performance area. Free/Metered parking on street(s) and nearby parking lots.
Wired Microphone w/ Mixer to Single Boom Speaker.
Free Admission
Ellen Austin-Li
Sitwells
Peripatetic Poets Open Mic
Hosted by Matt Farley
Poetry Reading Open Mic w/ Feature(s)
All Ages | Open-Ended/Family-Friendly
Monthly on the 1st Saturday | Saturday, May 3, 2025
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Muse Café (3018 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45211)
Venue Details/Parking
Sound/Audio File Setup
Free Admission
https://www.instagram.com/peripatetic_poets_cincinnati/ | https://www.facebook.com/groups/6438824826193056/
Matt Farley
Muse Café
Spoken Word Night at The Gallery Lounge
Spoken Word/Poetry Open Mic
Mature Audiences (21+)
Saturday, May 24, 2025
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM (Doors Open 5 PM | Show Starts 7 PM)
@ The Gallery off Vine: Cocktail Lounge
6819 Vine St Cincinnati Oh 45216
Event & Venue Details
Parking Details
Sound System & Audio Connections
Free Admission
Host, Curator, Team, Venue Contact Info(s)
Def Poetry Society presents Bring The Noise Poetry Slam
Hosted by Big Kev
Poetry Slam & Open Mic
Intended Audience | Age Requirements
Frequency | Next Event Date
Timestamps
Location
Address
Event & Venue Details
Parking Details
Sound System & Audio Connections
Price of Admission
Event Page
Host, Curator, Team, Venue Contact Info(s)
Poetry Night at The Warehouse Church - TO BE ANNOUNCED -
Host/Hostess
Poetry Open Mic
All Ages | Family Friendly
Date or Frequency/Day Of The Week | Date of Event
Time-Frame
@ The Warehouse Church
691 Fleming Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45231
Event, Venue, & Parking Parking
Sound/Audio File Setup
Entry Fee
Ticket Link (If Entry Free or RSVP)
For More Info Contact:
Dayton Poetry Slam
Hosted by Johnathon Gallienne / Curated by Link
Poetry Open Mic, Slam & Feature
All Ages | Open Ended (Minors Must Be Accompanied by An Adult)
Monthly Every 1st & 3rd Sunday w/ a Monthly Slam |
Sunday, April 20, 2025 & Sunday, May 4, 2025
From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
@ Yellow Cab Tavern
700 E 4th St, Dayton, OH 45402
Event & Venue Details
Venue Parking Available
Wired Microphone w/ Venue Speaker System
Admission $3
Johnathon Gallienne
Link
Yellow Cab Tavern
Event Name
Host/Hostess
Event Type
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
Date or Frequency/Day Of The Week | Date of Event
Time-Frame
Location
Event, Venue, & Parking Details
Sound/Audio File Setup
Entry Fee
Ticket Link (If Entry Free or RSVP)
Website(s)
For More Info Contact:
Event Name
Host/Hostess
Event Type
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
Date or Frequency/Day Of The Week | Date of Event
Time-Frame
Location
Venue Details/Parking
Sound/Audio File Setup
Entry Fee
Ticket Link (If Entry Free or RSVP)
Website(s)
For More Info Contact:
Ain't Right Tribe Midday Open Mic
Event Name
Host/Hostess
Event Type
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
Date or Frequency/Day Of The Week | Date of Event
Time-Frame
Location
Event, Venue, & Parking DetailsSound/Audio File Setup
Entry Fee
Ticket Link (If Entry Free or RSVP)
For More Info Contact:
Event Name
Host/Hostess
Event Type
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
Date or Frequency/Day Of The Week | Date of Event
Time-Frame
Location
Event, Venue, & Parking Details
Sound/Audio File Setup
Entry Fee
Ticket Link (If Entry Free or RSVP)
Website(s)
For More Info Contact:
SPOKEN WORD EVENTS
Arts Equity Collective's 4th Annual Survivor’s Ball, Awards, & Workshops "SOS: Save Our Selves" Featuring Ed Mabrey, T-Spirit & Obbie West
Hosted by MasterPiece & Hoodraised / Curated by MoPoetry Phillips
Friday, July 18, 2025 & Saturday, July 19, 2025
Intended Audience | Age Requirements
Frequency | Next Event Date
Timestamps
Location
Address
Event & Venue Details
Parking Details
Sound System & Audio Connections
$7.19 for Friday or Saturday & $12.52 Full Access for Both Days
Host, Curator, Team, Venue Contact Info(s)
WRITING WOKSHOPS
Writing for Healing Workshop by RC After Dark (RAD)
Hosted by Katarina Knehans & Amanda Stoddard
***** TO BE ANNOUNCED *****
Event Type
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
Date or Frequency/Day Of The Week | Time-Frame
@ Recovery Center of Hamilton County
2340 Auburn Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Event, Venue, & Parking Details
Sound/Audio File Setup
Entry Fee
Ticket Link (If Entry Free or RSVP)
For More Info Contact:
MUSIC
Coming Soon...
COMEDY
Tuesday Roast Comedy Night at The Jazz Spoon
Hosted by Big Kev
Comedy Open Mic (Poets & Artists Welcome)
Mature Audiences
Every 2nd & 4th Tuesdays | Tuesday, April 22, 2025
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
@ The Jazz House
610 Northland Blvd, Cincinnati, OH, 45240
Venue Details
Venue Parking Available
Wired Microphone w/ Venue's Speaker System & Bluetooth Connection for Artists Using Audio Tracks.
Big Kev
The Jazz Spoon
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