"There's Always Something To Do" Cincy/Ohio Open Mic & Event List | Blog
- Feb 15, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
When I was in High School while 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: 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 & Websites
Contact Info for Host, Curator, Team, Venue, Etc.
SPOKEN WORD & POETRY
VERSES & VIIBES "A Collective of Artistry" hosted by Maia & curated by SoL aka Mista STAYonLIT
Artist Night for Poets, Writers, Singers, Rappers, Comedians, Dancers, Visual Artists, Craftsmen, Business Owners, Actors/Actresses, Vendors, etc.
Open Ended from Everyone to Mature Audiences, Children Welcome If Supervised
Every 2nd Wednesday of the Month | Wednesday, August 12, 2026
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Doors Open @ 6:30 PM / Open Mic Opens @ 7 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 / One Free Vendor Table (Contact SoL for Slots)
SoL
513-487-8312
Maia Chanel
VERSES & VIIBES
Muse Café
The Art Of Spoken Word: "Don't Be Nice, Be Nasty..." Erotic Poetry Night hosted by Ty Victoria & curated by Eight Twenty Media
Spoken Word & Erotic Poetry Open Mic
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
Every 2nd Wednesday of the Month | Wednesday, August 12, 2026
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Doors Open @ 8 PM / Mic Opens @ 9 PM
Somerset Bar | 139 E McMicken Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Event, Venue, & Parking Details
Sound/Audio File Setup
Free Admission / RSVP (Optional), $25 Vendor Table & $35 Food Vendor Space Registration @ https://www.eighttwenty.co/event-details-registration/erotic-poetry-open-mic-night-2026-08-12-20-00
Ty Victoria
Eight Twenty Media
Wordplay Thursday: A Poetry Open Mic hosted by Lucky Lee
Spoken Word, Poetry & Acapella Open Mic w/ Feature
Mature Audiences / Open Ended
Every 2nd Thursday of the Month | Thursday, June 13, 2025
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
7 PM Mic Opens / 8 PM Featured Poet / 8:30 Mic Opens
SWELL Art Cafe | 2936 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225
Venue Info
Venue Details
Wired Microphone w/ Venue's Speaker System
Free Admission / Donations Optional for Featured Poet
Lucky Lee
SWELL Art Cafe
AMaysing ENT presents: Soulful Saturdays hosted by Nanci Mays & curated by Eight Twenty Media
Spoken Word/Poetry & Open to Other Artistic Expressions
All Ages | Open Ended (Minors Must Be Accompanied by An Adult)
Every 2nd Saturday of the Month | Friday, August 15, 2025
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Doors Open @ 6 PM / Mic Opens @ 7 PM
The Greenwich | 2442 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Venue Details/Parking
Sound/Audio File Setup
$10 At The Door & EightTwenty.com / Donate to Nanci (Surgery Fund) [Any Amount] / Vendor Table Space for $25
Nanci Mays
Nedia Mays Magruder
Eight Twenty Media
The Art Of Spoken Word: Featuring.... Night hosted by Just Dave & curated by Eight Twenty Media
Spoken Word & Poetry Open Mic
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
Every 3rd Wednesday of the Month | Wednesday, August 19, 2026
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Doors Open @ 8 PM / Mic Opens @ 9 PM
Somerset Bar | 139 E McMicken Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Event, Venue, & Parking Details
Sound/Audio File Setup
Free Admission / RSVP (Optional), $25 Vendor Table & $35 Food Vendor Space Registration @ https://www.eighttwenty.co/event-details-registration/the-art-of-spoken-word-poetry-open-mic-night-somerset-2026-08-19-19-00
Just Dave
Eight Twenty Media
Open Mic Night hosted by Zeda Stew
Spoken Word/Poetry Open Mic
Family-Friendly for Everyone & Mature Audiences, If You Bring Children Must Request No Cursing.
Every 3rd Thursday of the Month | Friday, August 20, 2026
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Doors Open @ 5:30 PM / Mic Opens @ 6 PM
Harriet Beecher Stowe House | 2950 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Event & Venue Details
Parking Details
Sound System & Audio Connections
$7.18 on Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-mic-night-august-tickets-1989673394684?aff=erellivmlt)
Zeda Stew
Harriet Beecher Stowe House
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, July 29, 2025
8:00 PM – 11:00 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
The Art Of Spoken Word: Paint & Sip Edition hosted by Cleöcrt & curated by Eight Twenty Media
Painting & Networking Open Mic
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
Every 4th Wednesday of the Month | Wednesday, July 29, 2026
7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Doors Open @ 8 PM / Mic Opens @ 9 PM
Somerset Bar | 139 E McMicken Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Event, Venue, & Parking Details
Sound/Audio File Setup
$10 At The Door & @ https://www.eighttwenty.co/event-details-registration/paint-sip-open-mic-hosted-by-cleocrt-2026-07-29-20-00
Cleöcrt
Eight Twenty Media
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, July 26, 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
Poetry at Artifact hosted by Ellen Austin-Li
Poetry Reading Open Mic w/ Feature(s)
All Ages | Open-Ended/Family-Friendly
Every 1st Tuesday of the Month | Tuesday, August 4, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Radio Artifact | 1660 Blue Rock St Suite 0, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Event & Venue Details
Parking Details
Wired Microphone w/ Mixer to Single Boom Speaker.
Free Admission
Ellen Austin-Li
Poetry at Artifact
Radio Artifact
Poetry at the /'tāb(ə)l/ hosted by B. Elizabeth Beck
Poetry Reading Open Mic w/ Feature(s)
All Ages | Open Ended (Minors Must Be Accompanied by An Adult)
Every First Wednesday of the Month | Wednesday, August 5, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Kenwick Table | 201 Owsley Ave, Lexington, KY 40502
Event & Venue Details
Parking Details
Sound System & Audio Connections
Free Admission
Poetry at the /'tāb(ə)l/
B. Elizabeth Beck
Kenwick Table
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:
The Art Of Spoken Word: Open Mic Night… No Features, Just Bars hosted by Nanci Mays & curated by Eight Twenty Media
Spoken Word & Poetry Open Mic
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
Every 1st Wednesday of the Month | Wednesday, August 5, 2026
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Doors Open @ 8 PM / Mic Opens @ 9 PM
Somerset Bar | 139 E McMicken Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Event, Venue, & Parking Details
Sound/Audio File Setup
RSVP (Optional), $25 Vendor Table & $35 Food Vendor Space Registration @ https://www.eighttwenty.co/event-details-registration/the-art-of-spoken-word-poetry-open-mic-night-somerset-2026-08-05-19-00
Nanci Mays
Eight Twenty Media
Somerset Bar
Peripatetic Poets Cincinnati Open Mic hosted by Matt Farley
Poetry Reading Open Mic w/ Feature(s)
All Ages | Open-Ended/Family-Friendly
Every 1st Saturday of the Month | Saturday, August 1, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Muse Café | 3018 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45211
Venue Details/Parking
Sound/Audio File Setup
Free Admission
Peripatetic Poets
Matt Farley
Muse Café
Poetry Night at The Warehouse Church hosted by Pastor Sherman Bradley
Spoken Word/Poetry Open Mic
All Ages | Family Friendly
Friday, July 31, 2026
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)
Pastor Sherman B. Bradley
DJ Apryl Reign
The Warehouse Church
The Art Of Spoken Word: Love & Laughter Open Mic hosted by Big Kev & curated by Eight Twenty Media
Spoken Word & Comedy Open Mic
Age Requirement | Expression Levels (Family Friendly, Mature Content, Open Ended)
*Every EXTRA (4th) Wednesday of the Month | ???????
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Doors Open @ 8 PM / Mic Opens @ 9 PM
Somerset Bar | 139 E McMicken Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Event, Venue, & Parking Details
Sound/Audio File Setup
Free Admission / RSVP (Optional), $25 Vendor Table & $35 Food Vendor Space Registration @ https://www.eighttwenty.co/event-details-registration/the-art-of-spoken-word-poetry-open-mic-night-somerset-2026-07-22-19-00
Big Kev
Eight Twenty Media
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, July 19, 2026
From 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Doors Open @ 6:30 PM / Open Mic Opens @ 7 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
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:
POETRY SHOWS & EVENTS
WRITING WORKSHOPS
SONG & MUSIC
KARAOKE
Second Story Karaoke Night hosted by Cleöcrt & curated by Eight Twenty Media
Event Type & Artistic Expressions
Intended Audience | Age Requirements
Soloists • Duets • Groups
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday of the Month | Wednesday, August 6, 2026 & Wednesday, August 20, 2026
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Second Story | 100 W 6th St #2, Covington, KY 41011
Event & Venue Details
Parking Details
Sound System & Audio Connections
Free Admission / RSVP (Optional) & $25 Vendor Table @ https://www.eighttwenty.co/event-details-registration/karaoke-thursdays-second-story-2026-07-23-20-00
Cleöcrt
Second Story
Karaoke w/ Brad
Karaoke Night
Intended Audience | Age Requirements
Every Wednesday | Wednesday, July 22, 2026 & Wednesday, July 29, 2026
9:00 PM – 2:30 AM
Chameleon Pizza | 4114 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Event & Venue Details
Main & Side Street Parking Where Permitted. Public Parking w/ Payment Off of Blue Rock Street.
Sound System & Audio Connections
Free Admission
Karaoke Brad
Chameleon Pizza
Karaoke w/ KD1 Live on TikTok
Online Karaoke
Intended Audience | Age Requirements
Hip-Hop & R&B
Every Saturday | Saturday, July 25, 2026
9:30 PM – 2:30 AM
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@kd1tiktok
Sound System & Audio Connections
Free Admission
KD-One
LIVE MUSIC/OPEN JAM
Monday Jazz Night @ The Lounge hosted by Justin Dawson & Mike Wade
Live Jazz Feature & Open Jam for Musicians & Singers
Intended Audience | Age Requirements
Every Monday | Monday, July 20th, 2026
8:00 PM – 12:30 AM
Doors Open @ 8:00 PM / Lounge House Band Plays @ 8:30 PM PM / Open Jam Begins @ 10 PM
The Lounge (Northside) | 3938 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Event & Venue Details
Parking Details
Microphones, Speaker System & Piano
Free Admission (Except The Last Monday of The Month)
Justin Dawson
Mike Wade
The Lounge
COMEDY
PAST OPEN MICS & EVENTS
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