By Alyssa Ramsfield
For generations, our area has been a wealth of musical talent. Bands like Sleater-Kinney, The Gossip, and even Nirvana got their start right here in our community. Whether you are a performer yourself or a music enthusiast, Open Mic Nights are a great place to discover the next big thing.
Travel around Olympia and Thurston County to find an open mic night – either music or comedy – that matches your schedule.
Music Open Mic
Open Mic Mondays – The Westside Tavern
Start off your week right with Open Mic Mondays at the Westside Tavern. Performers take the stage beginning at 9:00 p.m. and run until closing. Musicians of every genre are welcome to perform up to three songs in their set.
Traditions Café offers a variety of music and days for performances. Sundays are a go-to for sing-a-longs. From a 60’s themed hootenany to a jazz jam session, Traditions has every genre covered. They even offer a night of open shape note singing. This simplified notation comes from the rural South and is the basis of many traditional songs. It is the perfect form of music to sing with the entire audience. Unlike many of the Mic Nights in Thurston County, these performances are open to all ages. To find a complete calendar of events at Traditions Cafe, please click here.
This intimate coffee house is a cozy escape from the bustle of downtown Olympia. Café Love brings their love for music and performing arts on a regular basis. Poetry readings and original songs are just a few of the highlights from past performances.
This non-profit school is volunteer-run and donor supported with a goal of building community through support of local artisans through crafts, music, celebrations, and stories. Arbutus hosts an Open Mic the second Monday of every month from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The evening is all-acoustic, open to any genre and all ages. Arbutus’ Open Mic is listed in Victory Review Magazine as one of the Puget Sound region’s recommended acoustic open mics.
Every Wednesday, at 9:00 p.m., Rhythm & Rye hosts a weekly Open Mic Night. Host, Scott Lesman, introduces community members to the stage to sing their hearts out. All genres are welcome and admission is free.
Comedy Open Mic
If music isn’t your forte, how about a little comedy? These performers are brining smiles to residents all over Thurston County.
Super Happy Hour takes place weekly on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. Comedians from our area perform live to a filled audience and to an online, podcast audience. All past shows can be listened to from the Super Happy Hour podcast. If you want to perform, sign-ups take place Friday mornings on the Super Happy Hour Facebook page.
On Monday nights, Olympia Underground plays hosts to belly laughs at 8:00 p.m. Along with smiles, they are serving up delicious food and drink specials during every open mic night. Make sure to drop in early as seats fill quickly for this hilarious event.
The Voyeur offers a weekly comedy show on Wednesdays referred to as Vomity Night. With a capped list of 20 comedic performers, this open mic is one of the biggest sets in Thurston County. Performing comedians must sign up the day before via their Facebook page and performers are randomly drawn lottery style during Vomity Night. Laughs begin at 9:00 p.m. sharp!
