Bannermans Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at Bannermans
Location: Bannermans

Bannermans Open Mic — Quick Facts

Old Town (Edinburgh)'s Tuesday-night free rock open mic at 212 Cowgate, EH1 1NQ — vault rock pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 10-minute slots.

✓ Verified active Last verified 28 Apr 2026 Source: bannermanslive.co.uk + venue confirmation

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayTuesday

Start9pm

Sign-up8:30pm walk-in

Slot length10 min

EntryFree · 18+

Capacity~150 standing

Performer typesMusic

Sound engineerIn-house, included

Where

Bannermans 212 Cowgate
Old Town
Edinburgh EH1 1NQ

Contact

Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team

Highlights

Free entry

Full backlineIn-house engineer

Music18+Walk-in

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What's on Stage

PA + monitors

Drum kit

Guitar amp

Bass amp

Keys / keyboard

3 vocal mics

In-house engineer

Bannermans is a Cowgate vault rock pub — heavy programming nightly, Tuesday open mic welcomes harder bands and solo acts.

~4 hours, 20 acts at 10 minutes.

Sign-up process

Sheet at the bar at 8:30pm. Walk-in.

Getting there

212 Cowgate, EH1 1NQ. 7 minutes from Waverley.

The venue

Underground vault venue. 18+. Capacity ~150. Late licence.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at Edinburgh's Bannermans open mic.

How do I sign up to play at Bannermans open mic?

Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 8:30pm. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. Backup options if you don't get on: other Edinburgh open mics the same week.

What backline does Bannermans provide?

Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, vocal mics, plus an in-house sound engineer. Bring your own instrument and pedals. Want a similar setup elsewhere? Filter the open mic directory by “Full backline”.

How long is a slot at Bannermans open mic?

10 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo or 4 for a band.

Is Bannermans open mic free?

Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Edinburgh mics are free; browse the list.

Can I bring a band to Bannermans open mic?

Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it. Once you've played a few of these, see our guide on how to get paid gigs in Edinburgh.

Where is Bannermans?

212 Cowgate, Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 1NQ.

What's the audience like on a Tuesday night?

Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Edinburgh regulars who turn up across the Edinburgh live music scene. Edinburgh open mic crowds tend to listen attentively — this isn't a chatter-over-the-music kind of night.