The Hairy Dog Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at The Hairy Dog
Location: The Hairy Dog

The Hairy Dog Open Mic — Quick Facts

Derby's Wednesday-night free open mic at 257 Becket Street, DE1 1HT — independent music pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.

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

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayWednesday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · 18+

Capacity~200 standing

Performer typesMusic

Sound engineerIn-house, included

Where

The Hairy Dog 257 Becket Street
City Centre
Derby DE1 1HT

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

The Hairy Dog is Derby's primary independent music venue. Wednesday open mic uses the main stage.

180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.

Sign-up process

Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.

Getting there

257 Becket Street, DE1 1HT. 6 minutes from Derby Rail.

The venue

Mid-size music pub. 18+. Capacity ~200.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at Derby's The Hairy Dog open mic.

How do I sign up to play at The Hairy Dog open mic?

Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 7:30pm. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. Backup options if you don't get on: other Derby open mics the same week.

What backline does The Hairy Dog 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 The Hairy Dog open mic?

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

Is The Hairy Dog open mic free?

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

Can I bring a band to The Hairy Dog 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 Derby.

Where is The Hairy Dog?

257 Becket Street, City Centre, Derby DE1 1HT.

What's the audience like on a Wednesday night?

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