Every Wednesday in Islington, London
Kicks off at 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
Full backline on stage
Part of the London open mic directory
Islington · Every Wednesday · Free
The Old Queen's Head Open Mic
Islington's Thursday-night free open mic at 44 Essex Road, N1 8LN — upstairs music room, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
Open mic at a glance The Old Queen's Head · London
Wednesday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Plan your open mic night
Check the venue, or find more open mics in London.
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Old Queen's Head Open Mic — Quick Facts
Islington's Thursday-night free open mic at 44 Essex Road, N1 8LN — upstairs music room, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayWednesday
Start19:30
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity~120 standing
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerIn-house, included
Where
The Old Queen's Head44 Essex Road
Islington
London N1 8LN
Islington, London — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Contact
Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team
Highlights
Free entry for all
Full backline on stage
In-house sound engineer
Walk-in sign-up
Music welcome
How do you rate this open mic?One tap, no sign-up required.
Spotted something wrong with this listing?Closed, moved night, different start time? Let us know and we'll re-verify within 48 hours.
What's on Stage
Equipment and backline available at this venue. We verify and update this section regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
3 vocal mics
In-house engineer
About This Open Mic
The Night
The Old Queen's Head — a striking 1830s corner pub by Angel — hosts 'Old Fashioned LIVE', a Wednesday open mic with a difference: a live house band (the OF band) plays jazz, soul and beyond and invites singers and musicians up to perform with them. Music kicks off around 7:30pm, entry is free, and there's a £5 cocktail offer from 5pm to close every Wednesday. Because you're backed by a full band, the stage is properly kitted out — it's a step up from a solo-and-a-PA night.
About The Old Queen's Head
The Old Queen's Head in Islington is a vibrant hub for emerging talent, hosting a lively Thursday-night open mic that embraces both original compositions and covers. With a standing capacity of around 120, the venue features a fully equipped music room, complete with a backline and an in-house sound engineer, making it an ideal spot for local artists to showcase their skills.
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
Part of the London live music scene.
What should you charge for paid gigs?Most open mic musicians are ready for paid work sooner than they think. Check live UK rates by role, city, and venue size.
Try the Rate CalculatorFind The Old Queen's Head
44 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 8LN
Common Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at London's The Old Queen's Head open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other London open mic nights for alternatives.
Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, vocal mics, plus an in-house sound engineer. Bring your own instrument and pedals.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most London mics are free; browse the list.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
44 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 8LN.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and London regulars across the London open mic scene. London open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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