The Phoenix Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at The Phoenix
Location: The Phoenix

The Phoenix Open Mic — Quick Facts

Exeter's Wednesday-night free open mic at Bradninch Place, EX4 3LS — arts centre cafe, PA + guitar amp + piano, 12-minute slots.

✓ Verified active Last verified 28 Apr 2026 Source: exeterphoenix.org.uk + venue confirmation

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayWednesday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · all ages

Capacity~100 standing

Performer typesMusic · Folk · Poetry

Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night

Where

The Phoenix Bradninch Place, Gandy Street
City Centre
Exeter EX4 3LS

Contact

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

Highlights

Free entry

PA provided

MusicFolkPoetryAll agesWalk-in

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What's on Stage

PA + monitors

Drum kit

Guitar amp

Bass amp

Keys / keyboard

2 vocal mics

In-house engineer

The Phoenix is an arts centre with a long-running Wednesday open mic in the cafe space — folk, songwriter, poetry.

180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.

Sign-up process

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

Getting there

Bradninch Place, EX4 3LS. 4 minutes from Exeter Central.

The venue

Arts centre cafe. All ages until 9pm. Capacity ~100.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at Exeter's The Phoenix open mic.

How do I sign up to play at The Phoenix 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 Exeter open mics the same week.

What backline does The Phoenix provide?

PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp. Need a venue with full backline? Try the backline filter.

How long is a slot at The Phoenix open mic?

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

Is The Phoenix open mic free?

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

Can I bring a band to The Phoenix open mic?

Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band. For full-band-friendly mics, filter the directory by backline.

Where is The Phoenix?

Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, City Centre, Exeter EX4 3LS.

What's the audience like on a Wednesday night?

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