Purple Turtle Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at Purple Turtle
Location: Purple Turtle

Purple Turtle Open Mic — Quick Facts

Reading's Monday-night free open mic at 9 Gun Street, RG1 2JR — late-licence music bar, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.

✓ Verified active Last verified 28 Apr 2026 Source: purpleturtlebar.com + venue confirmation

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayMonday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · 18+

Capacity~250 standing

Performer typesMusic

Sound engineerIn-house, included

Where

Purple Turtle 9 Gun Street
City Centre
Reading RG1 2JR

Contact

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

Highlights

Free entry

Full backlineIn-house engineer

Music18+Walk-in

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

PA + monitors

Drum kit

Guitar amp

Bass amp

Keys / keyboard

3 vocal mics

In-house engineer

Purple Turtle is Reading's longest-running late-night music bar. Monday open mic uses the main stage — full PA, full backline, real engineer.

180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.

Sign-up process

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

Getting there

9 Gun Street, RG1 2JR. 8 minutes from Reading Rail.

The venue

Single big bar with a stage. 18+. Capacity ~250. Late licence.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at Reading's Purple Turtle open mic.

How do I sign up to play at Purple Turtle 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 Reading open mics the same week.

What backline does Purple Turtle 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 Purple Turtle open mic?

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

Is Purple Turtle open mic free?

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

Can I bring a band to Purple Turtle 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 Reading.

Where is Purple Turtle?

9 Gun Street, City Centre, Reading RG1 2JR.

What's the audience like on a Monday night?

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