Sandy Bell's Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at Sandy Bell's
Location: Sandy Bell's

Sandy Bell's Open Mic — Quick Facts

Edinburgh's Wednesday-night free Scottish-trad open mic at 25 Forrest Road, EH1 2QH — historic folk pub, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.

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

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayWednesday

Start9pm

Sign-up8:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · 18+

Capacity~70 standing

Performer typesMusic · Folk

Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night

Where

Sandy Bell's 25 Forrest Road
Old Town
Edinburgh EH1 2QH

Contact

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

Highlights

Free entry

PA provided

MusicFolk18+Walk-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

Sandy Bell's is Edinburgh's flagship Scottish traditional music pub — folk sessions every night, Wednesday open mic.

~3.5 hours, 17 acts at 12 minutes.

Sign-up process

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

Getting there

25 Forrest Road, EH1 2QH. 6 minutes from Waverley.

The venue

Historic trad-music pub. 18+. Capacity ~70. Late licence.

Common Questions

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

How do I sign up to play at Sandy Bell's 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 Sandy Bell's 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 Sandy Bell's open mic?

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

Is Sandy Bell's open mic free?

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

Can I bring a band to Sandy Bell's 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 Sandy Bell's?

25 Forrest Road, Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 2QH.

What's the audience like on a Wednesday 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.