Sidewinder Open Mic

Sidewinder runs an open mic every Tuesday in Brighton. Sign-up opens at 7:30pm and the night kicks off around 8pm. Entry is free for performers and audience. Slots run 12 minutes — roughly 3 songs solo. PA + vocal mic are provided; bring your own instrument and amp. This listing is part of the Brighton open mic directory.

Sidewinder in Kemptown, Brighton hosts a weekly open mic on Tuesday evenings. Sidewinder is a lively pub known for its community events and welcoming atmosphere.

180 minutes, roughly 15 acts at 12 minutes each.

Sign-up process

Sign up at the venue from 7:30pm on the night. Walk-in only.

Getting there

65 St James's St, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1PJ.

The venue

Pub. 18+ policy. Full PA provided, suitable for acoustic acts, poets, comedians, and magicians.

About Sidewinder

Sidewinder is one of Brighton's open-mic venues on GigXchange — the kind of grass-roots room where new acts get their first stage time and the regulars shape the vibe of the night. Setup, signup process and crowd vary, so always cross-check the details panel above and arrive early if you want a slot.

Planning your Tuesday night

Sign-up opens at 7:30pm. Aim to arrive 15–20 minutes earlier on a popular night — slots fill quickly and there's no waitlist if you miss the cut. Note: this is a 18+ venue. Tip: have a 12-minute set ready to go — the host will cut you off when your time's up, so over-running just means you lose your closer.

It's a PA-and-vocal-mic setup, so bring your own instrument and a small amp if you need one. There's no drum kit or guitar amp on stage.

If Tuesday doesn't suit, browse the rest of the Brighton open-mic scene for other nights of the week, or check the UK directory for venues nearer to you. Once you've played a few, see our guide on how to land paid gigs as an independent UK artist.