Every Wednesday in City Centre, Leicester
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
Full backline on stage
Part of the Leicester open mic directory
City Centre · Every Wednesday · Free
Firebug Open Mic
Leicester's Wednesday-night free open mic at 1 Millstone Lane, LE1 5JN — alternative music bar, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
Open mic at a glance Firebug · Leicester
Wednesday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Community
Listing status
Plan your open mic night
Check the venue, or find more open mics in Leicester.
Last updated: 3 June 2026
Firebug Open Mic — Quick Facts
Leicester's Wednesday-night free open mic at 1 Millstone Lane, LE1 5JN — alternative music bar, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
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The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayWednesday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity~200 standing
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerIn-house, included
Where
Firebug1 Millstone Lane
City Centre
Leicester LE1 5JN
City Centre, Leicester — 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
Firebug is Leicester's alternative music institution — paid bills most nights, Wednesday open mic.
180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
1 Millstone Lane, LE1 5JN. 8 minutes from Leicester Rail.
The venue
Multi-floor music bar. 18+. Capacity ~200.
About Firebug
Firebug is an alternative music bar at 1 Millstone Lane (LE1 5JN) in Leicester's Cultural Quarter, opened in summer 2004 in a Victorian former Leicester Gas Offices building and now an essential part of the city's nightlife. Its upstairs function room and yard host live music, intimate club nights, stand-up comedy, film screenings and art exhibitions, leaning rock, indie and alternative, with a full backline, PA and in-house sound. Meals, Wi-Fi and a picnic-table yard round out a venue that's long supported Leicester's grassroots and original-music scene.
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 Leicester 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.
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1 Millstone Lane, City Centre, Leicester LE1 5JN
Common Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Leicester's Firebug open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Leicester 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 Leicester mics are free; browse the list.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
1 Millstone Lane, City Centre, Leicester LE1 5JN.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Leicester regulars across the Leicester open mic scene. Leicester open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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