Every Wednesday in Northern Quarter, Manchester
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
15-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Manchester open mic directory
Northern Quarter · Every Wednesday · Free
The Pen & Pencil Open Mic
Northern Quarter's wednesday-night free open mic at **The Pen & Pencil** — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
Open mic at a glance The Pen & Pencil · Manchester
Wednesday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
15 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Plan your open mic night
Check the venue, or find more open mics in Manchester.
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Pen & Pencil Open Mic — Quick Facts
Northern Quarter's wednesday-night free open mic at **The Pen & Pencil** — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 15-minute slots, all ages.
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayWednesday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length15 min
EntryFree · all ages
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic · Comedy · Poetry
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
Where
The Pen & Pencil57 Hilton Street
Northern Quarter
Manchester M1 2EJ
Northern Quarter, Manchester — 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
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music, Comedy, Poetry 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
Vocal mics
In-house engineer
About This Open Mic
The Night
The Pen & Pencil's Wednesday open mic, on the corner of Hilton and Tariff Street in the Northern Quarter, is hosted by singer-songwriter Izzie Walsh — one of Manchester's most in-demand open-mic hosts. It kicks off at 8pm and it's properly open: singers, musicians, comedians, poets, spoken word, anything you can think of. Free to attend and play, with a PA on hand. A buzzing NQ room mixing working musicians with curious locals.
About The Pen & Pencil
The Pen & Pencil is a New York-inspired bar and restaurant on the corner of Hilton and Tariff Street (57 Hilton Street) in Manchester's Northern Quarter (M1 2EJ), named after the infamous mid-20th-century bar on East 45th Street in New York's 'Steak Row'. Wednesdays here are all about live music: a weekly open mic from 8pm hosted by singer-songwriter Izzie Walsh, a well-known fixture of the Manchester open-mic circuit (she also hosts at The Bay Horse on Thursdays). Expect an open, varied bill — singers, performers, comedians, poets, spoken word and anything else. A PA and vocal mic are provided; bring your own instrument, amp and pedals. Manchester's open-mic scene is built around the Northern Quarter circuit, so you'll find a mix of working musicians and curious locals. Solo songwriters, duos and acoustic acts work best; full bands should ask the host first.
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until late. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Manchester 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.
Try the Rate CalculatorFind The Pen & Pencil
57 Hilton Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M1 2EJ
Common Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Manchester's The Pen & Pencil open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Manchester open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
15 minutes per act — typically 4 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Manchester mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
57 Hilton Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M1 2EJ.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Manchester regulars across the Manchester open mic scene. Manchester open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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