The Washington Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at The Washington
Location: The Washington

The Washington Open Mic — Quick Facts

Sheffield's Monday-night free open mic at 79 Fitzwilliam Street, S1 4JP — Arctic Monkeys' old haunt, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.

✓ Verified active Last verified 28 Apr 2026 Source: thewashingtonsheffield.co.uk + venue confirmation

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayMonday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · 18+

Capacity~150 standing

Performer typesMusic

Sound engineerIn-house, included

Where

The Washington 79 Fitzwilliam Street
City Centre
Sheffield S1 4JP

Contact

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

Highlights

Free entry

Full backlineIn-house engineer

Music18+Walk-in

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What's on Stage

PA + monitors

Drum kit

Guitar amp

Bass amp

Keys / keyboard

3 vocal mics

In-house engineer

The Washington is the Arctic Monkeys' old local — they wrote a chunk of the first album in this pub. The Monday open mic uses the back stage and pulls a serious indie/alt crowd.

180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.

Sign-up process

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

Getting there

79 Fitzwilliam Street, S1 4JP. 12 minutes from Sheffield Rail.

The venue

Two-room pub with a back music stage. 18+. Capacity ~150.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at Sheffield's The Washington open mic.

How do I sign up to play at The Washington 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 Sheffield open mics the same week.

What backline does The Washington 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 The Washington open mic?

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

Is The Washington open mic free?

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

Can I bring a band to The Washington 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 Sheffield.

Where is The Washington?

79 Fitzwilliam Street, City Centre, Sheffield S1 4JP.

What's the audience like on a Monday night?

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