Every Monday in Old Town, Edinburgh
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
10-minute slots
Full backline on stage
Part of the Edinburgh open mic directory
Old Town · Every Monday · Free
Whistle Binkie's Open Mic
Edinburgh's Monday-night free open mic at 4-6 South Bridge, EH1 1LL — Old Town basement, full backline, in-house engineer, 10-minute slots, late licence to 1am.
Open mic at a glance Whistle Binkie's · Edinburgh
Monday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
10 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Plan your open mic night
Check the venue, or find more open mics in Edinburgh.
Last updated: 3 June 2026
Whistle Binkie's Open Mic — Quick Facts
Edinburgh's Monday-night free open mic at 4-6 South Bridge, EH1 1LL — Old Town basement, full backline, in-house engineer, 10-minute slots, late licence to 1am.
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayMonday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length10 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity~100 standing
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerIn-house, included
Where
Whistle Binkie's4-6 South Bridge
Old Town
Edinburgh EH1 1LL
Old Town, Edinburgh — 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
Whistle Binkie's is Edinburgh's longest-running open mic, held every Monday in the candlelit stone vaults under South Bridge. A showcase band warms the room from 8pm before the open mic proper kicks off around 9pm and rolls on into the small hours, with a free-for-all jam from midnight. Sign-up is at the bar from 8pm (you can also text ahead for a slot) on a first-come basis — and there's a free beer for anyone who plays. Entry's free, the bar runs to 3am, and it's a warm, late, music-first crowd.
About Whistle Binkie's
Whistle Binkies is an Edinburgh institution buried in the vaults under South Bridge in the Old Town (EH1 1LL), providing quality live music for the city seven nights a week. Up to four live bands play per night midweek, rising to as many as six acts on Fridays and Saturdays. It runs the longest-running open mic night in Edinburgh — hosted by Chris Buckley of The Moanin' Bones — with a showcase band from 8pm, open mic from 9pm (sign-up from 8pm), and a Monday jam session after the open mic. Entry is free Sunday to Thursday, with a small charge after midnight at weekends. The bar holds a late licence to 3am every night, with a full backline and house PA in the intimate basement room. Both originals and covers are welcome.
Planning Your Monday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 01:00. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
Part of the Edinburgh live music scene.
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4-6 South Bridge, Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 1LL
Common Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Edinburgh's Whistle Binkie's open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Edinburgh 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.
10 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Edinburgh mics are free; browse the list.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
4-6 South Bridge, Old Town, Edinburgh EH1 1LL.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Edinburgh regulars across the Edinburgh open mic scene. Edinburgh open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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