The Second Fiddle is The Dirty Onion's sister bar in the heart of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, on Waring Street (Cotton Court, 30-42 Waring St, BT1 2ED), directly across from the Merchant Hotel. It's a charming traditional pub where Irish is welcome and trad music is the heartbeat — local trad and folk sessions run four days a week, Thursday through Sunday. More than a music room, it's a hub for Irish culture: free bodhrán lessons every Thursday from 7.30pm, a weekly Irish Speaking Circle, and monthly Irish cultural events and art exhibitions. Intimate at around 50 capacity, it's a dedicated home for traditional Irish music away from the larger Dirty Onion next door.
30-42 Waring St · Every 1st Sunday of the month · Free
The Second Fiddle Open Mic
Belfast open mic at The Second Fiddle — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Open mic at a glance The Second Fiddle · Belfast
Sunday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Belfast open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Second Fiddle Open Mic — Quick Facts
Belfast open mic at The Second Fiddle — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DaySunday
Start19:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Second FiddleCotton Court, 30-42 Waring St
30-42 Waring St
Belfast BT1 2ED
30-42 Waring St, Belfast — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
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.
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About The Second Fiddle
About This Open Mic
Every 1st Sunday of the month in 30-42 Waring St, Belfast
Kicks off at 19:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Belfast open mic directory
The Night
The Second Fiddle, tucked inside the Cotton Court courtyard off Waring Street (part of The Dirty Onion complex), is one of Belfast's best trad and folk rooms — and on the first Sunday of every month it hands the stage to an open mic, hosted by established musician Rory Nellis from 7pm. It's pitched at musicians performing their own original songs in a warm, supportive room of local music lovers, and there's a free pint waiting after your set. Entry is free; a lovely, genuinely musical setting rather than a noisy pub back room.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How The Second Fiddle’s Sunday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
19:00Kick-off
23:00Venue closes
Every 1st Sunday of the month 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Second Fiddle
Cotton Court, 30-42 Waring St, 30-42 Waring St, Belfast BT1 2ED
Planning Your Sunday 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 Belfast 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 CalculatorCommon Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Belfast's The Second Fiddle open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Belfast open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Belfast mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
Cotton Court, 30-42 Waring St, 30-42 Waring St, Belfast BT1 2ED.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Belfast regulars across the Belfast open mic scene. Belfast open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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