The Louisiana is a legendary 140-capacity, family-run independent live-music venue on Wapping Road in Bristol's Harbourside (BS1 6UA), operating for over 35 years. A standing-only room with a 16+ policy, it has an outsized reputation for breaking new bands — Coldplay played here three times and Muse held a six-month residency — while continuing to champion new local talent alongside national headliners across indie, rock, alternative and blues. With a downstairs pub and the gig room above, it's one of the UK's best-loved small grassroots stages.
Harbourside · Every Monday · Free
The Louisiana Open Mic
Bristol's Monday-night free open mic at Wapping Road, BS1 6UA — Harbourside music pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
Open mic at a glance The Louisiana · Bristol
Monday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Closed
Listing status
Run a Bristol open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Louisiana Open Mic — Quick Facts
Bristol's Monday-night free open mic at Wapping Road, BS1 6UA — Harbourside music pub, full backline, in-house engineer, 12-minute slots.
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The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayMonday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacityc. 150 standing
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerIn-house, included
View on map
Where
The LouisianaWapping Road, Bathurst Terrace
Harbourside
Bristol BS1 6UA
Harbourside, Bristol — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
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.
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About The Louisiana
About This Open Mic
Every Monday in Harbourside, Bristol
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 Bristol open mic directory
The Night
The Louisiana is a Bristol Harbourside music pub — Coldplay, Florence and the Machine, The Killers all played early gigs here. Monday open mic uses the upstairs stage.
180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet upstairs at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
Wapping Road, BS1 6UA. 12 minutes from Bristol Temple Meads.
The venue
Harbourside pub with upstairs venue. 18+. Capacity upstairs c. 150.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
3 vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How The Louisiana’s Monday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
23:00Last songs
Every Monday 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Louisiana
Wapping Road, Bathurst Terrace, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 6UA
Planning Your Monday 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 Bristol 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 Bristol's The Louisiana open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Bristol 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 Bristol mics are free; browse the list.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
Wapping Road, Bathurst Terrace, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 6UA.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Bristol regulars across the Bristol open mic scene. Bristol open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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