Open Mind is a town-centre café and arts bar on English Street in Carlisle, doubling as an art gallery and creative space. It hosts open-mic sessions, live performers and DJs in an intimate, free-entry setting, alongside craft beers, cocktails and board games. A welcoming, arty hub for grassroots music in the city.
75 English Street · Every Thursday · Free
Open Mind Open Mic
75 English Street's thursday open mic. 10-min slots.
Open mic at a glance Open Mind · Carlisle
Thursday
Open mic night
Jun 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
10 min
Slot length
Community
Listing status
Run a Carlisle open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
Open Mind Open Mic — Quick Facts
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The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayThursday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length10 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic · Poetry
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
Open Mind75 English Street
Carlisle CA3 8LQ
75 English Street, Carlisle — 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, Poetry welcome
How do you rate this open mic?One tap, no sign-up required.
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About Open Mind
About This Open Mic
Every Thursday in 75 English Street, Carlisle
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
10-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Carlisle open mic directory
The Night
Open Mind is a creative arts bar and cafe right in the centre of Carlisle on English Street, hosting open mic sessions alongside its art gallery and other arty events. It's a genuinely welcoming, bohemian spot for music and spoken word, open Thursday to Sunday. Sessions are posted on their Facebook page rather than fixed to one weekly slot, so check there for the next night before heading down.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
1 vocal mic
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How Open Mind’s Thursday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
23:00Last songs
02:00Venue closes
Every Thursday 10-min slots Free entry
Find Open Mind
75 English Street, Carlisle CA3 8LQ
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Carlisle 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 Carlisle's Open Mind open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Carlisle open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
10 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Carlisle mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
75 English Street, Carlisle CA3 8LQ.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Carlisle regulars across the Carlisle open mic scene. Carlisle open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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