Big John's Bar is a village pub on Melmount Road in Sion Mills, roughly three miles south of Strabane in County Tyrone. It hosts a monthly traditional Irish music session that draws local players and visiting musicians, with singers joining in as well. The pub publishes its listings through its Facebook page rather than a website.
Strabane · Every 1st Friday of the month · No fee listed
Big John's Bar Open Mic
Sion Mills's friday open mic.
Next night: Fri 4 Dec. Kick-off 20:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 8 Nov 202620:00
Kick-off
Fridays
sign-up on the nightFridays
| Night | Every 1st Friday of the month |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | Ask the host |
01 — Inside the room
4 photosPhotos: Google
142
page views on GigXchange. Is it your night?
0 members voted to bring the venue onto GigXchange02 — The details
Before you goEverything you need to know
0
Member votes
votes to get this venue on GigXchange
| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 8 Nov 2026 |
| Checked against | Music directory |
03 — The night
Every 1st Friday of the monthHow the night runs
20:00
Kick-off
FridaysRunning order
20:00 Kick-off
23:00 Venue closes
04 — Find Big John's Bar
Sion MillsGetting there
119 Melmount Road,
Sion Mills, Strabane BT82 9PY
Sion Mills, Strabane BT82 9PY
05 — What's on stage
TBC| PA system | TBC |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
Sion Mills, StrabaneAbout the night
An open traditional Irish music session on the first Friday of every month at Big John's Bar on Melmount Road in Sion Mills, about three miles south of Strabane, from 8pm. Local players and visiting musicians both take part, and singers join in as well. The pub posts its listings on Facebook rather than a website.
Big John's Bar is a village pub on Melmount Road in Sion Mills, roughly three miles south of Strabane in County Tyrone. It hosts a monthly traditional Irish music session that draws local players and visiting musicians, with singers joining in as well. The pub publishes its listings through its Facebook page rather than a website.
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Sion Mills · Every 1st Friday of the month
Big John's Bar Open Mic
Sion Mills's friday open mic. Starts at 20:00.
- Friday
- Open mic night
- Aug 2026
- Listed since
- 8 Nov
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Strabane open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Big John's Bar Open Mic — Quick Facts
Big John's Bar Open Mic runs on the 1st Friday of the month at Big John's Bar in Strabane, starting at 20:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 8 Nov 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See Big John's Bar’s venue page →
The night starts at 20:00. Sign-up is on the night - get there early to get a slot.
Next nightFri 4 Dec · 20:00Starts in 21d 12h 23m
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklineNot confirmed yet
Sound engineerAsk the venue
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
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. We review corrections within 7 days.
NightFridayEvery 1st Friday of the monthNext: Fri 4 Dec
Starts20:00start time
Sign-upWalk-insign-up
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Strabane this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
An open traditional Irish music session on the first Friday of every month at Big John's Bar on Melmount Road in Sion Mills, about three miles south of Strabane, from 8pm. Local players and visiting musicians both take part, and singers join in as well. The pub posts its listings on Facebook rather than a website.
Equipment and backline at this venue — what's on stage, verified regularly.
PA systemTBC
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How Big John's Bar’s Friday night runs.
Next nightFri 4 Dec · 20:00Starts in 21d 12h 23m
Kick-off20:00Every 1st Friday of the month
Venue closes23:00The listed closing time
How often
Every 1st Friday of the month
Coming up
Fri 4 Dec · Fri 1 Jan · Fri 5 Feb
First time here?
Get there early for a slot, have your instrument tuned before your turn.
Find Big John's Bar
119 Melmount Road, Sion Mills, Strabane BT82 9PY
Address119 Melmount Road
AreaSion Mills, Strabane
PostcodeBT82 9PY
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
Big John's Bar is in Sion Mills, Strabane — use BT82 9PY for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Open mics nearby
Clipper Quay Street Food Market, The Playhouse, The Derby Bar and Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin
Planning Your Friday Night
Arrive early to get your name down. The kit is not listed yet — ask the host what is provided.
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What should you charge for paid gigs? Most open mic musicians are ready sooner than they think — try the Rate Calculator for live UK rates by role, city and venue size. In the wider Strabane live music scene.
Common Questions
8 questions people ask before going to Strabane's Big John's Bar open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Strabane open mic nights for alternatives.
Big John's Bar has not listed its kit yet — ask the host before you go.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for Big John's Bar's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Strabane open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
119 Melmount Road, Sion Mills, Strabane BT82 9PY.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Strabane regulars across the Strabane open mic scene. Strabane open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails. Browse other Strabane open mics.
Venues Near Big John's Bar
No other gigs are listed at Big John's Bar in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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Big John's Bar open mic in brief. The Big John's Bar open mic runs every 1st Friday of the month from 20:00 (no fee listed). Big John's Bar’s venue page lists its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For a different night this week, the open mics near Strabane are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Strabane? The GX Index publishes what UK gigs actually pay, by city, band size and venue type, and the GX Index reports set out the methodology and the sample behind every figure. Both are free to read and free to cite.
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09 — More Strabane open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Strabane gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near Big John's Bar
All ›More rooms near Big John's Bar: New Gate Arts Centre, Peadar O'Donnell's, Sandino's, Singin' Thistle Coleraine, Strule Arts Centre, The Derby Bar, The Glassworks and The Playhouse.
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