The Derby Bar is a traditional pub at the upper end of Great James Street in Derry city centre, a short walk from the Guildhall and the Cultúrlann. It is a small, old-style bar with a back room that is used for music. A traditional Irish music session has run there on Thursday nights for well over a decade.
Derry · Every Thursday · No fee listed
The Derby Bar Open Mic
City Centre's thursday open mic.
Next night: Thu 19 Nov. Kick-off 22:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 8 Nov 202622:00
Kick-off
Thursdays
sign-up on the nightThursdays
| Night | Every Thursday |
| 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
221
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 ThursdayHow the night runs
22:00
Kick-off
ThursdaysRunning order
22:00 Kick-off
23:30 Close (tbc)
Times marked tbc aren't confirmed yet - we're working to find out.
04 — Find The Derby Bar
City CentreGetting there
63 Great James Street,
City Centre, Derry BT48 7DB
City Centre, Derry BT48 7DB
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
City Centre, DerryAbout the night
A long-running open traditional Irish session in the back room at The Derby Bar on Great James Street, on Thursday nights. The published start time is around 10pm, but that time has not been reconfirmed recently, so check with the bar before travelling.
The Derby Bar is a traditional pub at the upper end of Great James Street in Derry city centre, a short walk from the Guildhall and the Cultúrlann. It is a small, old-style bar with a back room that is used for music. A traditional Irish music session has run there on Thursday nights for well over a decade.
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| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
City Centre · Every Thursday
The Derby Bar Open Mic
City Centre's thursday open mic. Starts at 22:00.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- Aug 2026
- Listed since
- 8 Nov
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Derry open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Derby Bar Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Derby Bar Open Mic runs on Thursdays at The Derby Bar in Derry, starting at 22:00. 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 The Derby Bar’s venue page →
Music starts around 22:00. Sign-up is on the night - get there early to get a slot.
Next nightThu 19 Nov · 22:00Starts in 6d 14h 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.
NightThursdayEvery ThursdayNext: Thu 19 Nov
Starts22:00start time
Sign-upWalk-insign-up
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Derry this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
A long-running open traditional Irish session in the back room at The Derby Bar on Great James Street, on Thursday nights. The published start time is around 10pm, but that time has not been reconfirmed recently, so check with the bar before travelling.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemTBC
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How The Derby Bar’s Thursday night runs.
Next nightThu 19 Nov · 22:00Starts in 6d 14h 23m
Sign-up opensTBCNot confirmed yet
Kick-off22:00Every Thursday
Music endsTBCNot confirmed yet
Venue closesTBCNot confirmed yet
How often
Every Thursday
Coming up
Thu 19 Nov · Thu 26 Nov · Thu 3 Dec
First time here?
Arrive early to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
Find The Derby Bar
63 Great James Street, City Centre, Derry BT48 7DB
Address63 Great James Street
AreaCity Centre, Derry
PostcodeBT48 7DB
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The Derby Bar is in City Centre, Derry — use BT48 7DB 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, Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin and Big John's Bar
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive early to sign up for a slot. The kit is not listed yet — ask the host what is provided.
The scene Live music in Derrythe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Derrypay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Derryacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Derryevery listing, sorted by dateArtists Browse artist profilesfind acts to play or collaborate withOpen mics UK Open Mic Finderfree stage time, night by night
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 Derry live music scene.
Common Questions
8 questions people ask before going to Derry's The Derby Bar open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Derry open mic nights for alternatives.
The Derby 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 The Derby Bar's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Derry open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
63 Great James Street, City Centre, Derry BT48 7DB.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Derry regulars across the Derry open mic scene. Derry 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 Derry open mics.
Venues Near The Derby Bar
No other gigs are listed at The Derby Bar in the GigXchange directory yet — these are the rooms around it, their size, kit and live nights.
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See what’s on in Derry over the next four weeks →
The Derby Bar open mic in brief. The Derby Bar open mic runs every Thursday from 22:00 (no fee listed). The Derby 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 Derry are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Derry? 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.
Keep exploring: the UK gig directory for what's coming up, the venue directory for rooms that book live music, the open mic finder for recurring stage time, and what's on across the UK this week. The blog covers pricing, contracts and getting booked, and about GigXchange explains who runs it and why. Something not right on this page? Tell us — or start on the home page.
09 — More Derry open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Derry gigs or check the going rate.
10 — Venues near The Derby Bar
All ›More rooms near The Derby Bar: Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, Millennium Forum, Nerve Centre, New Gate Arts Centre, Peadar O'Donnell's, Singin' Thistle Coleraine, Strule Arts Centre and The Playhouse.
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