The Tooth & Claw is the Highlands' only dedicated rock bar and alternative music venue, tucked away on Baron Taylor's Street in the heart of Inverness city centre (IV1 1QG). With a rustic interior of wooden beams and cosy seating, it has built a loyal following as a grassroots cultural hub — local bands rehearse upstairs and the upstairs gig room hosts energetic rock, metal, punk and tribute shows that regularly sell out. Signed and unsigned acts play most Friday and Saturday nights to a room of around 75–100. It's also known as a genuinely inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly space. Contact 01463 243000 / info@thetoothandclaw.co.uk.
Inverness · Every other Thursday · No fee listed
The Tooth & Claw Open Mic
City centre's thursday open mic.
Kick-off 21:00. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 9 Oct 202621:00
Kick-off
Thursdays
sign-up on the nightThursdays
| Night | Every other Thursday |
| Sign-up | Walk-in |
| Slot | Ask the host |
| Entry | No fee listed · all ages |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
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0 members voted to bring the venue onto GigXchange02 — The details
Before you goEverything you need to know
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| Capacity | – |
| Performer types | Musicians |
The check
| Status | Being verified |
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03 — The night
Every other ThursdayHow the night runs
Every other Thursday
Check the date before you goRunning order
21:00 Kick-off
23:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The Tooth & Claw
City centreGetting there
City centre, Inverness
05 — What's on stage
2 provided · 5 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | TBC |
| Guitar amp | TBC |
| Bass amp | TBC |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | TBC |
| In-house engineer | Provided |
06 — About
City centre, InvernessAbout the night
The Tooth & Claw is Inverness's independent rock and alternative-music bar at 50 Baron Taylor Street in the city centre. The venue's own events page lists a fortnightly Open Mic Jam downstairs, Thursdays from 9pm til late, with free entry and electric, acoustic and bass guitars plus percussion provided for anyone to play. The most recent dated listing for it is from 2019 and the current what's-on page shows only booked gigs, so check the venue's Facebook for the next date before heading down with an instrument. A separate comedy open mic (The Comedy Bothy) also runs at the venue.
The Tooth & Claw is the Highlands' only dedicated rock bar and alternative music venue, tucked away on Baron Taylor's Street in the heart of Inverness city centre (IV1 1QG). With a rustic interior of wooden beams and cosy seating, it has built a loyal following as a grassroots cultural hub — local bands rehearse upstairs and the upstairs gig room hosts energetic rock, metal, punk and tribute shows that regularly sell out. Signed and unsigned acts play most Friday and Saturday nights to a room of around 75–100. It's also known as a genuinely inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly space. Contact 01463 243000 / info@thetoothandclaw.co.uk.
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City centre · Every other Thursday
The Tooth & Claw Open Mic
City centre's thursday open mic. Starts at 21:00.
- Thursday
- Open mic night
- Jun 2026
- Listed since
- 9 Oct
- Last checked
- No fee
- Entry
- —
- Sign-up time
- Community
- Listing status
Run a Inverness open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Tooth & Claw Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Tooth & Claw Open Mic runs on Thursdays (fortnightly) at The Tooth & Claw in Inverness, starting at 21:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last checked 9 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Partly verified
The night Every other Thursday
Music starts around 21:00. Sign-up is on the night - get there early to get a slot. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in.
AgeAll ages
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerIn-house, included
Directory statusBeing verified
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 other Thursday
Starts21:00start time
Sign-upWalk-insign-up
SlotsTBCslot lengthNot confirmed yet
What’s on in Inverness this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Tooth & Claw is Inverness's independent rock and alternative-music bar at 50 Baron Taylor Street in the city centre. The venue's own events page lists a fortnightly Open Mic Jam downstairs, Thursdays from 9pm til late, with free entry and electric, acoustic and bass guitars plus percussion provided for anyone to play. The most recent dated listing for it is from 2019 and the current what's-on page shows only booked gigs, so check the venue's Facebook for the next date before heading down with an instrument. A separate comedy open mic (The Comedy Bothy) also runs at the venue.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitTBC
Guitar ampTBC
Bass ampTBC
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsTBC
In-house engineerProvided
The Night at a Glance
How The Tooth & Claw’s Thursday night runs.
Kick-off21:00Every other Thursday
Venue closes23:00The listed closing time
How often
Every other Thursday
Getting there
City centre, Inverness - the map is below.
Kit
The Tooth & Claw provides a PA system and an in-house sound engineer — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Arrive early to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on.
Find The Tooth & Claw
City centre, Inverness
AreaCity centre, Inverness
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
You'll find The Tooth & Claw in City centre, Inverness. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Open mics nearby
The Bandstand, Suie Bar, Glachbeg Croft Folk Club and Hootananny
Planning Your Thursday Night
Get there early to sign up for a slot. The Tooth & Claw provides a PA system and an in-house sound engineer — check the rest with the venue.
The scene Live music in Invernessthe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Invernesspay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Invernessacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Invernessevery 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 a paid gig? 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 Inverness live music scene.
Common Questions
8 questions people ask before going to Inverness' The Tooth & Claw open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Inverness open mic nights for alternatives.
The Tooth & Claw provides a PA system and an in-house sound engineer — check the rest with the venue.
Slot length varies — check with the host.
No entry fee is listed for The Tooth & Claw's open mic - most open mics are free to play and to watch, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Inverness open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
The Tooth & Claw is in Inverness. Get directions, or see the other Inverness open mics.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Inverness regulars across the Inverness open mic scene. Inverness 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 Inverness open mics.
What’s On at The Tooth & Claw
The gigs coming up at The Tooth & Claw besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
NOV
13
Grunge Tribute Night with The Lost Dogs
Inverness
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreGrunge, Pop, Tribute Act
View details›
DEC
5
Primitive Vices
Inverness
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreMetal
View details›
NOV
13
Grunge Tribute Night with The Lost Dogs
Inverness
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreGrunge, Pop, Tribute Act
View details›
DEC
5
Primitive Vices
Inverness
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreMetal
View details›
NOV
13
Grunge Tribute Night with The Lost Dogs
Inverness
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreGrunge, Pop, Tribute Act
View details›
DEC
5
Primitive Vices
Inverness
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreMetal
View details›
NOV
13
Grunge Tribute Night with The Lost Dogs
Inverness
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreGrunge, Pop, Tribute Act
View details›
DEC
5
Primitive Vices
Inverness
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreMetal
View details›
08 — Keep up with Inverness
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See what’s on in Inverness over the next four weeks →
The Tooth & Claw open mic in brief. The Tooth & Claw open mic runs every other Thursday from 21:00 (no fee listed). Coming back with a full band? The Tooth & Claw’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. For another night this week, the open mics near Inverness are listed by day.
Booking or playing in Inverness? 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 Inverness open mics
All ›Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See Inverness gigs or check the going rate.
10 — What's on at The Tooth & Claw
All ›
Grunge Tribute Night with The Lost DogsFriday, 13 November 2026
Primitive VicesSaturday, 5 December 2026Rooms near The Tooth & Claw: An Seomar, An Talla Mhòr Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Eden Court Inverness., Elgin Town Hall, Encore, ETH @Elgin Community Centre, Fochabers Public Institute, Forres Town Hall, Hootananny, Ironworks, Johnny Foxes and Nairn Community and Arts Centre.
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