The Steamboat Tavern is a historic, dog-friendly free house on New Cut West in Ipswich (Suffolk), well renowned for its live music and an ever-changing range of guest real ales. Sat on the quay overlooking the 'New Cut' of the River Orwell, it pairs a comfortable beer garden with a packed gig diary: Jazz on Sundays plus regular Folk, Blues and Punk sessions, and Suffolk songwriters showcased monthly. It has also hosted spoken-word and open-mic nights (poetry, rap, comedy, storytelling, originals and covers, free entry 7-10pm), making it one of Ipswich's most established grassroots music pubs. A house PA is provided and both originals and covers are welcome.
Ipswich · Every Monday · Free
Steamboat Tavern Open Mic
Ipswich open mic at Steamboat Tavern — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Open mic at a glance Steamboat Tavern · Ipswich
Monday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Ipswich open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
Steamboat Tavern Open Mic — Quick Facts
Ipswich open mic at Steamboat Tavern — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayMonday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
Steamboat Tavern78-80 New Cut W
Ipswich IP2 8HW
Ipswich — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music welcome
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 and we'll re-verify within 48 hours.
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About Steamboat Tavern
About This Open Mic
Every Monday in Ipswich
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Ipswich open mic directory
The Night
The Steamboat Tavern is a waterfront freehouse with music woven through its history — the weekly Monday open mic sits alongside punk on Saturdays and jazz on Sundays. It's long been a favourite with gigging artists, hosting everything from folk and blues to rock and metal, and in summer the outdoor domed stage gets a turn too. Expect a friendly, dog-friendly, real-ale crowd. Find it at 78-80 New Cut West, IP2 8HW.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How Steamboat Tavern’s Monday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
Every Monday 12-min slots Free entry
Find Steamboat Tavern
78-80 New Cut W, Ipswich IP2 8HW
Planning Your Monday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until late. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Ipswich 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 Ipswich's Steamboat Tavern open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Ipswich open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Ipswich mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
78-80 New Cut W, Ipswich IP2 8HW.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Ipswich regulars across the Ipswich open mic scene. Ipswich open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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