The Vortex Jazz Club at 11 Gillett Square, Dalston (N16 8AZ) is one of London's most respected independent jazz venues, hosting live performances seven nights a week and programming around 400 shows a year. The booking is deliberately wide-ranging — straightahead, big-band, contemporary, piano trio, vocal, free-improvisation, world-music, Gypsy/East European and folk-orientated jazz all feature, balancing the avant-garde with more accessible sounds. It's home to Mopomoso, the UK's longest-running improv night (fourth Sunday of the month), and supports emerging local talent alongside established international artists. The intimate room seats/stands around 120, with a house piano, full backline and an in-house sound engineer. Contact: 020 3337 0993, info@vortexjazz.co.uk.
London · Every Sunday · No fee listed
Dalston's Sunday-night free jazz jam at 11 Gillett Square, N16 8AZ — flagship jazz venue, full backline including piano, 10-minute slots.
Next night: Sun 15 Nov. Kick-off 19:45, sign-up from 21:00. 10-minute slots. No fee listed.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
Sundays
| Night | Every Sunday |
| Sign-up | 21:00 walk-in |
| Slot | 10 min |
| Entry | No fee listed · 18+ |
| Backline | Full backline |
| Capacity | c. 120 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Website | vortexjazz.co.uk |
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 23 Sept 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
Dalston, London N16 8AZ
The nearest station is Dalston Kingsland (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away.
| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | Provided |
| 3 vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | Provided |
The Vortex is one of London's flagship working jazz clubs - paid bills most nights, and the Sunday session is the open one. It runs weekly from 7:45pm, hosted on rotation by four of London's finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonist Riley Stone-Lonergan. The house rhythm section backs any singer or instrumentalist who steps up.
c. 2.5 hours, 15 acts at 10 minutes - though the format is loose; players form ad-hoc combos.
Sign-up process
Walk-in, no need to book in advance. Bring your instrument and put your name in with the host on the night.
What it costs
Free for participating musicians and for Vortex members. GBP 6 on the door if you are coming to listen.
Getting there
11 Gillett Square, N16 8AZ. 6 minutes from Dalston Junction (Overground).
The venue
First-floor jazz club above the square. 18+. Capacity c. 120 seated.
The Vortex Jazz Club at 11 Gillett Square, Dalston (N16 8AZ) is one of London's most respected independent jazz venues, hosting live performances seven nights a week and programming around 400 shows a year. The booking is deliberately wide-ranging — straightahead, big-band, contemporary, piano trio, vocal, free-improvisation, world-music, Gypsy/East European and folk-orientated jazz all feature, balancing the avant-garde with more accessible sounds. It's home to Mopomoso, the UK's longest-running improv night (fourth Sunday of the month), and supports emerging local talent alongside established international artists. The intimate room seats/stands around 120, with a house piano, full backline and an in-house sound engineer. Contact: 020 3337 0993, info@vortexjazz.co.uk.
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Vortex Jazz Club Open Mic
Dalston's Sunday-night free jazz jam at 11 Gillett Square, N16 8AZ — flagship jazz venue, full backline including piano, 10-minute slots.
- Sunday
- Open mic night
- Apr 2026
- Listed since
- 23 Sept
- Last verified
- No fee
- Entry
- 10 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Last updated: 13 November 2026
Vortex Jazz Club Open Mic — Quick Facts
Vortex Jazz Club Open Mic runs on Sundays at Vortex Jazz Club in London, starting at 19:45 with sign-up from 21:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Music starts around 19:45, finishing about 00:00. Sign-up is on the night from 21:00 - get there early to get a slot. Each act gets about 10 minutes, so the night holds around 25 acts. With full backline listed, you need little more than your instrument and pedals.
What’s on in London this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Vortex is one of London's flagship working jazz clubs - paid bills most nights, and the Sunday session is the open one. It runs weekly from 7:45pm, hosted on rotation by four of London's finest: guitarist Nick Costley-White, trumpeter Sean Gibbs, pianist Rick Simpson and tenor saxophonist Riley Stone-Lonergan. The house rhythm section backs any singer or instrumentalist who steps up.
c. 2.5 hours, 15 acts at 10 minutes - though the format is loose; players form ad-hoc combos.
Sign-up process
Walk-in, no need to book in advance. Bring your instrument and put your name in with the host on the night.
What it costs
Free for participating musicians and for Vortex members. GBP 6 on the door if you are coming to listen.
Getting there
11 Gillett Square, N16 8AZ. 6 minutes from Dalston Junction (Overground).
The venue
First-floor jazz club above the square. 18+. Capacity c. 120 seated.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
The Night at a Glance
How Vortex Jazz Club’s Sunday night runs.
Every Sunday
Sun 15 Nov · Sun 22 Nov · Sun 29 Nov
Vortex Jazz Club provides a PA system, 3 vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp, a bass amp, keys and an in-house sound engineer.
Arrive for 21:00 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on, and plan a set that fits 10 minutes.
Find Vortex Jazz Club
11 Gillett Square, Dalston, London N16 8AZ
The nearest station is Dalston Kingsland (rail station), about 5 minutes' walk away. You'll find Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston, London; N16 8AZ is the postcode for sat-nav and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station.
Sindercombe Social, The Hawley Arms, The Blues Kitchen Camden and Howl at the Moon
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Sunday Night
Arrive by 21:00 to sign up for a slot. The open mic runs until about 00:00. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
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. A night in the London live music scene.
Common Questions
9 questions people ask before going to London's Vortex Jazz Club open mic.
What’s On at Vortex Jazz Club
The gigs coming up at Vortex Jazz Club besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
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Vortex Jazz Club open mic in brief. The Vortex Jazz Club open mic runs every Sunday from 19:45 (no fee listed); sign-up opens 21:00 and slots run about 10 minutes. Vortex Jazz Club’s venue page has its kit and capacity if you want to come back with a full band. For a different night this week, the open mics near London are listed by day.
Booking or playing in London? 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.
Looking for paid gigs, not open mics? See London gigs or check the going rate.
Lily LyonsFriday, 13 November 2026
Alina BzhezhinskaFriday, 13 November 2026
Ari Hoenig, Tom Ollendorff, Viktor NybergSaturday, 14 November 2026
London Jazz OrchestraSunday, 15 November 2026Mopomoso, London Jazz FestivalSunday, 15 November 2026Lily LyonsFriday, 13 November 2026Alina BzhezhinskaFriday, 13 November 2026Ari Hoenig, Tom Ollendorff, Viktor NybergSaturday, 14 November 2026London Jazz OrchestraSunday, 15 November 2026Mopomoso, London Jazz FestivalSunday, 15 November 2026More dates at Vortex Jazz Club: James Kitchman, Tara Cunningham, Will Glaser, Emilia Martensson, Matt Robinson and Coras Trio.
Rooms near Vortex Jazz Club: Cafe Oto, Dalston Jazz Bar, Shacklewell Arms, SJQ, The Jago, The Victoria Dalston, 100 Club, 1901 Arts Club, 21Soho, 229, 30's And Avenue and 606 Club.
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