Band on the Wall is a historic and internationally renowned live-music venue at 25 Swan Street in Manchester's Northern Quarter. Run by the registered charity Inner City Music as a not-for-profit, it presents the best music from around the world — soul, funk, reggae, world, folk and jazz — alongside resident club nights from the likes of Craig Charles, Mr. Scruff and Don Letts. The main room holds around 520, with a full professional PA, backline and in-house engineering, and it programmes touring international artists most nights of the week. It's a key concert venue rather than an open-mic pub, welcoming established and emerging original acts across a genuinely global spread of genres.
Northern Quarter · Every Sunday · Free
Band on the Wall Open Mic
Manchester's Sunday-night free open mic at 25 Swan Street, M4 5JZ — historic music venue, full backline including piano, 10-minute slots.
Open mic at a glance Band on the Wall · Manchester
Sunday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
10 min
Slot length
Community
Listing status
Run a Manchester open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
Band on the Wall Open Mic — Quick Facts
Manchester's Sunday-night free open mic at 25 Swan Street, M4 5JZ — historic music venue, full backline including piano, 10-minute slots.
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The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DaySunday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length10 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacityc. 250 standing
Performer typesMusic · Jazz
Sound engineerIn-house, included
View on map
Where
Band on the Wall25 Swan Street
Northern Quarter
Manchester M4 5JZ
Northern Quarter, Manchester — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Highlights
Free entry for all
Full backline on stage
In-house sound engineer
Walk-in sign-up
Music, Jazz welcome
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About Band on the Wall
About This Open Mic
Every Sunday in Northern Quarter, Manchester
Kicks off at 20:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
10-minute slots
Full backline on stage
Part of the Manchester open mic directory
The Night
Band on the Wall has been a Manchester music venue since the 1930s. Sunday open mic uses the main stage with full backline.
180 minutes, 18 acts at 10 minutes.
Sign-up process
Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. Walk-in.
Getting there
25 Swan Street, M4 5JZ. 6 minutes from Manchester Piccadilly.
The venue
Large multi-genre music venue. 18+. Capacity c. 250.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
3 vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How Band on the Wall’s Sunday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
23:00Last songs
00:00Venue closes
Every Sunday 10-min slots Free entry
Find Band on the Wall
25 Swan Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 5JZ
Planning Your Sunday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. Full backline is provided — just bring your instrument and pedals.
Part of the Manchester live music scene.
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Try the Rate CalculatorCommon Questions
Seven things people ask before turning up at Manchester's Band on the Wall open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Manchester open mic nights for alternatives.
Full backline: drum kit, guitar amp, bass amp, vocal mics, plus an in-house sound engineer. Bring your own instrument and pedals.
10 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Manchester mics are free; browse the list.
Yes — full bands welcome and the backline is set up for it.
25 Swan Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 5JZ.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Manchester regulars across the Manchester open mic scene. Manchester open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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