The Old Cigar & Olive is a welcoming Folkestone music bar with live music all week — from acoustic Sunday afternoons to heavy-metal and punk gigs — and two weekly open jam nights every Tuesday and Thursday. Entry to music events is free, the genre range is deliberately huge, and the bar prides itself on being an inclusive, LGBTQA+ safe space where musicians of any background or ability are welcome.
Creative Quarter · Every Wednesday · Free
The Old Cigar and Olive Open Mic
Folkestone's Wednesday-night Groove Night jam in the Creative Quarter.
Open mic at a glance The Old Cigar and Olive · Folkestone
Wednesday
Open mic night
May 2026
Listed since
15 Jul
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Folkestone open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 15 July 2026
The Old Cigar and Olive Open Mic — Quick Facts
Folkestone's Wednesday-night Groove Night jam in the Creative Quarter.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayWednesday
Start20:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacityc. 60 standing
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Old Cigar and Olive12-15 Rendezvous Street
Creative Quarter
Folkestone CT20 1EX
Creative Quarter, Folkestone — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Contact
Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team
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 The Old Cigar and Olive
About This Open Mic
Every Wednesday in Creative Quarter, Folkestone
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 Folkestone open mic directory
The Night
Groove Night jam every Wednesday — open stage, all styles welcome.
Sign-up process Walk-in.
Getting there 12-15 Rendezvous Street, CT20 1EX. 10 minutes from Folkestone Central Rail.
The venue 18+. Capacity c. 60.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How The Old Cigar and Olive’s Wednesday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
20:00Kick-off
23:00Last songs
Every Wednesday 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Old Cigar and Olive
12-15 Rendezvous Street, Creative Quarter, Folkestone CT20 1EX
Planning Your Wednesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 23:00. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Folkestone 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 Folkestone's The Old Cigar and Olive open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Folkestone 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 Folkestone mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
12-15 Rendezvous Street, Creative Quarter, Folkestone CT20 1EX.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Folkestone regulars across the Folkestone open mic scene. Folkestone open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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