The Ferret is Preston's most popular grassroots live music venue, at 55 Fylde Road (PR1 2XQ) near the University of Central Lancashire. With a 100–150 capacity, a proper stage, full lighting rig and an excellent sound system, it runs 200+ gigs a year and has hosted artists on the way up from IDLES and Catfish and the Bottlemen to Bob Vylan and Ed Sheeran. Gigs run Thursday to Saturday (and some Sundays), with showcase open-mic nights on Wednesdays and a quiz on Mondays. Full backline available — a vital rung on the ladder for emerging Lancashire bands across rock, indie, punk and alternative.
Preston · Monthly on Tuesdays · Free
The Ferret Open Mic
Preston's weekly Tuesday open mic at The Ferret, a vibrant live music bar with full backline.
Kick-off 19:00, sign-up from 19:00. 10-minute slots. Free entry.
Nearby open micsUpdated 13 November 2026
At a glance
Checked 18 Oct 202619:00
Kick-off
Tuesdays
sign-up from 19:00Tuesdays
| Night | Monthly on Tuesdays |
| Sign-up | 19:00 walk-in |
| Slot | 10 min |
| Entry | Free · 18+ |
| Backline | PA provided |
01 — Inside the room
6 photosPhotos: Google
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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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Member votes
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| Capacity | c. 150 standing |
| Performer types | Musicians |
| Host | Jamie Brewer |
| Website | theferret.live |
The check
| Status | Verified running |
| Last checked | 18 Oct 2026 |
| Checked against | Venue website |
03 — The night
Monthly on TuesdaysHow the night runs
Once a month · Tuesdays
Check the date before you goRunning order
19:00 Kick-off· 10-minute slots
23:00 Venue closes
04 — Find The Ferret
Fylde RoadGetting there
55 Fylde Rd,
Fylde Road, Preston PR1 2XQ
Fylde Road, Preston PR1 2XQ
The nearest station is Preston (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away.
05 — What's on stage
5 provided · 2 TBC| PA system | Provided |
| Drum kit | Provided |
| Guitar amp | Provided |
| Bass amp | Provided |
| Keys / keyboard | TBC |
| Vocal mics | Provided |
| In-house engineer | TBC |
06 — About
Fylde Road, PrestonAbout the night
The Ferret is Preston's best-loved grassroots music venue, and its open mic, The Ferret Open Mic with Jamie Brewer, runs roughly once a month on a Tuesday, throwing the stage open to local musicians and bands to road-test new material. It's no longer strictly the first Tuesday: in autumn 2026 it fell on 8 September, 6 October and 10 November, so check the Ferret's listings for the next date. Slots run from 7pm and are first-come, first-served, so turn up early; it's free to get in and to play, and nights wrap up between 10pm and 11pm. The backline is properly kitted out: house PA, mics, drum kit, bass amp and guitar amp are all provided (drummers bring your own breakables), on the same stage that's hosted everyone from IDLES to Catfish and the Bottlemen. On other Tuesdays the Ferret also runs a free Electronic Music Open Mic and YAM, an open jam night.
The Ferret is Preston's most popular grassroots live music venue, at 55 Fylde Road (PR1 2XQ) near the University of Central Lancashire. With a 100–150 capacity, a proper stage, full lighting rig and an excellent sound system, it runs 200+ gigs a year and has hosted artists on the way up from IDLES and Catfish and the Bottlemen to Bob Vylan and Ed Sheeran. Gigs run Thursday to Saturday (and some Sundays), with showcase open-mic nights on Wednesdays and a quiz on Mondays. Full backline available — a vital rung on the ladder for emerging Lancashire bands across rock, indie, punk and alternative.
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| 04 | Update backline and capacity |
Fylde Road · Monthly on Tuesdays
The Ferret Open Mic
Preston's weekly Tuesday open mic at The Ferret, a vibrant live music bar with full backline. Starts at 19:00.
- Tuesday
- Open mic night
- May 2026
- Listed since
- 18 Oct
- Last verified
- Free
- Entry
- 10 min
- Slot length
- Verified
- Listing status
Run a Preston open mic? List it free — reviewed before it goes live
Last updated: 13 November 2026
The Ferret Open Mic — Quick Facts
The Ferret Open Mic runs on Tuesdays (monthly) at The Ferret in Preston, starting at 19:00 with sign-up from 19:00. Below: when it runs, sign-up and slots, the stage kit and how to get there.
Open mic status Last verified 18 Oct 2026
How sure we are
Verified active
Checked against the venue’s own listing See The Ferret’s venue page →
Music starts around 19:00. It's walk-in sign-up, with the list opening at 19:00 - arrive early to get a slot. Slots run about 10 minutes. There is a PA listed - ask what else is on stage before you load in. Jamie Brewer hosts the night.
Age18+
Sign-upWalk-in on the night
Capacityc. 150 standing
BacklinePA provided
Sound engineerAsk the venue
HostJamie Brewer
Directory statusVerified active
Member votes0 to get the venue on GigXchange
Websitetheferret.live
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.
NightTuesdayMonthly on Tuesdays
Starts19:00start time
Sign-up19:00Walk-in
Slots10minutes each
What’s on in Preston this week — or see what’s on across the UK.
About This Open Mic
The Ferret is Preston's best-loved grassroots music venue, and its open mic, The Ferret Open Mic with Jamie Brewer, runs roughly once a month on a Tuesday, throwing the stage open to local musicians and bands to road-test new material. It's no longer strictly the first Tuesday: in autumn 2026 it fell on 8 September, 6 October and 10 November, so check the Ferret's listings for the next date. Slots run from 7pm and are first-come, first-served, so turn up early; it's free to get in and to play, and nights wrap up between 10pm and 11pm. The backline is properly kitted out: house PA, mics, drum kit, bass amp and guitar amp are all provided (drummers bring your own breakables), on the same stage that's hosted everyone from IDLES to Catfish and the Bottlemen. On other Tuesdays the Ferret also runs a free Electronic Music Open Mic and YAM, an open jam night.
The kit on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA systemProvided
Drum kitProvided
Guitar ampProvided
Bass ampProvided
Keys / keyboardTBC
Vocal micsProvided
In-house engineerTBC
The Night at a Glance
How The Ferret’s Tuesday night runs.
Sign-up opens · Kick-off19:00Walk-in on the night
Venue closes23:00The listed closing time
Slots10minutes each
How often
Monthly on Tuesdays
Getting there
Fylde Road, Preston, PR1 2XQ - the map is below.
Kit
The Ferret provides a PA system, vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp and a bass amp — check the rest with the venue.
First time here?
Arrive for 19:00 to get your name on the list, tune up before you go on, and plan a set that fits 10 minutes.
Find The Ferret
55 Fylde Rd, Fylde Road, Preston PR1 2XQ
Address55 Fylde Rd
AreaFylde Road, Preston
PostcodePR1 2XQ
DirectionsOpen in Google Maps →
Getting there
The nearest station is Preston (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. The Ferret is in Fylde Road, Preston — use PR1 2XQ for sat-nav, taxis and ride apps. Check the venue's website for parking and the nearest station before you set off.
Open mics nearby
Prince Of Wales, The Kitchen Tap, The Gables and The Railway Inn
Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport (Open Government Licence).
Planning Your Tuesday Night
Be there by 19:00 to put your name down. The Ferret provides a PA system, vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp and a bass amp — check the rest with the venue.
The scene Live music in Prestonthe venues, the gigs and where it happensGet gigs How to get gigs in Prestonpay, venues that book, how to pitchBands Find a band in Prestonacts to book or play alongsideGigs Upcoming gigs in Prestonevery 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. A night in the Preston live music scene.
Common Questions
9 things people ask before turning up at Preston's The Ferret open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:00. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Preston open mic nights for alternatives.
The Ferret provides a PA system, vocal mics, a drum kit, a guitar amp and a bass amp — check the rest with the venue.
10 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes, entry to The Ferret's open mic was free at our last check, but check with the venue before you go. Browse Preston open mics.
Ask the host before bringing a full band — solo and duo acts are the usual open-mic format.
55 Fylde Rd, Fylde Road, Preston PR1 2XQ.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Preston regulars across the Preston open mic scene. Preston open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
The nearest station is Preston (rail station), about 15 minutes' walk away. For sat-nav and taxis, the postcode is PR1 2XQ. (Station data: NaPTAN, Department for Transport, Open Government Licence.)
Sign-up is walk-in on the night, from 19:00, so you do not need to book ahead. GigXchange doesn't publish venue phone numbers or emails - the venue's own website is linked on this page. Browse other Preston open mics.
What’s On at The Ferret
The gigs coming up at The Ferret besides the open mic, from the GigXchange directory — each one links its listing.
NOV
13
MC Devvo
Preston
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
NOV
14
Torridon + guests
Preston
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Folk
View details›
NOV
15
Janus Stark + BOI TOI + TicNoToc + Slappstikk
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock, Metal
View details›
NOV
19
The Turbans
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreWorld Music
View details›
NOV
25
Joey Wit & The Dirty Verses + Katie & The Bad Sign + Rhi K Hill
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Blues
View details›
NOV
27
The Fear, The Ferret
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
DEC
4
Holy Coves Album Release Tour - Autumn/Winter 2026
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock
View details›
DEC
11
The Empire Police
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock
View details›
NOV
13
MC Devvo
Preston
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
NOV
14
Torridon + guests
Preston
- Entry—
- TicketsAvailable
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Folk
View details›
NOV
15
Janus Stark + BOI TOI + TicNoToc + Slappstikk
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Punk Rock, Metal
View details›
NOV
19
The Turbans
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreWorld Music
View details›
NOV
25
Joey Wit & The Dirty Verses + Katie & The Bad Sign + Rhi K Hill
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock, Blues
View details›
NOV
27
The Fear, The Ferret
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- Genre—
View details›
DEC
4
Holy Coves Album Release Tour - Autumn/Winter 2026
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock
View details›
DEC
11
The Empire Police
Preston
- Entry—
- Tickets—
- AgeAll ages
- GenreRock
View details›
08 — Keep up with Preston
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See what’s on in Preston over the next four weeks →
The Ferret open mic in brief. The Ferret open mic runs monthly on Tuesdays from 19:00 (free entry); sign-up opens 19:00 and slots run about 10 minutes. Coming back with a full band? The Ferret’s venue page has its kit and capacity listed. The open mics near Preston are listed by day, for another night this week.
Booking or playing in Preston? 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 Preston open mics
All ›Want paid gigs instead of open mics? See Preston gigs or check the going rate.
10 — What's on at The Ferret
All ›
MC DevvoFriday, 13 November 2026
Torridon + guestsSaturday, 14 November 2026
Janus Stark + BOI TOI + TicNoToc + SlappstikkSunday, 15 November 2026
The TurbansThursday, 19 November 2026
Joey Wit & The Dirty Verses + Katie & The Bad Sign + Rhi K HillWednesday, 25 November 2026MC DevvoFriday, 13 November 2026Torridon + guestsSaturday, 14 November 2026Janus Stark + BOI TOI + TicNoToc + SlappstikkSunday, 15 November 2026The TurbansThursday, 19 November 2026Joey Wit & The Dirty Verses + Katie & The Bad Sign + Rhi K HillWednesday, 25 November 2026More dates at The Ferret: The Fear, The Ferret, Holy Coves Album Release Tour - Autumn/Winter 2026 and The Empire Police.
Rooms near The Ferret: 53 Degrees, Albion Ale House, Asylum, Baker Street, Black Horse, Cactus Ray's, Chew's Yard, Foxtails Chorley, Guild Ale House, Hopwoods Tap House, Hopworks Brew Co. Tap and Lea Social Club.
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