Buffer Stops is a real-ale bar in the converted station cafe on the platform at Rawtenstall, the northern terminus of the heritage East Lancashire Railway. Trains pull in a few feet from the door, and the bar has become a fixture of the Rossendale music scene.
The open mic runs every Wednesday evening and is free and walk-in. Buffer Stops is the home of the Rossendale Acoustic Club, and a full PA is provided - just bring your instrument. The night draws a loyal crowd of acoustic players, singers and folk musicians from across the valley.
The railway setting, cask ales and a genuinely supportive room make it one of the more distinctive open mic venues in Lancashire.
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.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Rossendale regulars across the Rossendale open mic scene. Rossendale open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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