The Rising Sun Arts Centre is a long-running, volunteer-run grass-roots arts venue housed in a historic building at 30 Silver Street in central Reading (RG1 2ST), with a standing capacity of around 120. A committed platform for local artists week after week, it programmes everything from intimate acoustic sessions to full-band showcases and collaborative nights. Regular fixtures include the weekly Artist Link Up — a live-performance-and-networking session for rappers, singers, producers, DJs, dancers and musicians — plus the monthly Dreading Slam poetry competition and the annual Here Comes The Sun multi-stage festival. An Independent Venue Week participant, it remains one of Reading's key spaces for original and emerging music.
Reading · Monthly on Sundays · Free
The Rising Sun Arts Centre Open Mic
Reading open mic at The Rising Sun Arts Centre — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Open mic at a glance The Rising Sun Arts Centre · Reading
Sunday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
15 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Reading open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Rising Sun Arts Centre Open Mic — Quick Facts
Reading open mic at The Rising Sun Arts Centre — listed on Google Places. Schedule below pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DaySunday
Start19:00
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length15 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Rising Sun Arts Centre30 Silver St
Reading RG1 2ST
Reading — 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 Rising Sun Arts Centre
About This Open Mic
Monthly on Sundays in Reading
Kicks off at 19:00, sign-up from 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
15-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Reading open mic directory
The Night
The Rising Sun Arts Centre is a much-loved volunteer-run community arts venue on Silver Street in Reading, and its 'Sunset Sessions' open mic runs on the 2nd Sunday of every month, 7pm to 10pm. It's a friendly, inclusive room — the centre also hosts the monthly 'Dreading Slam' poetry open mic (first Sunday) and other grassroots nights — so expect a warm, supportive crowd. Entry is free; turn up to put your name down. A genuine arts-centre setting rather than a pub back room.
What's on stage — equipment and backline at this venue, verified regularly.
PA + monitors
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer
The Night at a Glance
How The Rising Sun Arts Centre’s Sunday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
19:00Kick-off
22:00Last songs
21:30Venue closes
Monthly on Sundays 15-min slots Free entry
Find The Rising Sun Arts Centre
30 Silver St, Reading RG1 2ST
Planning Your Sunday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until 22:00. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Reading 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 Reading's The Rising Sun Arts Centre open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Reading open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
15 minutes per act — typically 4 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Reading mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
30 Silver St, Reading RG1 2ST.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Reading regulars across the Reading open mic scene. Reading open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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