The Dun Cow is a Grade II listed Edwardian 'gin palace' at 9 High Street West in Sunderland's Culture Quarter (SR1 3HA), next to the Empire Theatre. Built in 1901 with a dramatic copper-domed corner turret and one of the most stunning bar-backs in Britain, it was National Winner in the 2015 Pub Design Awards. It hosts live music — including a Buskers Night every other Tuesday — and in 2021 converted its upstairs restaurant into an entertainment and comedy space. A characterful, heritage-rich venue at the heart of the city's nightlife, serving a home-cooked menu daily alongside its gigs.
Sunderland · Every other Tuesday · Free
The Dun Cow Open Mic
Sunderland open mic at The Dun Cow — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
Open mic at a glance The Dun Cow · Sunderland
Tuesday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
10 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a Sunderland open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Dun Cow Open Mic — Quick Facts
Sunderland open mic at The Dun Cow — listed on Google Places. Schedule details below are pending venue confirmation; check the venue's own listings before turning up.
✓ Verified activeLast verified
The Details
Everything you need before you turn up
DayTuesday
Start19:30
Sign-up19:30 walk-in
Slot length10 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Dun Cow9 High St W
Sunderland SR1 3HA
Sunderland — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
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 Dun Cow
About This Open Mic
Every other Tuesday in Sunderland
Kicks off at 19:30
Free entry for performers and audience
10-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the Sunderland open mic directory
The Night
The Dun Cow is a beautiful Grade II city-centre pub on High Street West, right by the Empire Theatre and opposite the Minster. Its open mic runs every other Tuesday from 7:30pm, hosted by Beccy Young — a warm, no-judgement room with a guitar on hand so you can just turn up and play. It's free to perform and there's even a free pint in it for you, with regular live music, a comedy club upstairs and a buskers' night rounding out the week.
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 Dun Cow’s Tuesday night runs.
19:30Sign-up
19:30Kick-off
23:00Venue closes
Every other Tuesday 10-min slots Free entry
Find The Dun Cow
9 High St W, Sunderland SR1 3HA
Planning Your Tuesday Night
Arrive by 19:30 to sign up for a slot. Entry is free and the open mic typically runs until late. A PA is provided — bring your own instrument and amp.
Part of the Sunderland 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 Sunderland's The Dun Cow open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:30. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other Sunderland open mic nights for alternatives.
PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp.
10 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo.
Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Sunderland mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
9 High St W, Sunderland SR1 3HA.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Sunderland regulars across the Sunderland open mic scene. Sunderland open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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