The Artful Dodger is an independent rock bar at 47 Micklegate in the centre of York, established in 2005 and billed as the city's premier late-night rock venue, open until 2am every night. The soundtrack is primarily rock — occasionally straying into other genres — poured alongside a well-kept range of beers, and there is now live music on Sunday nights. Upstairs sits an exclusive function room that doubles as a flexible space for live music, comedy, parties, weddings and markets. With its late licence and dedicated rock crowd, it is a characterful, no-frills home for rock and alternative acts in York.
York · Monthly on Thursdays · Free
The Artful Dodger Open Mic
York open mic at The Artful Dodger — 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 Artful Dodger · York
Thursday
Open mic night
Apr 2026
Listed since
03 Jun
Last verified
Free
Entry
12 min
Slot length
Verified
Listing status
Run a York open mic? List it free — verified within 48 hours
Last updated: 3 June 2026
The Artful Dodger Open Mic — Quick Facts
York open mic at The Artful Dodger — 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
DayThursday
Start19:30
Sign-up19:00 walk-in
Slot length12 min
EntryFree · 18+
Capacity–
Performer typesMusic · Poetry · Comedy
Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night
View on map
Where
The Artful Dodger47 Micklegate
York YO1 6LJ
York — check venue website for parking and nearest station.
Highlights
Free entry for all
PA system provided
Walk-in sign-up
Music, Poetry, Comedy 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 Artful Dodger
About This Open Mic
Monthly on Thursdays in York
Kicks off at 19:30, sign-up from 19:00
Free entry for performers and audience
12-minute slots
PA provided — BYO instrument
Part of the York open mic directory
The Night
The Artful Dodger is a snug little pub on Micklegate in York, and its monthly 'Third Thursdays: Folk & Word' open mic takes over the upstairs room on the third Thursday of each month. It's a warm, friendly spoken-word-and-acoustic session — poetry, songs, jokes and instrumentals all welcome — with a guest writer and musician co-hosting before the floor opens to everyone. Free, no booking needed; sign up from 7pm, performances from 7:30pm. Note: upstairs access is by stairs only (listed building).
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 Artful Dodger’s Thursday night runs.
19:00Sign-up
19:30Kick-off
02:00Venue closes
Monthly on Thursdays 12-min slots Free entry
Find The Artful Dodger
47 Micklegate, York YO1 6LJ
Planning Your Thursday Night
Arrive by 19:00 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 York 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 York's The Artful Dodger open mic.
Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 19:00. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. See other York 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 York mics are free; browse the list.
Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band.
47 Micklegate, York YO1 6LJ.
Mostly fellow musicians, friends and York regulars across the York open mic scene. York open mic crowds tend to listen attentively.
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