Music Bingo

Music Bingo is back at The Haymaker on Tuesday, October 13, and it's one of those things that's easier to explain by just describing it. If you've never played, it's exactly what it sounds like: bingo, but instead of numbers, the caller plays clips of songs. You listen, find the track on your card, and mark it off. When you get a line, you shout bingo just like the original game.

What makes it work is that you're not just sitting there waiting for a number to be called; you're listening to a whole night of music. The songs come from different eras and genres, so you'll hear a mix of things you know by heart and a few you might only vaguely remember. It's as much about the music as it is about the game, and you don't need to be a music expert to get into it—you just need to recognize a tune when you hear it.

There are prizes every round, so you're in the running for something throughout the night rather than waiting for one big winner at the end. That keeps things moving, and it means you can stay for the whole evening without feeling like you're out of the race after the first few songs. It's a social way to spend a Tuesday, and it's the kind of thing that works just as well if you're there with a group as it does if you just want to hang out and listen.

The Haymaker is at 555 Fayetteville St in downtown Raleigh, and entry is free, so there's no cover to get in the door. It runs every Tuesday night, which makes it an easy one to drop into whenever you're in the neighborhood.