Conor Byrne Open Mic

Conor Byrne Pub hosts its open mic on Sunday, October 18, starting at 8 PM. It's an open mic night, so the stage is open to whoever wants to play, and the lineup is built from the musicians who show up that evening.

If you're not familiar with the spot, Conor Byrne Pub is a cooperatively run live music venue in the heart of Ballard, at 5140 Ballard Avenue NW. For the last hundred years, the pub—formerly known as The Owl—has been a go-to watering hole for Seattle musicians, and a good number of the city's legacy acts got their start within its walls. The venue carries on that tradition by booking both budding talent and household names, and the open mic fits right into that mix, giving local players a place to get on stage.

Since it's an open mic, the night is built around the people who sign up. You'll hear a range of acts, from musicians testing out new material to people playing their regulars. It's a low-stakes way to catch a few different sounds in one sitting, and it's as much about the room as it is about the individual sets.

The open mic is free, so you can drop in without a ticket. It starts at 8 PM on Sunday, October 18, at Conor Byrne Pub, 5140 Ballard Avenue NW in Ballard.