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Boston's Best Music Open Mic Nights

The music scene in Boston offers the best of the best, the best of the worst, and everything in between. Open mic nights offer budding artists a venue to find their voice, and up-and-comers an audience to test their new tunes. Many of the city's best open mic nights aren't actually in Boston at all, but rather just over the river in Cambridge.
Lizard-Lounge
(credit: lizardloungeclub.com)

Lizard Lounge

1667 Mass Ave.
Cambridge MA, 02138
www.lizardloungeclub.com
Mondays at 7:30 p.m.

A low-lit basement with laid back attitude. Each Monday night 18 artists perform 2 songs or 10 minutes each for the chance at a cash prize. For performers, the list often fills up in advance, so you may have to sign up for a future date.

Club-Passim
(credit: clubpassim.org/)

Club Passim

47 Palmer St.
Cambridge MA, 02138
617-492-7679
www.clubpassim.org
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

For more than 50 years this 30 foot by 40 foot "cozy" basement lounge has been home to local folk music lovers. Regulars warn this isn't the place for chatting with your friends, but rather sitting back and listening.

Cantab-Lounge
(credit: cantab-lounge.com)

Cantab Lounge

738 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-354-2685
www.cantab-lounge.com
Mondays at 8 p.m.

Regulars agree their favorite lounge may be "gritty", but say it's all part of the ambiance. Cash only and don't expect food service, but Cantab has built a reputation over the last two decades as one of the best open mic venues around. Artists get two songs, unless the audience requests an encore.

Kings-Lounge
(credit: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2489815937)

Kings Lounge

50 Dalton St.
Boston MA, 02115
www.facebook.com
Wednesdays at 9 p.m.

Best known as a bowling and boozing venue, Kings has added an open mic night on Wednesdays. Musicians, poets, comedians and even magicians are welcome. While the rest of Kings is 21+, the open mic lounge is 18+ which just may catch on for nearby Berklee music students. Performers need to sign up by 8.

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