Seattle
African-American Writers’ Alliance
Since 1991, the African-American Writers’ Alliance (AAWA) has been a diverse and dynamic collective of writers of African descent, organized by Georgia S. McDade, charter member. Everyone is always welcome at all meetings.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/africanamericanwritersalliance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanamericanwritersalliance/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzL1B_vULTPh-MGAeXn8DHA
Email: aawaseattle1991@gmail.com
AAWA Writers Read (on Zoom)
Second Sundays 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. (does not meet May and August)
Join us for a monthly reading series featuring an open mic and selected author readings from local writers
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. — Special guest and AAWA members read
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. — Open mic—everyone welcome!
See upcoming events at https://www.aawa-seattle.org/event-details/
To be given the Zoom link, email aawaseattle1991@gmail.com
We have different hosts each month
Contact Georgia McDade at gsmcdade@msn.com
AAWA Open Mic — Third Place Books Seward Park
Second Thursdays 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. (does not meet in December)
Third Place Books Seward Park
5041 Wilson Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Open mic; members read first
Contact Georgia McDade, emcee, at gsmcdade@msn.com
AAWA at SouthEast Seattle Senior Center
Third Wednesdays 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
SouthEast Seattle Senior Center
4655 S Holly St, Seattle, WA 98118
Contact Minnie Collins, liaison and emcee
Group photo of the AAWA Open Mic taken September 10, 2018
Group photo taken February 24, 2018 at AAWA’s annual reading at Elliott Bay Book Company
Ballard Poetry Potluck
Third Wednesdays 6:30 – 7:45 p.m.
Ballard Branch of Seattle Public Library
5614 22nd Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Join us in our meeting room for an informal gathering to listen to and read poetry aloud
Select two or three poems, whether classics or new discoveries, and plan to share them aloud
We take turns reading one poem at a time, going around the table, which means that everyone reads about the same amount
We emphasize other people’s poetry, not our own
We are interested in exploring the wide world of poems—across the world and through time
For sharing your own poetry, we suggest the “It’s About Time Writers Reading Series,” our sister program at the same location
Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with free parking under the building
Contact Lynn Miller, host, at lynn.miller@spl.org
Group photo taken January 17, 2024
Belltown Seattle Open Mic
Every Tuesday 7:00 – 10:30 p.m.
Cottontail Club
2219 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Sign up 7:00 p.m. for first fifteen spots: first come, first served
Performances start at 7:30 p.m.
All performance types welcome from all identities, ages, and skill levels
Three songs or 15-minute open mic
The entrance is in the alley behind the building
Alcohol served
Contact Logan Volkert, host, at loganvolkert720@gmail.com
Group photo taken September 3, 2024
Castalia
Various Wednesdays 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (October–November; February–May)
Alternates between
Hugo House
1634 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
and
Chapel Performance Space
Good Shepherd Center, 4th floor
4649 Sunnyside Ave, Seattle, WA 98103
Join us for an evening of poems and prose
Featured readings by writers associated with the University of Washington, Seattle MFA Creative Writing Program
Hosted by the Creative Writing Program at the University of Washington, Seattle
Contact Evan Goldenbaum at egolde@uw.edu
Group photo taken January 23, 2024
Group photo taken February 12, 2025
Couth Buzzard Community Open Mic
Every Wednesday 6:45 – 9:00 p.m.
Couth Buzzard Books
8310 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
All ages
Sign up from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m.
Musicians, poets, and readers
Our welcoming, judgment-free community especially supports first-timers
Five-minute sessions beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Contact Chuck Gould, host, at gould0738@aol.com
Visit https://buonobuzzard.com/events-calendar/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/couthbuzzardopenmic/
Group photos taken December 27, 2023
Easy Speak Seattle
Second and fourth Mondays 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Wedgwood Broiler
8230 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115
(in banquet room)
Poem, prose, or song—our microphone opens wide for you
We love the human voice and we want to hear yours
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Show starts at 7:00 p.m.
Usually five minutes for each open-mic reader (no featured readers)
Contact T. Clear at rsvp.easyspeak@gmail.com
Visit https://easyspeakseattle.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/EasySpeakSeattle
Group photo taken January 22, 2024
It’s About Time Writers Reading Series
Second Thursdays 6:00 – 7:45 p.m.
Ballard Branch of Seattle Public Library
5614 22nd Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Writer’s craft talk plus three featured readers (15 minutes each) interspersed by open-mic readers (three minutes each) who sign up that night
Seattle’s longest-running prose and poetry reading series, started in 1990 by Esther Helfgott
Through readings, newsletters, and “The Writers’ Craft” lectures, the series has provided inspiration, community, and a place to present work to a generation of Seattle and Washington state poets and writers
Visit the It’s About Time Writers’ Reading Series YouTube channel
Contact Peggy Sturdivant, curator, at peggysturdivant@gmail.com
Visit https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14594041/ for event listings that are updated monthly
Group photo taken February 8, 2024
Lake City Open Mic Night
Second Fridays 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. (does not meet in December)
Akin
12360 Lake City Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98125
Join us for a night of sharing music, poetry, storytelling, and spoken word
Hosted by Lex
Contact Jarod Okano, Lake City Recreation Center program coordinator, at Jarod.Okano@seattle.gov
Group photo taken November 15, 2024
Margin Shift: Friends in Poetry
Meets quarterly and on an ad hoc basis at various venues across the homeland of the Duwamish and Coast Salish people (Seattle, Washington)
This hybrid language-arts collective curates featured reader and book releases. We’re constantly shifting. Our main goal is inclusion and equity, celebrating the many diverse voices often overlooked in our region. We prioritize and seek out a strong intergenerational mix of national and local, as well as established and emerging, BIPOC, LGBTQI, nonbinary, differently-abled, aneuro-typical, undocumented, and experimental artists and writers. As our name says, we’re always changing, always shifting, always trying something different.
Let’s connect: We’re always looking for “friends in poetry”—guest curators, coconspirators, writers we’ve never heard of, get-the-word-outers, media mavens, and moguls and experimental networkers, revolutionaries. If you’ve got a gift you want to contribute, or if you know someone gifted you want to us to partner with, please reach out.
Contact Deborah Woodard and Matt Trease, curators, at marginshiftseattle@gmail.com
Visit https://www.marginshift.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/MarginShift/
Group photo taken May 17, 2024
Open Mic at Bulldog
Third Saturdays 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Bulldog News & Cafe
4208 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Performances include guitar, singing, stand-up comedy, improv, poetry, rap, and more
If you need time to tune your instrument or to mic test please come at 4:30 p.m.
All ages welcome for this free event
Intimate venue attracts a supportive audience for amateur creatives, often for their public debut
Come to Bulldog to join the community, enjoy a drink, share a pastry, and show off your talent!
Events are live-streamed
Contact Molly Crocker, Bulldog News events, at molly@bulldognews.com or events@bulldognews.com
Sign up in advance at https://www.bulldognews.com/sign-up
Group photo taken April 20, 2024
Open Mic Night (Folio)
Various days in February, May, August, and November 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum
Third floor of the Economy Building in Pike Place Market
93 Pike St #307, Seattle, WA 98101
Seattle’s community of writers is always hard at work, and we want to hear from you, so get your early pages, first pages, works in progress, songs, and published works ready for Open Mic Night!
Sign up to read and share your work, or join us as an audience member and enjoy discovering new authors, musicians, and emerging talents
Readings are followed by a Q&A and the opportunity to mingle with fellow writers in a supportive literary setting while enjoying a complimentary beer and wine reception
For upcoming times, visit https://www.folioseattle.org, click About and then Subscribe to join our mailing list (you can learn of upcoming events and to sign up in response to email announcements)
RSVP is required for readers and attendees
Arrive when doors open and sign up for a 3- to 5-minute time slot
If you’re playing music and need a soundboard, please let us know
Open mic night readings are open to Folio members and the general public, so bring friends!
For location and parking details visit https://www.folioseattle.org/contact-us
Contact Tess Selim, host, at tess@folioseatlle.org
Open Mic Night
Every Wednesday 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Hopvine Pub
507 15th Ave East, Seattle, WA 98112
Support your local artists at our legendary open mic. Our supportive vibe gives way to an amazing, eclectic group of local artists and encouraging attendees. All acts are welcome!
To sign up: After 7:00 p.m. head to the bar (drink/food order line) so the bartender can check your ID and get you a drink. You’ll get a numbered token and at 7:45 p,m, our host will pull numbers for the performance order. No need to line up early to get a spot since spots are randomly assigned. We are excited to see everyone find their seat and mingle before performances start instead of spending time waiting to sign up.
Open mic is eight minutes per performer
Contact Justin B., host, at justinmzb@gmail.com
Visit https://hopvinepub.com/
Open Mic Night at Innervisions Posters
First Fridays 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Innervisions Posters
4548 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
All welcome including hip-hop artists, DJs, singer/songwriters, beat boxers, poets, comedians, or whatever your creative outlet may be
Our goal is to provide a communal space for local musicians and creative individuals to enjoy each other’s art forms and connect.
Sign up for your time slot in person starting at 6:30 p.m. (first come, first served)
Performances start at 7:00 p.m. (you’ll get the mic for 10 minutes or two songs)
This event is donation-based—all donations directly help fund our open-mic night by helping purchase better equipment and gear for this community to thrive
Contact Willi Miller, host, at willimillerful@gmail.com
Visit https://allevents.in/seattle/open-mic-night-at-innervisions-posters/10000672676763307
Group photo taken June 7, 2024
Open Mic Night at Inside
Second Saturdays 7:30 – 11:30 p.m.
Inside
1313 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. (sign up to perform)
Open mic at 8:15 p.m.
Open to poets, singers, storytellers, musicians, dancers, comedians
$5 in advance, $7 at the door
Ages 21 and up
Alcohol served (buy drink tickets at the door)
Deaunte Damper, host
Contact Sierra Jones at hello@aspaceinside.com
Open Mic Poetry Night
First Fridays 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Miller Community Center
330 19th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
Generative workshop 6:00–7:00 p.m., open mic 7:00–8:00 p.m.
If you have a passion for sharing your favorite poems, showcasing original compositions, or if you enjoy listening to others, this is for you
Completely free and we welcome young poets to join us!
Mark Mendez, host
Contact Gem Arbogast, emcee, at gemarbogast@gmail.com or Miller Community Center at millercommunitycenter@seattle.gov
Group photo taken February 2, 2024
Poetry & Spoken Word Open Mic Night
Last Fridays 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Inside
1313 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Doors open 7:00 p.m. (sign up to read)
Readings start at 7:30 p.m. (five minutes each)
$5 in advance; $7 at the door
Ages 21 and up
Alcohol served (buy drink tickets at the door)
Darryl Foto, host
Contact Sierra Jones at hello@aspaceinside.com
Group photo taken December 29, 2023
PoetryBridge Association of West Seattle
Second Wednesdays 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (except in the summer)
Second Wednesdays 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (on Zoom, June, July, and August)
C&P Coffee Company
5612 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136
We are a community of poets, storytellers, and fans of the spoken word
Our mission is to promote the best of poetry and storytelling in West Seattle and beyond
Three featured readers followed by five-minute community mic readings
In-person community mic sign-up at 5:45 p.m. (no sign-up required for summer Zoom readings)
All ages welcome
In person and live-streamed on YouTube (except Summer Zoom sessions)
Live-stream links sent out on our email list and on our Facebook page
Summer Zoom links sent out on our email list and on our Facebook page the morning of the meeting
Edited readings posted on YouTube
Contact Leopoldo Seguel, host, at infopoetrybridge@gmail.com
Group photo taken January 11, 2023
Group photo taken January 10, 2024
Poetry in the Park by the Pond
Starting on the first Thursday in April and then on alternating Thursdays 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. through September
Meadowbrook Pond
NE 105th St and 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98146
(meet at the sound reflector)
Directions: Meadowbrook Pond is located on 35th Ave NE across from the Meadowbrook Community Center. Enter the park at the flashing crosswalk. Follow the circling path over the little bridge and to your right and then your left, then go left at the fork, and then you will see the main gazebo or covered shelter and the half-moon reflecting wall to your right.
Rain: no show / Sunny: please come
Relaxed and casual outdoor open-mic poetry reading
Consider bringing a seating pad or folding chair
Parks and Rec sometimes provides three or four chairs
Sponsored by Seattle Parks & Recreation and the Meadowbrook Community Council
Contact Raul Sanchez at lafamiliasanchez@comcast.net
Group photo taken May 2, 2024
Group photo taken June 13, 2024
Pop-Up Poetry Slam Seattle
Meets monthly on various days 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Meets at various locations
Seattle, WA
A monthly pop-up poetry slam competition with cash prizes of $200 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place
Admission fee of $15 in advance or $17 at the door
Poets must have three original poems prepared
We have a three-minute time limit with a ten-second grace period, but after that, judges will begin to deduct points
Contact Ebo Barton, host, at hello@popuppoetryseattle.com
Visit http:www.popuppoetryseattle.com/ for time and date
Soapbox (Literary Open Mic)
Second Tuesdays 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
A Stir Bar & Restaurant
818 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122
Meet in the downstairs area
Share your original stories, essays, poetry, comedy
Alcohol served 21+
Visit https://www.astirseattle.com/calendar/ (scroll down to see the current month)
Contact Jen Reilly, host, at Jenreilly225@gmail.com
Speak Out Seattle
Meets monthly on various days 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Solo Bar & Eatery
200 Roy St, Seattle, WA 98109
7:00 – 7:30 p.m. sign-up for open mic
7:30 p.m. seven scheduled readers (10 minutes each) followed by open mic
A showcase of fine local writers, prioritizing underrepresented voices and covering a wide range of topics, genres, and levels of comfort
21+ (alcohol served)
Dario Cvencek, emcee (dcvencek@hotmail.com)
To request being a scheduled reader, contact Jasmine Plaskon, host, at jasmineplaskonwrites@gmail.com
Group photo taken March 27, 2024
Spoken Word Open Mic Night
First and third Thursdays 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Nook & Cranny Books
324 15th Ave E #101, Seattle, WA 98112
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
On first Thursdays readings are from 6:45 to 9:00 p.m.
On third Thursdays we have free writing time where you can be inspired by the theme or whatever you wish ; if you want to skip the writing time you can show up at 7:30 p.m. when our open mic begins
Optional theme provided for each reading on both nights
Kristen Yaney, host
Contact Maren Comendant at shopnookandcrannybooks@gmail.com
To sign up (reading slots are limited) and to learn the theme for each reading, visit https://www.nookandcrannybooks.com/spoken-word-open-mic
Group photo taken December 21, 2023
Tim’s Tavern All Star Alternative to Open Mic
Every Wednesday 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Tim’s Tavern
9655 16th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106
6:30 p.m. sign-up
15-minute or 3-song slots start at 7:00 p.m. followed by a 30-minute featured performer, a 10-minute intermission, and then a return to the open mic
All art forms encouraged, including poetry, music, comedy, and beyond
Food, drink, and merriment; alcohol served
All ages until 10:00 p.m.
To be a featured guest performer (30-minute set), contact timstavernseattle@gmail.com
Contact Jack Blood, host, at jackcblood369@gmail.com
Group photo taken March 13, 2024
Unpoetry
Third Thursday of the month 8:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Casa del Xolo
3418 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Ages 21+
A curated reading and performance series
Unpoetry occasionally has pop-up readings on different days at various locations
Everyone gets relatively the same time, 5 to 10 minutes
Musicians/performers tend to get a little more time
Writers/artists in attendance can let curator Eric Acosta know that they’d like to eventually be on the lineup, or they can message him electronically
Lineups are usually made a month or two ahead of time
Contact Eric Acosta, curator of unreadings, at printcopiesavailable@gmail.com
Visit https://www.unpoetry.net/ for more information and to sign up for the newsletter
Works in Progress
Readings held on various dates, in person and online
Works in Progress is Hugo House’s semi-monthly open-mic series inclusive of diverse formats and storytelling crafts. Read your work—poetry, fiction, essays, memoirs, plays, music, comedy, and more—and connect with your literary community. Readings open to all. You don’t have to read—guests and audience members are encouraged to attend.
Contact Caitlin Andrews, host, at caitlin@hugohouse.org
Visit https://hugohouse.org/community-programs/open-mic-works-in-progress/ for overview information
Visit https://hugohouse.org/programs-events/?search=works%20in%20progress to find specific event details, select the event title, and then select Get Tickets (free)
Works in Progress (virtual)
Visit website (above) for date and Zoom access; 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Zoom link opens at 6:45 p.m.
Sign-up is on a first-come basis and begins at check-in
Works in Progress (in person)
Third Tuesdays; 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Hugo House
1634 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Doors open/sign-in begins at 6:00 p.m.
Open mic begins at 7:00 p.m.
The order for the 20 reading slots is randomly assigned with readers notified of their slot before readings begin (each reader has five minutes to read)
Group photo taken January 16, 2024