"We had a similar start,” Dillon Brown said, amused to compare his own initiation as a poet with that of Langston Hughes, a leading voice of the Harlem Renaissance and a frequent visitor to Long ...

On a recent evening in Napa, chairs were pulled into a loose circle, a microphone was tested and a five-minute timer was set. One by one, people stepped forward — some seasoned performers, others ...

Donah Leigh, 66, shares her writing with strangers every other Tuesday. At least, these people began as strangers. Now, after two years of dedicated open mic attendance — “I’ve missed one or two,” she ...

The Labriola National American Indian Data Center may seem like a quiet collection of books nestled within Hayden Library, but on Feb. 29 it turned into a vibrant space for spoken word and artistic ...

Wearing a flannel shirt and toting a guitar case, Nicholas Lopardo walked into the Amityville Music Hall on a recent Wednesday night and jotted his name on a list. The 37-year-old HVAC technician, who ...

Local songwriter Eric Tappert performs at Lightnin’ Salvage Enterprises’ open mic night on the first Wednesday of every month. While he’s played at other venues, Tappert keeps coming back for Lightnin ...

Atlanta offers a wide variety of places where independent aspiring musicians, comedians, storytellers and poets can share their work — and patrons can catch a rising star. Here is just a small ...

The Animas City Theatre filled with aspiring musicians, stand up comedians and performers for the venue’s fourth official open mic night. Open mics have been held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Thursday ...

For many comedians, poets, musicians and other creatives, telling jokes, sharing stories and singing for audiences can be a cathartic experience. Gathering for live performances has been difficult to ...