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Let's make music!

Drop the Mic! is our regular open mic event, FREE for young people interested in music from Southend and the surrounding areas.

We welcome those interested in music performance, event hosts, multimedia, live sound, event production and audience members who enjoy live music, to get involved and join the Drop the Mic! community.

Events include the following opportunities:

  • Take part in our open mic suitable for acoustic acts, bands, songwriters, rappers, vocalists and musicians. We will provide; full acoustic drum kit, keys, mics, PA

  • Learn and take part in behind the scenes skills such as live sound, event production, promotions, multimedia and more

  • Host an event with guidance from the team & past hosts

  • Hear from professional music artists and industry experts in our segment ‘Drop the Question’

  • Enjoy live music performances

  • Meet others who share an interest in music

NEXT EVENT - Sunday 12th October, Upstairs at The Royal Hotel, 1, High Street, Southend-on-Sea.

If you’ve never registered with us before and are ready to perform at the next open mic, please in below to secure your spot.

  • Open Mic Registration: 1pm - 1:45pm

  • Open Mic: 2pm - 5pm

Drop the Mic! takes place monthly, at a venue, special event or festival in and around Southend-on-sea.

Young People ingrained in the Drop the Mic! community can choose to become part of the Youth Forum. This group meets regularly to make key decisions about Drop the Mic! including ideas for guest speakers, deciding on the the hosts for future events, representing the voices of the young people within the community, including putting forward new ideas for the development of the Drop the Mic! project.

Throughout each event, our experienced coaches and invited industry guests are on hand to pass on their skills and knowledge to the next generation.

 
 
 

A regular feature at Drop the Mic! Drop the Question? was introduced after the Youth Forum identified a need to meet professional music artists to ask questions around their career journey, how they got into music, what a typical week looks like, plus hear other hints and tips about todays industry.

Below are examples of past guests:

 
 

Tom is an accomplished singer-songwriter and the frontman of the indie rock band The Trusted.

Song School Alumni Heidi is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, currently signed to 3BEAT (Universal)

Megan Rose is a singer/songwriter and actor who released her debut EP ‘Brave This’ in September 2018 reaching number 6 in the Apple Country Album Charts.

 
 
 
 

Drop the Mic! at Leigh Folk Festival

 
 
 
 

The Drop the Mic project was born back in 2023 at Leigh Folk Festival - the UK’s largest free folk festival. The Drop the Mic stage is now a regular feature at the event, providing young musicians with a further platform to showcase their music skills. Here’s what some of the Drop the Mic community had to say about the latest event: