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.

LOCATION – The Fickle Pickle, 228 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea.

  • Workshops and Artist Meet ups: 12pm - 1:45pm

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

  • Open Mic: 2pm - 5pm

If you’ve never been before and are ready to perform at the next open mic, please register below to secure your spot.

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

  • Co-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

Supported by:

 
 
 
 
 
 
A group of young people sitting around a table in a cafe, engaging in conversation. One girl with long blonde hair is smiling at the camera, while others are talking or listening. The cafe has large windows letting in natural light.

A group of young people sitting around a table in a cafe, engaging in conversation. One girl with long blonde hair is smiling at the camera, while others are talking or listening. The cafe has large windows letting in natural light.

 

Ask a Music Artist

 
 

Drop the Question? was requested then introduced by young people who identified a need to meet professional music artists to ask them about their career journey, how they got into music, what a typical week looks like, plus hear other hints and tips about todays industry.

 
 

Past Guest Artists

 

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.

 
 
 
A young girl playing a keyboard and singing into a microphone at an outdoor event or fair, with colorful tents and people walking in the background.

A young girl playing a keyboard and singing into a microphone at an outdoor event or fair, with colorful tents and people walking in the background.

Drop the Mic! stage 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.

We’ll be returning in 2026 to host the Library Stage on Saturday 27 June and you could be there too!

Before you apply to play, please note this is an acoustic-style event:

  • Performances must be fully live (no backing tracks) and in keeping with the tone of Leigh Folk Festival

  • You must be able to play your own instrument(s)

  • No drum kits permitted

  • Please bring your own instrument(s) (e.g. guitars)

  • Groups/bands are permitted, in an acoustic set up

  • A piano and cajón are available if needed

    Applications to play at Leigh Folk Festival are now CLOSED. Full line-up to be announced here very soon …

 
 
A young woman with glasses and braids wearing a floral dress playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone.

A young woman with glasses and braids wearing a floral dress playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone.

A young woman with glasses playing a Yamaha keyboard and singing into a microphone, with yellow curtains in the background.

A young woman with glasses playing a Yamaha keyboard and singing into a microphone, with yellow curtains in the background.

A young man with brown hair wearing a light blue t-shirt playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone against a yellow curtain background.

A young man with brown hair wearing a light blue t-shirt playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone against a yellow curtain background.

A young woman with long brown hair and glasses playing a Yamaha keyboard and singing into a microphone in front of a yellow curtain during a performance.

A young woman with long brown hair and glasses playing a Yamaha keyboard and singing into a microphone in front of a yellow curtain during a performance.

A band performing on stage with a keyboardist, drummer, guitarist, and vocalists, in front of yellow curtains.

A band performing on stage with a keyboardist, drummer, guitarist, and vocalists, in front of yellow curtains.

A young woman with long brown hair singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with an audience of young people in the background.

A young woman with long brown hair singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with an audience of young people in the background.

A young person with curly hair playing an acoustic guitar.

A young person with curly hair playing an acoustic guitar.

A young woman with glasses and earrings singing and playing an acoustic guitar on stage with yellow curtains in the background.

A young woman with glasses and earrings singing and playing an acoustic guitar on stage with yellow curtains in the background.

A band performing on stage with colorful lighting, including a guitarist jumping in the air, a female singer, and a drummer in the background.

A band performing on stage with colorful lighting, including a guitarist jumping in the air, a female singer, and a drummer in the background.

A person playing a drum set with yellow curtains in the background.

A person playing a drum set with yellow curtains in the background.

Two women performing music indoors: one woman singing into a microphone, and the other playing an electric guitar.

Two women performing music indoors: one woman singing into a microphone, and the other playing an electric guitar.

A young woman with long red hair, glasses, and a denim jacket, passionately speaking into a microphone during a discussion, with a yellow curtain background.

A young woman with long red hair, glasses, and a denim jacket, passionately speaking into a microphone during a discussion, with a yellow curtain background.

A young man in a gray T-shirt and a black cap holding a microphone. He is standing in front of yellow vertical panels, possibly presenting or speaking.

A young man in a gray T-shirt and a black cap holding a microphone. He is standing in front of yellow vertical panels, possibly presenting or speaking.

Young woman with long brown hair playing a keyboard, speaking into a microphone, against a yellow curtain background.

Young woman with long brown hair playing a keyboard, speaking into a microphone, against a yellow curtain background.

Group of young people sitting together in a casual eatery, engaging in conversation, with one girl smiling at the camera, while others are talking or listening, and a window in the background letting in natural light.

Group of young people sitting together in a casual eatery, engaging in conversation, with one girl smiling at the camera, while others are talking or listening, and a window in the background letting in natural light.