Find your place in the music community.

Drop the Mic! is a free, regular open mic event for young people from Southend and the surrounding areas. Whether you want to perform, explore what happens behind the scenes, host an event or simply enjoy live music, there’s a place for you.

Get involved and join the Drop the Mic! community.

Drop the Mic! is for young people interested in music from Southend and the surrounding areas. You don’t have to be a performer to get involved — audience members, aspiring hosts and those interested in the technical and creative side of events are welcome too.

Who’s it for?

There’s more than one way to be part of Drop the Mic! You can:

  • Take to the stage — perform at our open mic as an acoustic act, band, songwriter, rapper, vocalist or musician.

  • Go behind the scenes — explore live sound, event production, promotions and multimedia.

  • Try hosting — co-host an event with guidance from the team and past hosts.

  • Meet music artists — hear from professional artists and industry experts at Drop the Question.

  • Be part of the audience — enjoy live performances and meet others who love music.

What You Can Get Involved In?

Location: The Fickle Pickle, 228 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea.

Event schedule:

  • Workshops and artist meet-ups: 12pm–1.45pm

  • Open mic registration: 1pm–1.45pm

  • Open mic: 2pm–5pm

When and where?

If you would like to perform at the next open mic, register using the form below to secure your spot. Open mic registration at the event runs from 1pm to 1.45pm.

How to register to perform

  • Drop the Mic! is free for young people.

  • No. You can enjoy the live music as an audience member, explore behind-the-scenes roles, or meet other young people who share your interest in music.

  • The open mic welcomes acoustic acts, bands, songwriters, rappers, vocalists and musicians.

  • For the open mic, we provide a full acoustic drum kit, keys, microphones and a PA, with full access to The Fickle Pickles state of the art sound system.

    We can also provide guitars upon request - you must register at least 48 hours before the event to let us know what you need.

  • Register using the form above to guarantee your spot. You can also choose to show up on the day.

    Please arrive from 1pm to 1.45pm on event day.

  • Yes. You can learn about and take part in areas such as live sound, event production, promotions and multimedia. There are also opportunities to co-host with guidance from the team and past hosts.

    Speak to the team when you arrive.

FAQs

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.