The Hen and Chicken Open Mic

03/06/2026

Tonight peeps!!
With some fantastic performers including our featured artist the beatnik formerly known as Gerry Rowe.
Still a wee spot or two up for grabs - talk to me to bag one from 7.30 x

01/06/2026

This Wednesday is Open Mic night and you know what that means... great sound, great music, listening crowd, and a chance for you to get on our stage. If you haven't played before we'd love to hear from you!

FEATURED ARTIST: GERRY ROWE plus guests..

'Gerry Rowe scours the darkest corners of the tortured early 21st century psyche for disturbing semi-truths to drag quivering and dying into the half-light of the collective unconsciousness. He says 'people want three chords and the truth but life's never dull. Be off with you!'

07/05/2026

Don't forget, next Sunday 17th May is the great big huge exciting Xpress Fest Grand Finale in the Chicken Shed, with bands and acts on ALL DAY from 2.30pm all the way up until 10. Featuring, in order of appearance:

TALL PAUL
FEUD
BAND OF BUGGERS
PILOT SCHEME
ODESSA STEPS
BETHANY JANE
PILOT SCHEME AND THE OPEN MIC SURGEONS
SAM ELLIOT

Full details about each act can he found here ➡️ https://xpressfest.co.uk/day-sun

FREE ENTRY TICKETS can be reserved here: https://www.ticketsource.com/henandchicken/t-dkkzyoy

Donations on the day will ALL go to Bristol's mental health music charity your music, so please dig deep for an organisation that really needs your help right now.

The big one. Eight acts. Funk, indie, cabaret, indie-folk, pop, rock — the week winds up with a bang. All proceeds from the Sunday finale go directly to Mind Your Music.

06/05/2026

Please note: due to enquiries to play flying in from increasing numbers of places (text / whatsapp / comment / various emails / in person / carrier pigeon etc) there are now only TWO places we will answer enquiries please.

1) Right here - message the and chicken open mic fb page

2) at our dedicated email - [email protected]

This is to avoid confusion (ours!) and disappointment.

Thanks and love,
sincerely

the team at the H and C OM

22/04/2026

Exciting Announcement re: XPRESS FEST!

Xpress Fest is a fantastic, brand new ‘week of music, comedy and self-expression’ happening in Bristol during mental health awareness week. There are 7 events happening over 7 days -including comedy from ‘Princess Sparkles’ the famed Edinburgh Fringe act, a blues jam with Bristol legendary drummer Mike Hoddinott, up and coming Plymouth / Barcelona band Kid Hyena, all wrapped up with a day-long finale! All free entry, and all donations raised go to both Mind Your Music and The Mental Health Foundation. But at the grand finale on the Sunday (17th, at Hen and Chicken) ALL monies raised go to Mind Your Music. This is one reason to go along, the second reason is that there are fantastic acts and bands ALL DAY from 3 – 10pm. And a third (if you needed one) is that MYM’s own PILOT SCHEME, and BETHANY PILL, will be performing on the day.

XPRESS FEST – 7 DAYS, 7 EVENTS.
EVENT LINE-UP!

MON 11th – OPEN MIC NIGHT at the GEORGE AND DRAGON Redfield, run by Open Mic Surgery, one of the friendliest and most open-minded open mics imaginable (Each Monday welcoming all-comers to perform) The beating heart of Xpress Fest welcomes you to sign up from 6pm. Entry free, donations encouraged at the door.

TUES 12th – KARAOKE NIGHT at THE FARM PUB St Werburghs. Sing your socks off to support mental health at the beautiful pub with the fantastic mural outside and the lovely people inside. Sign up from 7pm. Entry free, donations encouraged at the door.

WEDS 13th – COMEDY NIGHT at THE ROYAL OAK Clifton. A rich, crunchy base of stand-up comedians: Lloyd Lewis, Gaz Lawrence, Sean Phelan, Dani Lily, Gavin Rand and compere Zora Joy. The tang of comic talesman Caz Radvan. Two tasty singers with humour and rhythm: Bristol story-song guy Pilot Scheme and Alan "hat" Stilton. All topped with Princess Sparkles — a monologue from the ‘children's entertainer’ (fresh from Edinburgh Fringe) who has a secret… Because of the limited capacity at this venue, this is the one Xpress Fest event by paid ticket in advance. All other events are free with donations encouraged.
TICKETS FROM THE XPRESS FEST WEBSITE

THURS 14TH – BLUES GIG AND OPEN JAM at THE STILLAGE Church Road. Bristol blues drummer royalty Mike Hoddinott graces The Old Stillage with his trio playing a pin-sharp set of classic and contemporary tunes — followed by a chance for singers and musicians to join in. Bring your instrument. Whether you're a bassist, guitarist, drummer, harmonica player, keyboardist or saxophonist, it's your opportunity to shine. Or sit back and enjoy the music. Free entry, donations encouraged. Evening starts at 7.30pm.

FRI 15th – GIG NIGHT 1 — FOLK, WORLD & DANCE-FEST. Five bands featuring KID HYENA from Plymouth / Barcelona. At THE ALL INN Staple Hill. Friday night is fiery folk, upbeat world and full-throttle dance-fest. Five acts back-to-back at The All Inn. Free entry, donations encouraged. 6pm start.

SAT 16th - GIG NIGHT 2 — BLUES, ROCK, GRUNGE & AMERICANA at THE BLACK HORSE Kingswood. A classic rock pub, a stacked line-up of Bristol grassroots talent. Six acts taking you from clever-chord chanson through Hendrix-inspired licks to country-punk-psych-disco. Yes, really. 5pm start.

SUN 17th – GRAND FINALE at THE HEN AND CHICKEN North Street Southville. The big one. Eight acts. Funk, indie, cabaret, indie-folk, pop, rock — the week winds up with a bang. All proceeds from the Sunday finale go directly to Mind Your Music. This day includes sets from Mind Your Music’s own Bethany Pill and Pilot Scheme – who has also set up and organised this whole festival, along with Cal, Bhav and Paul from Open Mic Surgery. We can’t thank them enough. 2.30pm start. Event runs til 10pm.

Please go along, sign up to perform at the open mic, karaoke and blues jam, enjoy the free live music on offer, have a belly laugh at the comedy, take your mates, and have a truly rip-roaring time! All in a great cause.

Thank you to our amazing organisers who have all given a huge amount of time and effort for FREE. If you can help with sticking up posters or flyers please get in touch. Likewise if you can help with social media advertising. We’d love to hear from you.

XPRESS FEST. MUSIC THAT GIVES BACK. SUPPORTING MIND YOUR MUSIC AND MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION. PRESENTED BY OPEN MIC SURGERY AND PILOT SCHEME.

www.xpressfest.co.uk
11th – 17th May.

Xpress Fest - 7 days, 7 events across Bristol, 11–17 May 2026. Free entry, raising money for Mind Your Music and the Mental Health Foundation.

14/04/2026

Hi everyone at the Hen and Chicken open-mic. As many of you know me and Sarah run a charity using music to help people with mental-health difficulties. We’ve been running for over 20 years but are now faced with the threat of closure having lost our corefunding. We’ve just launched a crowdfunding campaign and what money raised, we can use to make sure that the vulnerable people that we work with aren’t left with nothing. After a pledge, it also gives the opportunity to make a monthly donation. We’d really appreciate your support to help us continue using music to benefit others. Every donation, no matter how small counts. Much love, Elliot.

After 20 years supporting some of the most vulnerable people in Bristol and Frome MYM is under threat and we need your help to continue.

02/04/2026

By 8pm last night every single seat in the Chicken Shed was taken and people were standing in rows at the back. I had to sit on the stage! What a night. And the room stayed full until the last act left the stage at 3 minutes to 11. Wow… is our audience the best open mic audience ever? If it is, I think it has to say something about our musicians! Thanks to everyone who came and played, stayed and danced. I love you all. Til next time, Sarah ###

18/03/2026

April 1st edition comes with an appropriately Spring fresh featured artist - THE SPRING GREEN TRIO.
WANT TO PLAY? Get in touch!