Champaign-Urbana Open Mic Nights

03/04/2026

TONIGHT!
at The Space, 6pm, with Jake Fava and Mike Ingram

TOMORROW!
SPEAK Café: March 2026 at Krannert Art Museum, 6pm, with Chocolate Star

02/04/2026

It's Wednesday!! That means it's time for at The Space!!
6-10pm. All ages. No cover.

Two weeks ago we had a visit from the cast of Head Over Heels @ The Station Theatre which opens tomorrow at The Station Theatre and runs until the 22nd! It features a couple of regulars, including co-host Jake Fava!

Meanwhile, tomorrow is the first Thursday of the month, meaning it's time for SPEAK Café: February 2026 at Krannert Art Museum which is hosted by the incredible Chocolate Star!

01/24/2026

Reminder that it's , always.
And since we've got yet another murder at the hands of the modern-day slave patrol, here's a fitting song, covered by Raina Mullen.
(Mike covered this at The Space last week when Renee Good was killed.)

🎸links:INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/rainamullen/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/?_t=8iyxvvmM88k&r=1FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rai...

01/22/2026

Hey artists, how ya been? Thinking about playing a Normal LIVE event this year?

We’re always looking for performers for things like Live @ Uptown Circle, Live @ Connie Link and events like Make Music Normal. If you’re interested, drop your information here: Normalil.gov/TalentBooking

We keep a running list from year to year, so use the form if you’ve got a new act, you want to share new promo materials or if anything’s changed since the last time you submitted.

Take note that due to the volume of booking requests we receive, staff is unable to personally respond to every inquiry. However, we will keep on file the information you submit via this form and reach out to you if a performance opportunity arises.

01/20/2026

Now you have plans for Tuesday AND Wednesday!
See you at Hound's Rest and The Space !

tomorrow i’m playing 2 hours of original music at hound’s rest! def gonna be sad girl hour but i hope you can find the beauty in the lyrics and the heartbreak ❤️‍🩹 it would mean so much to me to have you there!

01/13/2026

Tomorrow's at The Space will bring us the annual "Mike's Birthday Requests" open mic!
Y'all play what you want, but I'll be SUPER excited if anyone pulls out anything from this wacky-ass list:

Brain Cells - Emily How
Elderberry Wine - Wednesday
God's A Different Sword - Folk Bitch Trio
Against All Odds - Phil Collins
Talk - Lucy Dacus
Talk - beabadoobee
The Power of Love - Huey Lewis and the News
The Power of Love - Celine Dion
Stupid With Love - 'Mean Girls'
Buffalo - Kenzie Cait
good 4 u - Olivia Rodrigo
satanist - boygenius
Ocean Avenue - Yellowcard
Refugee - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Kind of Girl - MUNA
Dress Me Like A Clown - Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
Lovefool - the Cardigans
Decode - Paramore
the Face of God - CAMP COPE
Bleed American - Jimmy Eat World
Somebody Told Me - the Killers
Too Good - Arlo Parks
Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
Voices Carry - Til Tuesday
The Mother We Share - Chvrches
You Got It All - the Jets
Don’t Look Back In Anger - Oasis
Delicious Things - Wolf Alice
Breakout - Swing Out Sister
Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac
Gold Lion - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The Warrior - Scandal
Mama - Genesis
New Number Who Dis - Georgia Maq
Blind - Kesha
The Wire - HAIM
How Soon Is Now? - the Smiths
Like I Used To - Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen
Elevator Love Letter - Stars
Twin Size Mattress - the Front Bottoms
Super Rich Kids - Frank Ocean

No pressure. ;)

01/07/2026

Reminder, Wednesdays at The Space returns tonight after our holiday hiatus!

Every Wednesday, 6pm, all ages, no cover!
Support the Space by buying some food or a drink!
See you tonight!

Another reminder:

01/03/2026

Reminder! One more special SATURDAY OPEN MIC since we couldn't have one this past Wednesday.

5-8pm
All ages.
No cover.

Drag + Kenna Mae after!!! 9pm.

We will resume Wednesday nights this Wednesday.

12/27/2025

Special Saturday Open Mic TONIGHT from 5-8 at The Space

12/17/2025

Tonight is the last Wednesday open mic of the year bc of holidays. Stop by!

12/04/2025

Don't forget about SPEAK Café: December 2025 tonight at Krannert Art Museum!!! Run by the one and only Chocolate Star.

Here’s a ✨lovely✨ Behind the Scenes student story written by Aditi Khandelwal about their experience at SPEAK Café. 🎶

Hope to see you Thursday night! (SPEAK Café, 12/4, 6p)

https://news.illinois.edu/a-place-for-artistic-expression-at-speak-cafe

12/03/2025

open mic TONIGHT at the AWARD WINNING restaurant and venue The Space! come say “congrats, Ian and the Space Force!” and get some delicious food!

6-10pm! get there a little early to grab your spot! ✨🎉

****NO DRUMS TONIGHT! sorry for the inconvenience****