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Open Mic Review - The Brightside Tavern in Jersey City


A woman with an acoustic guitar plays a song at The Brightside Tavern open mic

141 Bright Street

Jersey City, NJ


Wednesdays @ 8


Food: Yes

Bar: Yes

In a word: Fledgling

Format: Three songs, often multiple rounds


I can’t figure out why this mic doesn’t get going. It has a perfectly reasonable time and is in a great location (ten minute walk from the PATH). Further, the only other regular mic in Hudson County on Wednesdays (at Farside Tavern in Hoboken) seems to have vanished. I do not understand why this mic is not more well attended.


If I’m not mistaken, this mic started last year, and the two times I have gone, there just hasn’t been any sort of crowd. It’s a shame because this is one of the few mics that has a dedicated space away from the chatter of the bar for the performances.


The audio setup for the space is confusing to say the least. (They have two 4 channel mixers?) Luckily, the emcee Mike knows how it all works and can get you set up. I got a pretty warm reception at this mic insofar as there wasn’t really much of an audience. Really the only drawback to this mic is that no one is attending this mic which is kind of self-reinforcing.


Hopefully, this mic picks up.

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