If singing is your passion, then London is full of amazing opportunities to stretch the vocal chords, open up the diaphragm, and showcase your vocal talents!
Whether you're ready to moonlight as a lounge singer, possess a burning desire to perform classic hits in front of a full-band, or want to preview your own songwriting skills, now is the time to take your natural musicality away from the kitchen sink, and out to the stages, karaoke booths, and jazz bars of the capital.
So check out our list below of the best singing nights in London:
OPEN MIC NIGHTS
Head of Singing Bernadette Doyle recommends:
Tuesdays at Troy Bar | Every Tuesday | 10 Hoxton Street, N1 6NG
Hoxton's Troy Bar established itself as a stalwart of the East London live music scene way before Shoreditch became London's go-to hub for fashion and trends. The venue has long been dedicated to cultivating new music talent, with regular showcase events and a committed music-loving following. Every Tuesday they host their now-legendary open mic night, where singers can sign-up to sing with a full backing band! Go down, there's nothing quite like it.
Open Mic at The Hideaway | Every Sunday | 114 Junction Road, N19 5LB
If you're writing your own music, then The Hideaway is the perfect place to start taking your songs out on the road. This Highgate institution has a supportive neighbourhood feel, it doesn't close until midnight, and there's an emphasis placed on musicality and original songwriting - no danger of being drowned out by bar-noise here!
The Spice of Life - Pub & Music Bar | Every Monday | 6 Moor Street, W1D 5NA
The Spice of Life have been running their Soho open mic for 15 years, and it's always a busy affair. Let's be clear, this is by no means a karaoke night - original material is a must. Spots get snapped up early, performers are required to provide their own musical accompaniment, and the standard is high. But, if you're looking for an open mic with musical integrity and a guaranteed crowd, then The Spice of Life can't be beaten.
City Academy Open Mic - Betsey Trotwood | 56 Farringdon Road |EC1 3BL
Let's not forget about City Academy's own open mic night at the Betsey Trotwood. The night is primarily for City Academy students, and is an open and welcoming space where people can take their first steps in to the open mic scene.
MUSICAL THEATRE SINGING EVENTS
Head of Musical Theatre Rebecca Wicking recommends:
Show Off! Musical Theatre night | Every Second Friday of the Month | 11 St Martin’s Court, WC2N 4AJ
Show Off! is a piano-bar evening, dedicated to musical theatre numbers new and old, where anyone can jump up and sing their heart out. Participants range hugely in terms of age, experience, and background, but all share a dedicated and unfailing love of musicals. The night often turns into a proper knees-up as well, with chorus-lines being sung until the early hours!
Open Mic @ The Theatre Cafe | Every Saturday | 66 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6LX
What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than belting out showtunes in the heart of Theatreland? Whether you go to showcase your skills, take in the surroundings, or just sip the (really quite excellent) coffee, The Theatre Cafe is a new(ish) venue with a real spring in its step. The standard is impressively high, but don't be intimidated, the atmosphere is a supportive one!
KARAOKE NIGHTS
Lucky Voice | 7 Nights A Week | Soho & Islington
Lucky Voice is very much cut from the same cloth as the Japanese karaoke-bars that have taken the world by storm over the last 20 years - but LV do it better than anyone. Private booths - so you and your friends can lose yourself in the music; adjustable vocal range - so you can make sure your hitting every note; and a more extensive song-list than anywhere else in the capital.
Massaoke | Monthly | The Garage, 20-22 Highbury Crescent, N5 1RD
The clue is in the title - this is karaoke... en masse. Not quite ready for your time in the spotlight? This club-night projects lyrics on the big-screen throughout the night, so you can all sing along to the wall-to-wall classics, played live by the amazing house band. At Massaoke the crowd is the star of the show; time to get involved.
Hip Hop Karaoke | Every Thursday | The Social, 5 Little Portland Street, W1W 7JD
If you're more comfortable spitting bars than you are nailing choruses, then this is the wildcard for you... Every Thursday you've got the chance to wrap your tongue around some of the finest rap verses ever written. As much a celebration of the history of hip hop as it is a showcase of lyrical dexterity, this is a night that is well worth your time - for pure spectacle alone.
Check out videos from our Singing & Music department - from Choirs to Singing and Musical Theatre courses - we hope to see at City Academy
Learn to sing in London: Click here for information on all City Academy Singing Classes.
