El Paso’s Premier Open Mic Has An Event Basically Every Night

In El Paso, stories are alive. They move through the air like music, weaving themselves into conversations, into laughter, into nights filled with possibility. And at the heart of this tradition of spoken word is The Barbed Wire Open Mic Series! A living, breathing performance space that has grown far beyond a single stage. Whether you're a poet, a musician, a storyteller, or someone who just wants to sit in a room full of people who care about words, the Barbed Wire Open Mic Series has a night for you.

Monday Night Online Open Mic (Every Monday)

The week begins wherever you are. Every Monday, BWOMS Project Director Richie Marrufo hosts the Online Open Mic, a virtual gathering open to musicians, poets, and performers from anywhere in the world. Participants join through Zoom and share their work from the comfort of their own homes. The sessions also stream live on YouTube, so even if you'd rather watch and send encouraging words from the chat, there's a seat at this table for you too.

• Host: Richie Marrufo
• Platform: Zoom (with live stream on YouTube)
• Frequency: Every Monday

Tuesday Live Open Mic (Every Tuesday - Rotating Venues)

Every Tuesday night, the BWOMS brings the mic to one of three sister venues across the city: Rosewood Bar, MONA Bar of Modern Art, and The Brunette Lounge. No matter which room you walk into, you'll find the same thing: a chill night full of music, poetry, and comedy from all kinds of voices, local and from out of town alike. Hosted by Dorymar, Tuesday nights are one of the most consistent creative heartbeats in El Paso's arts community.

• Host: Dorymar
• Venues: Rosewood Bar / MONA Bar of Modern Art / The Brunette Lounge (rotating)
• Frequency: Every Tuesday

StoryCraft at Crown of Crows (1st and 3rd Wednesdays)

On the first and third Wednesdays of every month, Crown of Crows transforms into a kingdom where stories rule. The tavern-style pub, with its dark wood and immersive atmosphere, feels like stepping into another world, one built for tales both ancient and brand new.

Here, StoryCraft takes the stage. Readers enter by writing their names on torn slips of paper and casting them into the StoryCraft chalice. When a name is pulled, that writer is summoned to the mic for 15 minutes to share their story. Afterward, the audience has 15 minutes to respond, offering feedback, critique, and applause.
Hosted by Grizz from Iris & Grizz in the Morning, StoryCraft is a night of brave souls and bold words, where storytelling is both honored and sharpened.

• Host: Grizz
• Venue: Crown of Crows
• Frequency: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Writers Night at Proof and Press (2nd and 4th Wednesdays)

On the second and fourth Wednesdays, the scene shifts to Proof and Press, where Writers Night unfolds under the guidance of host Candice Marlene. This night is part workshop, part open mic, and all about experimentation. Writers are invited into prompts, exercises, and poetry workshopping before the mic opens for everyone to share.
It's a night designed for growth. Whether you're trying something brand new, refining your craft, or simply soaking up inspiration from the voices around you, Writers Night offers a supportive, collaborative space.

• Host: Candice Marlene
• Venue: Proof and Press
• Frequency: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Thursday Monthly Open Mics (Rotating)

Thursdays belong to the monthly mics! A rotation of three distinct nights that each carry their own energy.
On the last Thursday of every month, Kit Wren hosts a music and poetry open mic at Old Sheepdog Brewery. It's a night that lets the creativity breathe, with room for both the lyrical and the literary.
Once a month, Jez, (lead singer of the PIE Sisters) hosts Night of Feels at Rally Point Coffee East. Jez also hosts a separate monthly open mic at Synaxis Coffee, giving writers and performers yet another intimate space to share their work.

• Old Sheepdog Brewery Open Mic - Host: Kit Wren (Tumble Words) | Last Thursday of the month
• Night of Feels at Rally Point Coffee East - Host: Jez (PIE Sisters) | Monthly
• Synaxis Coffee Open Mic - Host: Jez (PIE Sisters) | Monthly

Community Partnerships and Workshops

Beyond its recurring programming, the BWOMS regularly partners with organizations and nonprofits across El Paso to bring artistic workshops, creative spaces, and new opportunities to creatives of all kinds. Whether you're stepping up to a mic for the first time or looking for a community to grow alongside, the BWOMS is building those spaces throughout the city.

Find Your Stage

From a Monday Zoom room to a Thursday brewery, The Barbed Wire Open Mic Series is woven into the fabric of El Paso's creative life. Whatever your genre, whatever your voice, there is a stage waiting for you.

For the full schedule, visit bwoms.com or follow them on social media to subscribe to the Barbed Wire calendar. Your story belongs here.