The Astro Lounge (Andy Tullis/Bulletin file photo)

Astro Lounge

The Astro Lounge open mic night, hosted by local keyboardist David Finch every Monday, is fairly new to the Bend scene. It began a little more than five years ago when the venue moved to its present downtown location, and quickly built a reputation due to its professional sound equipment and dedicated stage (versus a corner or empty space at the front of the bar).

That reputation went national in April 2015 when microphone and audio equipment company Shure selected Astro to participate in its fourth annual National Open Mic Night. Shure recorded video of local performers for its website, and the venue received a $500 wireless microphone in the deal.

Along with great sound, the open mic boasts a tight-knit community of regulars — not to mention an encouraging host in Finch, who has taken many an up-and-coming musician under his wing. All this put Astro over the top. (astrolounge
bend.com)

The Lot

Wednesday nights are busy ones for Bend open mikers. The Lot’s Wednesday night open mic, hosted by local artist/musician/poet Jason Graham aka Mosley Wotta, came in second in the voting.

M&J Tavern

The third spot went to M&J Tavern’s open mic, the longest continuously running open mic in the city, hosted every Wednesday by bartenders Mike Martin and C.J. Hitchcock.

— Brian McElhiney, The Bulletin