Cville Songwriters

Cville Songwriters An Open Mic for Songwriters with house band accompaniment provided All aspiring songwriters are welcome to perform one song with or without accompaniment.

This Open Mic for Songwriters takes place Monday nights, running from 9 pm to approx 11 at The Local restaurant in the Belmont neighborhood of Charlottesville VA. thelocal-cville.com

Started by Jesse Harper & Brian Caputo in October, 2010, the Cville Songwriter Night bounced around a few locations before settling at The Local at year's end, blossoming into one of the area's premier open mic night

s, and unique with its 3 piece house band as hosts, and its insistence that only ORIGINAL music is performed. Today, the house band is comprised of Brian Franke on guitar, Justin Storer on drums & Michael Clem on bass. Participants can sign up the night of, but it's recommended to signup in advance. Send your email to [email protected] and you'll be added to the weekly email list with the option to sign up for that upcoming Monday. Never a cover charge. All are welcome! Ground Rules/Suggestions
1) Participants can perform 1 song each (depending on the signup list size) with or without band accompaniment.
2) Song must be original. No covers.
3) Charts are not required but appreciated (please write/type BIG with dark legible letters where the chords are concerned)
4) Participants have one vocal mic, and one 1/4" instrument line to work with. Most perform on electric/acoustic guitars. Without a cable input into your instrument, we will not be able to amplify your instrument.
5) Please have your own tuner, and tune instrument when you are notified as being "on deck".
6) No excessive instrumental jamminess, please, in deference to those who are waiting for their turn.
7) No bass solos provided. Then again, they are never requested.
8) Have fun, and treat the fine Local staff well, too. Good people indeed.

& while it's never been spelled out as a rule/suggestion (probably because it doesn't need to be) we have the BEST audiences who are really dedicated to listening to and supporting all the participants. It's the coolest thing to see and hear an entire restaurant/bar come to a hush for a performer's heartfelt song. Let's keep it up, and help foster this continued listening and supportive environment. Thanks!

NEXT WEEK's PROMPT (6/8):"BEST FRIENDS"extra credit, provided by Craig Honick"FUNTENTIONAL"
06/02/2026

NEXT WEEK's PROMPT (6/8):
"BEST FRIENDS"
extra credit, provided by Craig Honick
"FUNTENTIONAL"

NEXT WEEK'S PROMPT (6/1):"DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP"xtra credit suggested by Palma Pustilnik"Clear Skies Ahead"
05/26/2026

NEXT WEEK'S PROMPT (6/1):
"DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP"
xtra credit suggested by Palma Pustilnik
"Clear Skies Ahead"

NO LOCAL ON MONDAY, MAY 18NEXT PROMPT 5/25:"NO DIRTY DISHES"xtra credit "Imposter Syndrome"
05/12/2026

NO LOCAL ON MONDAY, MAY 18

NEXT PROMPT 5/25:
"NO DIRTY DISHES"
xtra credit "Imposter Syndrome"

NEXT WEEK’s PROMPT 5/11:“EAT WHAT YOU WANT”xtra credit, approved by David Wade Sexton “Sweat Pants”
05/05/2026

NEXT WEEK’s PROMPT 5/11:
“EAT WHAT YOU WANT”
xtra credit, approved by David Wade Sexton
“Sweat Pants”

NEXT WEEK’s PROMPT 5/4:“STAR WARS”xtra credit “Dave Brubeck”
04/28/2026

NEXT WEEK’s PROMPT 5/4:
“STAR WARS”
xtra credit “Dave Brubeck”

NEXT WEEK’s PROMPT (4/27):“Tell A Story”Xtra credit suggested by Jim Bingler“There was a girl…”
04/21/2026

NEXT WEEK’s PROMPT (4/27):
“Tell A Story”
Xtra credit suggested by Jim Bingler
“There was a girl…”

NEXT WEEK'S PROMPT (4/20):suggested by John Tenney"MAKE IT FIT"
04/14/2026

NEXT WEEK'S PROMPT (4/20):
suggested by John Tenney
"MAKE IT FIT"

NEXT WEEK'S PROMPT (4/13):"SCRABBLE"
04/07/2026

NEXT WEEK'S PROMPT (4/13):
"SCRABBLE"

NEXT WEEK'S PROMPT (4/6):"DYNGUS DAY"
03/31/2026

NEXT WEEK'S PROMPT (4/6):
"DYNGUS DAY"

NEXT WEEK’s PROMPT (3/30):suggested by Luke Foster“GOD BLESS GRACE”xtra credit“Grass is always browner on the other side...
03/24/2026

NEXT WEEK’s PROMPT (3/30):
suggested by Luke Foster
“GOD BLESS GRACE”
xtra credit
“Grass is always browner on the other side of the fence”

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2545 Rural Ridge Lane
North Garden, VA
22959

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