Open Mics and Jams in Decatur Georgia

A Brief History of Decatur

The land around Decatur was Muscogee (Creek) and Cherokee territory before it was ceded to Georgia in the early 1820s. Decatur was founded in 1823 as the seat of newly created DeKalb County and named for naval hero Commodore Stephen Decatur. That makes it older than Atlanta. Local legend holds that Decatur's residents rejected the noisy new railroad in the 1830s, so the line terminated a few miles west instead, at a spot that would grow into Atlanta.

During the Civil War, the Battle of Decatur was fought here in July 1864 as part of the Atlanta Campaign. After the war, the town grew as a quiet county seat and college town; Agnes Scott College was founded in 1889, and the domed Old DeKalb County Courthouse (1898) still anchors the town square.

In recent decades Decatur has become one of metro Atlanta's most desirable small cities, known for its excellent schools, restaurants, festivals like the Decatur Arts Festival, and a lively square where free concerts are held in warmer months.

The Decatur Music Scene

Decatur's music identity is built around the singer-songwriter. Eddie's Attic, which opened on the square in 1992, became one of the most respected acoustic listening rooms in the country. Its open mic and twice-yearly Open Mic Shootout have helped launch the careers of John Mayer, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and Shawn Mullins, and the Indigo Girls grew up in the Decatur area and remain closely associated with its folk scene.

Decatur also benefits from being part of metro Atlanta, one of the most important music cities in America. Atlanta is a global capital of hip-hop and R&B, has deep roots in blues, gospel and Southern rock, and offers a busy jazz scene. Within a 15-minute drive of the Decatur square, you can find jazz jams, blues jams and songwriter nights almost every night of the week.

Popular Live Music Venues In and Near Decatur

• Eddie's Attic (515 N. McDonough St.) – Decatur's legendary listening room for folk, Americana, acoustic and singer-songwriter acts, with about 185 seats.
• Napoleon's (2836 Lavista Rd.) – A grill and live music venue with regular jams and open mics.
• Waller's Coffee Shop (240 DeKalb Industrial Way) – A cozy coffee shop and performance space with an open mic and a first-Sunday jazz series.
• Decatur Square – Hosts free outdoor concerts and festivals.
• Atlanta favorites nearby – The Variety Playhouse, Terminal West, the Tabernacle and the Fox Theatre host touring acts; the Red Light Café and Smith's Olde Bar are known for jams and open mics; Blind Willie's is a classic Atlanta blues bar.

Open Mics and Open Jams In and Near Decatur

Decatur offers some of the best songwriter opportunities in the Southeast, and its neighbors add plenty of jazz and blues jams. Below are the standout events, followed by a schedule.

Before you go: Open mics and jams change hosts, nights and venues often. Always check the venue's or host's website or social media before heading out with your gear, and sign up online in advance for Eddie's Attic.

In Decatur

• Eddie's Attic Songwriters Open Mic (515 N. McDonough St.) – Monday nights (it's been held every other Monday, with the show at 7:30 p.m. and doors at 6:30 p.m.). For more than 20 years, this has been Atlanta's premier open mic for performing songwriters: national and local acts each perform two songs. Winners move on to the Bi-Annual Open Mic Shootout, now in its late 50s. Past winners include John Mayer, Clay Cook and Jennifer Nettles. Sign up through the Eddie's Attic website. Modest admission (around $7) for the audience; all ages.
• Jazz Jam with Joe Gransden at Napoleon's (2836 Lavista Rd.) – Mondays. Trumpeter and bandleader Joe Gransden, of the Joe Gransden Big Band, leads the session.
• Acoustic Open Mic at Napoleon's – Second and fourth Tuesdays, hosted by Bill Sheffield and Spencer L. Kirkpatrick.
• Blues Jam at Napoleon's – Second and fourth Thursdays, hosted by Sandra Senn of Blue Velvet Atlanta.
• Waller's Coffee Shop Open Mic (240 DeKalb Industrial Way) – First Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. Waller's also hosts the Unity Jazz First Sunday Jazz Series.
• Charis Books & More Open Mic (184 S. Candler St.) – Monthly. One of the country's oldest feminist bookstores hosts an in-person open mic that's also streamed online.

Nearby in Metro Atlanta

• Jazz Jam at the Red Light Café (553-1 Amsterdam Ave. NE, Atlanta) – Wednesdays, with the Gordon Vernick Quartet.
• Fran's Jam at Fat Matt's Rib Shack (1811 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta) – Tuesdays. A beloved blues-and-barbecue open jam.
• Live Band Open Mic at Smith's Olde Bar (1578 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta) – Mondays, hosted by Gio Yaquinto and his band.
• Railroad Earth Open Mic (1467 Oxford Rd. NE, near Emory) – First Mondays at 8:00 p.m.
• Downwind Songwriters' Open Mic (2000 Airport Rd., Chamblee) – First Mondays, hosted by Mary Lou Davidson, at the restaurant overlooking DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.
• Southern Feedstore Open Mic (East Atlanta Village) – Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m.

Decatur-Area Open Jam & Open Mic Schedule at a Glance

Tips for Playing Decatur's Open Mics and Jams

• Bring your two best songs to Eddie's. The audience listens closely, and a strong night can earn you a spot in the Shootout.
• Stay for the whole night. Eddie's Attic is known for its community spirit; sticking around to hear other performers is part of the etiquette.
• Use MARTA. The Decatur station is steps from the square and Eddie's Attic.
• Mind the summer heat. Keep instruments out of hot cars during Georgia summers.

Helpful Local Resources

• Eddie's Attic (eddiesattic.com) – Open mic sign-up and Shootout details.
• ArtsATL (artsatl.org) – Metro Atlanta arts coverage, including open mic guides.
• Creative Loafing Atlanta (creativeloafing.com) – Event listings.
• Atlanta Americana – Presents roots and bluegrass shows in the area.