Greensboro is the Gate City of the North Carolina Piedmont, a place where civil rights history, Piedmont blues and a nationally respected jazz program all come together. Players will find a jazz jam that's been running for more than 20 years, a Friday afternoon jam in a coffee shop garden, a Wednesday blues jam downtown and open mics at breweries and rock clubs. This guide covers Greensboro's history, its music scene and venues, and where to find open mics and open jams.
A Brief History of Greensboro
The Piedmont region around Greensboro was home to the Saura, Keyauwee and other Siouan-speaking peoples. In March 1781, American General Nathanael Greene fought British General Charles Cornwallis at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The British held the field but suffered heavy losses, which set the stage for their surrender at Yorktown that fall. When Guilford County needed a new, central county seat in 1808, the town was named Greensborough in Greene's honor.
Railroads made Greensboro a transportation hub, earning it the nickname "Gate City," and in the early 1900s textile mills, especially the Cone brothers' denim plants, made it one of the South's industrial centers. Writer O. Henry was born here, and Vicks VapoRub was invented by a Greensboro pharmacist.
On February 1, 1960, four students from North Carolina A&T State University sat down at the whites-only lunch counter of the downtown F.W. Woolworth store. The Greensboro sit-ins sparked a wave of protests across the South and became a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. The original store now houses the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. Today Greensboro is a college town home to NC A&T, UNC Greensboro, Guilford College and several other schools.
The Greensboro Music Scene
Music runs through Greensboro's universities. UNC Greensboro's Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program is one of the most respected in the Southeast, and its faculty have led a weekly community jazz jam since 2001. NC A&T's famous Blue and Gold Marching Machine and its jazz program have produced generations of musicians. Grammy-winning folk and roots artist Rhiannon Giddens, a founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, was born in Greensboro.
The Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, founded in 1985, keeps the region's distinctive fingerpicking blues tradition alive with concerts, youth programs and its annual Carolina Blues Festival. Greensboro also hosted the National Folk Festival from 2015 to 2017, which led to the free, annual North Carolina Folk Festival downtown each September, complete with community jam sessions. The Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and the Eastern Music Festival round out a busy year.
Popular Live Music Venues in Greensboro
- Greensboro Coliseum Complex – The arena and White Oak Amphitheatre for major tours.
- Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts – A modern downtown hall for Broadway tours and concerts.
- Carolina Theatre – A restored 1927 theater for concerts and film.
- The Blind Tiger – A long-running rock club for local and touring bands, with a Monday open mic.
- Boston's House of Jazz (1011 Arnold St.) – The Triad's dedicated jazz and blues club, open Thursday through Sunday.
- The Historic Magnolia House – A former Green Book hotel that hosted Black musicians in the segregation era, now home to a weekly "Juke Jam."
- Borough Coffee (204 N. Mendenhall St.) – A coffee shop with a garden stage and a Friday jazz jam.
- Hidden Gate Brewing (102 Barnhardt St.) – A downtown brewery with a weekly open mic.
- LeBauer Park – Downtown's park for free outdoor summer concerts.
Open Mics and Open Jams in Greensboro
Greensboro's jam scene is strongest for jazz and blues, with a mentoring spirit driven by its universities. Below are the standout events, followed by a schedule.
Before you go: Open mics and jams change hosts, nights and venues often, and campus-led jams follow the academic calendar. Always check the venue's or host's website or social media before heading out with your gear.
Jazz Jams
- UNCG Jazz Community Jam Session – Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., most recently at Oden Brewing. Started in 2001 by Professor Steve Haines, it has drawn everyone from middle schoolers to well-known jazz musicians, and it's famously inclusive: skill level doesn't matter, only the music. Confirm the current venue before going.
- Friday Jazz Jam with the Sam Uhrlass Quartet (Borough Coffee, 204 N. Mendenhall St.) – Fridays, 4:30–6:30 p.m. The quartet, made up of players from the UNCG jazz program, plays the first set, and then the stage opens to visiting players. Held on the garden stage out back, or indoors when it's cold.
Blues and Roots
- Live Blues Jam at Ritchy's (downtown) – Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m.
- Juke Jam at The Historic Magnolia House – Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. Live music in one of Greensboro's most historic buildings.
- The Session with Matt Laird & Friends (Common Grounds) – Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. A weekly acoustic session.
- Piedmont Blues Preservation Society – Co-presents blues jams at the North Carolina Folk Festival and runs the annual Road to Memphis Blues Challenge. Follow it for jam announcements.
Open Mics
- Music Mondays at The Blind Tiger – Mondays, 7:00–10:00 p.m., with open mic sign-up at 6:30 p.m. A headlining local artist plays, followed by 10- to 15-minute open mic slots. Originals are preferred but covers are welcome. A sound system is provided, and a guitar and keyboard are available. Free.
- Open Mic Night at Hidden Gate Brewing (102 Barnhardt St.) – Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. Hidden Gate also hosts a Wednesday Piano Man Night.
- NC Writers' Network Greater Greensboro Open Mic (Scuppernong Books) – A recurring literary open mic, good for lyricists and spoken-word artists.
Greensboro Open Jam & Open Mic Schedule at a Glance
| Day | Event | Venue | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Music Mondays + Open Mic (sign-up 6:30 p.m.) | The Blind Tiger | All Styles |
| Tuesday | Open Mic Night (7 p.m.) | Hidden Gate Brewing | All Styles |
| Wednesday | Juke Jam (5 p.m.) | The Historic Magnolia House | Blues / Roots |
| Wednesday | The Session (7:30 p.m.) | Common Grounds | Acoustic |
| Wednesday | Live Blues Jam (8 p.m.) | Ritchy's | Blues |
| Thursday | UNCG Jazz Community Jam (7 p.m., confirm venue) | Oden Brewing | Jazz |
| Friday | Jazz Jam (4:30 p.m.) | Borough Coffee | Jazz |
Tips for Playing Greensboro's Open Mics and Jams
- Learn some standards. Jazz jams here are led by UNCG players; know a few tunes in common keys.
- Explore Piedmont blues. The region's fingerpicking style is a distinct tradition worth learning.
- Mind the heat. Summer afternoons are hot and humid; protect instruments at outdoor jams.
- Go to the Folk Festival. September's free festival is the best place to meet players from across the Carolinas.
Helpful Local Resources
- Downtown Greensboro (downtowngreensboro.org) – A list of weekly recurring events, including jams and open mics.
- ArtsGreensboro calendar (calendar.theacgg.org) – Guilford County arts and music listings.
- Piedmont Blues Preservation Society – Blues events, jams and the Carolina Blues Festival.
- North Carolina Folk Festival (ncfolkfestival.com) – The annual free festival and its jam sessions.
