Rochester is one of America's great music cities hiding in plain sight. Home to the world-renowned Eastman School of Music and one of the largest jazz festivals in North America, the Flower City offers a busy week of jams for players of every level, from a long-running Tuesday open mic and a Sunday blues jam to guided beginner bluegrass sessions and wine-bar jazz afternoons. This guide covers Rochester's history, its music scene and venues, and where to find open mics and open jams.
A Brief History of Rochester
The falls of the Genesee River were long part of the homeland of the Seneca Nation. In 1803, Colonel Nathaniel Rochester and two partners purchased land at the falls, and the settlement of Rochesterville grew around mills powered by the river. When the Erie Canal arrived in the 1820s, carried across the Genesee on a stone aqueduct, Rochester became America's first boomtown and the country's leading flour producer, earning the nickname "the Flour City." Later, its famous nurseries made it "the Flower City."
Rochester was a center of 19th-century reform. Frederick Douglass published his abolitionist newspaper The North Star here, and Susan B. Anthony lived and organized here; she was arrested in 1872 for voting in Rochester. Both are buried in the city's Mount Hope Cemetery.
In 1888, George Eastman introduced the Kodak camera, and Eastman Kodak, along with Xerox and Bausch & Lomb, made Rochester a global center of imaging and optics. Eastman's philanthropy built the Eastman School of Music and the Eastman Theatre. Though the decline of Kodak reshaped the economy, Rochester has reinvented itself around education, health care and technology, and remains a city with an exceptional cultural life.
The Rochester Music Scene
Music is woven into Rochester's identity. The Eastman School of Music, founded in 1921, is one of the top conservatories in the world, and its alumni and faculty fill the city's clubs, churches and concert halls. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performs in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.
Jazz is especially strong. Bandleader Cab Calloway was born in Rochester, and the city produced jazz greats like Chuck and Gap Mangione and drummer Steve Gadd. Each June, the Rochester International Jazz Festival transforms the East End into "Jazz Street," drawing hundreds of thousands of fans, and its free late-night jam sessions are a festival highlight. The weekly listings site JazzRochester tracks the city's busy jazz calendar year-round.
Rochester's pop and rock history includes Foreigner's Lou Gramm, and today's scene produces acts like Joywave and soul singer Danielle Ponder. Blues, bluegrass and folk all have devoted communities, supported by the Western New York Blues Society and Bernunzio Uptown Music, one of the country's best-known vintage instrument shops.
Popular Live Music Venues in Rochester
- Kodak Center and Blue Cross Arena – Large concert venues for touring acts.
- Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre – Home of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and major festival concerts.
- CMAC (Canandaigua) – A popular outdoor amphitheater in the Finger Lakes.
- Photo City Music Hall, Anthology and Water Street Music Hall – Mid-size rooms for rock, indie and touring acts.
- Abilene Bar & Lounge – A downtown bar known for Americana and roots music.
- Lovin' Cup (300 Park Point Dr., near RIT) – A bistro and music venue with a long-running open mic.
- Vanni's Jazz Lounge at the Inn on Broadway – A jazz lounge with live music most nights.
- The Little Theatre Café – An East End art-house café with live jazz.
- Bernunzio Uptown Music – A famed vintage instrument shop that hosts concerts and bluegrass jams.
Open Mics and Open Jams in Rochester
Rochester offers a deep calendar of sessions, especially for jazz players. Below are the standout events, followed by a schedule.
Before you go: Open mics and jams change hosts, nights and venues often, and lake-effect snow can cancel events. Always check the venue's or host's website or social media before heading out with your gear.
Open Mics
- Lovin' Cup Open Mic Night (300 Park Point Dr.) – Every Tuesday, 7:00–9:30 p.m., with sign-up beginning at 6:30 p.m. Free to the public and running since 2009, it's one of Rochester's longest-standing open mics.
- Acoustic Open Mic at Rev It Up Bar & Grill (25 Old Scottsville Chili Rd.) – First and third Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
- Linwood Open Mic (191 Lee Rd.) – Tuesday evenings, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
- Murph's (Irondequoit) – Locals recommend its Tuesday open mic jam sessions, a good bet for drummers and band players.
- Open Mic Night at Tones Studios – Periodic Friday open mics.
- Open Mic at The Cornerstone – A weekly Friday open mic for music and the arts.
Jazz Jams
- Jack's Jammers Jazz Jam at Vine and Tap Wine Bar (Charlotte) – Regular afternoon jam sessions, 2:00–4:00 p.m., paired with wine tastings near the Lake Ontario shore.
- Jazz Jam at Spritz 146 (East Rochester) – Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m.
- Side Step / Jam Session at Eden Coffee (East End) – Monday afternoons at 3:00 p.m.
- Rochester International Jazz Festival Jam Sessions – Every night of the festival in late June, a free late-night jam (around 10:30 p.m.) led by guitarist Bob Sneider's trio or other hosts draws players from across jazz, gospel and R&B. Arrive early; the room is packed.
Blues and Bluegrass
- Open Blues Jam at Main Place Tavern (1899 E. Main St.) – Every Sunday, 6:30–9:30 p.m., hosted by Son Henry. All about good vibes and great music; listed by the Western New York Blues Society.
- Beginner Bluegrass Jam at Bernunzio Uptown Music – First Saturdays, 1:00–2:30 p.m. A famous guided session for beginning and intermediate players; even if you know only a few songs, you can participate.
Rochester Open Jam & Open Mic Schedule at a Glance
| Day | Event | Venue | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Open Blues Jam (6:30 p.m.) | Main Place Tavern | Blues |
| Monday | Side Step / Jam Session (3 p.m.) | Eden Coffee | Jazz |
| Monday (1st & 3rd) | Acoustic Open Mic (7 p.m.) | Rev It Up Bar & Grill | Acoustic |
| Tuesday | Open Mic Night (sign-up 6:30 p.m.) | Lovin' Cup | All Styles |
| Tuesday | Linwood Open Mic (6 p.m.) | 191 Lee Rd. | All Styles |
| Tuesday | Open Mic Jam | Murph's, Irondequoit | Band / All Styles |
| Wednesday | Jazz Jam (6 p.m.) | Spritz 146, East Rochester | Jazz |
| Afternoons (regular) | Jack's Jammers Jam (2 p.m.) | Vine and Tap, Charlotte | Jazz |
| Saturday (1st) | Beginner Bluegrass Jam (1 p.m.) | Bernunzio Uptown Music | Bluegrass |
| Late June (nightly) | Jazz Fest Jam Sessions (10:30 p.m.) | Festival hotel venue | Jazz |
Tips for Playing Rochester's Open Mics and Jams
- Come ready to play with Eastman-level players. Rochester's jazz jams can be high caliber; know your standards and listen before you jump in.
- Start at Bernunzio's if you're new to bluegrass. The guided beginner jam is one of the friendliest introductions anywhere.
- Plan your summer around the Jazz Fest. The free late-night jams are legendary.
- Prepare for winter. Lake-effect snow is common; check for cancellations.
Helpful Local Resources
- JazzRochester (jazzrochester.com) – The most comprehensive weekly guide to live jazz and jam sessions in the region.
- Western New York Blues Society (wnyblues.org) – Blues jams and events, including Rochester.
- Bernunzio Uptown Music (bernunzio.com) – Bluegrass jams, concerts and instruments.
- Rochester International Jazz Festival (rochesterjazz.com) – Festival schedule and nightly jam information.
