Jasmine Osby If you talk to event host and spoken word artist Louis ConPhliction, he’ll tell you Tuesday is his favorite day of the week. Every Tuesday evening, ConPhliction heads to Hot Java on Manchester Avenue to host the WordUp open mic alongside event founder Dacia “InnerGy” Polk. This year, the event celebrates 10 years as a staple in the St. Louis open-mic scene. Polk and team strive to create a supportive space for local creatives to perform, develop their on-stage presence and network with other artists. “I have a phenomenal time having the chance to interact with people and to hear true emotion, hear true expression, and feel real art,” ConPhliction says. ConPhliction joined WordUp as a host in 2018. However, the St. Louis native has a long history of hosting open-mic events — almost two decades. As a host, ConPhliction says he gets the best seat in the house and experiences the city’s thriving arts scene firsthand. The St. Louis open-mic scene existed long before WordUp. Prior events like Urban Hang Suite and the Sunday Cipher Sessions at Hi-Pointe in the 1990s helped set the stage for current open mics that help artists gain exposure and performance experience. Describing these events as the foundation of the city’s creative expression, Polk says genres like blues, jazz and rock ’n’ roll have blossomed and evolved on open-mic stages and are a necessary component of the music scene. “These platforms are not even just important, they’re imperative to the growth, development, connectivity and the uplifting of people who are in those spaces wanting to use those tools to elevate and also to express things that were going on in the time,” Polk says. While WordUp provides a platform for artists to perform poetry, music and even comedy, other niche-based events cater to creatives seeking out spaces just for them. Events like rapper Corey Black’s Poetic Justice and Richard Washington’s Lyrical Therapy serve as beacons for local poets looking for an outlet. Singer and songwriter Tiffany Ann hosts multiple weekly open-mic events with musician Curt Copeland to create spaces where St. Louis musicians can perform original music and unite with like-minded artists. “Open mics bring musicians together in a creative way,” Ann says. “You have a room full of talented musicians, from multiple genres, getting up and playing songs together they’ve never played before. It’s a beautiful thing.” Black believes open mics also serve as a space for artists to healthfully express their emotions. “For the community itself, it’s just an outlet to have to the people that live there...come and get things off of their chest,” Black says. The Apex Artist Lounge is the newest addition to the St. Louis open-mic circuit. Founded by rapper Tef Poe in December 2024, the event caters to hip-hop and urban music acts, bringing fresh talent to the stage at Atomic by Jamo on the last Sunday of every month. “St. Louis should be known as one of the more premier open-mic cities for Black talent, and we’re contributing to the fact that people need places to perform, and people need places to gather,” Poe says. Poe says that cities must continue to create spaces for their local arts scene to thrive and grow, like open-mic events. These stages help artists find their real voices and navigate performing long before they blow up on the mainstream music scene. “We’re supposed to do this part,” he says. “We’re supposed to provide services that give you an opportunity to test out what you’ve got and learn how to become something bigger.” As ConPhliction looks forward to another Tuesday, he encourages the community to engage with the open-mic scene. He says these events show people what the future of the city’s entertainment scene looks like. “There are some artists that people get the privilege of seeing later when they’re shiny and they’re polished,” ConPhliction says. “I have the opportunity to watch the whole process, and that’s something that I love.” Upcoming Open Mic Events Comedy Open Mic When: 7:30 p.m. April 16Where: Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St. Louis Galleria Street, Richmond HeightsFrequency: Every WednesdayHow much: FreeMore info: st-louis.heliumcomedy.com Pass That: An Open Mic Comedy Sesh When: 9:30 p.m. May 3Where: St. Louis Cannabis Club, 2834 Cherokee StreetFrequency: MonthlyGenre: ComedyHow much: FreeMore info: cola-stl.manageyour.club When: 7 p.m. April 15Where: Hot Java, 4193 Manchester AvenueFrequency: WeeklyGenre: Poetry, music and comedyHow much: $10More info: wordupopenmicstl.com Comedy Open Mic When: 7:30 p.m. April 15Where: Funny Bone, 614 West Port Plaza DriveFrequency: WeeklyGenre: ComedyHow much: $5More info: stlouisfunnybone.com The Drawing Board Open Mic When: 7 p.m. April 13Where: The Drawing Board, 4123 Chippewa StreetFrequency: WeeklyGenre: MusicHow much: FreeMore info: thedrawingboardstl.com The Comedy Shipwreck Open Mic When: 8 p.m. April 14Where: The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois AvenueFrequency: WeeklyGenre: ComedyHow much: $5More info: theheavyanchor.com The Casual Comedy Open Mic When: 7 p.m. April 13Where: The Golden Hoosier, 3707 South Kingshighway BoulevardFrequency: MonthlyGenre: ComedyHow much: $5More info: eventbrite.com Open Mic Night with Curt Copeland When: 8 p.m. April 17Where: Iowa Buffet, 2727 Winnebago StreetFrequency: WeeklyGenre: MusicHow much: FreeMore info: facebook.com Hyaah’s and Haha’s Comedy Open Mic When: 8 p.m. April 24Where: Steve’s Hot Dogs, 3145 South Grand BoulevardFrequency: WeeklyGenre: ComedyHow much: FreeMore info: steveshotdogsstl.com Apex Artist Lounge When: 8 p.m. April 27Where: Atomic by Jamo, 4140 Manchester AvenueFrequency: MonthlyGenre: Music and poetryHow much: FreeMore info: jamopresents.com Open Mic and Jam with the Ish Ensemble When: 8 p.m. May 4Where: HandleBar, 4127 Manchester AvenueFrequency: MonthlyGenre: MusicHow much: FreeMore info: facebook.com