Turtle Cove Open Mic Nights

When

Every Wednesday, from 6PM

Host

Larry Kyle

Where

Turtle Cove, on Little Sodus Bay in Fair Haven, NY

Bring

An instrument, a few songs, or just an appetite

A Wednesday tradition on Little Sodus Bay

Midweek is supposed to be the quiet stretch. At Turtle Cove it is the night the room fills up. Open Mic has been part of the week here for a long time, and it has outlasted plenty of trends by staying exactly what it is: a few mics, a corner of the room, and whoever has a song they want to play.

That is the whole format, and it is the reason it works. There is no ticket and no cover band. The music comes from whoever steps up that night, and the crowd shows up for all of it.

What the night actually looks like

Early evening

Things get going at 6PM. The early crowd is the one that gets the tables with a sightline to the performers, which is why the advice never changes: come early. Once the music is going, the room fills in fast.

The performers

Larry Kyle hosts, keeps the night moving and makes sure the mic keeps changing hands. In the clip above it is a whole circle of guitar players trading songs, but the point of an open mic is that you never quite know who is next. That unpredictability is half the fun for the people listening — and, judging by the dancing, the people listening do not always stay seated.

The room

This is a lakeside bar, not a concert hall. Conversations carry on at the tables, people cheer for friends, and somebody is always ordering another round. If you want a polished show, this is not it. If you want a busy, friendly room with live music in the background and the bay outside the window, you are in the right place.

No tickets, no cover band — just a mic, a full room and whoever has a song to play.

If you want to play

Performers of every level are part of what keeps this night going. A few things will make your Wednesday easier:

• Arrive early. The room fills fast, and you will want time to settle in before your turn.
• Find Larry when you get there. He runs the night, so he is the person to ask about getting on the list and how many songs to plan for.
• Bring what you can carry. It is a corner of the room, not a stage with a backline — think guitar, voice and the songs you know cold.
• Read the room. A singalong everyone knows will land differently than a ten-minute original. Both have their place.

If you are coming to listen

You do not need to play a note to enjoy Wednesday. Get a table, order dinner and let the music happen around you. The kitchen is open for lunch and dinner every day, and the full fall and winter menu — haddock done four ways, burgers, NY strip, Chicken Riggies and more — is on the Turtle Cove menu page.

Wednesday is also one stop on a full weekly lineup: Tacos and Tequila on Tuesday, Wing Night on Thursday, Fish Fry on Friday and the Prime Rib Special on Saturday. If Open Mic becomes your habit, the rest of the week makes a good case for coming back.

Good to know

• Coming with a big group? Parties of eight or more are on one check with an 18% gratuity, so plan to settle up together.
• Menu prices are credit card prices; paying cash gets a 4% discount.
• Want to make it a night on the water? See what else is around the bay on the restaurant and marina pages.

See you Wednesday — doors are open, music starts at 6PM. Questions before you come? Get in touch with Turtle Cove.