Join us for an album release feature! Kayla Blackburn is a Boston based indie-folk singer-songwriter and audio engineer, originally from California. As a songwriter, Kayla draws inspiration from artists like Patty Griffin and Tracy Chapman, with her captivating folk songs that pull you in and remind you of the profound, yet painful human experience. With her songs about hope and justice, she strives to promote radical change through art. Her debut single Village was released on June 20, 2025.  Her debut studio album, produced by Jacob Blizard, Ainjel Emme, Carter Sanders, and Kayla herself released in October.

Every Monday Night since 2008!

🎙️ Open mic list is out 8 – 8:30 PM
🎙️ Show starts around 9 – 9:30 PM
🎙️ Runs on poet time & goes until we run out of words (11:30 – 12 AM)
WHERE: Ralph’s: 148 Grove, Worcester, MA
🎙️ Outside when weather allows, otherwise inside & down-to-the-right
🎙️ This is a strictly 21+ cash only bar (there’s an ATM) built around a historic diner cart.

Outside shows are on a mixed gravel/pavement patio, inside shows have multiple sets of stairs and low lighting. Both have mixed seating types. We love Ralph’s for having us for over 18 years, please defer to them as the host for any general questions regarding the venue / accessibility / etc.

House Keeping: The open mic is a privilege that takes guts to perform on, so we ask you to be considerate of the space and performers.
Keep your phones on silent, and any conversations to a whisper, or over in the
diner cart/out of earshot. Some of our poets whisper and we want to hear them, not you

WHAT: a fucking poetry show

🎙️ Open mic slots for first and second half, alongside a wait list, with a feature set in the middle. Don’t see room on the list? Talk to Nark and they’ll see what they can do.

🎙️ Read your work, tell your jokes, bear your soul, all while accompanied by the coolest backing band since the invention of Ray-Bans.


🎙️You get 1-2 poems or 1 song; up to 6 minutes tops. Please donate your extra time forward to the next performer.


🎙️ Most-sometimes there’s a bonus ruckus in the second half (you could win a ‘lil prize for a poem written on the spot) and maybe there’ll be snack time? We have a song for it