UPDATED March 26: Jam’n Java Open Mic continues to occur on the first Friday of every month, with the next event April 4.
Prepandemic, the Arlington-based event took place for 14 years in person at Kickstand Cafe, then took a Covid-19 break for more than three years, during which time shows continued virtually, usually twice monthly.
But in April 2023, the opportunity to perform and listen in person returned, this time at a different, larger venue — the back room of Donut Villa, 319 Broadway, one of four locations of the Middlesex County-based restaurant chain.
Find out more about how to sign up here >>
About Jam’n Java Open Mic
An email to YourArlington in spring 2023 said, “Be part of our Facebook community. Share your thoughts and ideas. Keep up on what’s happening in the acoustic open-mic scene. ‘Like Us’ if you like what you see. If you have notes for the master of ceremonies to say, put them in the ‘anything to tell us?’ comments field.”
Jam’n Java Open Mic was established in the Aughts to provide a free live-music experience for residents of Arlington and surrounding communities — a supportive environment for performers. It was the inspiration of Stephanie Marlin-Curiel; hosts are Mark Sandman and Joe Burns, with the assistance of Dianne “De” Iannitelli, Glen Woodworth, Gary Goldsmith, Ken Karnofsky and Gene Albert.
Asked by YourArlington to explain the change of venue, Sandman replied via email April 6, 2023: “Kickstand was a wonderful venue for the open mic, and the owners, Mark and Emily, were always very supportive . . . I can’t say enough good things about them. However, over the last couple of years, they have changed the inside layout significantly, reducing the available space and seating capacity for the open mic, and they now close at 3 p.m. It just wasn’t practical for them to reopen in the evening just for us.”
May 15, 2023: Live and in person again, finally: Jam’n Java open mics draw dozens
This news announcement was published Monday, April 3, 2023, based on an email from Jam’n Java, and has been updated regularly since then, most recently on March 26, 2025.
