Nico Wilkinson - Poet, Artist, Organizer

Join Us at our Next Open Mic:

6pm on July 19th @ Munchies719

Join Keep Colorado Springs Queer and Poetry719 for an evening of queer art and community at July's queer open mic featuring acclaimed poet Matthew Brown!

Feature: Matthew L. Brown is a queer Afro-Latino author, entrepreneur, and multimedia artist from Albuquerque, New Mexico currently residing in Denver, Colorado. Matthew’s writing is an open soapbox that questions faith, addiction, mental health, love and forgiveness.

Open Mic: LGBTQIA2+ performers of all disciplines are welcome to perform on the open mic! If it can be performed into a microphone, we want to hear it. To sign up, add your name to the list at the event. Performers usually get an 8 minute window to perform, though this can vary depending on the list size.

Tickets and RSVP: Tickets are free, but we ask for a $5-$10 suggested donation to support the open mic so we can continue paying featured artists, security, door staff, photographers, and hosts.

COVID-19 Statement: We believe that members of our community who are at-risk, disabled, and immunocompromised deserve spaces for creative expression in which they feel safe. As such, we request that attendees mask at this event. We can’t guarantee that venue staff and guests will be masking, but open mic attendees can make a huge impact in reducing risk by masking. We recommend the usage of respirators (KN95, Np5, etc.), but we will have disposable surgical face masks at the door available for those that need them.


 

About the Keep Colorado Springs Queer Open Mic

Spoken word poet Jamie Mortara performing to a crowd of people on an outdoor cafe patio at the Colorado Springs Queer Open Mic

Founded in 2016 by Han Sayles and Nico Wilkinson at Mountain Fold Books, Keep Colorado Springs Queer is a celebration of Colorado Springs queer art and culture. The event has featured over a dozen local and touring LGBTQIA2+ artists. With a focus on inclusivity and diversity, we welcome performers of all genders, sexualities, and identities to attend, though the stage is for LGBTQIA2+ voices.

The open mic continues to this day, and is now organized by Nico Wilkinson and Corri Mercy.

To learn more or come to future events, join our Facebook group, or follow Nico on Instagram for updates.

Want to feature at queer open mic?

If you’re a local or traveling performer and you’re interested in featuring at queer open mic, please contact me and we can look at available dates. All performers are paid an honorarium and are offered a place to crash during their stay in Colorado Springs.

Covid Precautions Statement - 2024

We align with disability justice advocates in asserting that the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and still poses a very real risk to all people, including an increased risk of severe complications and long COVID for queer and trans people. Further, we believe that members of our community who are at-risk, disabled, and immunocompromised also deserve spaces for creative expression in which they feel safe. As such, this is a mask mandatory event for all attendees. We can’t guarantee that venues and venue staff will also wear masks, but we can make a huge impact in reducing risk by masking ourselves. We recommend the usage of respirators, but we will have disposable face masks at the door available for those that need them.

 

 Past Queer Open Mics

In a desire to archive and highlight the amazing and talented people as well as the generous organizations and venues that have helped make this event possible over the years, I’ve gone through old Facebook posts and events to assemble this list of past events. If I happened to miss an event, if you have photos of an event you’d like to add to this archive, or if you want any photos removed, please contact me!

Want to listen to some hits by featured queer open mic acts? Enjoy the Spotify playlist!

2024

6.7.2024 - Queer Open Mic featuring Emberlee Autumn Ashwind at the PPAC Queer Narratives Gallery at ZoneFIVE

2023

10.15.23 - Queer Open Mic at Performance of Midge and the Butcher with Springs Ensemble Theater

10.11.23 - Queer Open Mic Featuring Irina Amouzou at Icons CO 

9.27.23 - Queer Open Mic Featuring Benjamin Morse and the Sensations at Icons CO

7.19.23 - Queer Open Mic Featuring Corri Mercy at Icons CO

6.21.23 - Queer Open Mic Featuring Glitter Porn at Icons CO

5.18.23 - Queer Open Mic Featuring Poet Laureate Ashley Cornelius at Icons CO

2022

11.26.22 - Virtual Queer Open Mic and Club Q Remembrance Event with Poetry719

10/20/22 - Queer Open Mic at the Poetry719 Festival, Featuring Aerik Francis and MarioWanna at Icons CO

6.17.22 - Clothing Swap and Open Mic Featuring Nova and the Ghost in collaboration with CC Mobile Arts at COATI

5.13.22 - Featuring Gee “Gingy” Riley at The Hall

3.10.22 - Virtual Queer Open Mic

2.10.22 - Virtual Queer Open Mic

2021

8.7.21 - Outdoor Queer Open Mic at 116 E Boulder collaboration with CC Mobile Arts, CC Fine Arts Center

2020

12.10.20 - Virtual Queer Open Mic feat. Aerik Francis

4.9.20 - Virtual Queer Open Mic Featuring Liza Sparks

2019

11.24.19 - Queer Open Mic and Clothing Swap featuring Spencer LaJoye at Vista Grande United Church of Christ 

7.5.19 - Queer Open Mic featuring Josephine the Singer at Switchback Coffee Roasters

2.22.19 - Millennial Break-up Haiku Book Release Featuring Kaleena Kovach at The Modbo

2018

12.17.18 - Featuring Lyd Havens in collaboration with Pikes Peak Women for Liberation and Hear, Here!

9.24.18 - Queer Open Mic and Vegan Potluck at Switchback Coffee Roasters

8.17.18 - Queer Open Mic and Orphanism Book Release featuring Devin Walker at The Quaill Club

5.5.18 - Queer Open Mic and Vegan Potluck Featuring Jamie Mortara at Switchback Coffee Roasters

3.24.18 - Queer Open Mic Featuring F.A.G.S. at Switchback Coffee Roasters

6.18.18 - Queer Open Mic Featuring RUUNE at the Gallery Below

2017

11.14.17 - Queer Open Mic Featuring Wheelchair Sports Camp at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

11.4.17 - Queer Open Mic Featuring Cal Bee in Collaboration with Hear, Here! at Switchback Coffee Roasters

7.15.2017 - Queer Open Mic Featuring The Milk Blossoms at The Modbo

6.16.17 - Queer Open Mic Featuring Joy Young at Switchback Coffee Roasters

5.27.17 - Queer Open Mic featuring Nikolas Martell at Switchback Coffee Roasters

3.18.17 - Queer Open Mic featuring Stoney Bertz at GOCA

1.20.17 - Inauguration Book Release by Nico Wilkinson and Idris Goodwin at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

2016

12.8.16 - Featuring Rock, Paper, Scissors! at Rooted Studio

12.2016 - Queer Open Mic and Fundraiser at Inside Out Youth Services

11.10.16 - Featuring Ashley Cornelius at Rooted Studio

9.1.16 - Queer Open Mic at Mountain Fold Books

7.14.16 - Queer Open Mic at Mountain Fold Books

6.10.16 - Queer Open Mic at Mountain Fold Books

5.5.16 - Queer Open Mic at Mountain Fold Books

4.7.16 - Queer Open Mic at Mountain Fold Books

3.3.16 - Queer Open Mic at Mountain Fold Books

2.5.16 - Queer Open Mic at Mountain Fold Books