Downbeat 720 Teen Open Mic

Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday, students are invited to the famed Downbeat 720 at the Miles!

Downbeat 720 is the City’s long-running open mic for teen performers. This evening jam welcomes students to perform their music, poetry and comedy or show their art for their fellow participating students and professional artist mentors. Performers will receive positive constructive feedback to help strengthen their performances - it's a safe and supportive space for self-expression. 

Hosts include comedian Joe Hernandez-Kolski, featured on Gilmore Girls and the HBO series Def Poetry, and beatboxer Joshua Silverstein, featured on the TV series Drop The Mic and The Late Late Show With James Corden, with music and feedback also provided by DJ Jedi, featured on Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam on Broadway and with hip hop trio Digable Planets.

Downbeat 720 is free to attend and is held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month every fall, winter and spring, with a break in the summer. Doors open at 7p.m. with the first performance at 7:20p.m. All performance-based genres are welcome, and no advanced RSVP is required. No unaccompanied adults.

Downbeat 720 was created by Justin Yoffe, Ameenah Kaplan, Joe Hernandez-Kolski and DJ Jedi in 2001. Professional artists that have been invited to perform for the students in the past have included Grammy award-winning musicians like Aloe Blacc, Raul Pacheco (Ozomatli), comedian Craig Robinson (“The Office”), Akil the MC (Jurassic 5), poet/actress Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia) and a host of nationally-ranked HBO Def Poets.

Downbeat 720 is a city of Santa Monica Recreation and Arts Department, Cultural Affairs Division program.