Birminghamians are easy people to get along with. We get our work done then love to have fun, we hold the door open for others, and we say howdy to our neighbors. But when the sun goes down and day becomes night, Magic City residents transform from their regular friendly selves into singing monsters covering everything from “It Wasn’t Me” to “Bohemian Rhapsody”. That’s right, we are a karaoke city. Vocal variations of classics by Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and more can be heard on any given night. While it’s a fact that every resident in the Magic City has a better singing voice than people from anywhere else (no matter when you moved here), karaoke has never been about skill. It’s about fun. For roughly three minutes, you get to pour yourself into a favorite song and share it with friends and total strangers. Fortunately for us, Birmingham has many places to do so. Here are a few of our favorite karaoke spots.

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Tuesdays at Steel Gastropub

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Located smack dab in the middle of Lakeview is a wonderful gem of an establishment called Steel Gastropub. In addition to having some delicious food and drinks, this business is known for its great deals during fun events each week. This is doubly true on karaoke Tuesdays, which is also Taco Tuesday and Ladies Night. This means there are plenty of great food and drink options for great prices. The fun kicks off at 7:30pm each week, and we’d highly recommend checking out this singing adventure.

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Thursdays at Mom’s

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Mom’s Basement always has fun leisurely activities available, but many would say they pair best with karaoke. Image from Mom’s

Mom’s Basement always seems to end up on our list, as this throwback-vibe bar never fails to host entertaining events that bring the community together. Some would say this fact rings most true on Thursdays, when Mom’s hosts trivia and often has Backyard Tacos join the party to provide delicious birria and more for Birminghamians singing their appetites into an uproar. They also have some of the most fun announcement flyers, which multiplies the incentive to check out these fun Thursdays night singing celebrations.

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Thursdays at Al’s on Seventh

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Al’s on 7th is always ready to provide a great night out, and Thursdays are no exception. Image from Al’s

Sam Star is already known as one of Birmingham’s finest drag entertainers, and the Sam behind the star is now bringing even more fun to Al’s every week by hosting their Thursday karaoke series! The fun begins at 9pm, and the venue has Long Island specials to help guests gain the liquid courage to take the microphone. If you’re looking for a fun weekday night out, this may be the calling for you.

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Starz Karaoke Lounge

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We think this picture is incentive enough to check out Starz, and would like to use the rest of this caption to talk about the unicorn’s incredible singing stance. We can all practice, but some people (and mythical creatures) just have that "it" factor. This is clearly one of those select few. Image from Starz

The locations mentioned above are all incredible singing opportunities, but true karaoke-heads need to know where they can find a consistent source for this golden pastime. We don’t have time to play guessing games on where to go, we want to sing dammit! Starz Karaoke Lounge on Highway 280 helps alleviate these concerns for all Birmingham residents. They are open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 7pm to 2am to ensure that Magic City karaoke lovers always have a place to call their hometown lounge.

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Remember these are only a few of the many great karaoke opportunities to find in our city. There are plenty of chances to get out, sing, and laugh with friends (both old and new) each week in our beloved city. Whether you think you are the worst singer in the world or the next Aretha Franklin, karaoke in the Magic City is meant for you! 

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Cover photo by Nikola Duza

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