El Paso’s BIGGEST Open Mic Series Just Got BIGGER and YOU Could Be The Next HOST

El Paso's Barbed Wire Open Mic Series hosts the city’s biggest open mic nights with some of the Southwest's most talented performers, and they’ve just expanded into Las Cruces, New Mexico. If you’ve never heard of the Barbed Wire Open Mic Series, or BWOMS for short, then you are missing out on one of the most influential and constant events in the borderland.

Run by Richie D. Marrufo and Fernando A. Montejano (who you may know as, me, Grizz from Iris and Grizz in the Morning!), BWOMS is a traveling open mic night that both works with and supports local El Paso businesses to provide a space for performers from all over. Some nights there are featured performers from out of town taking the stage, other nights see local musicians and poets working on their craft. The open mic goes everywhere too! 

Cafes, bars, breweries, libraries, it doesn't matter the space! As long as the people who own the venue are proud supporters of the local art scene, BWOMS can make a home there. 

The Barbed Wire Open Mic manages to draw crowds in from cities and even states away! Now, performers from Las Cruces will have a much shorter drive to make as BWOMS finds itself expanding into New Mexico! 

The El Paso BWOMS family has grown as the open mic series expanded into Las Cruces with an official new chapter of the organization. Las Cruces BWOMS is officially active and being run by two local powerhouses in the LC open mic world. 

Anneliese Trujillo and Liz Liano, also known as The Lizard King, have become the leaders of the Las Cruces Chapter of The Barbed Wire Open Mic Series. Musicians, songwriters, poets, and storytellers have a new home in Cruces. 

Anneliese Trujillo is the founder of Las Cruces Spoken Word which has now merged to become the Las Cruces Branch of BWOMS. The Lizard King is an active Las Cruces poet and musician with years of experience in event planning and mental health advocacy, creating events including live music, poetry, and fundraising for local organizations that work hard to provide aid to the Las Cruces area. Together, these two have begun hosting Barbed Wire Open Mic events in New Mexico and the reception from local area businesses has been incredible! The launch event held at Grounded Lounge in January was met with a full house and standing room only crowd. 

The Barbed Wire Open Mic in El Paso is officially recognized by the City of El Paso with its own day, December 13th, and is hoping to find the same kind of recognition in Las Cruces. 

“The open mic is growing! We love seeing the way people take to this space.” said Marrufo. “We are always looking for volunteers to help out and are even on the lookout for new hosts to expand into other areas of the city under the BWOMS umbrella!” Richie stated. 

So if you or someone you know is dedicated and passionate about local arts, you could be the next host of a Barbed Wire Open Mic Night! Follow @elpasobwoms on Instagram or Facebook to learn more about dates and times for the next show in El Paso. Be sure to reach out to find out what it takes to become a part of the team! 

Follow @lascrucesbwoms on Instagram to keep up to date on every Open Mic Night coming up in Las Cruces!