For many gringos, the idea of an open mic night conjures images of off-key hippie types lumbering through clunky Bob Dylan covers in a boho coffee house in some nameless college town. But on Tuesday nights at Gitano Restobar in San Telmo, a rotating cast of porteño, expat, and backpacker musicians turn this stereotype on its head, producing a show reflects the diversity of an international magnet city like Buenos Aires.

On a chilly Tuesday in late June, a dozen groups of musicians and individual performers took the stage to play everything from Spanish-language blues to heavy prog rock into the wee hours. The crowd was similarly diverse, with tables of Argentines and foreigners alike listening to the music over beer and burgers.

The night definitely featured an overabundance of crowd-pleasing covers (everything from Paul Simon to Radiohead to the Kinks), but the overall musicianship was markedly high. And while the performers and the composition of the crowd obviously change from week to week, this kind of musical and cultural mingling is exactly what musician Bronson Tennis, 26, had in mind when he started the event last December.

After arriving in Buenos Aires from Philadelphia, Tennis noticed a conspicuous lack of US-style open mic nights despite the city’s huge arts scene.

“There are so many musicians in BA: the porteños, the expats like myself, and the backpackers,” he said. “I saw that there was a need for people to get together and play, either beginning musicians who needed stage time or more established musicians just to get to meet each other and collaborate.”

Tennis had been playing a weekly solo gig at Gitano, and approached the owner about starting an open mic. Early performers included friends he had made while busking on the Subte and recruits from local hostels. The event has slowly built an audience, and now features a handful of regular acts.

With a legitimate raised stage and a full sound system, performers bring their own instruments, allowing them to branch out from the more standard acoustic fare often featured at open mic nights.

Slots are first-come, first-served, and this particular Tuesday they filled up quick.

The first act of the night was Tennis himself, who went on a little before 11 and played a crop of Jack Johnson-style originals in addition to a few covers, including ‘Just Like Heaven’ and ‘Folsom Prison Blues’. He eventually invited the rest of his 3-piece band on stage, who form part a core group of musicians that have frequented the open mic night for a while, lending each other a hand as back up musicians and doing duets throughout the evening.

But the night also featured many acts that seemed to have come out of left field. Highlights on that front included a Haitian backpacker who crooned a soulful cover of Lionel Ritchie’s ‘Hello’, a four-piece Latin-infused jazz band, two yanquis who did a rousing cover of ‘Because the Night Belongs to Lovers’, and a porteño three-piece comprised of two teenagers on guitar and a middle-aged man on drums (none of whom were related to each other, apparently).

While the bulk of the performers were clearly talented and poised, Tennis said that part of his goal is to create a space for upstart musicians to cut their teeth.

“I think it’s really important for beginning musicians to be encouraged, to be given a chance,” he said. “Making people feel safe to play music is really important to me. I hate when beginning musicians are put down or told to give it up.”

The open mic night happens every Tuesday at 10pm at Gitano Restobar, Chile 424 esq. Defensa. Bring your own instrument; house drummer provided. Entrance is free.

Nadia Chalfin, 31, from Sheffield, England, arrived in Buenos Aires in November 2006. Planning to work in property, her background in football soon caught up with her, and she now secures transfers for Argentine football talent in England’s big leagues.

Why did you leave England and come to Buenos Aires?

I’d had enough of England. I hadn’t got a mortgage, a family, or ties to keep me there. This was the last opportunity to go and do something that I really want to do. I originally came out here and someone offered me a job in property but that fell through.

I needed to make money quickly. Whilst working for the FA (Football Association), I made many contacts at football league clubs up and down England. So I spoke to those contacts who put me in touch with some football agents out here. I explained that I had contacts and could play a middle man in arranging transfers between Argentina and England.

How does the job differ from that of a scout?

It’s more than just about whether he’s good enough, but whether he’d fit into a UK – the way they play here and the way they play in England is completely different.

You’ve also got to look at their attitude as well. Someone like (Juan Román) Riquelme, for example, I don’t think he would mould into an English team very well because he’s Argentine and wants to play in Argentina – he’s not going to be very happy in England. For me, he hasn’t got the right attitude to work in England.

I send DVDs of the players to the clubs, and my solicitor in England approaches the club to see if they’d be interested. Sometimes they send scouts out here, sometimes they take them on reputation. If they’re playing at River or Boca, they’ve got a reputation.

I’m also trying to get some kids into the academies in England. The academies are growing more and more now as they want to nurture the talent rather than paying whacking transfer fees to other clubs.

And that’s the dream for them? England and Europe?

More and more England now. Before it was Italy and Spain but now they know Arsenal and Liverpool. It’s where a lot the best players are, it’s one of the best leagues, and it’s where the money is – there are no higher paid footballers than those in England.

Do you not feel guilty that you are taking footballers out of Argentina?

If it wasn’t me, someone else would be doing it! But that’s their dream. It’s helping somebody fulfil their dream, which for me, is really nice. Especially when it’s kids. You’re changing a whole family, as they obviously have to go with them as well. And the family are so excited to be doing that.

How is it working in the Argentine football industry?

You can imagine how the English work and how the Argentines work. People in England demand information straight away and the Argentines take ages to get it information to me. I’m stuck somewhere in the middle.

I mainly work with three people here and if they’ll help me to get to whoever I need to get to. But here it’s not as hard to get to the people as it is in England. People are a lot more available.

Unfortunately, you’re a woman in a man’s world but you just have to get on with it. When I walk into meetings here, they’re surprised to see a woman. It has pros and cons being a girl. Sometimes they just think you’re absolutely stupid.

What players are you hoping to secure deals in England for during the summer transfer window?

I can’t really tell you the players, but I can tell you they play for River Plate and Boca Juniors. They could all play at top Premiership clubs.