It’s 9 p.m. on any given Wednesday at the Scarlet and Grey Café.

The regular crowd has yet to walk through the doors but when it does, the majority of its members will not leave until 1:30 the next morning.

That is when Mike Perkins usually concludes his weekly musical performance at the bar. He shows up at about 9 p.m., unloads his vehicle, sets up his equipment and prepares the stage. The process takes a little longer than an hour and he takes the stage at 10:30 p.m.

Afterward, he disassembles everything, packs it back up and exits the bar at about 2:30 a.m.

Perkins, a native of Gahanna, Ohio, has been following this routine for the past five years. Every Wednesday night, he and his bass guitarist, John Zuck, play and sing for fans and customers.

His passion for music was present for as long as he can remember and gradually intensified while growing up. It became his life’s passion when he received his first acoustic guitar after graduating high school.

“I went to college and played guitar all the time and wrote songs all the time,” he said. “Next thing I know I was dropping out of college to be a full-time musician.”

Five years ago, he told the manager at Scarlet and Grey Café that he was interested in playing there.

Perkins said he had Wednesdays open and thought he could bring customers and money to the bar. That exchange turned into a steady Wednesday night gig and, five years later, Perkins continues to attract patrons.

“He still puts about 100 or 150 kids in here,” said Matt Ratcliffe, an employee at the restaurant who has worked during Perkins’ performances. “It’s a pretty good draw.”

The crowd varies week to week but always includes some loyal and devoted fans.

Like many sports and music bars, the crowd gets more socially confident as the night goes on.

“A lot of people tell me that Wednesday is their Saturday,” Perkins said.

Some of his allure might stem from his love for a wide variety of music, something he says he tries to convey while playing. He enjoys listening to any kind of music as long as it is done with “intelligence, heart and soul.”

Perkins takes his show all over the state. He is a Tuesday-night regular at a sports bar in Mansfield and has shows scheduled in early April in Athens, Columbus and Cincinnati. He has recorded three albums and also has a performance available on DVD.