Where can I see live music in Hemel Hempstead?

The Old Town is the core of Hemel's live music scene. The Crown & Sceptre and The Full House both host regular weekend gigs, and The Old Town Hall programmes jazz nights, acoustic showcases and occasional touring acts. For a wider spread, Berkhamsted's Pavilion and High Street pubs add jazz, folk and ticketed nights.

What's the best open mic night in Hemel Hempstead?

The Old Town pubs rotate open mic evenings, and the Facebook group 'Hemel Music Scene' is the most reliable source for current listings. The Old Town Hall occasionally hosts themed open mic nights as part of its community programme. Berkhamsted has a smaller but active open mic community in its High Street pubs.

How do I get booked to play in Hemel Hempstead?

Start in the Old Town. Walk in during quiet afternoons, introduce yourself to the landlord, and offer a short set. The music-friendly pubs there will usually give new acts a chance. Pair that with a local profile on GigXchange and you can fill a calendar across Hemel, Berkhamsted and Tring without needing a London commute.

What genres work best in the Dacorum live music scene?

Covers, classic rock and blues dominate the Hemel Old Town pubs. Berkhamsted leans jazz, folk, acoustic and classical given the audience. Function-style duos do well across the whole borough for weddings and corporate events. Original indie and heavier bands have fewer natural rooms and often travel to Watford or St Albans for those bills.

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City Guide Hemel Hempstead Venues

Hemel Hempstead & Dacorum: Your Local Live Music GuideThe Old Town pubs, Berkhamsted’s wine bars, and the full Dacorum gig circuit

Q: How much do bands get paid in Dacorum?

Typical Dacorum pub fees in 2026: solo acoustic £80-£180, duo £150-£280, full band £250-£500 for a standard weekend slot. Berkhamsted tends to pay slightly more than Hemel and Tring for equivalent gigs given the wealthier demographic. Ticketed Pavilion and Old Town Hall shows can pay well above those ranges.

By Naumaan Published 22 March 2026 Updated 23 April 2026 6 min read

TL;DR — live music in Dacorum

Hemel Old Town is the hub — The Crown & Sceptre, The Full House and The Old Town Hall carry most of the programme. Berkhamsted adds a wealthier market (jazz / folk / acoustic at The Pavilion and High Street pubs). Together with Tring and Kings Langley, the Dacorum circuit can comfortably fill 3–4 gigs a month.

Covers, classic rock and acoustic duos do best locally. See live gigs in the area on Hemel Hempstead on GigXchange or step out to the full Hertfordshire county guide.

Key venues

Old Town + Berkhamsted

The Crown & Sceptre, The Full House, The Old Town Hall (Hemel), The Pavilion (Berkhamsted), Rising Sun / Boat / Bull on Berkhamsted High Street.

Best for: weekend pub gigs, seated ticketed shows

Open mics

Rotating pub nights

Old Town pubs rotate open mic evenings. “Hemel Music Scene” Facebook group is the best source for current listings. Berkhamsted has its own small circuit.

Best for: new artists testing material

How to book

Walk-in + GigXchange

Old Town landlords respond to a direct visit and a short demo set. Cover the rest of the circuit on GigXchange to keep the calendar full.

Best for: building a sustainable local circuit

Hemel Hempstead is a new town with an old soul. The Old Town, perched above the Gade Valley, has character that the town centre sometimes lacks — and it’s where most of the live music happens. Combined with nearby Berkhamsted, Tring, and the wider Dacorum borough — around 155,100 people across the borough (2021 ONS census) — there’s more going on than you might expect. Pub fees here track the Musicians’ Union 2026 minimum of £167.16 per musician for 3-hour engagements, and Dacorum’s pubs add to the 835 Music Venues Alliance rooms tracked nationally by the Music Venue Trust.

Key Venues

The Old Town Hall

Hemel’s premier arts and events venue. The Old Town Hall hosts a mix of live music, comedy, and community events. The main hall has decent acoustics and a capacity of around 200. Regular jazz nights, acoustic showcases, and occasional touring acts. Genre focus: Jazz, acoustic, folk, community events.

The Crown & Sceptre (Old Town)

The beating heart of Hemel’s Old Town pub scene. Regular live music at weekends with a mix of covers bands, acoustic acts, and blues. The atmosphere is warm, the crowd is loyal, and the landlord supports live music properly. Genre focus: Rock, blues, covers, acoustic.

The Full House (Old Town)

Another Old Town pub that’s invested in live entertainment. Weekend gigs attract a good crowd and the venue is supportive of both established acts and newer artists looking to build experience. Genre focus: Covers, classic rock, pop.

The Pavilion, Berkhamsted

Berkhamsted’s community venue hosts regular live music events, from folk nights to jazz evenings. The town’s affluent demographic means audiences are willing to pay for quality acts and ticketed events. Genre focus: Jazz, folk, classical, acoustic.

Pubs along Berkhamsted High Street

Berkhamsted’s High Street is one of the longest in England, and several of its pubs and wine bars programme live music. The Rising Sun, The Boat, and The Bull all host occasional live nights. Genre focus: Acoustic, jazz, covers.

The Dacorum Circuit

Smart artists treat Dacorum as a circuit rather than a single town:

Hemel Old Town — the core, with 3–4 pub venues within walking distance
Berkhamsted (4 miles) — a wealthier market with higher-fee potential
Tring (7 miles) — smaller but with a couple of active pub venues and a community arts scene
Kings Langley (3 miles) — a few pubs with occasional live music
Bovingdon (3 miles) — village pubs that welcome acoustic acts

Playing the Dacorum circuit means you can build a sustainable local following without needing to travel to London or the bigger towns. For the wider county picture, see our complete Hertfordshire guide, the St Albans live music guide, and Watford’s venue rundown.

Open Mic Nights

The Old Town Hall occasionally hosts open mic evenings as part of its community programme
Various Old Town pubs rotate open mic nights — the Facebook group "Hemel Music Scene" is the best source for current listings
Berkhamsted has a small but active open mic community, usually in the pubs along the High Street

For Artists: Getting Booked

Start in the Old Town — the pubs up the hill are the most music-friendly. Walk in, introduce yourself to the landlord, and offer to do a short set.
Don’t overlook Berkhamsted — the audience is older, wealthier, and happy to pay for good live music. Acoustic duos and jazz acts do particularly well here.
Build the circuit — Hemel + Berkhamsted + Tring gives you 3–4 gigs a month without repeating venues too often.
Browse local gigs — Hemel Hempstead on GigXchange lists available slots across the Dacorum area.

For the booking-side playbook, see how to book live music for your pub or bar and the broader why UK pubs are bringing back live music in 2026.

Typical Fees

Solo acoustic: £80–£180
Duo: £150–£280
Full band: £250–£500

Berkhamsted tends to pay slightly more than Hemel and Tring for equivalent gigs. For regional rate benchmarks, see the UK live band cost guide and the GX Rate Index.

Dacorum’s live music scene is community-driven and growing. The Old Town in Hemel is the hub, Berkhamsted adds a premium market, and the surrounding villages fill in the calendar. For artists willing to build locally, it’s a rewarding patch.

Find gigs near you: Browse Hemel Hempstead on GigXchange.