Aberdeen · the live music guide
Live Music in Aberdeen
Aberdeen, UK
Of the 11 venues that list their live nights, 5 put on music on Sundays and 5 on Fridays. Of the 10 with a known size, 4 are small rooms under 150, 3 hold up to 500 and 3 are bigger halls.
Updated 1 November 2026
01 — The short answer
AberdeenLive music in Aberdeen
Aberdeen has 26 venues listing live music, 34 gigs in the next 30 days and 18 open mic nights. Below: the rooms to start with, the gigs on now, what acts are paid and where to go next, all read live from the same directory.
Granite City rock and folk. From The Lemon Tree to Café Drummond, Aberdeen runs a tight, loyal live music circuit fuelled by two universities and a heavy gigging culture.
Aberdeen's scene is rock-leaning and tight-knit — most working musicians know each other by name. The Lemon Tree, The Tunnels, Café Drummond, Krakatoa and the P&J Live big-room circuit run live music most nights. Two universities (Aberdeen and RGU) drive a steady stream of student gigs and open mics. Audiences are loyal but discerning — Aberdeen knows its rock heritage. For new acts breaking in, Aberdeen's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in Aberdeen | 34 |
| Open micsactive nights · in Aberdeen | 18 |
| On GigXchangeAberdeen acts · with a profile you can browse | 2 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Aberdeen100
| Artists | 20 |
| Venues | 4 |
| Gigs 90d | 100 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
8 roomsThe rooms to know
Eight rooms that anchor Aberdeen's circuit — from Belmont Street grassroots to Scotland's largest arena. A compact scene with outsized corporate demand.
| 300 + 80 cap · Belmont StDrummondsAberdeen's most important independent live music venue at 1 Belmont Street. Has hosted Snow Patrol, Mumford & Sons, KT Tunstall, Alt-J and Catfish & the Bottlemen on the way up. Weekly open mic and packed touring schedule. Books: indie, rock, alternative, touring.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 80–300 cap · undergroundThe TunnelsTwo literal tunnels beneath the railway at Carnegie's Brae. Intimate, atmospheric underground venue. Strong on alt/indie touring acts plus late-night DJ sets until 3am. Aberdeen's alternative scene anchor. Books: alternative, rock, electronic, DJ, comedy.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 1,300 cap · Union StreetMusic HallGrade A-listed venue on Union Street, opened 1822, designed by Archibald Simpson. Managed by Aberdeen Performing Arts. The city's premier ticketed room. Books: classical, folk, comedy, heritage touring.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| 550 + 166 cap · West EndThe Lemon TreeFormed in 1992 as the base for Aberdeen's Alternative Festival. Two spaces: 550-cap Lounge for gigs and 166-seat Studio for intimate work. Professional programming and good sound. Books: indie, folk, jazz, comedy, spoken word.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| 200 cap · Trinity QuayKrakatoaTiki dive bar at 2 Trinity Quay where the harbour meets the city centre. Live bands Fri/Sat, Sunday jam sessions. Books: rock, metal, punk, funk, electronica.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 15,000 cap · arenaP&J LiveScotland's largest indoor arena, opened August 2019. Also hosts SPE Offshore Europe and major energy-sector conferences. Not grassroots — this is the arena circuit. Books: arena touring, conferences, exhibitions.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| ~80–120 cap · RosemountThe Rusty NailPub at 67 Rosemount Viaduct. Became significant January 2026 when it took over the Jazz at the Blue Lamp programme after the Blue Lamp's December 2025 closure. Currently Aberdeen's primary jazz venue. Books: jazz, acoustic, folk.Getting on: Via Facebook page |
| ~100–150 cap · Belmont StMa Cameron'sReputedly Aberdeen's oldest pub (~1746) at 6–8 Little Belmont Street. Weekend live music, rooftop beer garden. More of a pub-with-music than a dedicated venue, but an institution. Books: traditional folk, acoustic, covers.Getting on: Contact venue directly |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Wednesday is the big night in Aberdeen: 4 venues list live music and 6 open mics run every week. Monday is the quietest, with 2 regular nights. Across the week, 11 venues list regular live nights and 18 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Aberdeen.
Regular live music nights in Aberdeen
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Monday1 venue · 1 open mic - Drummonds |
| Tuesday2 venues · 4 open mics - Under the Hammer, Siberia Bar & Hotel |
| Wednesday4 venues · 6 open mics - Foodstory, The Bobbin |
| Thursday2 venues · 3 open mics - Faffless, The Tilted Wig |
| Friday5 venues · 1 open mic - Breakneck Comedy |
| Saturday5 venues · 1 open mic - Music Hall |
| Sunday5 venues · 2 open mics - The Cock & Bull, The Old Workshop |
05 — The scene
AberdeenThe Aberdeen sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Aberdeen is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Belmont Street & city centreDrummonds (300 cap, the most important grassroots stage), Ma Cameron's (Aberdeen's oldest pub, ~1746, weekend folk/acoustic), and the Music Hall (1,300 seated, major ticketed room managed by Aberdeen Performing Arts). |
| Harbour & Trinity QuayKrakatoa (200 cap, formerly The Moorings — tiki dive bar with live bands Fri/Sat 9–11pm, Sunday jam sessions, Wednesday alt-karaoke). Where the harbour meets the city centre. |
| West End & RosemountThe Lemon Tree (550 cap Lounge + 166-seat Studio, serious multi-genre programming) and The Rusty Nail (now hosting Jazz at the Blue Lamp's relocated programme since Jan 2026, after the Blue Lamp's 75-year run ended Dec 2025). |
| Function & corporate workAberdeen's oil/energy sector creates year-round demand for function bands and corporate entertainment. P&J Live (15,000 cap, Scotland's largest indoor arena) hosts major corporate events. Browse Aberdeen bands to book. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 4 · mid-size up to 500: 3 · bigger stages: 3 - 10 rooms in Aberdeen with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Aberdeen venue directory. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Dundee, Perth and Inverness.
| NearbyLive music in Dundee | |
| NearbyLive music in Perth | |
| NearbyLive music in Inverness |
06 — Venues
16 roomsWhere live music happens
Live music in Aberdeen happens across 26 listed venues - Beach Ballroom and Breakneck Comedy among them. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google 1,000 cap Beach BallroomAberdeen 
Breakneck ComedyAberdeenHouse PA Cap tbc 
Cellar 35City Centre · AberdeenHouse PA 80Cap 
DrummondsAberdeenHouse PAEngineer 300Cap 
Durty Murphy'sAberdeen Cap tbc 
FafflessAberdeenHouse PA Cap tbc 
FoodstoryAberdeenHouse PA 50Cap 
Krakatoa2 Trinity Quay · AberdeenHouse PA 200Cap 
Malones Irish BarAberdeenHouse PA Cap tbc 
McNasty'sAberdeen Cap tbc Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Aberdeen venue directory, see what is booked on the Aberdeen gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Aberdeen |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Aberdeen
34 gigs are listed in Aberdeen for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts18:00 Westlife, P&J LiveP&J Live · Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone · Aberdeen 
Dizzee RascalAberdeen Music Hall · Midstocket/Rosemount · Aberdeen 19:00Tue 3 Nov 
Shay O'DowdCafe Drummond · George St/Harbour · Aberdeen 20:00Wed 4 Nov 
DallahanTunnels Aberdeen · George St/Harbour · AberdeenTickets 19:00Fri 6 Nov 
BoyzlifeAberdeen Music Hall · Midstocket/Rosemount · Aberdeen 19:30Fri 6 Nov 
David RustUnit 51 · George St/Harbour · Aberdeen 22:00Fri 6 Nov Every listing is a real Aberdeen date, rebuilt nightly from the Aberdeen gig directory. See the Aberdeen venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Aberdeen gigs | |
| What's on in Aberdeen this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Aberdeen
Whoever you are, Aberdeen has a page built for your next step: artists find rooms and open mics, venues and promoters find acts, and everyone sees what gigs actually pay. Pick yours.
| FansWhat's on in Aberdeen this weekthe Aberdeen gig guide, by email | |
| FansUpcoming gigs in Aberdeenevery listing, sorted by date | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigspay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Aberdeenfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live musicprices, steps, licensing | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Aberdeenclaim yours free and keep it current |
09 — Pay
GX IndexWhat acts earn
One figure from the GX Index - what acts are actually paid, the UK median where it rests on 20+ fees. The full prices and the pay guide are one click away.
| What it costs to book live music in Aberdeenthe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Aberdeenthe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Aberdeen compares
The Aberdeen area ranks sixth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Dundee, Inverness, Sunderland and Carlisle. Each row is a city's wider area in our directory, nearby towns included: venues that list live music, weekly open mics and upcoming gigs, refreshed nightly.
| # | Area | Venues |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Glasgow 44 open mics · 889 upcoming gigs | 168 |
| 02 | Edinburgh 34 open mics · 388 upcoming gigs | 118 |
| 03 | Newcastle 25 open mics · 296 upcoming gigs | 76 |
| 04 | Dundee 18 open mics · 54 upcoming gigs | 33 |
| 05 | Inverness 11 open mics · 32 upcoming gigs | 29 |
| 06 | Aberdeen This city 18 open mics · 96 upcoming gigs | 27 |
| 07 | Sunderland 13 open mics · 8 upcoming gigs | 22 |
| 08 | Carlisle 9 open mics · 111 upcoming gigs | 19 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
AberdeenMore of Aberdeen
More live music resources for Aberdeen and the rest of the UK: fee guides, venue lists, open mic finders and how-to guides, all read from the same live directory.
| Find a Band in AberdeenFind and hire local bands, solo artists, and DJs for your venue or event in Aberdeen. | |
| Live Music in GlasgowThree hours south, Scotland's biggest live music market — natural touring partner for Aberdeen acts. | |
| Live Music in EdinburghCapital city, festival hub, and a regular cross-over destination for Aberdeen artists. | |
| Aberdeen Rate BenchmarkSee live percentile data on what Aberdeen bands actually charge across pubs, weddings and corporate. | |
| UK City-by-City Booking GuideA detailed walkthrough of how booking works across every major UK city — prices, scenes, and local tips. |
Everything live in Aberdeen — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Aberdeen. Artists and bands available around Aberdeen.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Aberdeen — sorted by dateWhat's on in Aberdeen — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Aberdeen, by date. One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages. Sorted by date, refreshed continuously. Free and ticketed shows both listed. Every gig links its venue.Aberdeen gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in AberdeenCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Aberdeen venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Aberdeen. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Aberdeen venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Aberdeen open mic nightsJust starting out? Aberdeen open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Aberdeen. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Aberdeen open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in AberdeenStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Aberdeen. How to get gigs. How to book live music. Find a band, city by city. Written for working musicians and venues.How to get gigs · How to book · Find a band |
| RatesWhat live acts earn in AberdeenLive Aberdeen rate benchmarks from the GigXchange Index. Median fees by act size and event type. City-level benchmarks, updated nightly. Never a misleading average — real percentiles. Free to cite under CC BY 4.0.GigXchange Index · Pay-rate guide |
Independent 80-capacity basement music venue with a weekly open mic.
Demonication is a metal band based in Aberdeen, Scotland. Their sound sits firmly in the occult metal tradition, blendin…
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
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Live Music in Aberdeen
Granite City rock and folk. From The Lemon Tree to Café Drummond, Aberdeen runs a tight, loyal live music circuit fuelled by two universities and a heavy gigging culture.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Live Music in Aberdeen: the Short Answer
Aberdeen has 26 venues listing live music, 34 gigs in the next 30 days and 18 open mic nights. Below: the rooms to start with, the gigs on now, what acts are paid and where to go next, all read live from the same directory.
Of the 11 venues that list their live nights, 5 put on music on Sundays and 5 on Fridays. Of the 10 with a known size, 4 are small rooms under 150, 3 hold up to 500 and 3 are bigger halls.
Aberdeen's scene is rock-leaning and tight-knit — most working musicians know each other by name. The Lemon Tree, The Tunnels, Café Drummond, Krakatoa and the P&J Live big-room circuit run live music most nights. Two universities (Aberdeen and RGU) drive a steady stream of student gigs and open mics. Audiences are loyal but discerning — Aberdeen knows its rock heritage. For new acts breaking in, Aberdeen's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
The Aberdeen Rooms to Know
Eight rooms that anchor Aberdeen's circuit — from Belmont Street grassroots to Scotland's largest arena. A compact scene with outsized corporate demand. Each card below names the room, the nights it runs live music, what it tends to book and the way acts usually get on the bill.
Aberdeen's most important independent live music venue at 1 Belmont Street. Has hosted Snow Patrol, Mumford & Sons, KT Tunstall, Alt-J and Catfish & the Bottlemen on the way up. Weekly open mic and packed touring schedule.
Two literal tunnels beneath the railway at Carnegie's Brae. Intimate, atmospheric underground venue. Strong on alt/indie touring acts plus late-night DJ sets until 3am. Aberdeen's alternative scene anchor.
Grade A-listed venue on Union Street, opened 1822, designed by Archibald Simpson. Managed by Aberdeen Performing Arts. The city's premier ticketed room.
Formed in 1992 as the base for Aberdeen's Alternative Festival. Two spaces: 550-cap Lounge for gigs and 166-seat Studio for intimate work. Professional programming and good sound.
Tiki dive bar at 2 Trinity Quay where the harbour meets the city centre. Live bands Fri/Sat, Sunday jam sessions.
Scotland's largest indoor arena, opened August 2019. Also hosts SPE Offshore Europe and major energy-sector conferences. Not grassroots — this is the arena circuit.
Pub at 67 Rosemount Viaduct. Became significant January 2026 when it took over the Jazz at the Blue Lamp programme after the Blue Lamp's December 2025 closure. Currently Aberdeen's primary jazz venue.
Reputedly Aberdeen's oldest pub (~1746) at 6–8 Little Belmont Street. Weekend live music, rooftop beer garden. More of a pub-with-music than a dedicated venue, but an institution.
Live Music Nights in Aberdeen
Wednesday is the big night in Aberdeen: 4 venues list live music and 6 open mics run every week. Monday is the quietest, with 2 regular nights. Across the week, 11 venues list regular live nights and 18 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Aberdeen. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Aberdeen
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
- Mon 2 1 venue
1 open mic Drummonds - Tue 6 2 venues
4 open mics Under the HammerSiberia Bar & Hotel - Wed 10 4 venues
6 open mics FoodstoryThe Bobbin - Thu 5 2 venues
3 open mics FafflessThe Tilted Wig - Fri 6 5 venues
1 open mic Breakneck Comedy - Sat 6 5 venues
1 open mic Music Hall - Sun 7 5 venues
2 open mics The Cock & BullThe Old Workshop
The Aberdeen Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Aberdeen is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
Drummonds (300 cap, the most important grassroots stage), Ma Cameron's (Aberdeen's oldest pub, ~1746, weekend folk/acoustic), and the Music Hall (1,300 seated, major ticketed room managed by Aberdeen Performing Arts).
Krakatoa (200 cap, formerly The Moorings — tiki dive bar with live bands Fri/Sat 9–11pm, Sunday jam sessions, Wednesday alt-karaoke). Where the harbour meets the city centre.
The Lemon Tree (550 cap Lounge + 166-seat Studio, serious multi-genre programming) and The Rusty Nail (now hosting Jazz at the Blue Lamp's relocated programme since Jan 2026, after the Blue Lamp's 75-year run ended Dec 2025).
Aberdeen's oil/energy sector creates year-round demand for function bands and corporate entertainment. P&J Live (15,000 cap, Scotland's largest indoor arena) hosts major corporate events. Browse Aberdeen bands to book.
Small rooms under 150: 4 · mid-size up to 500: 3 · bigger stages: 3 - 10 rooms in Aberdeen with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Aberdeen venue directory.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Dundee, Perth and Inverness.
Where Live Music Happens in Aberdeen
Live music in Aberdeen happens across 26 listed venues - Beach Ballroom and Breakneck Comedy among them. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights. Browse by area or by night, then open a room to see its upcoming gigs.
Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Aberdeen venue directory, see what is booked on the Aberdeen gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Aberdeen
34 gigs are listed in Aberdeen for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory. Every listing links to the gig's own page, with the date, the doors time and where to buy a ticket.
Every listing is a real Aberdeen date, rebuilt nightly from the Aberdeen gig directory. See the Aberdeen venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Aberdeen
Whoever you are, Aberdeen has a page built for your next step: artists find rooms and open mics, venues and promoters find acts, and everyone sees what gigs actually pay. Pick yours.
What Acts Earn in Aberdeen
One figure from the GX Index - what acts are actually paid, the UK median where it rests on 20+ fees. The full prices and the pay guide are one click away.
How Aberdeen Compares
The Aberdeen area ranks sixth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Dundee, Inverness, Sunderland and Carlisle. Each row is a city's wider area in our directory, nearby towns included: venues that list live music, weekly open mics and upcoming gigs, refreshed nightly.
- #1 Glasgow 44 open mics · 889 upcoming gigs 168
- #2 Edinburgh 34 open mics · 388 upcoming gigs 118
- #3 Newcastle 25 open mics · 296 upcoming gigs 76
- #4 Dundee 18 open mics · 54 upcoming gigs 33
- #5 Inverness 11 open mics · 32 upcoming gigs 29
- #6 Aberdeen This city 18 open mics · 96 upcoming gigs 27
- #7 Sunderland 13 open mics · 8 upcoming gigs 22
- #8 Carlisle 9 open mics · 111 upcoming gigs 19
Frequently Asked Questions
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