Bournemouth · the live music guide
Live Music in Bournemouth
Bournemouth, UK
Bournemouth's acts on GigXchange lean Pop, Alternative Rock and Ambient. Of the 13 venues that list their live nights, 10 put on music on Saturdays and 9 on Fridays. Of the 9 with a known size, 4 are small rooms under 150, 4 hold up to 500 and 1 is a bigger hall.
Updated 1 November 2026
01 — The short answer
BournemouthLive music in Bournemouth
Bournemouth has 22 venues listing live music, 22 gigs in the next 30 days and 14 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.
Coastal city, summer-heavy. From The Old Fire Station to the O2 Academy and Sandbanks beachfront hotels, Bournemouth runs one of the South Coast's busiest live music and function markets.
Bournemouth's music scene is summer-led but trades all year. The Old Fire Station (university venue), O2 Academy Bournemouth, Mr Kyps and the Bournemouth Pavilion run live music most weekends. The town's student population (Bournemouth Uni, AUB) feeds an active open-mic and pub circuit. Conservative party conference week (October) is a notable corporate spike. For new acts breaking in, Bournemouth's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in Bournemouth | 22 |
| Open micsactive nights · in Bournemouth | 14 |
| On GigXchangeBournemouth acts · with a profile you can browse | 6 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Bournemouth100
| Artists | 28 |
| Venues | 4 |
| Gigs 90d | 100 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
8 roomsThe rooms to know
Eight rooms across the BCP area — from a Boscombe rock cellar to a 6,500-cap international centre. Home of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra since 1893.
| 2,000 + 300 cap · BoscombeO2 Academy BournemouthBuilding opened 1895 as Grand Pavilion Theatre — hosted Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie. Has operated under 6+ names. Two rooms. Books: touring indie, rock, pop, electronic, hip-hop.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| 4,000–6,500 cap · arenaBIC (Bournemouth International Centre)Windsor Hall: 4,000 seated / 6,500 standing. Solent Hall: 2,000 standing. The south coast's premier arena-scale venue. Books: arena touring pop/rock, comedy, orchestral.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| 1,458 cap · Westover RdBournemouth Pavilion TheatreHeritage theatre on Westover Road. Touring West End shows, concerts and comedy. Books: touring shows, West End, pantomime, concerts, comedy.Getting on: Programmed shows via venue |
| ~100–150 cap · BoscombeChaplin's & The Cellar BarLive music 7 nights a week in Boscombe. Wednesday open mic from 9pm. Monday singer/songwriter night. The grassroots anchor of the Bournemouth scene. Books: indie, folk, jazz, reggae, acoustic.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~150 cap · Holdenhurst RdThe AnvilRock bar with regular gigs and DJ nights on Holdenhurst Road. Boscombe's heavier music destination. Books: rock, metal, blues, punk.Getting on: Direct contact via social media |
| 150 + 200 cap · Holdenhurst RdBear's Bar & VenueThree floors on Holdenhurst Road — Bear Cave basement (150 cap) for rock/metal/alt, bar floor (200 cap) with stage. Books: alt rock, metal, indie, punk.Getting on: Direct / promoter nights |
| 550 cap · Holdenhurst RdOld Fire StationGrade II listed 1902 firehouse, Bournemouth University Students' Union venue. Has hosted Sam Fender, Becky Hill, KSI, The Vaccines. Books: touring indie, rock, electronic, student nights.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 1,476 + 669 cap · PooleLighthouse, PoolePoole's Centre for the Arts — Concert Hall (1,476), Theatre (669), Studio (130). Home of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Books: classical (BSO home), jazz, touring pop/rock, comedy, dance.Getting on: Programmed shows |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Saturday is the big night in Bournemouth: 10 venues list live music every week. Sunday is the quietest, with 1 regular night. Across the week, 13 venues list regular live nights and 11 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Bournemouth.
Regular live music nights in Bournemouth
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Monday1 venue · 1 open mic - Buffalo |
| Tuesday2 venues · 3 open mics - Brass Haus, The Anvil |
| Wednesday3 venues · 5 open mics - Canvas, Zephyr |
| Thursday3 venues · 2 open mics - The Four Horsemen Pub, Sixty Million Postcards |
| Friday9 venues · 0 open mics |
| Saturday10 venues · 0 open mics |
| Sunday1 venue · 0 open mics |
05 — The scene
BournemouthThe Bournemouth sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Bournemouth is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Town Centre & Old Christchurch RdO2 Academy Bournemouth (2,000 + 300 cap, building opened 1895 — hosted Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Bowie), BIC (Windsor Hall 4,000 seated / 6,500 standing), Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre (1,458 seated), Sixty Million Postcards (eclectic bar with DJs and live acts). |
| BoscombeBournemouth's bohemian quarter — Chaplin's & The Cellar Bar (live music 7 nights a week, Wednesday open mic from 9pm), The Anvil (rock/metal bar with regular gigs), Bear's Bar & Venue (3 floors — 150-cap Bear Cave basement for rock/metal/alt, 200-cap bar floor with stage). |
| WestbourneLeafy suburban village feel — gastropubs and independent bars with older, more attentive audiences. The Porterhouse (traditional pub, free live music, weekend bands). Canvas (cocktail bar with live soul/funk/jazz). |
| Function & wedding workBournemouth hotels + Dorset countryside wedding venues. Stag/hen economy inflates weekend demand. Browse Bournemouth bands to book. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 4 · mid-size up to 500: 4 · bigger stages: 1 - 9 rooms in Bournemouth with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Bournemouth venue directory. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Southampton, Weymouth and Portsmouth.
| NearbyLive music in Southampton | |
| NearbyLive music in Weymouth | |
| NearbyLive music in Portsmouth |
06 — Venues
16 roomsWhere live music happens
Live music in Bournemouth happens across 22 listed venues - 1812 Lounge and Barbara's Bier Haus among them. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google 1812 LoungeTown centre · Bournemouth 
Barbara's Bier HausTown centre · Bournemouth Cap tbc 
BearcaveBournemouthHouse PA 180Cap 
Brass HausBournemouthHouse PA Cap tbc 
Brewhouse & Kitchen SouthbourneSouthbourne · Bournemouth Cap tbc 
BuffaloWinton · BournemouthHouse PA 90Cap 
CanvasWestbourne & West Cliff · BournemouthHouse PA 300Cap 
Chaplin's & The Cellar BarBoscombe · BournemouthHouse PA 90Cap 
Lark RiseWinton · BournemouthHouse PA Cap tbc 
Meyrick ParkMeyrick Park, Bournemouth · Bournemouth Cap tbc Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Bournemouth venue directory, see what is booked on the Bournemouth gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Bournemouth |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Bournemouth
22 gigs are listed in Bournemouth for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts20:00 Deep In The GrooveHelch Market · Bournemouth Central · Bournemouth 
Elvis: VivaLighthouse, Poole's Centre For The Arts, UK · Poole Town · Bournemouth£19 19:30Sat 7 Nov 
G4 Christmas 2026Christchurch Priory · Christchurch Town · Bournemouth£19.50Tickets 19:30Sat 7 Nov 
Legend live presents Bob MarleyThe Old Fire Station · Bournemouth Central · Bournemouth 19:30Sun 8 Nov 
Suede, Manic Street PreachersBournemouth International Centre · Bournemouth Central · Bournemouth 18:30Thu 12 Nov 
The Sound of Musicals - PooleSt Aldhelm's Church · Canford Cliffs · Bournemouth 14:30Sat 14 Nov Every listing is a real Bournemouth date, rebuilt nightly from the Bournemouth gig directory. See the Bournemouth venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Bournemouth gigs | |
| What's on in Bournemouth this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Bournemouth
Whoever you are, Bournemouth 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 Bournemouth this weekthe Bournemouth gig guide, by email | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigspay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Bournemouthfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live musicprices, steps, licensing | |
| BookersBooking live entertainment in Bournemouthbirthdays, weddings, private parties | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Bournemouthclaim yours free and keep it current |
09 — Pay
GX IndexWhat acts earn
One figure from the GX Index - what acts are actually paid, the South West 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 Bournemouththe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Bournemouththe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Bournemouth compares
The Bournemouth area ranks fifth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Bristol, Southampton, Bath, Portsmouth, Swindon, Weymouth and Waterlooville. 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 | Bristol 35 open mics · 270 upcoming gigs | 86 |
| 02 | Southampton 28 open mics · 181 upcoming gigs | 47 |
| 03 | Bath 13 open mics · 59 upcoming gigs | 36 |
| 04 | Portsmouth 17 open mics · 37 upcoming gigs | 30 |
| 05 | Bournemouth This city 14 open mics · 55 upcoming gigs | 28 |
| 06 | Swindon 11 open mics · 15 upcoming gigs | 17 |
| 07 | Weymouth 9 open mics · 6 upcoming gigs | 15 |
| 08 | Waterlooville 11 open mics · 13 upcoming gigs | 12 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
BournemouthMore of Bournemouth
More live music resources for Bournemouth 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 BournemouthFind and hire local bands, solo artists, and DJs for your venue or event in Bournemouth. | |
| Live Music in Southampton30 minutes east, a natural touring partner for Bournemouth acts working the South Coast. | |
| Live Music in BrightonTwo hours along the coast, the UK's indie capital — a regular cross-over destination. | |
| Bournemouth Rate BenchmarkSee live percentile data on what Bournemouth 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 Bournemouth — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Bournemouth. Artists and bands available around Bournemouth.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Bournemouth — sorted by dateWhat's on in Bournemouth — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Bournemouth, 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.Bournemouth gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in BournemouthCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Bournemouth venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Bournemouth. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Bournemouth venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Bournemouth open mic nightsJust starting out? Bournemouth open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Bournemouth. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Bournemouth open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in BournemouthStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Bournemouth. How to get gigs. How to book live music. Find a band in Bournemouth. Written for working musicians and venues.How to get gigs · How to book · Find a band |
| RatesWhat live acts earn in BournemouthLive Bournemouth 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 |
Bournemouth's award-winning loft bar and live lounge.
Cariwubia is a group of musicians in Bournemouth, Dorset. Our music fall into the region of Modern Jazz and Global Fusio…
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
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Live Music in Bournemouth
Coastal city, summer-heavy. From The Old Fire Station to the O2 Academy and Sandbanks beachfront hotels, Bournemouth runs one of the South Coast's busiest live music and function markets.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Live Music in Bournemouth: the Short Answer
Bournemouth has 22 venues listing live music, 22 gigs in the next 30 days and 14 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.
Bournemouth's acts on GigXchange lean Pop, Alternative Rock and Ambient. Of the 13 venues that list their live nights, 10 put on music on Saturdays and 9 on Fridays. Of the 9 with a known size, 4 are small rooms under 150, 4 hold up to 500 and 1 is a bigger hall.
Bournemouth's music scene is summer-led but trades all year. The Old Fire Station (university venue), O2 Academy Bournemouth, Mr Kyps and the Bournemouth Pavilion run live music most weekends. The town's student population (Bournemouth Uni, AUB) feeds an active open-mic and pub circuit. Conservative party conference week (October) is a notable corporate spike. For new acts breaking in, Bournemouth's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
The Bournemouth Rooms to Know
Eight rooms across the BCP area — from a Boscombe rock cellar to a 6,500-cap international centre. Home of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra since 1893. 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.
Building opened 1895 as Grand Pavilion Theatre — hosted Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie. Has operated under 6+ names. Two rooms.
Windsor Hall: 4,000 seated / 6,500 standing. Solent Hall: 2,000 standing. The south coast's premier arena-scale venue.
Heritage theatre on Westover Road. Touring West End shows, concerts and comedy.
Live music 7 nights a week in Boscombe. Wednesday open mic from 9pm. Monday singer/songwriter night. The grassroots anchor of the Bournemouth scene.
Rock bar with regular gigs and DJ nights on Holdenhurst Road. Boscombe's heavier music destination.
Three floors on Holdenhurst Road — Bear Cave basement (150 cap) for rock/metal/alt, bar floor (200 cap) with stage.
Grade II listed 1902 firehouse, Bournemouth University Students' Union venue. Has hosted Sam Fender, Becky Hill, KSI, The Vaccines.
Poole's Centre for the Arts — Concert Hall (1,476), Theatre (669), Studio (130). Home of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Live Music Nights in Bournemouth
Saturday is the big night in Bournemouth: 10 venues list live music every week. Sunday is the quietest, with 1 regular night. Across the week, 13 venues list regular live nights and 11 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Bournemouth. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Bournemouth
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
- Mon 2 1 venue
1 open mic Buffalo - Tue 5 2 venues
3 open mics Brass HausThe Anvil - Wed 8 3 venues
5 open mics CanvasZephyr - Thu 5 3 venues
2 open mics The Four Horsemen PubSixty Million Postcards - Fri 9 9 venues
0 open mics - Sat 10 10 venues
0 open mics - Sun 1 1 venue
0 open mics
The Bournemouth Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Bournemouth is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
O2 Academy Bournemouth (2,000 + 300 cap, building opened 1895 — hosted Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Bowie), BIC (Windsor Hall 4,000 seated / 6,500 standing), Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre (1,458 seated), Sixty Million Postcards (eclectic bar with DJs and live acts).
Bournemouth's bohemian quarter — Chaplin's & The Cellar Bar (live music 7 nights a week, Wednesday open mic from 9pm), The Anvil (rock/metal bar with regular gigs), Bear's Bar & Venue (3 floors — 150-cap Bear Cave basement for rock/metal/alt, 200-cap bar floor with stage).
Leafy suburban village feel — gastropubs and independent bars with older, more attentive audiences. The Porterhouse (traditional pub, free live music, weekend bands). Canvas (cocktail bar with live soul/funk/jazz).
Bournemouth hotels + Dorset countryside wedding venues. Stag/hen economy inflates weekend demand. Browse Bournemouth bands to book.
Small rooms under 150: 4 · mid-size up to 500: 4 · bigger stages: 1 - 9 rooms in Bournemouth with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Bournemouth venue directory.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Southampton, Weymouth and Portsmouth.
Where Live Music Happens in Bournemouth
Live music in Bournemouth happens across 22 listed venues - 1812 Lounge and Barbara's Bier Haus 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 Bournemouth venue directory, see what is booked on the Bournemouth gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Bournemouth
22 gigs are listed in Bournemouth 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 Bournemouth date, rebuilt nightly from the Bournemouth gig directory. See the Bournemouth venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Bournemouth
Whoever you are, Bournemouth 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 Bournemouth
One figure from the GX Index - what acts are actually paid, the South West median where it rests on 20+ fees. The full prices and the pay guide are one click away.
How Bournemouth Compares
The Bournemouth area ranks fifth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Bristol, Southampton, Bath, Portsmouth, Swindon, Weymouth and Waterlooville. 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 Bristol 35 open mics · 270 upcoming gigs 86
- #2 Southampton 28 open mics · 181 upcoming gigs 47
- #3 Bath 13 open mics · 59 upcoming gigs 36
- #4 Portsmouth 17 open mics · 37 upcoming gigs 30
- #5 Bournemouth This city 14 open mics · 55 upcoming gigs 28
- #6 Swindon 11 open mics · 15 upcoming gigs 17
- #7 Weymouth 9 open mics · 6 upcoming gigs 15
- #8 Waterlooville 11 open mics · 13 upcoming gigs 12
Frequently Asked Questions
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