Live music on stage: a band under the lights

What's On · UK

What's On in Carlisle

Q: What live music is on in Carlisle over the next four weeks?

We currently list 1 gig in Carlisle between 29 Sept and 27 Oct, across 0 venues. The listings above are the full set, sorted by date and refreshed daily from the venues themselves — no algorithm decides what you see. For everything beyond this window, browse the Carlisle gig directory or every city we cover.

Q: Which Carlisle venues have the most on?

We track 18 grassroots venues in Carlisle — see the Carlisle venue directory for capacity, backline and opening times.

Q: Where can I find open mic nights in Carlisle?

Carlisle has 9 regular open mic nights that we verify on a rolling cycle. Each listing carries the sign-up time, slot length, entry fee and whether a PA and backline are provided — see the Carlisle open mic finder, or the UK-wide finder.

Live music in Carlisle over the next four weeks — 29 Sept – 27 Oct. 1 gig listed in Carlisle over the next 28 days. In total we track 18 grassroots venues and 9 regular open mics here.

Two pubs a day are closing, and last year 78 grassroots venues stopped putting on live music. Get Carlisle gigs in your inbox — and go to one.

Help keep grassroots venues open in Carlisle

—

A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Carlisle. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

Every grassroots gig we hold for Carlisle between 29 Sept and 27 Oct.

Saturday: 1 gig
Most listed genres: House (1), Tribute Act (1)
Imported daily from Ticketmaster, Skiddle and direct submissions

See the listings All upcoming gigs

0 different Carlisle venues have something on in the next 28 days.

18 grassroots venues tracked in Carlisle
18 more tracked venues with nothing listed yet
Capacity, backline and opening times on every card

See the listings Carlisle venues

9 regular open mic nights running in Carlisle. Turn up, put your name down, play.

Weekly and fortnightly nights across the city
Most are free to attend and free to play
Re-verified on a rolling cycle

See the listings Carlisle open mics

Everything the Carlisle scene has beyond tonight's listings.

City guide: Carlisle venues, promoters and bookers
Local rate benchmarks before you book or quote
Members near you on GigXchange

See the listings Browse every city

What’s on near you, wherever you are — the same page for every city we track.

Gigs, venues and open mics per city
One email a week with live music near you
Free to browse — no account needed

See the listings Browse every city

Updated daily · 1 gigs in Carlisle over the next four weeks

Last updated: 29 September 2026

Support grassroots music in Carlisle

Grassroots venues are where every act you have ever paid to see started out. Carlisle still has 18 of them.

Two pubs a day closed across the UK in the first quarter of 2026, and over the year to July 2025 78 grassroots music venues stopped putting on live music — 30 of them shut for good. Those are the rooms where new acts learn to hold an audience, where a first support slot happens, and where a Tuesday night can still turn into something.

This page exists to make them easy to find. It lists 1 gig across Carlisle over the next four weeks, pulled from the venues themselves and updated daily — alongside the 18 grassroots venues and 9 regular open mic nights we track in the city. No algorithm decides what you see: it is simply everything we know is on.

The single most useful thing anyone can do is turn up. Buy a ticket, buy a drink at the bar, and go to a night you have not been to before. If you would rather be told than remember, the sign-up above sends Carlisle listings straight to your inbox. If you run a venue here, claim your page so people can find you.

Gigs in Carlisle

Every grassroots gig we hold for Carlisle in the next four weeks — 29 Sept – 27 Oct. Updated daily.

Showing 1 of 1 gigs

OCT

Madhouse presents: Tool Shed a tribute to Tool

The Pavilion Cork, Carlisle

Saturday, 17 October 2026 · 19:30–22:30

Entry—
Tickets—
AgeAll ages
GenreHouse, Tribute Act

View details›

See every upcoming gig in Carlisle →

Venues in Carlisle

Where live music actually happens in Carlisle.

Country pub near Carlisle with a monthly open mic folk session

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Dumfries › The Crichton, Dumfries★★★★★ (—)

Dumfries' Art Deco hall on the Crichton estate.

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–16:30
Tue09:00–16:30
Wed09:00–16:30
Thu09:00–16:30
Fri09:00–16:30
Sat09:00–16:30
Sun09:00–16:30

Hawick › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Mid-size folk venue in Hawick

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Old Fire Station Carlisle

Carlisle › Cecil Street★★★★★ (—)

indie and live music venue in Carlisle

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Arts bar with open mic sessions, DJs and a gallery

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–02:00
TueClosed
Wed12:00–02:00
Thu12:00–02:00
Fri12:00–02:00
Sat12:00–02:00
Sun12:00–02:00

Penrith › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Folk and live music venue in Penrith

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Carlisle › Scotby★★★★★ (—)

Open mic nights with the Brampton Reivers in a refurbished village pub

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Cummersdale village pub with open mic Irish and folk sessions

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed18:00–22:30
Thu18:00–22:30
Fri18:00–22:30
Sat14:00–22:30
Sun14:00–22:30

Carlisle › Fisher Street★★★★★ (—)

320-capacity rock, indie, metal and punk venue.

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Keswick › Bank Street★★★★★ (—)

The Crafty Baa in Keswick hosts an open mic every Thursday at 8pm.

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Newcastle pub with live music.

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

View venue›

Photo: Google

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The John Peel Theatre

Wigton★★★★★ (—)

Free open mic on the first Friday of the month in a 90-seat theatre

Backline3 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Cockermouth's community arts venue on the edge of the Lakes

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Keswick › Lake Road★★★★★ (—)

The Pocket Cafe Bar in Keswick hosts an open mic every Monday at 8pm.

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Carlisle › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Large rock venue in Carlisle

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon06:30–22:00
Tue06:30–22:00
Wed06:30–22:00
Thu06:30–22:00
Fri06:30–21:00
Sat08:00–16:00
Sun08:00–16:00

Carlisle › Nelson St★★★★★ (—)

Carlisle venue with live entertainment.

Backline3 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu20:00–01:30
Fri20:00–01:30
Sat20:00–01:30
SunClosed

Penrith › Unthank, near Penrith★★★★★ (—)

Penrith gallery and arts venue in Cumbria.

Backline0 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed10:00–16:30
Thu10:00–16:30
Fri10:00–16:30
Sat10:00–16:30
Sun10:00–16:30

Independent grassroots venue since 1999.

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
ThuClosed
Fri23:00–03:00
Sat21:00–03:00
SunClosed

View venue›

All 18 Carlisle venues →

Open mics in Carlisle

Turn up, put your name down, play. Most are free.

2ND

Sun

Kirkgate Centre

Kirkgate, Cockermouth

Starts 14:00

Sign-up—
Slots—
EntryFree
PA—
Backline—
Open toMusicians

Scotby Village, Carlisle

Starts 20:00

Sign-up19:30
Slots10 min
EntryFree
PAProvided
Backline—
Open toMusicians

Starts 20:00

Sign-up—
Slots—
EntryFree
PA—
Backline—
Open toMusicians

Monkhill, Burgh-by-Sands, Carlisle

Starts 20:00

Sign-up—
Slots—
EntryFree
PA—
Backline—
Open toMusicians

Cummersdale, Carlisle

Time to be confirmed

Sign-up—
Slots—
EntryFree
PA—
Backline—
Open toMusicians

75 English Street, Carlisle

Starts 20:00

Sign-up19:30
Slots10 min
EntryFree
PAProvided
Backline—
Open toMusicians, Poets

Starts 20:00

Sign-up—
Slots—
EntryFree
PA—
Backline—
Open toMusicians

Starts 20:00

Sign-up19:30
Slots12 min
EntryFree
PAProvided
Backline—
Open toMusicians

View details›

1ST

Fri

The John Peel Theatre

Town Centre, Wigton

Starts 19:30

Sign-up19:30
Slots12 min
EntryFree
PAProvided
Backline—
Open toMusicians, Poets

View details›

All 9 Carlisle open mics →

What's on in Carlisle — FAQs

Common questions about live music in Carlisle, answered with this week's live data.

What live music is on in Carlisle over the next four weeks?

We currently list 1 gig in Carlisle between 29 Sept and 27 Oct, across 0 venues. The listings above are the full set, sorted by date and refreshed daily from the venues themselves — no algorithm decides what you see. For everything beyond this window, browse the Carlisle gig directory or every city we cover.

Are there free gigs in Carlisle?

None of the Carlisle gigs currently listed are marked free entry, though many venues do not publish a price at all. Carlisle open mic nights are your reliable free option — most charge nothing to watch or to play.

What is the busiest night for live music in Carlisle?

There is no clear busiest night in Carlisle at the moment — the 1 listed gig is spread thinly across the 28-day window. Listings update daily.

Which Carlisle venues have the most on?

We track 18 grassroots venues in Carlisle — see the Carlisle venue directory for capacity, backline and opening times.

Where can I find open mic nights in Carlisle?

Carlisle has 9 regular open mic nights that we verify on a rolling cycle. Each listing carries the sign-up time, slot length, entry fee and whether a PA and backline are provided — see the Carlisle open mic finder, or the UK-wide finder.

How much does a gig cost in Carlisle, and what should an artist be paid?

Most Carlisle venues in our listings do not publish a ticket price in advance. Grassroots entry is typically a few pounds on the door, and many nights are free. On the other side of the transaction, the Musicians' Union publishes national gig rates as the recognised floor for live engagements, and the ISM publishes guidance for self-employed musicians. Our own UK gig rate benchmarks show what artists are actually being paid by region and act type.

Why do grassroots venues in Carlisle matter?

Grassroots rooms are where every act you have paid to see learned to hold an audience. Two pubs a day closed across the UK in the first quarter of 2026, and over the year to July 2025 78 grassroots music venues stopped putting on live music — 30 of them for good. Carlisle still has 18 on our list. Music Venue Trust campaigns for them nationally; venues themselves navigate PRS licensing and local authority licensing to keep putting music on. The single most useful thing anyone can do is turn up and buy a drink at the bar.

How do I get a Carlisle gig or venue listed on GIGXCHANGE?

Listing is free and takes about two minutes — submit through the Carlisle gig directory and it is verified within 48 hours. No account is needed and there is no listing fee. If you run a venue here, claim your venue page to keep its capacity, backline and contact details current. Promoters and venues booking acts can also post paid work or find artists directly.

Go to one this month

1 gig listed in Carlisle over the next four weeks, across 18 grassroots venues and 9 open mic nights. Buy a ticket, buy a drink at the bar, and go to a night you have not been to before — it is the single most useful thing anyone can do for a room like these.

Help keep grassroots venues open in Carlisle

—

A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Carlisle. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.