Colchester · the live music guide
Live Music in Colchester
Colchester, Essex
Of the 7 venues that list their live nights, 4 put on music on Wednesdays and 3 on Thursdays.
Updated 31 October 2026
01 — The short answer
ColchesterLive music in Colchester
Colchester has 8 venues listing live music, 6 gigs in the next 30 days and 14 open mic nights (both in and around Ipswich). 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.
Colchester's High Street holds a multi-award-winning grassroots venue, a 400-capacity arts centre in a former church, and pubs with live music almost every night of the week.
Coda Colchester is that venue, with gigs from Thursday through Sunday. Colchester Arts Centre, a 400-capacity former church, books indie, folk and jazz. Three Wise Monkeys, a brewery tap, puts acts on five nights and holds a weekly open mic, and The Bull runs Tuesday to Saturday. BAR 82 hosts a Monday open mic, the Victoria Inn has Wednesdays and Sundays, and the Hole in the Wall has Thursdays.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in and around Ipswich | 6 |
| Open micsactive nights · in and around Ipswich | 14 |
| On GigXchangeColchester acts · with a profile you can browse | 3 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Colchester100
| Artists | 18 |
| Venues | 0 |
| Gigs 90d | 85 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
4 roomsThe rooms to know
A grassroots stage, an arts centre and two of the busiest pubs.
| Grassroots venueCoda ColchesterAward-winning High Street stage, Thursday through Sunday. Books: indie, rock, alternative.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| Arts centreColchester Arts Centre400-capacity former church for indie, folk and jazz. Books: indie, folk, jazz.Getting on: Programmed by the venue |
| Brewery tapThree Wise MonkeysBrewery tap with music five nights and a weekly open mic. Books: covers, acoustic, open mic.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| Music pubThe BullPub with live music Tuesday to Saturday. Books: covers, rock, blues.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Wednesday is the big night in Colchester: 4 venues list live music and 2 open mics run every week. Monday is the quietest, with 3 regular nights. Across the week, 7 venues list regular live nights and 6 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Colchester.
Regular live music nights in Colchester
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Monday2 venues · 1 open mic - BAR 82 The Espresso Lounge |
| Tuesday2 venues · 1 open mic - Three Wise Monkeys |
| Wednesday4 venues · 2 open mics - The Bull, Victoria Inn |
| Thursday3 venues · 1 open mic - Hole in the Wall |
| Friday3 venues · 0 open mics |
| Saturday3 venues · 0 open mics |
| Sunday2 venues · 1 open mic - Coda Colchester |
05 — The scene
ColchesterThe Colchester sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Colchester is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| High StreetCoda gives touring and local bands a proper grassroots stage. |
| Church StreetThe Arts Centre programmes indie, folk and jazz in a former church. |
| The pubsThree Wise Monkeys, The Bull and the Victoria Inn keep music on most nights. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 1 · mid-size up to 500: 3 · bigger stages: 0 - 4 rooms in Colchester with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Colchester venue directory. |
| The open mic circuit14 open mic nights run in and around Ipswich - Coda Colchester and Three Wise Monkeys Ipswich among them. The way in for new acts: every night, with sign-up times. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Ipswich, Chelmsford and Leigh-on-Sea.
| NearbyLive music in Ipswich | |
| NearbyLive music in Chelmsford | |
| NearbyLive music in Leigh-on-Sea |
06 — Venues
8 roomsWhere live music happens
The Colchester circuit runs through 8 venues, BAR 82 The Espresso Lounge and Coda Colchester included. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google BAR 82 The Espresso LoungeTown Centre · Colchester 
Coda ColchesterColchester 200Cap 
Colchester Arts CentreChurch Street · ColchesterHouse PAEngineer 400Cap 
Hole in the WallColchesterHouse PA Cap tbc 
Stoke By Nayland ResortLeavenheath · Colchester 70Cap 
The BullColchesterHouse PA Cap tbc 
Three Wise MonkeysTown Centre · Colchester 180Cap 
Victoria InnColchesterHouse PA Cap tbc Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Colchester venue directory, see what is booked on the Colchester gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Colchester |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Colchester
6 gigs are listed in and around Ipswich for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts19:30 The ProclaimersIpswich Regent Theatre · Alexandra · Ipswich 
Afrology Escape - CDQ live performanceEscape Club · Alexandra · Ipswich 22:00Fri 6 Nov 
The ShiresIpswich Regent Theatre · Alexandra · Ipswich 19:30Sat 14 Nov 
Mostack is coming to Escape ClubEscape Club · Alexandra · Ipswich 21:00Sat 14 Nov 
Tony HadleyIpswich Regent Theatre · Alexandra · Ipswich 18:45Sun 15 Nov 
ABBA Tribute Band SensationThe Regal Stowmarket · St Peter's · Ipswich£23 19:30Sun 29 Nov Every listing is a real Colchester date, rebuilt nightly from the Colchester gig directory. See the Colchester venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Colchester gigs | |
| What's on in Colchester this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Colchester
Whoever you are, Colchester 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 Colchester this weekthe Colchester gig guide, by email | |
| FansUpcoming gigs in Ipswichevery listing, sorted by date | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigspay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Ipswichfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live musicprices, steps, licensing | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Ipswichclaim 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 Colchesterthe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Colchesterthe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Colchester compares
Colchester's scene, counted with the Ipswich area, ranks third of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Cambridge, Margate, Basildon, Maidstone, Chelmsford, Broxbourne and Billericay. 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 | Cambridge 17 open mics · 29 upcoming gigs | 31 |
| 02 | Margate 16 open mics · 6 upcoming gigs | 31 |
| 03 | Colchester (Ipswich area) This city 14 open mics · 29 upcoming gigs | 26 |
| 04 | Basildon 11 open mics · 34 upcoming gigs | 21 |
| 05 | Maidstone 9 open mics · 30 upcoming gigs | 21 |
| 06 | Chelmsford 8 open mics · 8 upcoming gigs | 13 |
| 07 | Broxbourne 5 open mics · 22 upcoming gigs | 10 |
| 08 | Billericay 4 open mics · 4 upcoming gigs | 5 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
ColchesterMore of Colchester
More live music resources for Colchester and the rest of the UK: fee guides, venue lists, open mic finders and how-to guides, all read from the same live directory.
| How to Book Live MusicVenue guide — local rates, genre fit, licensing, and a step-by-step booking walkthrough for Colchester. | |
| Upcoming Gigs in ColchesterThe full Colchester gig calendar — touring shows, festivals, and venues hiring acts across the region. | |
| Open Mics in ColchesterOpen mic nights near Colchester — directions, dates, and the grass-roots route into paid bookings. | |
| Colchester Rate BenchmarkWhat UK bands actually charge by city and gig type. Median fees from the live GigXchange Index. |
Everything live in Colchester — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Colchester. Artists and bands available around Colchester.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Colchester — sorted by dateWhat's on in Colchester — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Colchester, 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.Colchester gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in ColchesterCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Colchester venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Colchester. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Colchester venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Colchester open mic nightsJust starting out? Colchester open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Colchester. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Colchester open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in ColchesterStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Colchester. 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 ColchesterLive Colchester 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 |
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
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North Essex venues and couples book acts through GigXchange. Your page costs nothing.
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Live Music in Colchester
Colchester's High Street holds a multi-award-winning grassroots venue, a 400-capacity arts centre in a former church, and pubs with live music almost every night of the week.
Last updated: 31 October 2026
Live Music in Colchester: the Short Answer
Colchester has 8 venues listing live music, 6 gigs in the next 30 days and 14 open mic nights (both in and around Ipswich). 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 7 venues that list their live nights, 4 put on music on Wednesdays and 3 on Thursdays.
Coda Colchester is that venue, with gigs from Thursday through Sunday. Colchester Arts Centre, a 400-capacity former church, books indie, folk and jazz. Three Wise Monkeys, a brewery tap, puts acts on five nights and holds a weekly open mic, and The Bull runs Tuesday to Saturday. BAR 82 hosts a Monday open mic, the Victoria Inn has Wednesdays and Sundays, and the Hole in the Wall has Thursdays.
The Colchester Rooms to Know
A grassroots stage, an arts centre and two of the busiest pubs. 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.
Live Music Nights in Colchester
Wednesday is the big night in Colchester: 4 venues list live music and 2 open mics run every week. Monday is the quietest, with 3 regular nights. Across the week, 7 venues list regular live nights and 6 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Colchester. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Colchester
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
- Mon 3 2 venues
1 open mic BAR 82 The Espresso Lounge - Tue 3 2 venues
1 open mic Three Wise Monkeys - Wed 6 4 venues
2 open mics The BullVictoria Inn - Thu 4 3 venues
1 open mic Hole in the Wall - Fri 3 3 venues
0 open mics - Sat 3 3 venues
0 open mics - Sun 3 2 venues
1 open mic Coda Colchester
The Colchester Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Colchester is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
Coda gives touring and local bands a proper grassroots stage.
The Arts Centre programmes indie, folk and jazz in a former church.
Three Wise Monkeys, The Bull and the Victoria Inn keep music on most nights.
Small rooms under 150: 1 · mid-size up to 500: 3 · bigger stages: 0 - 4 rooms in Colchester with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Colchester venue directory.
14 open mic nights run in and around Ipswich - Coda Colchester and Three Wise Monkeys Ipswich among them. The way in for new acts: every night, with sign-up times.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Ipswich, Chelmsford and Leigh-on-Sea.
Where Live Music Happens in Colchester
The Colchester circuit runs through 8 venues, BAR 82 The Espresso Lounge and Coda Colchester included. 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 Colchester venue directory, see what is booked on the Colchester gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Colchester
6 gigs are listed in and around Ipswich 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 Colchester date, rebuilt nightly from the Colchester gig directory. See the Colchester venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Colchester
Whoever you are, Colchester 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 Colchester
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 Colchester Compares
Colchester's scene, counted with the Ipswich area, ranks third of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Cambridge, Margate, Basildon, Maidstone, Chelmsford, Broxbourne and Billericay. 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 Cambridge 17 open mics · 29 upcoming gigs 31
- #2 Margate 16 open mics · 6 upcoming gigs 31
- #3 Colchester (Ipswich area) This city 14 open mics · 29 upcoming gigs 26
- #4 Basildon 11 open mics · 34 upcoming gigs 21
- #5 Maidstone 9 open mics · 30 upcoming gigs 21
- #6 Chelmsford 8 open mics · 8 upcoming gigs 13
- #7 Broxbourne 5 open mics · 22 upcoming gigs 10
- #8 Billericay 4 open mics · 4 upcoming gigs 5
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to play Colchester?
North Essex venues and couples book acts through GigXchange. Your page costs nothing. Make a free profile in a few minutes, add your sound and the dates you are free, and let Colchester bookers find you.