Live music on stage: a band under the lights

What's On · Scotland

What's On in Edinburgh

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

We currently list 98 gigs in Edinburgh between 20 Sept and 18 Oct, across 23 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 Edinburgh gig directory or every city we cover.

Q: What is the busiest night for live music in Edinburgh?

Saturday, with 30 gigs listed across the next 28 days. Saturday: 30 gigs · Friday: 27 gigs · Thursday: 11 gigs. Filter by This week or This weekend above to narrow it down.

Q: Which Edinburgh venues have the most on?

Right now: 2282db2a-130f-4e9e-b418-a97195fded87, 75542a44-f7ef-45f5-b1b1-55d3bda43f8a, 3234e617-214b-4e5f-80e3-dba5333c3d11. In total we track 80 grassroots venues in Edinburgh, of which 23 have something listed in this window. Capacity, backline and opening times for each are on the Edinburgh venue directory.

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

Edinburgh has 34 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 Edinburgh open mic finder, or the UK-wide finder.

Live music in Edinburgh over the next four weeks — 20 Sept – 18 Oct. 98 gigs listed in Edinburgh over the next 28 days across 23 venues. Saturday is the busiest night with 30. In total we track 80 grassroots venues and 34 regular open mics here.

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

Help keep grassroots venues open in Edinburgh

—

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 Edinburgh. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

Every grassroots gig we hold for Edinburgh between 20 Sept and 18 Oct.

Saturday is the busiest night — 30 gigs
Saturday: 30 gigs
Friday: 27 gigs
Most listed genres: Rock (38), Pop (25), Alternative Rock (10), Indie Rock (8)
Imported daily from Ticketmaster, Skiddle and direct submissions

See the listings All upcoming gigs

23 different Edinburgh venues have something on in the next 28 days.

Backstage at The Green Hotel — 13 gigs
Edinburgh Corn Exchange — 7 gigs
Alhambra Theatre — 6 gigs
The Queen's Hall — 5 gigs
57 more tracked venues with nothing listed yet
Capacity, backline and opening times on every card

See the listings Edinburgh venues

34 regular open mic nights running in Edinburgh. 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 Edinburgh open mics

Everything the Edinburgh scene has beyond tonight's listings.

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

See the listings Edinburgh scene

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 · 98 gigs in Edinburgh over the next four weeks

Last updated: 20 September 2026

Support grassroots music in Edinburgh

Grassroots venues are where every act you have ever paid to see started out. Edinburgh still has 80 of them.

From the Royal Mile's buskers to Cowgate's underground clubs. Edinburgh is Scotland's cultural capital with a year-round live music heartbeat. Planning a private party instead? See [booking live entertainment in Edinburgh](/gigs/live-entertainment-edinburgh) for bands, singers and DJs for one-off occasions. Booking for the company rather than yourself? See [corporate entertainment in Edinburgh](/gigs/corporate-entertainment-edinburgh) for Christmas parties, awards nights and conferences.

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 98 gigs across Edinburgh over the next four weeks, pulled from the venues themselves and updated daily — alongside the 80 grassroots venues and 34 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 Edinburgh listings straight to your inbox. If you run a venue here, claim your page so people can find you.

Gigs in Edinburgh

Every grassroots gig we hold for Edinburgh in the next four weeks — 20 Sept – 18 Oct. Updated daily.

Showing 2 of 98 gigs · page 5 of 5

OCT

Chopin & Champagne by Candlelight (7.30pm)

St Mary's Cathedral·City Centre, Edinburgh

Saturday, 17 October 2026 · 19:30–21:15

Entry—
Tickets—
AgeAll ages
Genre—

View details›

OCT

Very Santana

Backstage at The Green Hotel·Kinross-shire, Edinburgh

Saturday, 17 October 2026 · 20:00

Entry—
TicketsAvailable
AgeAll ages
GenreRock, Funk

View details›

See every upcoming gig in Edinburgh →

Venues in Edinburgh

Where live music actually happens in Edinburgh.

Intimate community music cafe in Biggar for independent artists.

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—

Edinburgh › New Town★★★★★ (—)

Elegant Georgian multi-purpose venue.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–17:00
Tue09:00–17:00
Wed09:00–17:00
Thu09:00–17:00
Fri09:00–17:00
SatClosed
SunClosed

Old Town live-music bar and club, free gigs till 3am.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon16:00–03:00
Tue16:00–03:00
Wed16:00–03:00
Thu16:00–03:00
Fri16:00–03:00
Sat16:00–03:00
Sun16:00–03:00

Backstage at The Green Hotel

Kinross★★★★★ (—)

Kinross music venue run by Mundell Music.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
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Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Edinburgh › Old Town★★★★★ (—)

Old Town vault rock & metal bar with live music six nights a week and a Sunday open mic.

Backline4 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—

Historic Grassmarket Irish bar with traditional sessions and acoustic music every night.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon08:00–01:00
Tue08:00–01:00
Wed08:00–01:00
Thu08:00–01:00
Fri08:00–01:00
Sat08:00–01:00
Sun08:00–01:00

Kirkcaldy › Pathhead★★★★★ (—)

Grassroots live music venue in Kirkcaldy with a regular open mic night.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue12:00–23:00
Wed12:00–23:00
Thu12:00–23:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–00:00
Sun12:00–00:00

Blair Street vaults club since 2006.

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
Fri18:00–03:00
Sat18:00–03:00
SunClosed

Edinburgh › Old Town★★★★★ (—)

Tiny 200-year-old Old Town folk pub with near-nightly live sessions.

Backline3 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon14:00–01:00
Tue14:00–01:00
Wed14:00–01:00
Thu14:00–01:00
Fri14:00–01:00
Sat13:00–01:00
Sun14:00–01:00

Edinburgh › Tollcross★★★★★ (—)

Edinburgh concert hall for touring rock acts.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–16:00
Tue10:00–16:00
WedClosed
ThuClosed
FriClosed
SatClosed
Sun09:15–21:00

Midlothian miners' welfare club with tributes and DJ nights.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–23:00
Tue15:00–23:00
Wed15:00–23:00
Thu15:00–23:00
Fri12:00–00:00
Sat12:00–01:00
Sun12:00–00:00

Bathgate › Bathgate, West Lothian★★★★★ (—)

Bathgate rock club and live music venue.

Backline0 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
Fri19:00–03:00
Sat19:00–03:00
SunClosed

Edinburgh Corn Exchange

Edinburgh★★★★★ (—)

3,000-capacity live music and events venue.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–23:00
Tue09:00–23:00
Wed09:00–23:00
Thu09:00–23:00
Fri09:00–23:00
Sat09:00–23:00
Sun09:00–23:00

Edinburgh › Newbridge★★★★★ (—)

Rehearse, record, perform and learn space.

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
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Edinburgh › Old Town★★★★★ (—)

Edinburgh's Thursday-night free Irish-folk open mic at 9b Victoria Street, EH1 2HE — Old Town pub, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots, late licence.

Backline3 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon17:00–01:00
Tue17:00–01:00
Wed17:00–01:00
Thu17:00–01:00
Fri12:00–01:00
Sat12:00–01:00
Sun12:00–01:00

Fire Station Creative

Dunfermline › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Arts centre with free live music every Friday and Saturday.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

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

View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

Footlights Bar and Grill

Edinburgh★★★★★ (—)

Spittal Street sports bar and grill.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon11:00–23:00
Tue11:00–23:00
Wed11:00–23:00
Thu11:00–23:00
Fri11:00–01:00
Sat11:00–01:00
Sun11:00–23:00

View venue›

500

Claim this venue

Galashiels Burgh Hall

Galashiels › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Folk and live music venue in Galashiels

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–18:00
Tue09:00–18:00
Wed09:00–18:00
Thu11:00–21:00
Fri09:00–18:00
Sat08:00–15:00
SunClosed

Edinburgh › Old Town, Greyfriars Place★★★★★ (—)

Historic 1620 kirk with tribute concerts.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon11:00–16:00
Tue11:00–16:00
Wed11:00–16:00
Thu11:00–16:00
Fri11:00–16:00
Sat11:00–16:00
Sun10:30–13:30

Neighbourhood bar with live music.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon16:00–01:00
Tue16:00–01:00
Wed16:00–01:00
Thu16:00–01:00
Fri16:00–01:00
Sat16:00–01:00
Sun16:00–01:00

Livingston › Howden, Livingston★★★★★ (—)

West Lothian's arts and live music centre in Livingston

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon10:00–16:00
Tue10:00–16:00
Wed10:00–16:00
Thu10:00–16:00
Fri10:00–16:00
Sat10:00–16:00
Sun10:00–16:00

Edinburgh › Cowgate / Old Town★★★★★ (—)

600-capacity Cowgate room with a Nexo rig, rebuilt after the 2002 fire

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon19:00–03:00
Tue19:00–03:00
Wed19:00–03:00
Thu19:00–03:00
Fri19:00–03:00
Sat19:00–03:00
Sun19:00–03:00

Edinburgh › Leith★★★★★ (—)

Leith's wednesday-night free open mic at Leith Arches — PA + vocal mic, walk-in sign-up from 7:30pm, 10-minute slots, all ages.

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
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In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Edinburgh › Leith Walk★★★★★ (—)

Leith Walk bar, restaurant and gig venue.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–00:00
Tue12:00–00:00
Wed12:00–00:00
Thu12:00–00:00
Fri12:00–01:00
Sat12:00–01:00
Sun12:00–00:00

View venue›

All 80 Edinburgh venues →

Open mics in Edinburgh

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

Starts 15:00

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

Starts 20:00

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

Starts 20:00

Sign-up19:30
Slots12 min
EntryFree
PAProvided
Backline—
Open tomusic, folk

Starts 20:00

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

Starts 19:00

Sign-up18:30
Slots5 min
EntryFree
PAProvided
Backline—
Open topoetry

Starts 20:00

Sign-up19:30
Slots10 min
EntryFree
PAProvided
BacklineFull
Open tomusic

View details›

EVERY

Mon

The Stand Comedy Club

Edinburgh, Edinburgh

Starts 20:00

Sign-up—
Slots—
Entry£6.00
PAProvided
Backline—
Open tocomedy

Starts 20:00

Sign-up19:00
Slots5 min
EntryFree
PAProvided
Backline—
Open tocomedy

Starts 20:30

Sign-up19:00
Slots12 min
EntryFree
PAProvided
Backline—
Open tomusic

Starts 21:00

Sign-up20:00
Slots12 min
EntryFree
PAProvided
BacklineFull
Open tomusic

Starts 20:00

Sign-up19:30
Slots—
EntryFree
PAProvided
Backline—
Open tomusic

Starts 20:00

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

View details›

All 34 Edinburgh open mics →

What's on in Edinburgh — FAQs

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

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

We currently list 98 gigs in Edinburgh between 20 Sept and 18 Oct, across 23 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 Edinburgh gig directory or every city we cover.

Are there free gigs in Edinburgh?

None of the Edinburgh gigs currently listed are marked free entry, though many venues do not publish a price at all. Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh?

Saturday, with 30 gigs listed across the next 28 days. Saturday: 30 gigs · Friday: 27 gigs · Thursday: 11 gigs. Filter by This week or This weekend above to narrow it down.

Which Edinburgh venues have the most on?

Right now: 2282db2a-130f-4e9e-b418-a97195fded87, 75542a44-f7ef-45f5-b1b1-55d3bda43f8a, 3234e617-214b-4e5f-80e3-dba5333c3d11. In total we track 80 grassroots venues in Edinburgh, of which 23 have something listed in this window. Capacity, backline and opening times for each are on the Edinburgh venue directory.

Where can I find open mic nights in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh has 34 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 Edinburgh open mic finder, or the UK-wide finder.

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

Most Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh 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. Edinburgh still has 80 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 Edinburgh gig or venue listed on GIGXCHANGE?

Listing is free and takes about two minutes — submit through the Edinburgh 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

98 gigs listed in Edinburgh over the next four weeks, across 80 grassroots venues and 34 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 Edinburgh

—

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 Edinburgh. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.