Exeter · the live music guide
Live Music in Exeter
Exeter, Devon
Of the 12 venues that list their live nights, 8 put on music on Fridays and 4 on Saturdays. Of the 8 with a known size, 3 are small rooms under 150, 3 hold up to 500 and 2 are bigger halls.
Updated 1 November 2026
01 — The short answer
ExeterLive music in Exeter
Exeter has 21 venues listing live music, 21 gigs in the next 30 days and 24 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.
Exeter's music runs from a basement on Queen Street to a Victorian fire station and the arts centre on Gandy Street - a compact student city where the Monday open mic is the way in.
The Cavern on Queen Street is the room Exeter's bands come up through - a basement venue with full backline that also hosts a Monday open mic. The Old Fire House packs in local bands in a former Victorian fire station, and Exeter Phoenix on Gandy Street books touring artists alongside its arts programme. The Corn Exchange takes the bigger tribute and touring shows. Smaller paid sets run at the Ship Inn by the Cathedral, the Mermaid's Wednesday open mic and Henry's Bar, with the Topsham Brewery taproom adding events down the estuary.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in Exeter | 21 |
| Open micsactive nights · in Exeter | 24 |
| On GigXchangeExeter acts · with a profile you can browse | 2 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Exeter100
| Artists | 33 |
| Venues | 8 |
| Gigs 90d | 100 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
4 roomsThe rooms to know
Four rooms that anchor Exeter's week, from a Queen Street basement to a pub in the Cathedral's shadow.
| Basement venueThe CavernQueen Street basement with full backline and in-house sound - bands most weeks and a Monday open mic. Books: indie, punk, alternative.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| Music pubOld Fire HouseA former Victorian fire station that packs out for local bands on Friday and Sunday nights. Books: indie, folk, rock.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| Arts centreExeter PhoenixIndependent arts centre on Gandy Street programming touring musicians alongside theatre and film. Books: touring, folk, jazz.Getting on: Programmed by the venue |
| Cathedral pubShip InnHistoric pub by the Cathedral with open mic and live sets on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Books: acoustic, covers.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Friday is the big night in Exeter: 8 venues list live music and 1 open mic runs every week. Nothing regular is listed on Tuesday. Across the week, 12 venues list regular live nights and 9 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Exeter.
Regular live music nights in Exeter
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Monday1 venue · 1 open mic - The Cavern |
| Wednesday3 venues · 5 open mics - The Mermaid, Ship Inn |
| Thursday3 venues · 1 open mic - Coolings Gandy Street |
| Friday8 venues · 1 open mic - Henry's Bar |
| Saturday4 venues · 0 open mics |
| Sunday3 venues · 1 open mic - New Fountain Inn |
05 — The scene
ExeterThe Exeter sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Exeter is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Queen Street and the centreThe Cavern's basement and the Old Fire House are the band rooms; the Corn Exchange takes the touring and tribute bills a few streets away. |
| Gandy StreetExeter Phoenix sits beside the Mermaid's open mic and Coolings' midweek sets - the arts-and-bars lane of the city. |
| The Quay and TopshamBomba's club nights at St David's and the Topsham Brewery taproom on the estuary carry the later and weekend events. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 3 · mid-size up to 500: 3 · bigger stages: 2 - 8 rooms in Exeter with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Exeter venue directory. |
| The open mic circuit24 open mic nights run in Exeter - The Ale House and New Fountain Inn among them. The way in for new acts: every night, with sign-up times. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Torquay, Plymouth and Weymouth.
| NearbyLive music in Torquay | |
| NearbyLive music in Plymouth | |
| NearbyLive music in Weymouth |
06 — Venues
16 roomsWhere live music happens
The Exeter circuit runs through 21 venues, 12 Bar Music & Social and Artigiano included. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google 12 Bar Music & SocialExeter 
ArtigianoExeter Cap tbc 
Bomba ExeterSt David's · ExeterHouse PA Cap tbc 
Coolings Gandy StreetExeterHouse PA Cap tbc 
Exeter Corn ExchangeExeter City Centre · Exeter 500Cap 
Exeter PhoenixExeter 450Cap 
Henry's BarExeterHouse PA Cap tbc 
Lloyd's LoungeCity Centre · Exeter Cap tbc 
Ludo ExeterExeter Cap tbc 
New Fountain InnWhimple · ExeterHouse PA 80Cap Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Exeter venue directory, see what is booked on the Exeter gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Exeter |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Exeter
21 gigs are listed in Exeter for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts19:30 Orgy, Divergent Promotions, Oceans On Other PlanetsExeter Phoenix · St David's · Exeter 
Bomba Live: Enjoyable Listens + support | Exeter | 05.11.2Bomba Exeter · St David's · Exeter 19:30Thu 5 Nov 
The Barefoot BanditExeter Phoenix · St David's · Exeter 20:00Fri 6 Nov 
BeardymanExeter Phoenix · St David's · Exeter 20:00Sat 7 Nov 
Francis RossiPrincess Theatre - Torquay · Tormohun · Exeter 19:00Mon 9 Nov 
G4 ChristmasExeter Cathedral · St David's · Exeter£17.50Tickets 19:30Tue 10 Nov Every listing is a real Exeter date, rebuilt nightly from the Exeter gig directory. See the Exeter venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Exeter gigs | |
| What's on in Exeter this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Exeter
Whoever you are, Exeter 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 Exeter this weekthe Exeter gig guide, by email | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigspay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Exeterfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live musicprices, steps, licensing | |
| BookersBooking live entertainment in Exeterbirthdays, weddings, private parties | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Exeterclaim 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 Exeterthe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Exeterthe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Exeter compares
The Exeter area ranks third of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Bristol, Cardiff, Bath, Plymouth, Swansea, Newquay and Weymouth. 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 | Cardiff 33 open mics · 163 upcoming gigs | 63 |
| 03 | Exeter This city 24 open mics · 55 upcoming gigs | 48 |
| 04 | Bath 13 open mics · 59 upcoming gigs | 36 |
| 05 | Plymouth 14 open mics · 17 upcoming gigs | 34 |
| 06 | Swansea 22 open mics · 23 upcoming gigs | 34 |
| 07 | Newquay 9 open mics · 26 upcoming gigs | 19 |
| 08 | Weymouth 9 open mics · 6 upcoming gigs | 15 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
ExeterMore of Exeter
More live music resources for Exeter 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 ExeterThe booking-side view — what venues and private clients pay, how the platform compares to agencies. | |
| How to Book Live MusicVenue guide — local rates, genre fit, licensing, and a step-by-step booking walkthrough for Exeter. | |
| Upcoming Gigs in ExeterThe full Exeter gig calendar — touring shows, festivals, and venues hiring acts across the region. | |
| Open Mics in ExeterOpen mic nights near Exeter — directions, dates, and the grass-roots route into paid bookings. | |
| Exeter Rate BenchmarkWhat UK bands actually charge by city and gig type. Median fees from the live GigXchange Index. |
Everything live in Exeter — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Exeter. Artists and bands available around Exeter.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Exeter — sorted by dateWhat's on in Exeter — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Exeter, 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.Exeter gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in ExeterCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Exeter venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Exeter. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Exeter venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Exeter open mic nightsJust starting out? Exeter open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Exeter. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Exeter open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in ExeterStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Exeter. How to get gigs. How to book live music. Find a band in Exeter. Written for working musicians and venues.How to get gigs · How to book · Find a band |
| RatesWhat live acts earn in ExeterLive Exeter 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 |
Torquay community pub hosting the Be Spoken poetry open mic.
Actor-Musician Interested in blues, jazz & boogie woogie
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
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Live Music in Exeter
Exeter's music runs from a basement on Queen Street to a Victorian fire station and the arts centre on Gandy Street - a compact student city where the Monday open mic is the way in.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Live Music in Exeter: the Short Answer
Exeter has 21 venues listing live music, 21 gigs in the next 30 days and 24 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 12 venues that list their live nights, 8 put on music on Fridays and 4 on Saturdays. Of the 8 with a known size, 3 are small rooms under 150, 3 hold up to 500 and 2 are bigger halls.
The Cavern on Queen Street is the room Exeter's bands come up through - a basement venue with full backline that also hosts a Monday open mic. The Old Fire House packs in local bands in a former Victorian fire station, and Exeter Phoenix on Gandy Street books touring artists alongside its arts programme. The Corn Exchange takes the bigger tribute and touring shows. Smaller paid sets run at the Ship Inn by the Cathedral, the Mermaid's Wednesday open mic and Henry's Bar, with the Topsham Brewery taproom adding events down the estuary.
The Exeter Rooms to Know
Four rooms that anchor Exeter's week, from a Queen Street basement to a pub in the Cathedral's shadow. 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.
Queen Street basement with full backline and in-house sound - bands most weeks and a Monday open mic.
A former Victorian fire station that packs out for local bands on Friday and Sunday nights.
Independent arts centre on Gandy Street programming touring musicians alongside theatre and film.
Historic pub by the Cathedral with open mic and live sets on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Live Music Nights in Exeter
Friday is the big night in Exeter: 8 venues list live music and 1 open mic runs every week. Nothing regular is listed on Tuesday. Across the week, 12 venues list regular live nights and 9 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Exeter. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Exeter
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
- Mon 2 1 venue
1 open mic The Cavern - Tue 0 0 venues
0 open mics - Wed 8 3 venues
5 open mics The MermaidShip Inn - Thu 4 3 venues
1 open mic Coolings Gandy Street - Fri 9 8 venues
1 open mic Henry's Bar - Sat 4 4 venues
0 open mics - Sun 4 3 venues
1 open mic New Fountain Inn
The Exeter Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Exeter is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
The Cavern's basement and the Old Fire House are the band rooms; the Corn Exchange takes the touring and tribute bills a few streets away.
Exeter Phoenix sits beside the Mermaid's open mic and Coolings' midweek sets - the arts-and-bars lane of the city.
Bomba's club nights at St David's and the Topsham Brewery taproom on the estuary carry the later and weekend events.
Small rooms under 150: 3 · mid-size up to 500: 3 · bigger stages: 2 - 8 rooms in Exeter with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Exeter venue directory.
24 open mic nights run in Exeter - The Ale House and New Fountain Inn among them. The way in for new acts: every night, with sign-up times.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Torquay, Plymouth and Weymouth.
Where Live Music Happens in Exeter
The Exeter circuit runs through 21 venues, 12 Bar Music & Social and Artigiano 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 Exeter venue directory, see what is booked on the Exeter gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Exeter
21 gigs are listed in Exeter 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 Exeter date, rebuilt nightly from the Exeter gig directory. See the Exeter venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Exeter
Whoever you are, Exeter 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 Exeter
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 Exeter Compares
The Exeter area ranks third of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Bristol, Cardiff, Bath, Plymouth, Swansea, Newquay and Weymouth. 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 Cardiff 33 open mics · 163 upcoming gigs 63
- #3 Exeter This city 24 open mics · 55 upcoming gigs 48
- #4 Bath 13 open mics · 59 upcoming gigs 36
- #5 Plymouth 14 open mics · 17 upcoming gigs 34
- #6 Swansea 22 open mics · 23 upcoming gigs 34
- #7 Newquay 9 open mics · 26 upcoming gigs 19
- #8 Weymouth 9 open mics · 6 upcoming gigs 15
Frequently Asked Questions
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