Hemel Hempstead · the live music guide
Live Music in Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Live music in Hemel Hempstead runs on function-band demand and Old Town pub gigs — reliable weekly work in one of Hertfordshire's busiest new-town scenes.
Updated 4 November 2026
01 — The short answer
Hemel HempsteadLive music in Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead has 2 venues listing live music, 18 gigs in the next 30 days and 12 open mic nights (both in and around Watford).
Hemel is one of the busiest function-band markets in Hertfordshire — Dacorum borough sits at roughly 155k residents (ONS 2021), with new-town density, a sizeable corporate footprint (three large business parks) and an active Old Town pub scene. Hemel audiences want energy and recognition — tribute acts and classic covers outperform originals here, and Saturday bookings go fast.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in and around Watford | 18 |
| Open micsactive nights · in and around Watford | 12 |
| On GigXchangeHemel Hempstead act · with a profile you can browse | 1 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Hemel Hempstead100
| Artists | 23 |
| Venues | 0 |
| Gigs 90d | 100 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 50 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
5 roomsThe rooms to know
Five anchor venues across the Dacorum circuit — the Hemel Old Town pub trio, Berkhamsted's community Pavilion, plus the High Street pubs that rotate live nights through the year.
| ~200 cap · arts venueThe Old Town HallHemel's premier arts and events venue. Mix of live music, comedy, and community events. Decent acoustics, regular jazz nights, acoustic showcases, occasional touring acts. Books: jazz, acoustic, folk, community events.Getting on: Programmed via the venue's events team. |
| Pub · weekendsThe Crown & SceptreThe beating heart of Hemel's Old Town pub scene. Regular live music at weekends with a mix of covers bands, acoustic acts, and blues. Warm atmosphere, loyal crowd, supportive landlord. Books: rock, blues, covers, acoustic.Getting on: Direct via the landlord — walk in midweek. |
| Pub · weekendsThe Full HouseAnother Old Town pub that's invested in live entertainment. Weekend gigs attract a good crowd; the venue is supportive of both established acts and newer artists looking to build experience. Books: covers, classic rock, pop.Getting on: Direct via the landlord. |
| Community venue · BerkhamstedThe PavilionBerkhamsted's community venue hosts regular live music — folk nights, jazz evenings, ticketed shows. The town's affluent demographic means audiences pay for quality acts. Books: jazz, folk, classical, acoustic.Getting on: Programmed via the venue. |
| High Street pubs · BerkhamstedRising Sun · The Boat · The BullBerkhamsted's High Street is one of the longest in England, and several of its pubs and wine bars programme live music. The Rising Sun, The Boat, and The Bull all host occasional live nights. Books: acoustic, jazz, covers.Getting on: Direct — walk-in friendly, ask the landlord. |
04 — The scene
Hemel HempsteadThe Hemel Hempstead sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Hemel Hempstead is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Local week, London weekendOld Town pubs and Dacorum's three business parks (Maylands, Apsley, Two Waters) cover a steady local week. London Euston in 25 minutes makes central London bookings completely viable. |
| London bands play Hemel HempsteadLondon function and wedding bands regularly take Hemel and Dacorum corporate work — the business-park economy pays well and books tightly. Browse London bands to book. |
| Breaking into the London circuitHemel-based artists looking to scale gig the Camden / Hackney circuit alongside; the London guide for working artists covers fees and venues. |
| The open mic circuit12 open mic nights run in and around Watford - Johnny's Bar and The Horn among them. The way in for new acts: every night, with sign-up times. |
| The gig calendar18 gigs are listed in and around Watford in the next 30 days. See them by date in the gig directory, or get what's on this week by email. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Chesham, Berkhamsted and St Albans.
| NearbyLive music in Chesham | |
| NearbyLive music in Berkhamsted | |
| NearbyLive music in St Albans |
05 — Venues
2 roomsWhere live music happens
Live music in Hemel Hempstead happens across 2 listed venues - The Boxmoor Playhouse and The Oddfellows Arms among them. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google The Boxmoor PlayhouseBoxmoor · Hemel Hempstead 
The Oddfellows ArmsApsley · Hemel Hempstead Cap tbc Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Hemel Hempstead venue directory, see what is booked on the Hemel Hempstead gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Hemel Hempstead |
06 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Hemel Hempstead
18 gigs are listed in and around Watford for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts20:00 Niall McNameeThe Horn · St Peters 
Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues OrchestraWatford Colosseum · Watford 19:30Fri 6 Nov 
BarriokeThe Horn · St Peters 20:00Fri 6 Nov 
BarriokeThe Horn · St Peters 20:00Sat 7 Nov 
Rocketsuit Rogue, Codename ColinThe Horn · St Peters · Watford 20:00Tue 10 Nov 
Courtney HadwinThe Horn · St Peters 20:00Thu 12 Nov Every listing is a real Hemel Hempstead date, rebuilt nightly from the Hemel Hempstead gig directory. See the Hemel Hempstead venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Hemel Hempstead gigs | |
| What's on in Hemel Hempstead this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
07 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Hemel Hempstead
Whoever you are, Hemel Hempstead 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 Hemel Hempstead this weekthe Hemel Hempstead gig guide, by email | |
| FansUpcoming gigs in Watfordevery listing, sorted by date | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigspay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Watfordfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live musicprices, steps, licensing | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Watfordclaim yours free and keep it current |
08 — 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 Hemel Hempsteadthe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Hemel Hempsteadthe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
09 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Hemel Hempstead compares
Hemel Hempstead's scene, counted with the Watford area, ranks second of 7 for live music venues against its 6 nearest city scenes - London, Milton Keynes, Luton, Egham, High Wycombe and Broxbourne. 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 | London 70 open mics · 1,493 upcoming gigs | 318 |
| 02 | Hemel Hempstead (Watford area) This city 12 open mics · 50 upcoming gigs | 24 |
| 03 | Milton Keynes 9 open mics · 40 upcoming gigs | 18 |
| 04 | Luton 7 open mics · 23 upcoming gigs | 16 |
| 05 | Egham 10 open mics · 8 upcoming gigs | 16 |
| 06 | High Wycombe 12 open mics · 26 upcoming gigs | 14 |
| 07 | Broxbourne 8 open mics · 31 upcoming gigs | 12 |
10 — Questions8 answersFrequently asked questions
11 — Keep exploring
Hemel HempsteadMore of Hemel Hempstead
More live music resources for Hemel Hempstead and the rest of the UK: fee guides, venue lists, open mic finders and how-to guides, all read from the same live directory.
| Hemel Hempstead & Dacorum GuideVenues, open mics and the complete Dacorum live music guide. | |
| Find a Band in Hemel HempsteadThe booking-side view — pricing and availability. | |
| Hemel Gig DirectoryUpcoming gigs and events across Dacorum. | |
| Open Mics in Hemel HempsteadWeekly open mic nights across Dacorum. |
Everything live in Hemel Hempstead — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Hemel Hempstead. Artists and bands available around Hemel Hempstead.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Hemel Hempstead — sorted by dateWhat's on in Hemel Hempstead — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Hemel Hempstead, 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.Hemel Hempstead gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in Hemel HempsteadCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Hemel Hempstead venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Hemel Hempstead. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Hemel Hempstead venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Hemel Hempstead open mic nightsJust starting out? Hemel Hempstead open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Hemel Hempstead. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Hemel Hempstead open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in Hemel HempsteadStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Hemel Hempstead. 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 Hemel HempsteadLive Hemel Hempstead 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 |
Drummer looking to collaborate with likeminded musos. Rock, Country, Ska, Reggae, Punk, Hardcore etc etc....
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
Ready to start gigging in Hemel Hempstead?
The first 250 users get free access forever. No credit card required.
Sign up free
Live Music in Hemel Hempstead
Live music in Hemel Hempstead runs on function-band demand and Old Town pub gigs — reliable weekly work in one of Hertfordshire's busiest new-town scenes.
Last updated: 4 November 2026
Live Music in Hemel Hempstead: the Short Answer
Hemel Hempstead has 2 venues listing live music, 18 gigs in the next 30 days and 12 open mic nights (both in and around Watford).
Hemel is one of the busiest function-band markets in Hertfordshire — Dacorum borough sits at roughly 155k residents (ONS 2021), with new-town density, a sizeable corporate footprint (three large business parks) and an active Old Town pub scene. Hemel audiences want energy and recognition — tribute acts and classic covers outperform originals here, and Saturday bookings go fast.
The Hemel Hempstead Rooms to Know
Five anchor venues across the Dacorum circuit — the Hemel Old Town pub trio, Berkhamsted's community Pavilion, plus the High Street pubs that rotate live nights through the year. 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.
Hemel's premier arts and events venue. Mix of live music, comedy, and community events. Decent acoustics, regular jazz nights, acoustic showcases, occasional touring acts.
The beating heart of Hemel's Old Town pub scene. Regular live music at weekends with a mix of covers bands, acoustic acts, and blues. Warm atmosphere, loyal crowd, supportive landlord.
Another Old Town pub that's invested in live entertainment. Weekend gigs attract a good crowd; the venue is supportive of both established acts and newer artists looking to build experience.
Berkhamsted's community venue hosts regular live music — folk nights, jazz evenings, ticketed shows. The town's affluent demographic means audiences pay for quality acts.
Berkhamsted's High Street is one of the longest in England, and several of its pubs and wine bars programme live music. The Rising Sun, The Boat, and The Bull all host occasional live nights.
The Hemel Hempstead Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Hemel Hempstead is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
Old Town pubs and Dacorum's three business parks (Maylands, Apsley, Two Waters) cover a steady local week. London Euston in 25 minutes makes central London bookings completely viable.
London function and wedding bands regularly take Hemel and Dacorum corporate work — the business-park economy pays well and books tightly. Browse London bands to book.
Hemel-based artists looking to scale gig the Camden / Hackney circuit alongside; the London guide for working artists covers fees and venues.
12 open mic nights run in and around Watford - Johnny's Bar and The Horn among them. The way in for new acts: every night, with sign-up times.
18 gigs are listed in and around Watford in the next 30 days. See them by date in the gig directory, or get what's on this week by email.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Chesham, Berkhamsted and St Albans.
Where Live Music Happens in Hemel Hempstead
Live music in Hemel Hempstead happens across 2 listed venues - The Boxmoor Playhouse and The Oddfellows Arms 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 Hemel Hempstead venue directory, see what is booked on the Hemel Hempstead gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Hemel Hempstead
18 gigs are listed in and around Watford 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 Hemel Hempstead date, rebuilt nightly from the Hemel Hempstead gig directory. See the Hemel Hempstead venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Hemel Hempstead
Whoever you are, Hemel Hempstead 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 Hemel Hempstead
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 Hemel Hempstead Compares
Hemel Hempstead's scene, counted with the Watford area, ranks second of 7 for live music venues against its 6 nearest city scenes - London, Milton Keynes, Luton, Egham, High Wycombe and Broxbourne. 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 London 70 open mics · 1,493 upcoming gigs 318
- #2 Hemel Hempstead (Watford area) This city 12 open mics · 50 upcoming gigs 24
- #3 Milton Keynes 9 open mics · 40 upcoming gigs 18
- #4 Luton 7 open mics · 23 upcoming gigs 16
- #5 Egham 10 open mics · 8 upcoming gigs 16
- #6 High Wycombe 12 open mics · 26 upcoming gigs 14
- #7 Broxbourne 8 open mics · 31 upcoming gigs 12
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to start gigging in Hemel Hempstead?
The first 250 users get free access forever. No credit card required. Make a free profile in a few minutes, add your sound and the dates you are free, and let Hemel Hempstead bookers find you.