Inverness · the live music guide
Live Music in Inverness
Inverness, Scottish Highlands
Of the 7 venues that list their live nights, 5 put on music on Fridays and 3 on Tuesdays. Of the 7 with a known size, 3 are small rooms under 150, 2 hold up to 500 and 2 are bigger halls.
Updated 1 November 2026
01 — The short answer
InvernessLive music in Inverness
Inverness has 14 venues listing live music, 15 gigs in the next 30 days and 11 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.
Inverness plays every night - trad and folk on Church Street, a riverside bar with music seven nights a week, a rock venue on Academy Street and the Highlands' largest arts centre.
Hootananny on Church Street is the heart of Inverness music - Scottish trad and folk every night, with a free Tuesday open mic. Johnny Foxes on the banks of the Ness never has a night off from live music. Ironworks on Academy Street is the big rock and touring room, and The Tooth and Claw on the same street books indie gigs at weekends. An Seomar is the arts and music venue with its own bar, and Eden Court is the Highlands' largest arts venue. Outside town, the Old North Inn at Inchmore runs a Thursday open mic and the Strathdearn hall hosts ceilidh and folk nights.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in Inverness | 15 |
| Open micsactive nights · in Inverness | 11 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Inverness100
| Artists | 0 |
| Venues | 0 |
| Gigs 90d | 92 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
4 roomsThe rooms to know
From a nightly trad bar to the big rock room - Inverness in four venues.
| Trad and folk barHootanannyChurch Street bar with Scottish trad and folk every night and a free Tuesday open mic. Books: trad, folk, Celtic.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| Riverside barJohnny FoxesBar on the banks of the Ness with bands and singers on every night. Books: covers, folk, rock.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| Rock venueIronworksAcademy Street's large rock and live music venue. Books: rock, touring.Getting on: Programmed by the venue |
| Indie roomThe Tooth & ClawAcademy Street indie and live music venue, busiest at weekends. Books: indie, alternative.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Friday is the big night in Inverness: 5 venues list live music and 2 open mics run every week. Monday is the quietest, with 2 regular nights. Across the week, 7 venues list regular live nights and 7 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Inverness.
Regular live music nights in Inverness
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Monday2 venues · 0 open mics |
| Tuesday3 venues · 2 open mics - Glachbeg Croft Folk Club, Hootananny |
| Wednesday2 venues · 1 open mic - Johnny Foxes |
| Thursday3 venues · 2 open mics - Old North Inn, The Tooth & Claw |
| Friday5 venues · 2 open mics - Encore, The Castle Tavern |
| Saturday3 venues · 0 open mics |
| Sunday2 venues · 0 open mics |
05 — The scene
InvernessThe Inverness sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Inverness is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Church StreetHootananny's nightly trad and folk make Church Street the centre of the Highland music scene. |
| Academy StreetIronworks and The Tooth and Claw carry the rock, touring and indie nights near the station. |
| The river and beyondJohnny Foxes on the Ness, Eden Court across the bridge and the country inns and halls around the city. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 3 · mid-size up to 500: 2 · bigger stages: 2 - 7 rooms in Inverness with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Inverness venue directory. |
| The open mic circuit11 open mic nights run in Inverness - The Bandstand and Suie Bar among them. The way in for new acts: every night, with sign-up times. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Perth, Aberdeen and Dundee.
| NearbyLive music in Perth | |
| NearbyLive music in Aberdeen | |
| NearbyLive music in Dundee |
06 — Venues
14 roomsWhere live music happens
Live music in Inverness happens across 14 listed venues - An Seomar and Eden Court Inverness. among them. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google 400 cap An SeomarInverness 
Eden Court Inverness.InvernessHouse PA Cap tbc 
EncoreYoung Street · Inverness Cap tbc 
Glachbeg Croft Folk ClubInvernessHouse PA Cap tbc 
HootanannyCity Centre · InvernessFull kitEngineer 150Cap 
IronworksAcademy Street · InvernessHouse PAEngineer 1,000Cap 
Johnny FoxesInverness Cap tbc 
Northern Meeting ParkInverness city centre · Inverness Cap tbc 
Old North InnInchmore · InvernessHouse PA Cap tbc 
The Botanic HouseInverness 600Cap Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Inverness venue directory, see what is booked on the Inverness gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Inverness |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Inverness
15 gigs are listed in Inverness for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts19:00 Gun Ghaol - Upstairs, Inverness [SOLD OUT]Upstairs Inverness · Inverness Central · Inverness 
Just Jovi: The Premier Bon Jovi TributeAn Seomar · Inverness 19:00Sat 7 Nov 
Kyle Falconer (The View)The Botanic House · Inverness Central · Inverness 19:00Sat 7 Nov 
Fright YearsUpstairs Inverness · Inverness Central · Inverness 19:00Fri 13 Nov 
Trail WestAn Seomar · Inverness 19:00Fri 13 Nov 
Grunge Tribute Night with The Lost DogsThe Tooth And Claw · Inverness Central · InvernessTickets 20:30Fri 13 Nov Every listing is a real Inverness date, rebuilt nightly from the Inverness gig directory. See the Inverness venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Inverness gigs | |
| What's on in Inverness this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Inverness
Whoever you are, Inverness 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 Inverness this weekthe Inverness gig guide, by email | |
| FansUpcoming gigs in Invernessevery listing, sorted by date | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigspay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Invernessfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live musicprices, steps, licensing | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Invernessclaim 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 Invernessthe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Invernessthe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Inverness compares
The Inverness area ranks fifth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Dundee, Aberdeen, Carlisle and Derry. 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 | Glasgow 44 open mics · 889 upcoming gigs | 168 |
| 02 | Edinburgh 34 open mics · 388 upcoming gigs | 118 |
| 03 | Newcastle 25 open mics · 296 upcoming gigs | 76 |
| 04 | Dundee 18 open mics · 54 upcoming gigs | 33 |
| 05 | Inverness This city 11 open mics · 32 upcoming gigs | 29 |
| 06 | Aberdeen 18 open mics · 96 upcoming gigs | 27 |
| 07 | Carlisle 9 open mics · 111 upcoming gigs | 19 |
| 08 | Derry 6 open mics · 21 upcoming gigs | 14 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
InvernessMore of Inverness
More live music resources for Inverness 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 Inverness. | |
| Upcoming Gigs in InvernessThe full Inverness gig calendar — touring shows, festivals, and venues hiring acts across the region. | |
| Open Mics in InvernessOpen mic nights near Inverness — directions, dates, and the grass-roots route into paid bookings. | |
| Inverness Rate BenchmarkWhat UK bands actually charge by city and gig type. Median fees from the live GigXchange Index. |
Everything live in Inverness — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Inverness. Artists and bands available around Inverness.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Inverness — sorted by dateWhat's on in Inverness — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Inverness, 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.Inverness gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in InvernessCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Inverness venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Inverness. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Inverness venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Inverness open mic nightsJust starting out? Inverness open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Inverness. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Inverness open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in InvernessStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Inverness. 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 InvernessLive Inverness 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 |
Inverness park with outdoor rock and pop.
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
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Live Music in Inverness
Inverness plays every night - trad and folk on Church Street, a riverside bar with music seven nights a week, a rock venue on Academy Street and the Highlands' largest arts centre.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Live Music in Inverness: the Short Answer
Inverness has 14 venues listing live music, 15 gigs in the next 30 days and 11 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 7 venues that list their live nights, 5 put on music on Fridays and 3 on Tuesdays. Of the 7 with a known size, 3 are small rooms under 150, 2 hold up to 500 and 2 are bigger halls.
Hootananny on Church Street is the heart of Inverness music - Scottish trad and folk every night, with a free Tuesday open mic. Johnny Foxes on the banks of the Ness never has a night off from live music. Ironworks on Academy Street is the big rock and touring room, and The Tooth and Claw on the same street books indie gigs at weekends. An Seomar is the arts and music venue with its own bar, and Eden Court is the Highlands' largest arts venue. Outside town, the Old North Inn at Inchmore runs a Thursday open mic and the Strathdearn hall hosts ceilidh and folk nights.
The Inverness Rooms to Know
From a nightly trad bar to the big rock room - Inverness in four venues. 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.
Church Street bar with Scottish trad and folk every night and a free Tuesday open mic.
Live Music Nights in Inverness
Friday is the big night in Inverness: 5 venues list live music and 2 open mics run every week. Monday is the quietest, with 2 regular nights. Across the week, 7 venues list regular live nights and 7 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Inverness. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Inverness
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
- Mon 2 2 venues
0 open mics - Tue 5 3 venues
2 open mics Glachbeg Croft Folk ClubHootananny - Wed 3 2 venues
1 open mic Johnny Foxes - Thu 5 3 venues
2 open mics Old North InnThe Tooth & Claw - Fri 7 5 venues
2 open mics EncoreThe Castle Tavern - Sat 3 3 venues
0 open mics - Sun 2 2 venues
0 open mics
The Inverness Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Inverness is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
Hootananny's nightly trad and folk make Church Street the centre of the Highland music scene.
Ironworks and The Tooth and Claw carry the rock, touring and indie nights near the station.
Johnny Foxes on the Ness, Eden Court across the bridge and the country inns and halls around the city.
Small rooms under 150: 3 · mid-size up to 500: 2 · bigger stages: 2 - 7 rooms in Inverness with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Inverness venue directory.
11 open mic nights run in Inverness - The Bandstand and Suie Bar among them. The way in for new acts: every night, with sign-up times.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Perth, Aberdeen and Dundee.
Where Live Music Happens in Inverness
Live music in Inverness happens across 14 listed venues - An Seomar and Eden Court Inverness. 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 Inverness venue directory, see what is booked on the Inverness gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Inverness
15 gigs are listed in Inverness 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 Inverness date, rebuilt nightly from the Inverness gig directory. See the Inverness venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Inverness
Whoever you are, Inverness 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 Inverness
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 Inverness Compares
The Inverness area ranks fifth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Dundee, Aberdeen, Carlisle and Derry. 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 Glasgow 44 open mics · 889 upcoming gigs 168
- #2 Edinburgh 34 open mics · 388 upcoming gigs 118
- #3 Newcastle 25 open mics · 296 upcoming gigs 76
- #4 Dundee 18 open mics · 54 upcoming gigs 33
- #5 Inverness This city 11 open mics · 32 upcoming gigs 29
- #6 Aberdeen 18 open mics · 96 upcoming gigs 27
- #7 Carlisle 9 open mics · 111 upcoming gigs 19
- #8 Derry 6 open mics · 21 upcoming gigs 14
Frequently Asked Questions
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