Lancaster · the live music guide
Live Music in Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Of the 7 venues that list their live nights, 4 put on music on Thursdays and 3 on Tuesdays. Of the 7 with a known size, 5 are small rooms under 150, 1 holds up to 500 and 1 is a bigger hall.
Updated 31 October 2026
01 — The short answer
LancasterLive music in Lancaster
Lancaster has 11 venues listing live music, 22 gigs in the next 30 days and 22 open mic nights (both in and around Blackpool). 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.
Lancaster plays in a converted brewery with a main gig room, a community arts centre, and city-centre pubs with open mics and weekend bands.
Kanteena, in a disused brewery in the Canal Quarter, is Lancaster's food, craft-beer and live music space with a main gig room. The Gregson Arts and Community Centre hosts the Wordarium poetry open mic on Wednesdays. In the city centre, the Golden Lion is a traditional pub with a weekly Tuesday open mic and music on Thursdays and Saturdays, the Stonewell Tap has music Thursday to Sunday, and the Jailor's Barrel has Thursday and Friday entertainment. The Waterwitch by the canal adds Wednesday music.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in and around Blackpool | 22 |
| Open micsactive nights · in and around Blackpool | 22 |
| On GigXchangeLancaster acts · with a profile you can browse | 2 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Lancaster100
| Artists | 18 |
| Venues | 0 |
| Gigs 90d | 100 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
4 roomsThe rooms to know
A brewery gig room, an arts centre and two city pubs.
| Brewery venueKanteenaFood, craft-beer and live music space with a main gig room. Books: indie, electronic, folk.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| Traditional pubGolden LionWeekly Tuesday open mic and weekend music. Books: open mic, covers.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| Craft beer barThe Stonewell TapLive music Thursday to Sunday. Books: acoustic, covers.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| Arts centreThe GregsonWordarium poetry open mic on Wednesdays. Books: spoken word, open mic.Getting on: Programmed by the venue |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Thursday is the big night in Lancaster: 4 venues list live music and 2 open mics run every week. Monday is the quietest, with 1 regular night. Across the week, 7 venues list regular live nights and 8 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Lancaster.
Regular live music nights in Lancaster
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Monday1 venue · 0 open mics |
| Tuesday3 venues · 2 open mics - The Wobbly Cobbler, The Golden Lion |
| Wednesday3 venues · 2 open mics - The Gregson, The Waterwitch |
| Thursday4 venues · 2 open mics - The Stonewell Tap, The Jailor's Barrel |
| Friday2 venues · 1 open mic - Gregson Arts & Community Centre |
| Saturday3 venues · 0 open mics |
| Sunday2 venues · 1 open mic - Ye Olde John O'Gaunt |
05 — The scene
LancasterThe Lancaster sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Lancaster is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Canal QuarterKanteena turns an old brewery into the main gig room. |
| City centre pubsThe Golden Lion, the Stonewell Tap and the Jailor's Barrel cover the week. |
| The GregsonThe arts centre hosts the Wordarium poetry open mic. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 5 · mid-size up to 500: 1 · bigger stages: 1 - 7 rooms in Lancaster with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Lancaster venue directory. |
| The open mic circuit22 open mic nights run in and around Blackpool - Ye Olde John O'Gaunt and Piel Castle 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 - Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn.
| NearbyLive music in Blackpool | |
| NearbyLive music in Preston | |
| NearbyLive music in Blackburn |
06 — Venues
11 roomsWhere live music happens
11 rooms in Lancaster put on live music, from Golden Lion and Gregson Arts & Community Centre to the back rooms of its pubs. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google 90 cap Golden LionCity Centre · Lancaster 
Gregson Arts & Community CentreLancasterHouse PA Cap tbc 
KanteenaLancaster (Canal Quarter) · Lancaster 700Cap 
The BoroughDalton Square · LancasterHouse PAEngineer 122Cap 
The GregsonLancasterHouse PA Cap tbc 
The Jailor's BarrelLancaster 80Cap 
The Stonewell TapLancasterHouse PA Cap tbc 
The WaterwitchAldcliffe Rd · Lancaster Cap tbc 
The Wobbly CobblerScotforth · LancasterHouse PA 80Cap 
Ye Olde John O'GauntLancasterHouse PA 150Cap Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Lancaster venue directory, see what is booked on the Lancaster gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Lancaster |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Lancaster
22 gigs are listed in and around Blackpool for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts19:30 Ferocious DogKendal Brewery Arts Centre · Kendal Highgate 
Hejira, Hejira, HejiraKendal Brewery Arts Centre · Kendal Highgate 19:30Fri 6 Nov 
Cut CapersKendal Brewery Arts Centre · Kendal Highgate 20:00Fri 6 Nov 
Dom MartinPlatform · West End 19:00Sat 7 Nov 
Steely Don liveThe Warehouse Arts Centre, Southport · Duke's · Blackpool 19:30Sat 7 Nov 
HoneyfeetKendal Brewery Arts Centre · Kendal Highgate · Blackpool 19:30Sat 7 Nov Every listing is a real Lancaster date, rebuilt nightly from the Lancaster gig directory. See the Lancaster venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Lancaster gigs | |
| What's on in Lancaster this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Lancaster
Whoever you are, Lancaster 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 Lancaster this weekthe Lancaster gig guide, by email | |
| FansUpcoming gigs in Blackpoolevery listing, sorted by date | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigspay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Blackpoolfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live musicprices, steps, licensing | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Blackpoolclaim 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 Lancasterthe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Lancasterthe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Lancaster compares
Lancaster's scene, counted with the Blackpool area, ranks third of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford, Preston, Rawtenstall, Accrington and Blackburn. 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 | Manchester 59 open mics · 678 upcoming gigs | 159 |
| 02 | Liverpool 27 open mics · 463 upcoming gigs | 128 |
| 03 | Lancaster (Blackpool area) This city 22 open mics · 64 upcoming gigs | 44 |
| 04 | Bradford 18 open mics · 98 upcoming gigs | 39 |
| 05 | Preston 17 open mics · 82 upcoming gigs | 24 |
| 06 | Rawtenstall 9 open mics · 31 upcoming gigs | 21 |
| 07 | Accrington 7 open mics · 15 upcoming gigs | 10 |
| 08 | Blackburn 5 open mics · 16 upcoming gigs | 9 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
LancasterMore of Lancaster
More live music resources for Lancaster 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 Lancaster. | |
| Upcoming Gigs in LancasterThe full Lancaster gig calendar — touring shows, festivals, and venues hiring acts across the region. | |
| Open Mics in LancasterOpen mic nights near Lancaster — directions, dates, and the grass-roots route into paid bookings. | |
| Lancaster Rate BenchmarkWhat UK bands actually charge by city and gig type. Median fees from the live GigXchange Index. |
Everything live in Lancaster — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Lancaster. Artists and bands available around Lancaster.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Lancaster — sorted by dateWhat's on in Lancaster — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Lancaster, 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.Lancaster gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in LancasterCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Lancaster venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Lancaster. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Lancaster venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Lancaster open mic nightsJust starting out? Lancaster open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Lancaster. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Lancaster open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in LancasterStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Lancaster. 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 LancasterLive Lancaster 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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Live Music in Lancaster
Lancaster plays in a converted brewery with a main gig room, a community arts centre, and city-centre pubs with open mics and weekend bands.
Last updated: 31 October 2026
Live Music in Lancaster: the Short Answer
Lancaster has 11 venues listing live music, 22 gigs in the next 30 days and 22 open mic nights (both in and around Blackpool). 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 Thursdays and 3 on Tuesdays. Of the 7 with a known size, 5 are small rooms under 150, 1 holds up to 500 and 1 is a bigger hall.
Kanteena, in a disused brewery in the Canal Quarter, is Lancaster's food, craft-beer and live music space with a main gig room. The Gregson Arts and Community Centre hosts the Wordarium poetry open mic on Wednesdays. In the city centre, the Golden Lion is a traditional pub with a weekly Tuesday open mic and music on Thursdays and Saturdays, the Stonewell Tap has music Thursday to Sunday, and the Jailor's Barrel has Thursday and Friday entertainment. The Waterwitch by the canal adds Wednesday music.
The Lancaster Rooms to Know
A brewery gig room, an arts centre and two city 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 Lancaster
Thursday is the big night in Lancaster: 4 venues list live music and 2 open mics run every week. Monday is the quietest, with 1 regular night. Across the week, 7 venues list regular live nights and 8 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Lancaster. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Lancaster
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
- Mon 1 1 venue
0 open mics - Tue 5 3 venues
2 open mics The Wobbly CobblerThe Golden Lion - Wed 5 3 venues
2 open mics The GregsonThe Waterwitch - Thu 6 4 venues
2 open mics The Stonewell TapThe Jailor's Barrel - Fri 3 2 venues
1 open mic Gregson Arts & Community Centre - Sat 3 3 venues
0 open mics - Sun 3 2 venues
1 open mic Ye Olde John O'Gaunt
The Lancaster Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Lancaster is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
Kanteena turns an old brewery into the main gig room.
The Golden Lion, the Stonewell Tap and the Jailor's Barrel cover the week.
The arts centre hosts the Wordarium poetry open mic.
Small rooms under 150: 5 · mid-size up to 500: 1 · bigger stages: 1 - 7 rooms in Lancaster with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Lancaster venue directory.
22 open mic nights run in and around Blackpool - Ye Olde John O'Gaunt and Piel Castle 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 - Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn.
Where Live Music Happens in Lancaster
11 rooms in Lancaster put on live music, from Golden Lion and Gregson Arts & Community Centre to the back rooms of its pubs. 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 Lancaster venue directory, see what is booked on the Lancaster gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Lancaster
22 gigs are listed in and around Blackpool 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 Lancaster date, rebuilt nightly from the Lancaster gig directory. See the Lancaster venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Lancaster
Whoever you are, Lancaster 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 Lancaster
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 Lancaster Compares
Lancaster's scene, counted with the Blackpool area, ranks third of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford, Preston, Rawtenstall, Accrington and Blackburn. 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 Manchester 59 open mics · 678 upcoming gigs 159
- #2 Liverpool 27 open mics · 463 upcoming gigs 128
- #3 Lancaster (Blackpool area) This city 22 open mics · 64 upcoming gigs 44
- #4 Bradford 18 open mics · 98 upcoming gigs 39
- #5 Preston 17 open mics · 82 upcoming gigs 24
- #6 Rawtenstall 9 open mics · 31 upcoming gigs 21
- #7 Accrington 7 open mics · 15 upcoming gigs 10
- #8 Blackburn 5 open mics · 16 upcoming gigs 9
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to play Lancaster?
Lancaster pubs, the university and Lune valley couples hire acts here - free. Make a free profile in a few minutes, add your sound and the dates you are free, and let Lancaster bookers find you.