Middlesbrough · the live music guide
Live Music in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough, UK
Of the 8 venues that list their live nights, 6 put on music on Saturdays and 4 on Thursdays. Of the 6 with a known size, 3 are small rooms under 150, 2 hold up to 500 and 1 is a bigger hall.
Updated 1 November 2026
01 — The short answer
MiddlesbroughLive music in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough has 19 venues listing live music, 14 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.
Teesside's music capital. From Westgarth Social Club to Twisterella festival and the Empire Middlesbrough, the Boro circuit is small, loyal, and stubbornly independent.
Middlesbrough's music scene is small but it punches with intent. Westgarth Social Club, Empire Middlesbrough, Doctor Brown's and the Twisterella festival run a year-round original-music circuit; the wider Teesside corridor stretches to Stockton's The Globe (3,000 cap) and ARC. Teesside University drives a steady student gig market. Middlesbrough has a punk and post-rock heritage that still defines the scene's aesthetic. For new acts breaking in, Middlesbrough's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in Middlesbrough | 14 |
| Open micsactive nights · in Middlesbrough | 11 |
| On GigXchangeMiddlesbrough acts · with a profile you can browse | 4 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Middlesbrough100
| Artists | 13 |
| Venues | 0 |
| Gigs 90d | 100 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
7 roomsThe rooms to know
Seven rooms that anchor the Teesside circuit — from a Baker Street micro-bar to a 3,000-cap Art Deco touring hall. The city that produced Chris Rea and Paul Rodgers.
| 1,190 + 500 cap · Albert RdMiddlesbrough Town Hall + The CryptMain hall (1,190 cap) plus The Crypt below (400 seated / 500 standing). Twisterella festival and touring acts use The Crypt. Professional programming. Books: all genres — comedy, rock, classical, touring, emerging acts.Getting on: Box office |
| ~1,100 cap · Corporation RdMiddlesbrough EmpireMusic Venue Trust grassroots member, opened 1897. Indie, rock, electronic and club night programming. Town centre anchor. Books: indie, rock, electronic, club nights.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~250–300 cap stage · Exchange SqSTACK MiddlesbroughShipping container village under the A66 near the railway station. Daily live music stage. 250,000+ visitors in first year. Books: solo, duo, covers, acoustic.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| 3,000 cap · StocktonStockton GlobeATG-operated, restored Art Deco cinema. The region's premier touring room, 5 miles west in Stockton. Same circuit as Middlesbrough. Books: touring pop, rock, comedy.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| ~200 cap · StocktonThe Georgian TheatreTeesside's longest-running music venue, run by the Tees Music Alliance. Consistent grassroots programming. Books: indie, rock, folk, emerging acts.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~150–200 cap · LinthorpeDormans Club125+ years of entertainment on Oxford Road, Linthorpe. Live music Fri/Sat, open mic Sundays 7:30pm. Books: covers, rock, open mic.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~60–80 cap · Baker StRafferty's BarMicro-bar on Baker Street. Weekly Tuesday open mic from 8pm with free drink for performers. In-house guitar and cajon provided. Live music weekends. Books: acoustic, singer-songwriter, open mic.Getting on: Direct contact / walk-in |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Saturday is the big night in Middlesbrough: 6 venues list live music and 1 open mic runs every week. Wednesday is the quietest, with 1 regular night. Across the week, 8 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 Middlesbrough.
Regular live music nights in Middlesbrough
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Monday1 venue · 1 open mic - STACK Middlesbrough |
| Tuesday3 venues · 2 open mics - The Burlam Bear, Rafferty's Bar |
| Wednesday1 venue · 0 open mics |
| Thursday4 venues · 2 open mics - Twisted Lip, The Southfield |
| Friday4 venues · 0 open mics |
| Saturday6 venues · 1 open mic - O'Connells |
| Sunday2 venues · 1 open mic - The Poverina |
05 — The scene
MiddlesbroughThe Middlesbrough sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Middlesbrough is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Town CentreMiddlesbrough Empire (1,100 cap, Music Venue Trust grassroots member, opened 1897), Middlesbrough Town Hall (1,190 cap main hall + The Crypt 400–500 cap below — Twisterella festival venue), STACK Middlesbrough (shipping container village under the A66 with daily live music stage, 250k+ visitors in first year). |
| Baker Street & Borough RoadThe pub-circuit core — Rafferty's Bar (micro-bar, weekly Tuesday open mic 8pm with free drink for performers, in-house guitar + cajon), O'Connells (weekly open mic + monthly live band Saturdays). Where working musicians build a local name. |
| Stockton corridor (5 miles west)Stockton Globe (3,000 cap, ATG-operated, restored Art Deco — the region's premier touring room), The Georgian Theatre (200 cap, Teesside's longest-running music venue, run by Tees Music Alliance), KU Stockton (indie/rock live bar — hosted Arctic Monkeys early on). Stockton Calling festival (60+ acts, April). Same circuit. |
| Function & wedding workNorth East rates sit 20–30% below South East. Browse Middlesbrough bands to book. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 3 · mid-size up to 500: 2 · bigger stages: 1 - 6 rooms in Middlesbrough with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Middlesbrough venue directory. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Stockton-on-Tees, Durham and Sunderland.
| NearbyLive music in Stockton-on-Tees | |
| NearbyLive music in Durham | |
| NearbyLive music in Sunderland |
06 — Venues
16 roomsWhere live music happens
19 rooms in Middlesbrough put on live music, from Cafe Etch and Eston Events Centre to the back rooms of its pubs. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google 50 cap Cafe EtchCentral · Middlesbrough 
Eston Events CentreEston · Middlesbrough Cap tbc 
Longlands WMCLonglands, Middlesbrough · Middlesbrough 150Cap 
Middlesbrough Live LoungeCity Centre · MiddlesbroughHouse PA 100Cap 
Middlesbrough Town HallMiddlesbrough 1,420Cap 
O'ConnellsMiddlesbrough Cap tbc 
PLAYMiddlesbrough Cap tbc 
Rafferty's BarMiddlesbrough Cap tbc 
Rafferty's Bar Baker StreetMiddlesbrough 50Cap 
STACK MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough Cap tbc Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Middlesbrough venue directory, see what is booked on the Middlesbrough gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Middlesbrough |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Middlesbrough
14 gigs are listed in Middlesbrough for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts19:00 George Williamson - A night of Soul and MotownThe Parkway Sports Bar, Lounge And Function Suite · Coulby Newham · Middlesbrough 
Absolute Amy - Amy WinehouseEston Events Centre · Grangetown · MiddlesbroughTickets 19:00Sat 7 Nov 
An Evening of NoiseDisgraceland Baker St · Central · Middlesbrough 19:00Mon 9 Nov 
Becky Hill: Intimate Show + Guest DJ (16+ with an adult)The Middlesbrough Empire · Central · Middlesbrough 18:00Wed 11 Nov 
Michael GallagherHartlepool Town Hall Theatre, UK · Victoria · Middlesbrough 19:00Sat 14 Nov 
The SmythsThe Middlesbrough Empire · Central · Middlesbrough 19:00Sat 14 Nov Every listing is a real Middlesbrough date, rebuilt nightly from the Middlesbrough gig directory. See the Middlesbrough venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Middlesbrough gigs | |
| What's on in Middlesbrough this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Middlesbrough
Whoever you are, Middlesbrough 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 Middlesbrough this weekthe Middlesbrough gig guide, by email | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigspay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Middlesbroughfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live musicprices, steps, licensing | |
| BookersBooking live entertainment in Middlesbroughbirthdays, weddings, private parties | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Middlesbroughclaim 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 Middlesbroughthe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Middlesbroughthe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Middlesbrough compares
The Middlesbrough area ranks fourth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Leeds, Newcastle, York, Sunderland, Durham, Scarborough and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 | Leeds 34 open mics · 282 upcoming gigs | 92 |
| 02 | Newcastle 25 open mics · 296 upcoming gigs | 76 |
| 03 | York 27 open mics · 32 upcoming gigs | 49 |
| 04 | Middlesbrough This city 11 open mics · 40 upcoming gigs | 27 |
| 05 | Sunderland 13 open mics · 8 upcoming gigs | 22 |
| 06 | Durham 10 open mics · 14 upcoming gigs | 17 |
| 07 | Scarborough 11 open mics · 57 upcoming gigs | 17 |
| 08 | Stockton-on-Tees 8 open mics · 27 upcoming gigs | 16 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
MiddlesbroughMore of Middlesbrough
More live music resources for Middlesbrough 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 MiddlesbroughFind and hire local bands, solo artists, and DJs for your venue or event in Middlesbrough. | |
| Live Music in Newcastle45 minutes north, the North-East's biggest live music market — natural touring partner for Boro acts. | |
| Live Music in Leeds75 minutes south, a major touring stop and regular cross-over destination for Teesside artists. | |
| Middlesbrough Rate BenchmarkSee live percentile data on what Middlesbrough bands actually charge across pubs, weddings and corporate. | |
| UK City-by-City Booking GuideA detailed walkthrough of how booking works across every major UK city — prices, scenes, and local tips. |
Everything live in Middlesbrough — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Middlesbrough. Artists and bands available around Middlesbrough.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Middlesbrough — sorted by dateWhat's on in Middlesbrough — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Middlesbrough, 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.Middlesbrough gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in MiddlesbroughCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Middlesbrough venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Middlesbrough. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Middlesbrough venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Middlesbrough open mic nightsJust starting out? Middlesbrough open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Middlesbrough. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Middlesbrough open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in MiddlesbroughStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Middlesbrough. How to get gigs. How to book live music. Find a band in Middlesbrough. Written for working musicians and venues.How to get gigs · How to book · Find a band |
| RatesWhat live acts earn in MiddlesbroughLive Middlesbrough 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 |
University union venue with live events.
MOTA are a 4-piece covers band playing high-energy rock/pop floorfillers to get audiences dancing all night. From the K…
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
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Live Music in Middlesbrough
Teesside's music capital. From Westgarth Social Club to Twisterella festival and the Empire Middlesbrough, the Boro circuit is small, loyal, and stubbornly independent.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Live Music in Middlesbrough: the Short Answer
Middlesbrough has 19 venues listing live music, 14 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 8 venues that list their live nights, 6 put on music on Saturdays and 4 on Thursdays. Of the 6 with a known size, 3 are small rooms under 150, 2 hold up to 500 and 1 is a bigger hall.
Middlesbrough's music scene is small but it punches with intent. Westgarth Social Club, Empire Middlesbrough, Doctor Brown's and the Twisterella festival run a year-round original-music circuit; the wider Teesside corridor stretches to Stockton's The Globe (3,000 cap) and ARC. Teesside University drives a steady student gig market. Middlesbrough has a punk and post-rock heritage that still defines the scene's aesthetic. For new acts breaking in, Middlesbrough's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
The Middlesbrough Rooms to Know
Seven rooms that anchor the Teesside circuit — from a Baker Street micro-bar to a 3,000-cap Art Deco touring hall. The city that produced Chris Rea and Paul Rodgers. 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.
Main hall (1,190 cap) plus The Crypt below (400 seated / 500 standing). Twisterella festival and touring acts use The Crypt. Professional programming.
Music Venue Trust grassroots member, opened 1897. Indie, rock, electronic and club night programming. Town centre anchor.
Shipping container village under the A66 near the railway station. Daily live music stage. 250,000+ visitors in first year.
ATG-operated, restored Art Deco cinema. The region's premier touring room, 5 miles west in Stockton. Same circuit as Middlesbrough.
Teesside's longest-running music venue, run by the Tees Music Alliance. Consistent grassroots programming.
125+ years of entertainment on Oxford Road, Linthorpe. Live music Fri/Sat, open mic Sundays 7:30pm.
Micro-bar on Baker Street. Weekly Tuesday open mic from 8pm with free drink for performers. In-house guitar and cajon provided. Live music weekends.
Live Music Nights in Middlesbrough
Saturday is the big night in Middlesbrough: 6 venues list live music and 1 open mic runs every week. Wednesday is the quietest, with 1 regular night. Across the week, 8 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 Middlesbrough. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Middlesbrough
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
- Mon 2 1 venue
1 open mic STACK Middlesbrough - Tue 5 3 venues
2 open mics The Burlam BearRafferty's Bar - Wed 1 1 venue
0 open mics - Thu 6 4 venues
2 open mics Twisted LipThe Southfield - Fri 4 4 venues
0 open mics - Sat 7 6 venues
1 open mic O'Connells - Sun 3 2 venues
1 open mic The Poverina
The Middlesbrough Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Middlesbrough is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
Middlesbrough Empire (1,100 cap, Music Venue Trust grassroots member, opened 1897), Middlesbrough Town Hall (1,190 cap main hall + The Crypt 400–500 cap below — Twisterella festival venue), STACK Middlesbrough (shipping container village under the A66 with daily live music stage, 250k+ visitors in first year).
The pub-circuit core — Rafferty's Bar (micro-bar, weekly Tuesday open mic 8pm with free drink for performers, in-house guitar + cajon), O'Connells (weekly open mic + monthly live band Saturdays). Where working musicians build a local name.
Stockton Globe (3,000 cap, ATG-operated, restored Art Deco — the region's premier touring room), The Georgian Theatre (200 cap, Teesside's longest-running music venue, run by Tees Music Alliance), KU Stockton (indie/rock live bar — hosted Arctic Monkeys early on). Stockton Calling festival (60+ acts, April). Same circuit.
North East rates sit 20–30% below South East. Browse Middlesbrough bands to book.
Small rooms under 150: 3 · mid-size up to 500: 2 · bigger stages: 1 - 6 rooms in Middlesbrough with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Middlesbrough venue directory.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Stockton-on-Tees, Durham and Sunderland.
Where Live Music Happens in Middlesbrough
19 rooms in Middlesbrough put on live music, from Cafe Etch and Eston Events 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 Middlesbrough venue directory, see what is booked on the Middlesbrough gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Middlesbrough
14 gigs are listed in Middlesbrough 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 Middlesbrough date, rebuilt nightly from the Middlesbrough gig directory. See the Middlesbrough venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Middlesbrough
Whoever you are, Middlesbrough 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 Middlesbrough
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 Middlesbrough Compares
The Middlesbrough area ranks fourth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Leeds, Newcastle, York, Sunderland, Durham, Scarborough and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Leeds 34 open mics · 282 upcoming gigs 92
- #2 Newcastle 25 open mics · 296 upcoming gigs 76
- #3 York 27 open mics · 32 upcoming gigs 49
- #4 Middlesbrough This city 11 open mics · 40 upcoming gigs 27
- #5 Sunderland 13 open mics · 8 upcoming gigs 22
- #6 Durham 10 open mics · 14 upcoming gigs 17
- #7 Scarborough 11 open mics · 57 upcoming gigs 17
- #8 Stockton-on-Tees 8 open mics · 27 upcoming gigs 16
Frequently Asked Questions
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