Plymouth · the live music guide
Live Music in Plymouth
Plymouth, Devon
Of the 15 venues that list their live nights, 12 put on music on Saturdays and 9 on Fridays. Of the 10 with a known size, 7 are small rooms under 150, 2 hold up to 500 and 1 is a bigger hall.
Updated 1 November 2026
01 — The short answer
PlymouthLive music in Plymouth
Plymouth has 25 venues listing live music, 8 gigs in the next 30 days and 14 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.
The South West's largest city outside Bristol — a Royal Navy port, a strong maritime cultural identity, and a working-musician scene that operates with relative independence given the 100-mile distance to the next major UK live market.
Plymouth is a city of ~265,000 on the Devon south coast — the largest UK city outside London that's genuinely isolated from the rest of the live touring circuit. The next major UK market (Bristol) sits 120 miles away, which means Plymouth's economy operates with more independence than equivalent-size inland cities. The live calendar runs across Plymouth Pavilions (the city's touring anchor, ~3,400 cap), Theatre Royal Plymouth for theatre and comedy, the Royal William Yard heritage venues for boutique programming, and a working pub-and-function circuit through the city centre and the Hoe. Plymouth University adds about 20,000 students. The city's maritime identity — Royal Navy port, fishing-fleet heritage, Mayflower-era cultural anchor — drives a distinct corporate and civic-event calendar that doesn't exist inland: ship christenings, Royal Navy mess functions, naval reunion bookings. See the GX Rate Index for live medians. The Plymouth working-musician calendar is dominated by cover bands and party-band specialists — these are the steady-bookings backbone for any local act. Filter by "covers" or "party band" on Explore to see who's active in the city right now. Average annual gig counts: 32–45 dates for working bands, 50–70 for premium-wedding specialists. Around 6 carry full PA + lighting for venues without house systems. For new acts breaking in, Plymouth's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in Plymouth | 8 |
| Open micsactive nights · in Plymouth | 14 |
| On GigXchangePlymouth acts · with a profile you can browse | 2 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Plymouth100
| Artists | 13 |
| Venues | 0 |
| Gigs 90d | 53 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
8 roomsThe rooms to know
Eight rooms that anchor the Plymouth circuit — from a Barbican cabaret club to the South West's largest indoor arena. A port city with a booking economy shaped by naval heritage.
| 4,000 cap · arenaPlymouth ArenaThe South West's largest indoor arena outside Bristol. Rebranded from Plymouth Pavilions in January 2026. Previous acts include Ed Sheeran, Oasis and Pink. Books: all genres — touring concerts, comedy, theatre.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| ~750 cap · Union StreetThe DepoOpened June 2021 on Union Street, Stonehouse. BBC Radio 1 Grassroots Music Venue of the Year. Multi-genre programming with associated Level 33 space and Depo Studios. Books: house, techno, DnB, live bands.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~450 cap · city centreThe Hub / DBs Live9 Bath Street, connected to dBs Institute of Music. Has hosted Chase & Status, Turin Brakes, Cage The Elephant. Books: rock, indie, electronic, DJ.Getting on: Via Skiddle listings |
| ~270 cap · Mutley PlainThe JunctionPlymouth's long-established mid-size grassroots room on the student strip. Regular live music and touring support acts. Books: indie, rock, punk, alt.Getting on: Direct contact via venue |
| ~175 cap · Mutley PlainThe UndergroundIntimate venue with 7kW PA, craft beers, punk-rock identity. Good for discovering emerging acts on the student corridor. Books: punk, rock, metal, indie.Getting on: Direct contact via venue |
| ~200 cap · BarbicanAnnabel's Cabaret & DiscothequeTwo floors on Vauxhall Street — first floor live music + cocktails, second floor nightclub. Open Fri/Sat 9pm–4am. Strictly 21+, smart casual dress code. Books: live bands, burlesque, cabaret, DJ.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~100 cap · Ebrington StBread & RosesPlymouth's only social enterprise pub — community-focused arts space. Cafe by day, live music/comedy/poetry by night. Monthly open mic (2nd Tuesday). Books: folk, acoustic, indie, spoken word, comedy.Getting on: Direct with the venue |
| ~60 cap · DevonportThe Hutong CafeIndependent cafe opposite Royal William Yard — bagels and coffee by day, music and art by night. Small, eclectic programming since 2016. Books: acoustic, jazz, experimental, art events.Getting on: Direct contact: jack@thehutong.co.uk |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Saturday is the big night in Plymouth: 12 venues list live music every week. Monday is the quietest, with 1 regular night. Across the week, 15 venues list regular live nights and 14 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Plymouth.
Regular live music nights in Plymouth
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Monday1 venue · 0 open mics |
| Tuesday2 venues · 4 open mics - Bar Rakuda, The Ford Inn |
| Wednesday3 venues · 7 open mics - The Eliot Arms, Thistle Park Tavern |
| Thursday5 venues · 3 open mics - Minerva Inn, The Treasury |
| Friday9 venues · 0 open mics |
| Saturday12 venues · 0 open mics |
| Sunday5 venues · 0 open mics |
05 — The scene
PlymouthThe Plymouth sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Plymouth is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Barbican & Sutton HarbourPlymouth's historic harbour quarter — Annabel's Cabaret & Discotheque (~200 cap, live bands/burlesque Fri/Sat, strictly 21+), The Maritime Inn (weekly Thursday open mic with house backline), Blues Bar & Grill (harbourside sessions), Barbican Theatre (144-seat + 100-cap B-Bar). |
| City Centre & Union StreetPlymouth Arena (formerly Pavilions, 4,000 standing — Ed Sheeran, Oasis, Pink), The Depo (~750 cap, BBC Radio 1 Grassroots Venue of the Year, opened June 2021), The Hub/DBs Live (~450 cap). The commercial and nightlife spine. |
| Mutley Plain (student corridor)University of Plymouth's pub-and-venue strip — The Junction (~270 cap, long-established mid-size room for indie/rock/punk) and The Underground (~175 cap, 7kW PA, punk-rock identity, intimate emerging-act room). |
| Function & wedding workNaval mess functions at HMNB Devonport (largest naval base in Western Europe) run a parallel calendar with shorter lead times. Browse Plymouth bands to book. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 7 · mid-size up to 500: 2 · bigger stages: 1 - 10 rooms in Plymouth with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Plymouth venue directory. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Torquay, Exeter and Newquay.
| NearbyLive music in Torquay | |
| NearbyLive music in Exeter | |
| NearbyLive music in Newquay |
06 — Venues
16 roomsWhere live music happens
The Plymouth circuit runs through 25 venues, Bar Rakuda and Brass Monkey included. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google Bar RakudaPlymouthHouse PA 
Brass MonkeyCity Centre · Plymouth Cap tbc 
Cafe MomusStonehouse · Plymouth Cap tbc 
Central Park PlymouthPlymouth Cap tbc 
HutongBarbican · PlymouthHouse PA 80Cap 
Kitty O'HanlonsCity Centre · Plymouth Cap tbc 
Marina BarPlymouthHouse PA Cap tbc 
Market HallDevonport · Plymouth Cap tbc 
Millbridge InnStoke · PlymouthHouse PA 100Cap 
Minerva InnPlymouthFull kit 70Cap Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Plymouth venue directory, see what is booked on the Plymouth gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Plymouth |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Plymouth
8 gigs are listed in Plymouth for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts19:00 Skinny ListerThe Junction Ply · Drake · Plymouth 
Employed to Serve & Cabal + Cold CultureThe Junction Plymouth · Drake · Plymouth 19:00Thu 12 Nov 
3 Daft MonkeysThe Barrel House Ballroom · Totnes · Plymouth 20:00Fri 13 Nov 
Skids + Theatre Of HateTotnes Civic Hall · Totnes 19:00Sat 14 Nov 
Big Lava / PETREA / wormswormsworms @ The Junction, PlymouthThe Junction Plymouth · Drake · Plymouth 19:30Tue 17 Nov 
Green Day Tribute LiveThe Ploughboy, Saltash · Saltash Tamar · Plymouth 21:00Fri 27 Nov Every listing is a real Plymouth date, rebuilt nightly from the Plymouth gig directory. See the Plymouth venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Plymouth gigs | |
| What's on in Plymouth this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Plymouth
Whoever you are, Plymouth 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 Plymouth this weekthe Plymouth gig guide, by email | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigs in Plymouthpay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Plymouthfree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live music in Plymouthprices, steps, licensing | |
| BookersBooking live entertainment in Plymouthbirthdays, weddings, private parties | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Plymouthclaim yours free and keep it current |
09 — Pay
GX IndexWhat acts earn
One figure from the GX Index - what acts are actually paid, the South West 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 Plymouththe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Plymouththe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Plymouth compares
The Plymouth area ranks fifth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Swansea, Bournemouth, 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 · 276 upcoming gigs | 86 |
| 02 | Cardiff 33 open mics · 166 upcoming gigs | 63 |
| 03 | Exeter 24 open mics · 56 upcoming gigs | 47 |
| 04 | Swansea 22 open mics · 23 upcoming gigs | 34 |
| 05 | Plymouth This city 14 open mics · 17 upcoming gigs | 33 |
| 06 | Bournemouth 14 open mics · 55 upcoming gigs | 28 |
| 07 | Newquay 9 open mics · 27 upcoming gigs | 18 |
| 08 | Weymouth 9 open mics · 6 upcoming gigs | 15 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
PlymouthMore of Plymouth
More live music resources for Plymouth and the rest of the UK: fee guides, venue lists, open mic finders and how-to guides, all read from the same live directory.
| Plymouth Rate BenchmarkSee what UK bands actually charge by city and gig type. Median fees from the live GigXchange Index. | |
| UK City-by-City Booking GuideA detailed walkthrough of how booking works across every major UK city, prices, scenes, and local tips. | |
| Find Devon and Cornwall actsFilter the live directory by region, genre and availability — surfaces the South West specialists agencies miss. |
Everything live in Plymouth — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Plymouth. Artists and bands available around Plymouth.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Plymouth — sorted by dateWhat's on in Plymouth — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Plymouth, 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.Plymouth gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in PlymouthCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Plymouth venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Plymouth. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Plymouth venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Plymouth open mic nightsJust starting out? Plymouth open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Plymouth. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Plymouth open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in PlymouthStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Plymouth. How to get gigs in Plymouth. How to book live music in Plymouth. Find a band in Plymouth. Written for working musicians and venues.How to get gigs · How to book · Find a band |
| RatesWhat live acts earn in PlymouthLive Plymouth 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 |
Totnes taproom with ska and live music.
Hello, I'm Phia Bushell a professional singer and entertainer based in Plymouth, performing across Devon, Cornwall and t…
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
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Live Music in Plymouth
The South West's largest city outside Bristol — a Royal Navy port, a strong maritime cultural identity, and a working-musician scene that operates with relative independence given the 100-mile distance to the next major UK live market.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Live Music in Plymouth: the Short Answer
Plymouth has 25 venues listing live music, 8 gigs in the next 30 days and 14 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 15 venues that list their live nights, 12 put on music on Saturdays and 9 on Fridays. Of the 10 with a known size, 7 are small rooms under 150, 2 hold up to 500 and 1 is a bigger hall.
Plymouth is a city of ~265,000 on the Devon south coast — the largest UK city outside London that's genuinely isolated from the rest of the live touring circuit. The next major UK market (Bristol) sits 120 miles away, which means Plymouth's economy operates with more independence than equivalent-size inland cities. The live calendar runs across Plymouth Pavilions (the city's touring anchor, ~3,400 cap), Theatre Royal Plymouth for theatre and comedy, the Royal William Yard heritage venues for boutique programming, and a working pub-and-function circuit through the city centre and the Hoe. Plymouth University adds about 20,000 students. The city's maritime identity — Royal Navy port, fishing-fleet heritage, Mayflower-era cultural anchor — drives a distinct corporate and civic-event calendar that doesn't exist inland: ship christenings, Royal Navy mess functions, naval reunion bookings. See the GX Rate Index for live medians. The Plymouth working-musician calendar is dominated by cover bands and party-band specialists — these are the steady-bookings backbone for any local act. Filter by "covers" or "party band" on Explore to see who's active in the city right now. Average annual gig counts: 32–45 dates for working bands, 50–70 for premium-wedding specialists. Around 6 carry full PA + lighting for venues without house systems. For new acts breaking in, Plymouth's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
The Plymouth Rooms to Know
Eight rooms that anchor the Plymouth circuit — from a Barbican cabaret club to the South West's largest indoor arena. A port city with a booking economy shaped by naval heritage. 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.
The South West's largest indoor arena outside Bristol. Rebranded from Plymouth Pavilions in January 2026. Previous acts include Ed Sheeran, Oasis and Pink.
Opened June 2021 on Union Street, Stonehouse. BBC Radio 1 Grassroots Music Venue of the Year. Multi-genre programming with associated Level 33 space and Depo Studios.
9 Bath Street, connected to dBs Institute of Music. Has hosted Chase & Status, Turin Brakes, Cage The Elephant.
Plymouth's long-established mid-size grassroots room on the student strip. Regular live music and touring support acts.
Intimate venue with 7kW PA, craft beers, punk-rock identity. Good for discovering emerging acts on the student corridor.
Two floors on Vauxhall Street — first floor live music + cocktails, second floor nightclub. Open Fri/Sat 9pm–4am. Strictly 21+, smart casual dress code.
Plymouth's only social enterprise pub — community-focused arts space. Cafe by day, live music/comedy/poetry by night. Monthly open mic (2nd Tuesday).
Independent cafe opposite Royal William Yard — bagels and coffee by day, music and art by night. Small, eclectic programming since 2016.
Live Music Nights in Plymouth
Saturday is the big night in Plymouth: 12 venues list live music every week. Monday is the quietest, with 1 regular night. Across the week, 15 venues list regular live nights and 14 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Plymouth. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Plymouth
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 6 2 venues
4 open mics Bar RakudaThe Ford Inn - Wed 10 3 venues
7 open mics The Eliot ArmsThistle Park Tavern - Thu 8 5 venues
3 open mics Minerva InnThe Treasury - Fri 9 9 venues
0 open mics - Sat 12 12 venues
0 open mics - Sun 5 5 venues
0 open mics
The Plymouth Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Plymouth is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
Plymouth's historic harbour quarter — Annabel's Cabaret & Discotheque (~200 cap, live bands/burlesque Fri/Sat, strictly 21+), The Maritime Inn (weekly Thursday open mic with house backline), Blues Bar & Grill (harbourside sessions), Barbican Theatre (144-seat + 100-cap B-Bar).
Plymouth Arena (formerly Pavilions, 4,000 standing — Ed Sheeran, Oasis, Pink), The Depo (~750 cap, BBC Radio 1 Grassroots Venue of the Year, opened June 2021), The Hub/DBs Live (~450 cap). The commercial and nightlife spine.
University of Plymouth's pub-and-venue strip — The Junction (~270 cap, long-established mid-size room for indie/rock/punk) and The Underground (~175 cap, 7kW PA, punk-rock identity, intimate emerging-act room).
Naval mess functions at HMNB Devonport (largest naval base in Western Europe) run a parallel calendar with shorter lead times. Browse Plymouth bands to book.
Small rooms under 150: 7 · mid-size up to 500: 2 · bigger stages: 1 - 10 rooms in Plymouth with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Plymouth venue directory.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Torquay, Exeter and Newquay.
Where Live Music Happens in Plymouth
The Plymouth circuit runs through 25 venues, Bar Rakuda and Brass Monkey 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 Plymouth venue directory, see what is booked on the Plymouth gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Plymouth
8 gigs are listed in Plymouth 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 Plymouth date, rebuilt nightly from the Plymouth gig directory. See the Plymouth venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Plymouth
Whoever you are, Plymouth 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 Plymouth
One figure from the GX Index - what acts are actually paid, the South West median where it rests on 20+ fees. The full prices and the pay guide are one click away.
How Plymouth Compares
The Plymouth area ranks fifth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Swansea, Bournemouth, 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 · 276 upcoming gigs 86
- #2 Cardiff 33 open mics · 166 upcoming gigs 63
- #3 Exeter 24 open mics · 56 upcoming gigs 47
- #4 Swansea 22 open mics · 23 upcoming gigs 34
- #5 Plymouth This city 14 open mics · 17 upcoming gigs 33
- #6 Bournemouth 14 open mics · 55 upcoming gigs 28
- #7 Newquay 9 open mics · 27 upcoming gigs 18
- #8 Weymouth 9 open mics · 6 upcoming gigs 15
Frequently Asked Questions
Add your Plymouth act to the directory
Open alpha — the first 250 UK users are free forever. No credit card, no commission until a booking lands. See the For Artists, For Venues, For Agents or For Promoters hubs to see how each role uses the platform. Make a free profile in a few minutes, add your sound and the dates you are free, and let Plymouth bookers find you.