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What's On · UK

What's On in Reading

Live music in Reading over the next four weeks — 14 Aug – 11 Sept. 6 gigs listed in Reading over the next 28 days across 5 venues. Friday is the busiest night with 3. In total we track 28 grassroots venues and 17 regular open mics here.

Two pubs a day are closing, and last year 78 grassroots venues stopped putting on live music. Get Reading gigs in your inbox — and go to one.

Help keep grassroots venues open in Reading

A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Reading. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

Updated daily · 6 gigs in Reading over the next four weeks

Last updated: 14 August 2026

Support grassroots music in Reading

Grassroots venues are where every act you have ever paid to see started out. Reading still has 28 of them.

Two pubs a day closed across the UK in the first quarter of 2026, and over the year to July 2025 78 grassroots music venues stopped putting on live music — 30 of them shut for good. Those are the rooms where new acts learn to hold an audience, where a first support slot happens, and where a Tuesday night can still turn into something.

This page exists to make them easy to find. It lists 6 gigs across Reading over the next four weeks, pulled from the venues themselves and updated daily — alongside the 28 grassroots venues and 17 regular open mic nights we track in the city. No algorithm decides what you see: it is simply everything we know is on.

The single most useful thing anyone can do is turn up. Buy a ticket, buy a drink at the bar, and go to a night you have not been to before. If you would rather be told than remember, the sign-up above sends Reading listings straight to your inbox. If you run a venue here, claim your page so people can find you.

Venues in Reading

Where live music actually happens in Reading.

Photo: Google
Claim this venue
ACE Space Newbury
Newbury★★★★★ (—)
Volunteer-run Newbury arts centre with a monthly live folk and music programme.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon09:00–23:00
  • Tue09:00–23:00
  • Wed09:00–23:00
  • Thu09:00–23:00
  • Fri09:00–23:00
  • Sat09:00–23:00
  • Sun09:00–23:00
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Bier Keller
Bracknell★★★★★ (—)
Bavarian beer hall at London Bridge.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon18:30–23:00
  • Tue18:30–23:00
  • Wed18:30–23:00
  • Thu18:30–23:00
  • Fri18:30–00:00
  • Sat18:30–00:00
  • Sun18:30–23:00
View venue
Photo: Google
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Corn Exchange
Newbury★★★★★ (—)
First-Sunday open mic in the Balcony Bar of Newbury's arts centre
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • 2 vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • MonClosed
  • Tue10:00–16:00
  • Wed10:00–16:00
  • Thu10:00–16:00
  • Fri10:00–16:00
  • Sat10:00–16:00
  • Sun11:00–16:00
View venue
600
Photo: Google
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Englefield House
Reading Englefield, near Theale★★★★★ (—)
Country estate with outdoor rock and pop events.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
London Road Campus
Reading Redlands, Reading (London Road campus)★★★★★ (—)
The Great Hall at the University of Reading's historic London Road campus — concerts and recitals
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
Photo: Google
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Mates Rates Comedy Club
Reading★★★★★ (—)
Reading comedy club with live events.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon18:00–22:00
  • TueClosed
  • WedClosed
  • ThuClosed
  • FriClosed
  • SatClosed
  • SunClosed
View venue
100
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Oakford Social Club
Reading City Centre★★★★★ (—)
indie and live music venue in Reading
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon12:00–00:00
  • Tue12:00–00:00
  • Wed12:00–00:00
  • Thu12:00–01:00
  • Fri12:00–02:00
  • Sat12:00–02:00
  • Sun12:00–00:00
View venue
80
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Palmer Tavern
Reading★★★★★ (—)
Reading pub with live sport and music.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon12:00–23:00
  • Tue12:00–23:00
  • Wed12:00–23:00
  • Thu12:00–23:00
  • Fri12:00–01:00
  • Sat12:00–01:00
  • Sun12:00–23:00
View venue
100
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Pangbourne Working Mens Club
Reading Pangbourne★★★★★ (—)
Members club with live entertainment.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon11:00–23:00
  • Tue11:00–23:00
  • Wed11:00–23:00
  • Thu11:00–23:00
  • Fri11:00–23:45
  • Sat11:00–23:45
  • Sun12:00–22:30
View venue
400
Photo: Google
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Prospect Park Reading
Reading Tilehurst★★★★★ (—)
Reading park for outdoor rock, pop and DJ.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
250
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Purple Turtle
Reading City Centre★★★★★ (—)
Reading's iconic late-licence music bar of 30+ years — live music weekly plus a basement club.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • 3 vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon12:00–03:00
  • Tue12:00–03:00
  • Wed12:00–03:00
  • Thu12:00–03:00
  • Fri12:00–03:30
  • Sat12:00–03:30
  • Sun12:00–03:00
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Richfield Avenue
Reading★★★★★ (—)
Open-air festival site on the Thames — home of Reading Festival
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
210
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
South Street Arts Centre
Reading★★★★★ (—)
Reading's intimate council-run arts centre — touring music, comedy and theatre across two flexible spaces.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon10:00–16:00
  • Tue10:00–16:00
  • Wed10:00–16:00
  • Thu10:00–16:00
  • Fri10:00–16:00
  • SatClosed
  • SunClosed
View venue
600
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
SUB89
Reading Reading town centre★★★★★ (—)
250-cap Reading club and live music venue.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
500
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
Temple Island Meadows
Henley-on-Thames Remenham, Henley-on-Thames★★★★★ (—)
Henley meadows for outdoor rock and pop.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Butler
Reading★★★★★ (—)
Reading's friendly free-entry live music pub on Chatham Street.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon16:00–23:00
  • Tue16:00–23:00
  • Wed16:00–23:00
  • Thu12:00–23:00
  • Fri12:00–01:00
  • Sat12:00–01:00
  • Sun12:00–22:30
View venue
40
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Castle Tap
Reading★★★★★ (—)
Small Reading craft-beer pub with monthly open mic, folk and sea-shanty nights.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon16:00–23:00
  • Tue16:00–23:00
  • Wed16:00–23:00
  • Thu16:00–23:00
  • Fri14:00–00:00
  • Sat12:00–00:00
  • Sun12:00–22:30
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Club Bar and Lounge
Newbury★★★★★ (—)
A grassroots music venue in Newbury.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • MonClosed
  • Tue18:00–22:30
  • Wed18:00–22:30
  • Thu18:00–22:30
  • Fri11:30–23:30
  • Sat11:30–23:30
  • Sun11:30–22:00
View venue
150
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Face Bar
Reading City Centre★★★★★ (—)
150-cap rock, punk and metal bar.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Fisherman's Cottage
Reading★★★★★ (—)
Reading riverside pub with live events.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • MonClosed
  • TueClosed
  • Wed12:00–23:00
  • Thu12:00–23:00
  • Fri12:00–00:00
  • Sat12:00–00:00
  • Sun12:00–22:00
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Great Hall, University Of Reading
Reading London Road Campus★★★★★ (—)
University concert hall.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue
80
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Lyndhurst
Reading★★★★★ (—)
Family-run Reading bar & kitchen at 88 Queens Road with live music, karaoke and open mic nights.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon12:00–23:00
  • Tue17:00–23:00
  • Wed12:00–23:00
  • Thu12:00–23:00
  • Fri12:00–23:00
  • Sat12:00–23:00
  • Sun12:00–23:00
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The New Inn
Basingstoke Town Centre★★★★★ (—)
Grassroots live music venue in Basingstoke with a regular open mic night.
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • Vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon12:00–23:00
  • Tue12:00–23:00
  • Wed12:00–23:00
  • Thu12:00–23:00
  • Fri12:00–00:30
  • Sat12:00–00:30
  • Sun12:00–22:30
View venue
Photo: Google
Claim this venue
The Newbury Pub & Terrace
Newbury★★★★★ (—)
Thursday open mic on the rooftop terrace
  • PA system
  • Drum kit
  • Guitar amp
  • Bass amp
  • Keys / keyboard
  • 2 vocal mics
  • In-house engineer
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun
View venue

All 28 Reading venues →

Open mics in Reading

Turn up, put your name down, play. Most are free.

MONTH
Sun
The Rising Sun Arts Centre
Reading, Reading
Starts 19:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots15 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
Real piano · arts venue
1ST
Sun
Corn Exchange
Town Centre, Newbury
Starts 19:00
  • Sign-up18:30
  • Slots15 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic, poetry, comedy
View details
EVERY
Sun
The Plough
Reading, Reading
Starts 19:30
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
1ST
Sun
The New Inn
Town Centre, Basingstoke
Time to be confirmed
  • Sign-up
  • Slots
  • EntryFree
  • PA
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
MONTH
Mon
The Castle Tap
Reading, Reading
Starts 19:30
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots10 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic, poetry, comedy
View details
EVERY
Mon
Mates Rates Comedy Club
Reading, Reading
Starts 19:30
  • Sign-up18:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tocomedy
View details
Reading's music institution
EVERY
Mon
Purple Turtle
City Centre, Reading
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • BacklineFull
  • Open tomusic
View details
EVERY
Wed
Palmer Tavern
Reading, Reading
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
EVERY
Wed
South Street Arts Centre
Reading, Reading
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
EVERY
Wed
The Lyndhurst
Reading, Reading
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic
View details
EVERY
Wed
The Fisherman's Cottage
Reading, Reading
Starts 20:30
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots12 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic, poetry, comedy
View details
15-min slots · folk leaning
EVERY
Thu
The Retreat
City Centre, Reading
Starts 20:00
  • Sign-up19:30
  • Slots15 min
  • EntryFree
  • PAProvided
  • Backline
  • Open tomusic, folk
View details

All 17 Reading open mics →

What's on in Reading — FAQs

Common questions about live music in Reading, answered with this week's live data.

We currently list 6 gigs in Reading between 14 Aug and 11 Sept, across 5 venues. The listings above are the full set, sorted by date and refreshed daily from the venues themselves — no algorithm decides what you see. For everything beyond this window, browse the Reading gig directory or every city we cover.
None of the Reading gigs currently listed are marked free entry, though many venues do not publish a price at all. Reading open mic nights are your reliable free option — most charge nothing to watch or to play.
Friday, with 3 gigs listed across the next 28 days. Friday: 3 gigs · Saturday: 2 gigs · Sunday: 1 gig. Filter by This week or This weekend above to narrow it down.
Right now: Prospect Park Reading, London Road Campus, Bier Keller. In total we track 28 grassroots venues in Reading, of which 5 have something listed in this window. Capacity, backline and opening times for each are on the Reading venue directory.
Reading has 17 regular open mic nights that we verify on a rolling cycle. Each listing carries the sign-up time, slot length, entry fee and whether a PA and backline are provided — see the Reading open mic finder, or the UK-wide finder.
Most Reading venues in our listings do not publish a ticket price in advance. Grassroots entry is typically a few pounds on the door, and many nights are free. On the other side of the transaction, the Musicians' Union publishes national gig rates as the recognised floor for live engagements, and the ISM publishes guidance for self-employed musicians. Our own UK gig rate benchmarks show what artists are actually being paid by region and act type.
Grassroots rooms are where every act you have paid to see learned to hold an audience. Two pubs a day closed across the UK in the first quarter of 2026, and over the year to July 2025 78 grassroots music venues stopped putting on live music — 30 of them for good. Reading still has 28 on our list. Music Venue Trust campaigns for them nationally; venues themselves navigate PRS licensing and local authority licensing to keep putting music on. The single most useful thing anyone can do is turn up and buy a drink at the bar.
Listing is free and takes about two minutes — submit through the Reading gig directory and it is verified within 48 hours. No account is needed and there is no listing fee. If you run a venue here, claim your venue page to keep its capacity, backline and contact details current. Promoters and venues booking acts can also post paid work or find artists directly.

Go to one this month

6 gigs listed in Reading over the next four weeks, across 28 grassroots venues and 17 open mic nights. Buy a ticket, buy a drink at the bar, and go to a night you have not been to before — it is the single most useful thing anyone can do for a room like these.

Help keep grassroots venues open in Reading

A UK venue stops hosting live music every 5 days — and turning up is what keeps a room open. Get a free weekly email of gigs in Reading. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

Naumaan
Founder & Builder

Live gigs across the UK, kept fresh. Spot something wrong or missing? Let me know and I’ll fix it.

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