Swansea · the live music guide
Live Music in Swansea
Swansea, UK
Of the 12 venues that list their live nights, 8 put on music on Saturdays and 7 on Fridays. Of the 12 with a known size, 7 are small rooms under 150, 2 hold up to 500 and 3 are bigger halls.
Updated 1 November 2026
01 — The short answer
SwanseaLive music in Swansea
Swansea has 23 venues listing live music, 10 gigs in the next 30 days and 22 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.
Wales' second city has indie heritage in its bones. From Sin City to The Bunkhouse and the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea blends a punk-rooted original scene with a strong wedding circuit along the Mumbles seafront.
Swansea has indie and punk in its DNA — the city that produced Catatonia, Stereophonics roots, and an enduring DIY scene. Sin City, The Bunkhouse, Cinema & Co and Hangar 18 run regular original-music nights. Welsh-language gigs are a real and growing part of the circuit. Mumbles and Gower hotels drive a strong summer wedding market. For new acts breaking in, Swansea's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
listing live music
| Gigsin the next 30 days · in Swansea | 10 |
| Open micsactive nights · in Swansea | 22 |
| On GigXchangeSwansea acts · with a profile you can browse | 2 |
02 — The scene
Live Music Scene Score — Swansea100
| Artists | 15 |
| Venues | 0 |
| Gigs 90d | 63 |
| Rates | 50 |
| Heritage | 0 |
| Activity | 0 |
03 — Rooms to know
8 roomsThe rooms to know
Eight rooms that anchor the Swansea circuit — from a protected grassroots venue to a 3,500-cap arena. The city that launched Bonnie Tyler and raised Cerys Matthews.
| ~400 cap · city centreSin CityTwo-room venue on Dillwyn Street. Active indie/rock/tribute programme with club nights. One of Swansea's primary live music destinations. Books: indie, rock, tribute, club nights.Getting on: Via Skiddle / direct contact |
| ~250 cap · Park StreetThe BunkhouseFirst Welsh venue with Music Venue Trust protected cultural status (2024). Kingsway Main Stage + Park Street Bar Stage. 240+ shows per year across all genres. Books: all genres — grassroots, 240+ shows/year.Getting on: Direct contact via venue |
| 370 cap · Plymouth StreetHangar 183am licence, recording studio upstairs. Grassroots venue programming original and tribute acts alongside club nights. Books: grassroots, original, tribute, club nights.Getting on: Direct contact via venue |
| 3,500 cap · SA1 WaterfrontSwansea ArenaOpened March 2022 as part of the Copr Bay development. ATG-operated. Swansea's only arena-scale venue for national touring acts. Books: arena touring acts, comedy, e-sports.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| 1,070 cap · GuildhallBrangwyn HallNamed after artist Frank Brangwyn. Stage fits 120 musicians. Hosts orchestral concerts and mid-cap touring acts (Jools Holland etc.). Part of the Guildhall complex. Books: classical, mid-cap touring.Getting on: Programmed shows via Swansea Council |
| ~500 cap · Mumbles RoadPatti PavilionPerforming arts venue in Victoria Park, named after opera legend Adelina Patti. Victorian character. Strong wedding hire alongside live music and comedy. Books: tribute acts, live music, comedy, weddings.Getting on: Direct contact via venue |
| ~340 cap · universityTaliesin Arts CentreOn Swansea University's Singleton Campus. Celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024. Professional programming across jazz, world music, classical and dance. Books: jazz, world music, classical, dance, theatre.Getting on: Programmed shows |
| 240 cap · UplandsThe GarageOn Uplands Crescent, running original music, comedy and touring acts since 2008. The Uplands' dedicated live music room. Books: indie, rock, comedy, touring acts.Getting on: Direct contact via venue |
04 — The week
Every weekLive music nights
Thursday is the big night in Swansea: 3 venues list live music and 8 open mics run every week. Monday is the quietest, with 2 regular nights. Across the week, 12 venues list regular live nights and 15 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Swansea.
Regular live music nights in Swansea
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
| Monday1 venue · 1 open mic - Uplands Tavern |
| Tuesday4 venues · 4 open mics - Mozart's, The Greenfield Inn |
| Wednesday1 venue · 2 open mics - The Wig & Pen, St George Swansea |
| Thursday3 venues · 8 open mics - Cockett Inn, The Bunkhouse |
| Friday7 venues · 0 open mics |
| Saturday8 venues · 0 open mics |
| Sunday4 venues · 0 open mics |
05 — The scene
SwanseaThe Swansea sound
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Swansea is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
| Wind Street & city centreSwansea's main nightlife strip — The Perch (live music Fri/Sat/Sun, indie, rock, jazz, funk), No Sign Wine Bar (17th-century Dylan Thomas haunt, The Vault basement music venue), Sin City (~400 cap, 2 rooms, indie/rock/tribute). |
| UplandsBohemian quarter where Dylan Thomas grew up — The Garage (240 cap, original music, comedy and touring acts since 2008), Uplands Tavern (Greene King pub, live music most weekends, Monday open mic, has Dylan Thomas's Snug). Student-heavy, cafe culture. |
| High Street & SA1 WaterfrontEmerging creative corridor — The Bunkhouse (~250 cap, 240+ shows/year, first Welsh venue with Music Venue Trust protected status 2024), Hangar 18 (370 cap, 3am licence, recording studio upstairs), Elysium Gallery (non-profit arts hub). Swansea Arena (3,500 cap, opened March 2022) on SA1 waterfront. |
| Mumbles & wedding circuitVictorian seaside village 5 miles west — Patti Pavilion (~500 cap, tribute/live/comedy/weddings), Sessions Bar (Mumbles Brewery taproom). Strong summer wedding circuit along the seafront and into Gower. Browse Swansea bands to book. |
| Room sizesSmall rooms under 150: 7 · mid-size up to 500: 2 · bigger stages: 3 - 12 rooms in Swansea with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Swansea venue directory. |
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Bridgend, Cardiff and Bristol.
| NearbyLive music in Bridgend | |
| NearbyLive music in Cardiff | |
| NearbyLive music in Bristol |
06 — Venues
16 roomsWhere live music happens
Live music in Swansea happens across 23 listed venues - Bay View and Black Boy among them. Each card shows its size, its kit and its live nights.
Photo: Google Bay ViewSwanseaHouse PA 
Black BoyKillay · SwanseaHouse PA 80Cap 
Brangwyn HallUplands · Swansea Cap tbc 
Cinema & CoCity Centre · SwanseaHouse PA 100Cap 
Cockett InnY Cocyd · SwanseaHouse PA 80Cap 
Elysium Gallery & BarSwanseaHouse PA Cap tbc 
Hangar 18City Centre · SwanseaHouse PA 370Cap 
Jack MurphysSwansea Cap tbc 
No Sign BarSwanseaHouse PA Cap tbc 
Patti Pavilion SwanseaVictoria Park · Swansea 900Cap Each card carries capacity, backline and opening hours. Browse them all on the Swansea venue directory, see what is booked on the Swansea gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
| All live music venues in Swansea |
07 — Gigs
Next 6The next 30 days Swansea
10 gigs are listed in Swansea for the next 30 days, from free pub sets to ticketed shows - rebuilt nightly from the gig directory.
Starts20:00 Five Way SplitSwansea Jazz Club @The Swigg · Waterfront · Swansea 
Natalie ShayAfan Ales · Port Talbot · Swansea 19:00Fri 6 Nov 
Jazz & Dine @LANGLAND'S - Natasha Watts & Dave Cottle TrioSwansea Jazz Club @Langland's Brasserie · Mumbles · Swansea 19:00Sun 8 Nov 
Or Bareket New York QuartetSwansea Jazz Club @Grand Theatre Swansea · Castle · Swansea 20:00Wed 11 Nov 
Greg Abate with Dave Cottle TrioSwansea Jazz Club @The Observatory · Waterfront · Swansea 20:00Wed 18 Nov 
Omega NebulaSin City · Swansea 19:00Fri 20 Nov Every listing is a real Swansea date, rebuilt nightly from the Swansea gig directory. See the Swansea venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
| All Swansea gigs | |
| What's on in Swansea this weekthe weekly gig guide, by email |
08 — Next step
Pick yoursYour next step in Swansea
Whoever you are, Swansea 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 Swansea this weekthe Swansea gig guide, by email | |
| ArtistsHow to get gigspay, venues that book, how to pitch | |
| ArtistsOpen mics in Swanseafree stage time, night by night | |
| BookersBook live musicprices, steps, licensing | |
| BookersBooking live entertainment in Swanseabirthdays, weddings, private parties | |
| VenuesLive music venues in Swanseaclaim 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 Swanseathe booking guide - every act size and event type | |
| What gigs pay in Swanseathe artist guide - the pay ladder and how to pitch | |
| The GX Indexevery UK fee table, open data |
10 — Compare
Nearest scenesHow Swansea compares
The Swansea area ranks fifth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Bath, Cheltenham, Hereford and Gloucester. 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 · 270 upcoming gigs | 86 |
| 02 | Cardiff 33 open mics · 163 upcoming gigs | 63 |
| 03 | Exeter 24 open mics · 55 upcoming gigs | 48 |
| 04 | Bath 13 open mics · 59 upcoming gigs | 36 |
| 05 | Swansea This city 22 open mics · 23 upcoming gigs | 34 |
| 06 | Cheltenham 19 open mics · 17 upcoming gigs | 27 |
| 07 | Hereford 21 open mics · 9 upcoming gigs | 24 |
| 08 | Gloucester 11 open mics · 7 upcoming gigs | 19 |
11 — Questions9 answersFrequently asked questions
12 — Keep exploring
SwanseaMore of Swansea
More live music resources for Swansea 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 SwanseaFind and hire local bands, solo artists, and DJs for your venue or event in Swansea. | |
| Live Music in CardiffAn hour east, Wales' biggest live music market — natural touring partner for Swansea acts. | |
| Live Music in BristolAcross the Severn, a thriving alternative-music city with strong cross-over for Swansea artists. | |
| Swansea Rate BenchmarkSee live percentile data on what Swansea 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 Swansea — venues, open mics and upcoming gigs. Step-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Swansea. Artists and bands available around Swansea.
| GigsUpcoming gigs in Swansea — sorted by dateWhat's on in Swansea — the local gig directory. Upcoming gigs in Swansea, 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.Swansea gigs · UK gig directory |
| VenuesGrassroots venues, pubs and stages in SwanseaCapacity, backline and booking contacts for Swansea venues. Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Swansea. Capacity and backline specs where known. Re-verified on a rolling cycle. Claim your venue to keep it current.Swansea venues · For venues |
| Open MicsFree stage time — Swansea open mic nightsJust starting out? Swansea open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle. Weekly open mic nights across Swansea. Filter by night of the week. Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play. The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs.Swansea open mics · UK open mic finder |
| GuidesHow to get gigs and book live music in SwanseaStep-by-step playbooks for gigging and booking in Swansea. How to get gigs. How to book live music. Find a band in Swansea. Written for working musicians and venues.How to get gigs · How to book · Find a band |
| RatesWhat live acts earn in SwanseaLive Swansea 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 |
Open mic bar in Porthcawl
| Every UK city scenethe city guides, A to Z |
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Live Music in Swansea
Wales' second city has indie heritage in its bones. From Sin City to The Bunkhouse and the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea blends a punk-rooted original scene with a strong wedding circuit along the Mumbles seafront.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Live Music in Swansea: the Short Answer
Swansea has 23 venues listing live music, 10 gigs in the next 30 days and 22 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 12 venues that list their live nights, 8 put on music on Saturdays and 7 on Fridays. Of the 12 with a known size, 7 are small rooms under 150, 2 hold up to 500 and 3 are bigger halls.
Swansea has indie and punk in its DNA — the city that produced Catatonia, Stereophonics roots, and an enduring DIY scene. Sin City, The Bunkhouse, Cinema & Co and Hangar 18 run regular original-music nights. Welsh-language gigs are a real and growing part of the circuit. Mumbles and Gower hotels drive a strong summer wedding market. For new acts breaking in, Swansea's weekly open mics are the obvious starting point.
The Swansea Rooms to Know
Eight rooms that anchor the Swansea circuit — from a protected grassroots venue to a 3,500-cap arena. The city that launched Bonnie Tyler and raised Cerys Matthews. 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.
Two-room venue on Dillwyn Street. Active indie/rock/tribute programme with club nights. One of Swansea's primary live music destinations.
First Welsh venue with Music Venue Trust protected cultural status (2024). Kingsway Main Stage + Park Street Bar Stage. 240+ shows per year across all genres.
3am licence, recording studio upstairs. Grassroots venue programming original and tribute acts alongside club nights.
Opened March 2022 as part of the Copr Bay development. ATG-operated. Swansea's only arena-scale venue for national touring acts.
Named after artist Frank Brangwyn. Stage fits 120 musicians. Hosts orchestral concerts and mid-cap touring acts (Jools Holland etc.). Part of the Guildhall complex.
Performing arts venue in Victoria Park, named after opera legend Adelina Patti. Victorian character. Strong wedding hire alongside live music and comedy.
On Swansea University's Singleton Campus. Celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024. Professional programming across jazz, world music, classical and dance.
On Uplands Crescent, running original music, comedy and touring acts since 2008. The Uplands' dedicated live music room.
Live Music Nights in Swansea
Thursday is the big night in Swansea: 3 venues list live music and 8 open mics run every week. Monday is the quietest, with 2 regular nights. Across the week, 12 venues list regular live nights and 15 open mics run on a fixed night - for what is on this week, see what's on in Swansea. How the UK gig week compares.
Regular live music nights in Swansea
Venues that list live music on that night, plus open mics that run on it every week.
- Mon 2 1 venue
1 open mic Uplands Tavern - Tue 8 4 venues
4 open mics Mozart'sThe Greenfield Inn - Wed 3 1 venue
2 open mics The Wig & PenSt George Swansea - Thu 11 3 venues
8 open mics Cockett InnThe Bunkhouse - Fri 7 7 venues
0 open mics - Sat 8 8 venues
0 open mics - Sun 4 4 venues
0 open mics
The Swansea Sound and Where It Happens
Every venue, gig and open mic we list in Swansea is on the map - zoom in to see where each part of the scene plays, then read what each area is known for.
Swansea's main nightlife strip — The Perch (live music Fri/Sat/Sun, indie, rock, jazz, funk), No Sign Wine Bar (17th-century Dylan Thomas haunt, The Vault basement music venue), Sin City (~400 cap, 2 rooms, indie/rock/tribute).
Bohemian quarter where Dylan Thomas grew up — The Garage (240 cap, original music, comedy and touring acts since 2008), Uplands Tavern (Greene King pub, live music most weekends, Monday open mic, has Dylan Thomas's Snug). Student-heavy, cafe culture.
Emerging creative corridor — The Bunkhouse (~250 cap, 240+ shows/year, first Welsh venue with Music Venue Trust protected status 2024), Hangar 18 (370 cap, 3am licence, recording studio upstairs), Elysium Gallery (non-profit arts hub). Swansea Arena (3,500 cap, opened March 2022) on SA1 waterfront.
Victorian seaside village 5 miles west — Patti Pavilion (~500 cap, tribute/live/comedy/weddings), Sessions Bar (Mumbles Brewery taproom). Strong summer wedding circuit along the seafront and into Gower. Browse Swansea bands to book.
Small rooms under 150: 7 · mid-size up to 500: 2 · bigger stages: 3 - 12 rooms in Swansea with a known capacity. Every room's size and kit is on the Swansea venue directory.
Acts travel, and the next scene is one city over - Bridgend, Cardiff and Bristol.
Where Live Music Happens in Swansea
Live music in Swansea happens across 23 listed venues - Bay View and Black Boy 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 Swansea venue directory, see what is booked on the Swansea gig directory, or check what the city pays in the GX Index.
The Next 30 Days in Swansea
10 gigs are listed in Swansea 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 Swansea date, rebuilt nightly from the Swansea gig directory. See the Swansea venues hosting them, or what these gigs pay in the GX Index.
Your Next Step in Swansea
Whoever you are, Swansea 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 Swansea
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 Swansea Compares
The Swansea area ranks fifth of 8 for live music venues against its 7 nearest city scenes - Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Bath, Cheltenham, Hereford and Gloucester. 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 · 270 upcoming gigs 86
- #2 Cardiff 33 open mics · 163 upcoming gigs 63
- #3 Exeter 24 open mics · 55 upcoming gigs 48
- #4 Bath 13 open mics · 59 upcoming gigs 36
- #5 Swansea This city 22 open mics · 23 upcoming gigs 34
- #6 Cheltenham 19 open mics · 17 upcoming gigs 27
- #7 Hereford 21 open mics · 9 upcoming gigs 24
- #8 Gloucester 11 open mics · 7 upcoming gigs 19
Frequently Asked Questions
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