Carlisle · 19 venues · 12 with a PA

Grassroots Venues in Carlisle

Every grassroots room in Carlisle - capacity, backline, who books it.

By size: 1 small (under 150), 6 mid-size (150 to 499), 2 large (500+), 10 with no size listed. 15 of the 18 open rooms are verified (1 marked closed). 0 with full backline, 4 with a sound engineer.

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What's on List your venue

Updated 12 November 2026

At a glance

Carlisle

Grassroots
venues

in Carlisle

In detail

House PA	12 venues
Full backline	0 venues
In-house engineer	4 venues
Venue Score	54 /100

01 — Find a venue

19 rooms

Pick your room

Size

Kit

Hire

City

Sort

Photo: Google Drovers RestCarlisleKit not listedNo gigs listed yet

Easterbrook HallThe Crichton, Dumfries · DumfriesKit not listedSat 12 Dec Tide Lines 1,600Cap

Hawick Town HallTown Centre · HawickHouse PAEngineerThu 26 Nov Tide Lines 450Cap

Old Fire Station CarlisleCecil Street · CarlisleHouse PAFri 13 Nov Death of Guitar Pop 420Cap

Open MindCarlisleHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Penrith PlayhouseTown Centre · PenrithHouse PAEngineerNo gigs listed yet 200Cap

Royal Oak, ScotbyScotby · CarlisleHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

Spinners ArmsCarlisleKit not listedNo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

The BrickyardFisher Street · CarlisleHouse PASat 14 Nov One Step Behind (Madness Tribute) 350Cap

The Crafty BaaBank Street · KeswickHouse PANo gigs listed yet Cap tbc

02 — The scene

Venue Score

Out of
100

Solid — healthy coverage, building on genres. A dependable circuit for touring acts.

How it adds up (0-100)

Choice	48
Coverage	100
Backline	0
PA	63
Engineer	21
Genres	100

03 — Rooms + kit

Live data

What Carlisle has

By size

Small under 150	1 11%
Medium 150-499	6 67%
Large 500+	2 22%
Size not listed	10

Rooms with no size listed show under every size in 01.

Kit

Bring your own	7 37%
PA only	12 63%
Full backline	0 0%

This month

Added	1
Removed	0
Verified	1
Re-verified	1

04 — More of Carlisle

Beyond the rooms

Gigs, mics + hire

Go next

Featured venueEasterbrook HallDumfries · 1,600 cap
Carlisle gigsWhat's on at these rooms, by date
What's on this weekEvery gig over the next seven days
Carlisle open micsWeekly stage time, re-checked on a rolling cycle
Carlisle music sceneVenues, rates, guides and gigs

Private hire

5 Carlisle venues say on their own websites that they take private hire - parties, weddings and work events. Each card opens the venue’s rooms, capacities and how to enquire.

Old Fire Station CarlisleUp to 420 standing

The John Peel TheatreUp to 90 seated

The Sands CentreUp to 1,800 standing

The BrickyardPrivate hire

The SourcePrivate hire

Old Fire Station CarlisleUp to 420 standing

The John Peel TheatreUp to 90 seated

The Sands CentreUp to 1,800 standing

The BrickyardPrivate hire

The SourcePrivate hire

05 — Other cities

90 cities

Venues elsewhere

London Glasgow Manchester

All cities, A–ZVenues

Aberdeen27 Aberystwyth10 Accrington12 Aldershot16

Basildon21 Bath36 Bedford14 Belfast77 Billericay6 Birmingham80 Blackburn11 Blackpool47 Boston12 Bournemouth30 Bradford42 Brighton94 Bristol86 Broxbourne12

Cambridge31 Cardiff63 Chelmsford13 Cheltenham27 Cirencester8 Coventry46 Crawley14

Derby38 Derry14 Doncaster19 Dublin3 Dundee35 Durham17

Edinburgh118 Egham17 Epsom18 Exeter48

Farnborough6

Glasgow168 Gloucester21 Grimsby11

Hastings24 Hereford23 High Wycombe14 Horley4 Hull32

Inverness29 Ipswich35

Leeds92 Leicester40 Lincoln22 Liverpool130 London302 Luton16

Maidstone22 Manchester164 Margate32 Middlesbrough27 Milton Keynes18

Newcastle75 Newquay20 Newry8 Northampton26 Norwich38 Nottingham79

Oxford35

Peterborough22 Plymouth34 Portsmouth30 Preston28

Rawtenstall25 Reading32

Scarborough17 Sheffield94 Southampton47 Stockton-on-Tees16 Stoke-on-Trent32 Sunderland23 Sutton14 Swansea34 Swindon19

Telford21 Tunbridge Wells10

Waterlooville12 Watford24 Welshpool4 Weymouth18 Woking16 Wolverhampton49 Worthing1 Wrexham31

York48

Live music on stage: a band under the lights

Carlisle Venues

Grassroots Venues in Carlisle

Q: How many grassroots music venues are in Carlisle?

GigXchange lists 19 grassroots music venues in Carlisle, from small pub back rooms to mid-size standing rooms. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. Browse the full national directory at UK Venue Directory.

Q: Which Carlisle venues provide full backline?

0 of 19 Carlisle venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 12 provide at least a PA system. 4 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

19 grassroots music venues across Carlisle. Capacity, backline, genres, booking info. Re-verified on a rolling cycle.

54/ 100

Carlisle Venue Score

SolidHealthy coverage, building on genres. A dependable circuit for touring acts.

Choice48

Coverage100

Backline0

PA63

Engineer21

Genres100

Capacity, backline and booking info for every Carlisle venue

19 venues, from back rooms to big stages
12 provide a PA in-house
0 offer full backline
4 include a sound engineer
Booking contact for signed-up artists
Re-verified on a rolling cycle

Find out more Join free

Carlisle's upcoming grass-roots gigs, sorted by date

One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages
Sorted by date, refreshed continuously
Free and ticketed shows
Every gig links its venue

Find out more Join free

Weekly open mic nights across Carlisle — verified and mapped

Filter by night of the week
Sign-up times, slot lengths and fees
Most are free entry
Re-verified on a rolling cycle

Find out more Join free

Everything the Carlisle scene has beyond the venue list

City guide: venues, promoters and bookers
Local rate benchmarks before you quote
How to get gigs in the city
Members near you on GigXchange

Find out more Join free

Reach artists actively looking for Carlisle stages

Free listing — no fee
Claim an existing page to keep it current
Backline and capacity specs searchable
Booking contact shown to members

Find out more List your venue

Run a Carlisle venue? Claim your page free — keep specs current

Last updated: 12 November 2026

19 Venues in Carlisle

Carlisle has 19 grassroots music venues listed on GigXchange, from a 60-capacity room to 1,800. Listings show the capacity, backline and PA where we hold them, plus opening times, so artists, agents and bookers can shortlist the right room before getting in touch.

Of the 19 Carlisle venues, 12 provide a PA system and 4 include an in-house sound engineer; none lists full backline yet. See what these rooms have on over the next four weeks. Sign up free to view booking contacts and fee ranges.

grassroots venues hosting live music in Carlisle

12 provide a PA system · 0 offer full backline
4 have an in-house sound engineer included
Booking contact, fee range and submission process available to signed-up artists

19
Venues: 12
With PA: 0
Full backline: 4
In-house engineer: 12 Nov
Last updated

What’s on in Carlisle this week — or see what’s on across the UK.

Browse Carlisle Venues

Search all 19 Carlisle music venues by area, capacity, backline, PA, sound engineer or private hire. Every card shows the room size, what is on stage and the opening times we hold, and opens the venue’s own page with its booking information.

Showing 19 of 19 venues

Country pub near Carlisle with a monthly open mic folk sessionNo gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
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Dumfries › The Crichton, Dumfries★★★★★ (—)

Dumfries' Art Deco hall on the Crichton estate.Sat 12 Dec Tide Lines

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon09:00–16:30
Tue09:00–16:30
Wed09:00–16:30
Thu09:00–16:30
Fri09:00–16:30
Sat09:00–16:30
Sun09:00–16:30

Hawick › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Mid-size folk venue in HawickThu 26 Nov Tide Lines

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
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Old Fire Station Carlisle

Carlisle › Cecil Street★★★★★ (—)

indie and live music venue in CarlisleFri 13 Nov Death of Guitar Pop

Private hire up to 420 standing

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

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Arts bar with open mic sessions, DJs and a galleryNo gigs listed yet

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
1 vocal mic
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

Mon12:00–02:00
TueClosed
Wed12:00–02:00
Thu12:00–02:00
Fri12:00–02:00
Sat12:00–02:00
Sun12:00–02:00

Penrith › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Folk and live music venue in PenrithNo gigs listed yet

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
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Sat—
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Carlisle › Scotby★★★★★ (—)

Open mic nights with the Brampton Reivers in a refurbished village pubNo gigs listed yet

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
1 vocal mic
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
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Sun—

Cummersdale village pub with open mic Irish and folk sessionsNo gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed18:00–22:30
Thu18:00–22:30
Fri18:00–22:30
Sat14:00–22:30
Sun14:00–22:30

Carlisle › Fisher Street★★★★★ (—)

320-capacity rock, indie, metal and punk venue.Sat 14 Nov One Step Behind (Madness Tribute)

Private hire

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
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Keswick › Bank Street★★★★★ (—)

The Crafty Baa in Keswick hosts an open mic every Thursday at 8pm.No gigs listed yet

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

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Newcastle pub with live music.No gigs listed yet

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
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View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

The John Peel Theatre

Wigton★★★★★ (—)

Free open mic on the first Friday of the month in a 90-seat theatreNo gigs listed yet

Private hire up to 90 seated

Backline3 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
2 vocal mics
In-house engineer

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

Cockermouth's community arts venue on the edge of the LakesNo gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
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View venue›

Photo: Google

Claim this venue

The Lodge Arts Collective

Lockerbie › Johnstonebridge★★★★★ (—)

Intimate pop-up music venue in a former hotel at Johnstonebridge, near LockerbieFri 20 Nov Live at The Lodge - EBB & Whimsical Creature

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

Mon—
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Keswick › Lake Road★★★★★ (—)

The Pocket Cafe Bar in Keswick hosts an open mic every Monday at 8pm.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times—

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Carlisle › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Large rock venue in CarlisleFri 19 Feb Wet Wet Wet, Nick Heyward

Private hire up to 1,800 standing

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer

Opening times7 of 7

Mon06:30–22:00
Tue06:30–22:00
Wed06:30–22:00
Thu06:30–22:00
Fri06:30–21:00
Sat08:00–16:00
Sun08:00–16:00

Carlisle › Nelson St★★★★★ (—)

Carlisle venue with live entertainment.Sat 21 Nov Soul Junction - A Night of Live Soul and Motown bangers!

Private hire

Backline3 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
Thu20:00–01:30
Fri20:00–01:30
Sat20:00–01:30
SunClosed

Penrith › Unthank, near Penrith★★★★★ (—)

Penrith gallery and arts venue in Cumbria.No gigs listed yet

BacklineTBC

PA system (TBC)
Drum kit (TBC)
Guitar amp (TBC)
Bass amp (TBC)
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed10:00–16:30
Thu10:00–16:30
Fri10:00–16:30
Sat10:00–16:30
Sun10:00–16:30

Independent grassroots venue since 1999.Sat 21 Nov Stars in the making

Backline1 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard (TBC)
Vocal mics (TBC)
In-house engineer (TBC)

Opening times7 of 7

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
ThuClosed
Fri23:00–03:00
Sat21:00–03:00
SunClosed

View venue›

Venues You Can Hire in Carlisle

5 Carlisle venues say on their own websites that they take private hire - parties, weddings and work events. Each card opens the venue’s rooms, capacities and how to enquire.

Carlisle Venue Scene in Numbers

Carlisle’s 19 grassroots venues in one picture: how big the rooms are, what kit is on stage and how many take private hire. Use it to judge whether to bring your own backline and which size of room suits your draw before you start booking.

Grassroots venues · Carlisle

From the
GigXchange venue directory

Room sizeof the 9 with a known capacity

1Small · under 150

6Medium · 150–499

2Large · 500+

What's on stageall 19 venues

12PA only

7Bring your own gear

12provide a PA

4have an in-house engineer

5take private hire

Rock · Folkmost-booked genres

How many grassroots music venues are in Carlisle? GigXchange lists 19 grassroots music venues across Carlisle. 63% provide a PA system.

Do Carlisle venues provide equipment? 4 venues include an in-house sound engineer. The majority of Carlisle venues are medium (150–499). Data from GigXchange’s verified Carlisle venue directory.

Carlisle Venue FAQs

10 answers about grassroots venues in Carlisle, from how many there are and how big the rooms are to the kit they provide, booking a gig and listing your venue free - each answered from the venues listed here.

How many grassroots music venues are in Carlisle?

GigXchange lists 19 grassroots music venues in Carlisle, from small pub back rooms to mid-size standing rooms. Each listing includes capacity, backline provision, genres booked, and verification status. Browse the full national directory at UK Venue Directory.

Which Carlisle venues provide full backline?

0 of 19 Carlisle venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 12 provide at least a PA system. 4 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

Which Carlisle venues can you hire for a private event?

5 Carlisle venues state on their own websites that they take private hire for parties, weddings and work events, among them Old Fire Station Carlisle (up to 420 standing), The John Peel Theatre (up to 90 seated) and The Sands Centre (up to 1,800 standing). Each venue page has a Private hire tab with its rooms, capacities and a link to enquire with the venue directly. Use the Private hire filter above to list them all.

What size are Carlisle's grassroots venues?

Of the 9 Carlisle venues with known capacity: 1 is small (under 150), 6 are medium (150–499), and 2 are large (500+). The majority of Carlisle’s grassroots scene is mid-size standing rooms.

How do I book a gig at a Carlisle venue?

Sign up free on GigXchange to view booking contacts, fee ranges, and submission processes for every Carlisle venue. Most grassroots venues accept email submissions with a link to your music, EPK, or social profiles. Check current UK fee benchmarks before quoting.

Are there open mics in Carlisle?

Yes. GigXchange also runs the UK Open Mic Finder for Carlisle, which lists weekly open mic nights with backline, day, and fee filters. Open mics are the main pathway from bedroom to stage for most grassroots artists. See also our guide on getting gigs in the UK.

What's on at Carlisle venues this month?

The What’s On in Carlisle page lists every gig we hold across these 19 venues over the next four weeks — dates, times, entry and ticket links, refreshed daily. For everything beyond that window, browse the Carlisle gig directory.

What genres do Carlisle venues book?

The most commonly booked genres across Carlisle’s 19 grassroots venues are Rock, folk, acoustic, Comedy, Indie. Many venues accept both original music and covers. Browse artist profiles by genre to find acts for your venue.

What are typical fees at Carlisle venues?

Fees vary by venue size and event type. The GigXchange Rate Calculator shows current percentiles for Carlisle by band size and venue type. Door splits are common at smaller venues; flat fees are more typical at mid-size rooms. The Musicians’ Union publishes recommended minimums.

Can I list my Carlisle venue for free?

Yes. Listing is free. If your venue is already in the directory, open its page and press Claim this venue (or create a free venue account) to self-edit your profile and manage bookings; if it is missing, email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look. Venues with TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS can also list their music policy.

07 — Keep up with Carlisle

Free, weekly

One email a week. Gigs near you.

Keep up with Carlisle

One email a week with the gigs coming up at Carlisle’s grassroots venues - new nights, open mics and shows worth catching. Free to join and easy to leave, and turning up is what keeps small rooms open.

Help keep grassroots venues open in Carlisle

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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 Carlisle. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.

The rooms. Of the 9 rooms with a listed capacity, the middle one holds about 350 and 1 holds under 150; the largest listed is The Sands Centre at 1,800.

What they book. In what Carlisle venues say they book, rock, folk and acoustic come up most often, out of 20 genres listed. An act that fits pitches best with a recent clip and a clear fee. 2 of these listings were added or re-checked in the last month.

Next steps. To see which of these rooms are booking now, use the Carlisle gig directory; new acts get stage time at the Carlisle open mics, and the GX Index sets out the going rates. Need an act for one? See live music for pubs, clubs and hotels.

More Cities

Venue guides for every UK city we cover, each with the same filters and capacity data, biggest scenes first. Useful when you are planning a run of dates or looking for a room beyond Carlisle.

Run a Carlisle venue? List it free.

Listing is free. Already listed? Open your venue’s page and press Claim this venue to keep its capacity, kit and booking details up to date for the artists searching here. Missing? Email support@gigxchange.app and we will take a look.

For Artists For Venues For Agents For Promoters For Organisers For Fans

ForArtistsGet booked. Get paid. ForVenuesFill the calendar. ForAgentsRun your roster. ForPromotersBuild the bill. ForOrganisersBook acts for your event. ForFansFind tonight’s gigs.

Run a Carlisle venue?

Claim your page free and keep your specs current - artists find you by size, kit and night.

Why list?Claim your venue

Venues like these feed the national Hardest Working Rooms table and every UK city's scene. Browse all UK venues.