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 18 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 18 Carlisle venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 10 provide at least a PA system. 3 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

18 grassroots music venues across Carlisle. Capacity, backline, genres, booking info. Updated weekly.

Carlisle Grassroots Venue Score

0 /100

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

0Venues

0With PA

0Full Backline

0Engineer

Capacity, backline and booking info for every Carlisle venue

18 venues, from back rooms to big stages
10 provide a PA in-house
0 offer full backline
3 include a sound engineer
Booking contact for signed-up artists
Verified and updated weekly

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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

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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

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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

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Reach artists actively looking for Carlisle stages

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Last updated: 16 September 2026

18 Venues in Carlisle

grassroots venues hosting live music in Carlisle

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

Carlisle has 18 grassroots music venues listed on GigXchange. 10 provide a PA system, 0 offer full backline, and 3 include an in-house sound engineer. See what these rooms have on over the next four weeks. Sign up free to view booking contacts and fee ranges.

18 Venues 10 With PA 0 Full Backline 3 In-House Engineer Updated 16 Sept 2026

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

Carlisle Venue Scene in Numbers

Live statistics from 18 grassroots venues across Carlisle. Updated daily.

Total Venues

Across Carlisle

56%

PA Provided

10 venues provide a PA system

Full Backline

0 venues offer full backline

17%

In-House Engineer

3 venues include an engineer

Capacity Breakdown

Small

11%

Medium

67%

Large

22%

Equipment Provision

BYO

44%

PA Only

56%

Full BL

How many grassroots music venues are in Carlisle? GigXchange lists 18 grassroots music venues across Carlisle. 56% provide a PA system.

Do Carlisle venues provide equipment? 3 venues include an in-house sound engineer. The majority of Carlisle venues are medium (150–500). Data from GigXchange’s verified Carlisle venue directory, updated daily.

Browse Carlisle Venues

Filter all 18 venues by capacity, backline or area

Showing 18 of 18 venues

Country pub near Carlisle with a monthly open mic folk session

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
Wed—
Thu—
Fri—
Sat—
Sun—

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

Dumfries' Art Deco hall on the Crichton estate.

Backline0 of 7

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

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 Hawick

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
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Old Fire Station Carlisle

Carlisle › Cecil Street★★★★★ (—)

indie and live music venue in Carlisle

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
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Arts bar with open mic sessions, DJs and a gallery

Backline2 of 7

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

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 Penrith

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
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Carlisle › Scotby★★★★★ (—)

Open mic nights with the Brampton Reivers in a refurbished village pub

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times—

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Cummersdale village pub with open mic Irish and folk sessions

Backline0 of 7

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

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.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times—

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Keswick › Bank Street★★★★★ (—)

The Crafty Baa in Keswick hosts an open mic every Thursday at 8pm.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times—

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Newcastle pub with live music.

Backline2 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
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View venue›

Photo: Google

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The John Peel Theatre

Wigton★★★★★ (—)

Free open mic on the first Friday of the month in a 90-seat theatre

Backline3 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
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Sat—
Sun—

Cockermouth's community arts venue on the edge of the Lakes

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times—

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Sun—

Keswick › Lake Road★★★★★ (—)

The Pocket Cafe Bar in Keswick hosts an open mic every Monday at 8pm.

Backline0 of 7

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

Opening times—

Mon—
Tue—
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Carlisle › Town Centre★★★★★ (—)

Large rock venue in Carlisle

Backline2 of 7

PA system
Drum kit
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Keys / keyboard
Vocal mics
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.

Backline3 of 7

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

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.

Backline0 of 7

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

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.

Backline1 of 7

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

Opening times7 of 7

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

View venue›

Carlisle Venue FAQs

How many grassroots music venues are in Carlisle?

GigXchange lists 18 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 18 Carlisle venues offer full backline (drums, guitar amp, bass amp, PA). 10 provide at least a PA system. 3 include an in-house sound engineer. Use the filters above to show only venues with backline.

What size are Carlisle's grassroots venues?

Of the 9 Carlisle venues with known capacity: 1 are 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 18 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 18 grassroots venues are Rock, folk, acoustic, Comedy, rock. 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. Submissions are free, take 2 minutes, and are verified within 48 hours. Once approved, claim your listing to self-edit your profile and manage bookings. Venues with a PRS licence can also list their music policy.

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