Live music in Leicester!

Leicester has a vibrant and exciting music scene, with events taking place almost every night of the week. Rock and pop, classical, touring artists and local up and comers all share stages across the city.

Venues range from the 2,000 seat De Montfort Hall, the 100-year old theatre setting of the Y through to pubs and bars like Duffys, Firebug and the Soundhouse. There’s also The International, which has taken on the mantle from the much missed Musician of showcasing exciting unsigned and touring bands from across the world.

This summer there is a wealth of fantastic talent taking to the stage and we’re wrapping up some of the best picks in this new blog. Take a look at our list and let us know if we’ve missed anything!

Blank Manuskript and Dandelion Charm at The International. Tickets

Reggae Winehouse at 2Funky Music Café. Tickets

Dopamine Carsh/ Bad Toaster/ The Marlinas/ St Brigids at Firebug. Tickets

Plastic Circus, Injury Detail, Canvas Tile at The Soundhouse Tickets

POGO and special guests at The Metal Monocle. FREE ENTRY

The Antarctic Monkeys tribute at O2 Academy. Tickets

RnB vs Garage at the O2 Academy. Tickets

Leicester International Music Festival 2025: Festival Finale, Schubert String Quintet at Hansom Hall. Tickets

Who’s Next – Tribute To The Who at Duffy’s. Tickets

Idol Maiden: Iron Maiden tribute act at The International. Tickets

Blurd and NotRadioHead: tribute acts at The International. Tickets

Palms | Slowburn | Then it Exploded at The Soundhouse. Tickets

9 Carat Purple: Deep Purple tribute at The Shed. Tickets

Fu Fighters: Foo Fighters tribute at The Metal Monocle. Tickets

◀◀ Rewind : The Journey of Soul, R&B and UK Garage Live! Tickets

The Book Of Genesis: Genesis tribute act at The International. Tickets

Leicester Jazz House Presents: John Etheridge’s Blue Spirits Trio at Phoenix Cinema. Tickets

Hot Squash and Friends at Firebug. Tickets

Casey McQuillen Live in Leicester. Tickets

Vicious Nature, RattleSnakesband, Apollyon Rising at The Metal Monocle. FREE ENTRY

Crowded Festival. Independent Heavy Metal Festival across Firebug, Duffy’s and The Big Difference venue. Tickets

Common Folk Festival at Various venues in Leicester.

Candlelight: Coldplay vs Ed Sheeran at The Guildhall. Tickets

The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican at The Soundhouse. Tickets

Johnny2Bad UB40 tribute at 2Funky Music Cafe. Tickets

V8 at The Metal Monocle. Tickets

Leicester Raga Rhythms, Kathak, Indian Slide Guitar & Tabla Duet at the Sue Townsend Theatre. Tickets

The Phil Beer Trio at the Y Theatre Tickets

Leicester Philharmonia: Beethoven and Shostakovitch at De Montfort Hall. Tickets

The Marlinas – Tutu Tango – JJ Lovegrove at Firebug FREE ENTRY

James Oliver Band (featuring Norman Watt-Roy) at The International Tickets

Virginia’s Wolves, Burnt Sugar, UFO Cult and Celestar CoCo at The Soundhouse Tickets

Six Little Fingers and Under The CoshatDuffy’s Bar Tickets

A Night For Neil III. Raising funds for Neil Segrotts continuing rehabilitation featuring Sally Barker, David Wyatt, The Duvet Brother (Gaz Birtles’ new Band), Dancing Wu Li Masters Tickets

Ride Like The Wind: The Yacht Rock Show at De Montfort Hall Tickets

Red Rum Club at O2 Academy Tickets

HRH Punk at the O2 Academy Tickets

NOWT PRESENTS: Hearing Test + more at The Big Difference Tickets

Small Fakers – Small Faces Tribute at The International Tickets

The Drum and Bass Father Showcase at 2Funky Music Café Tickets

Ash – album launch show at 2Funky Music Café Tickets

The Orchestral Qawwali Project at De Montfort Hall Tickets

Opensight, Solars and Sinuous at The Metal Monocle FREE ENTRY

Unbelievable Truth // UK tour with support from Emma Hunter Tickets

Now We Are Everywhere – Celebrating the music of Nick Drake at The International (matinee show from 12.30pm) Tickets

Luke Jackson at The International (evening show) Tickets

Bardi Symphony Orchestra: Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2 at De Montfort Hall Tickets

Nathan Bell at The International Tickets

Level 42 World Machine 40th Anniversary Tour at De Montfort Hall SOLD OUT

Ben Poole at The International Tickets

Billobuckers and friends at Firebug Info

Steal This Band (System of a Down tribute) and Tonedefs (Deftones tribute) at The Big Difference Tickets

Ineza Quintet at The International Tickets

London Symphonic Rock Orchestra at De Montfort Hall Tickets

Half Drunk Club presents: Last Edition + The Whiskey Rebellion at Firebug Tickets

Hard as ya like Gabber, Frenchcore, Industrial and Uptempo night at 2Funky Music Café Tickets

The Lightning Seeds at O2 Academy Tickets

The Doors Alive (tribute act) at the O2 Academy2 Tickets

Replica Jesus, Bad Milk Blood Robot, and Syncolima at The Metal Monocle FREE ENTRY

Beings, Cyclops One, Dopamine Crash and Saturn Republic at The Soundhouse Tickets

Heartland Roots Album Launch Party at Firebug

Bjӧrn Again at De Montfort Hall Tickets

The Moderators at O2 Academy Tickets

Paramore UK (tribute to Paramore) at The Metal Monocle Tickets

Kürøishi (Finland), Feral State, Lindow Moss, Wankys and Thumbsucker at Duffys. £10 on the door

The Bo’ Weevil Brothers at The International Tickets

Elvis Tribute Artists Shawn Klush, Cody Ray Slaughter and Moses Snow World Tour at De Montfort Hall Tickets

The Billy Joel Songbook at De Montfort Hall Tickets

Blackheart Orchestra at The International Tickets

Swallowtail at The Big Difference Tickets

Wet Wet Wet plus special guest Heather Small at De Montfort Hall Tickets

The Crystal Teardrop supported by Ant Hill at Firebug Tickets

Fred Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin tribute) at The International Tickets

Chapters Of Dub Vol4 at 2Funky Music Café Tickets

Those Damn Crows at O2 Academy SOLD OUT

Kafonics (indie rock), Marnie’s Girl (indie), Dum Language (alt rock), Lirielle (electronic pop) Tickets

The Pistols (Sex Pistols tribute) at Duffy’s Tickets

Man Of The World: Celebrating the music of Peter Green at The International Tickets

Lovers Rock, Revival & Rare Groove at 2Funky Music Café Tickets

The Smyths (Smiths tribute) at O2 Academy Tickets

Steve ‘n’ Seagulls at O2 Academy2 Tickets

Motorkill (Motorhead tribute) at The Metal Monocle Tickets

Kathryn Williams at The International Tickets

Riot Fest by the Riotous Collective, four days, four venues, four gigs.

Thursday 23 October Stayfree Showcase; Riotous Collective Take Over at The Big Difference
Friday 24 October Common Room Riot at The Real Ale Classroom
Saturday 25 October Riotous Collective ‘International’ at Firebug
Sunday 26 October Up the Duffy’s Riotous Collective and Friends at Duffy’s Bar

Tickets

WARD XVI ID3NTITY tour at Firebug Tickets

Healthy Junkies supported by Leicester faves Kid Klumsy + Fyzz Wallis Info

Spear Of Destiny at The International Tickets

The ELO Experience A sensational tribute to The Electric Light Orchestra at De Montfort HallTickets

Ultimate Ozzy UK at O2 Academy2 Tickets

Nivanher (female fronted Nirvana tribute)at Duffys(kid-friendly Matinee show) Tickets

Bras N’ Roses (all-female Guns ‘n Roses tribute) at Duffys Info

Heather McDowall plus The Societys and Shallowdream at The Big Difference Tickets

Five Guys NOT Bruce III Tom Brooksby, Rico Richardson, Kevin Jamieson, Darren Driver and Jerry Brennan at The International Tickets

TXP Presents – Haunted Garage at 2Funky Music Café Tickets

Fisherman’s Friends at De Montfort Hall SOLD OUT

The Amy Winehouse Experience at O2 Academy2 Tickets

The Halloween Spooktacular – Leicester Part 2 at O2 Academy Tickets

Dethonator, The Dead List and Nealix at The Metal Monocle FREE ENTRY

Kingsize + Sofrito at The International Tickets

Prolapse at The International Tickets

Newton Faulkner at O2 Academy Tickets

The Australian Pink Floyd Show at De Montfort Hall Tickets

Calligram, Forlorn and more tbc at Duffys Tickets

Maximum Rhythm and Blues with The Manfreds at De Montfort Hall Tickets

Crisis What Crisis presents HALLOWEEN SCREAM FEST! Featuring Velvet Crisis, ‘Saur, The Societys & The Boilerverse performing The Cramps Gravest Hits at The Big Difference Tickets

Slackrr supported by Our Souls Tickets

Rattus Inheritus Play: Music Of The Stranglers Tickets

BEASTWANG: Halloween Indoor Festival at 2Funky Music Café Tickets

Halloween Arockalypse Clubnight at The Metal Monocle

Tuesday nights at the Soundhouse.

Tuesday nights at King Richard III pub with Rhett Barrow

Wednesday nights at The Western with Joe Scott

Last Thursday of the month at the Real Ale Classroom.

Last Friday of the month at James Café Bistro.

Third Thursday of the month at Baton Rouge.