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!
Friday 19 September
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
Saturday 20 September
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
Sunday 21 September
◀◀ Rewind : The Journey of Soul, R&B and UK Garage Live! Tickets
The Book Of Genesis: Genesis tribute act at The International. Tickets
Thursday 25 September
Leicester Jazz House Presents: John Etheridge’s Blue Spirits Trio at Phoenix Cinema. Tickets
Friday 26 September
Hot Squash and Friends at Firebug. Tickets
Casey McQuillen Live in Leicester. Tickets
Vicious Nature, RattleSnakesband, Apollyon Rising at The Metal Monocle. FREE ENTRY
Friday 26 & Saturday 27 September
Crowded Festival. Independent Heavy Metal Festival across Firebug, Duffy’s and The Big Difference venue. Tickets
Saturday 27 September
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
Sunday 28 September
Leicester Raga Rhythms, Kathak, Indian Slide Guitar & Tabla Duet at the Sue Townsend Theatre. Tickets
The Phil Beer Trio at the Y Theatre Tickets
Tuesday 30 September
Leicester Philharmonia: Beethoven and Shostakovitch at De Montfort Hall. Tickets
Wednesday 1 October
The Marlinas – Tutu Tango – JJ Lovegrove at Firebug FREE ENTRY
James Oliver Band (featuring Norman Watt-Roy) at The International Tickets
Friday 3 October
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
Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 October
HRH Punk at the O2 Academy Tickets
Saturday 4 October
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
Sunday 5 October
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
Monday 6 October
Nathan Bell at The International Tickets
Level 42 World Machine 40th Anniversary Tour at De Montfort Hall SOLD OUT
Tuesday 7 October
Ben Poole at The International Tickets
Wednesday 8 October
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
Thursday 9 October
London Symphonic Rock Orchestra at De Montfort Hall Tickets
Friday 10 October
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
Saturday 11 October
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
Sunday 12 October
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
Tuesday 14 October
The Billy Joel Songbook at De Montfort Hall Tickets
Wednesday 15 October
Blackheart Orchestra at The International Tickets
Thursday 16 October
Swallowtail at The Big Difference Tickets
Wet Wet Wet plus special guest Heather Small at De Montfort Hall Tickets
Friday 17 October
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
Saturday 18 October
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
Tuesday 21 October
Kathryn Williams at The International Tickets
Thursday 23 – Sunday 26 October
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
Friday 24 October
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
Saturday 25 October
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
Sunday 26 October
Kingsize + Sofrito at The International Tickets
Tuesday 28 October
Prolapse at The International Tickets
Wednesday 29 October
Newton Faulkner at O2 Academy Tickets
The Australian Pink Floyd Show at De Montfort Hall Tickets
Thursday 30 October
Calligram, Forlorn and more tbc at Duffys Tickets
Maximum Rhythm and Blues with The Manfreds at De Montfort Hall Tickets
Friday 31 October
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
open mics and guest spots
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.