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, with music fans from across the East Midlands and Midlands coming to experience great live music across a range of small and medium sized venues.

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 is so much going on! 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.

Celebrating Eva (Eva Cassidy tribute) at The International TICKETS

The Courteeners at O2 Academy SOLD OUT

Spear Of Destiny at The International TICKETS

L1NKN P4RK (tribute) at Firebug TICKETS

Swamp Coffin, Voidlurker and Traps at The Metal Monocle FREE ENTRY

Replica live Best of The Naughties (tribute band) at Sally Cinnamons TICKETS

Breakin Science at O2 Academy TICKETS

Melomania: Bank Holiday Open Air at 440, Friday Street TICKETS

The Serious Moonlights Plus Special Guests at The International TICKETS

Monster Bank Holiday All Dayer featuring Rogue Notion, Kick in the Bits, Whisky Rebellion, Teiger, Boilers, Boilermen, The Bridge, Stevie Jones and Dean Sheldrick, Lex Pretorious, Family of noise, Thee Acid Tonge, Stripsearch Tramp, Gestalt, CryoFyre, Saur, Kharma, Dan Shenton, Burnout, Libby, Adflictus, Kev Hewick  at Firebug. FREE ENTRY

Maquina at the International TICKETS

Black Out Bailey, Allegiance To Oblivion, Injury Detail at Firebug INFO

You Can’t Kill Us all day alt-queer music festival at Firebug and Duffys TICKETS

Antarctic Monkeys at the O2 Academy TICKETS

Crate Sessions all vinyl DJ Night at James’ Café Bistro INFO

IQ at the Y Theatre TICKETS

SKANKASOUNDS Leicester Linkup at 440 Friday Street TICKETS

Theigns & Thralls at The Metal Monocle FREE ENTRY

Music Fundraiser for ME Action UK featuring Twisted Widows, The Reprobates and Pretty Dirty Rats at The Real Ale Classroom TICKETS

CaveGirl + The Neandergals Plus The Johnny Crabb Trio at Duffys TICKETS

Bug Bear – daytime live music and craft stalls at Firebug FREE ENTRY

Beer, The Chomp, Roo Stafford at Firebug £5 on the door

Hejira: Celebrating Joni Mitchell at the Y Theatre TICKETS

Half Drunk Club 2026 Weekender at Firebug featuring The Toasters, Dakka Skanks, Millie Manders and the Shut Up! TICKETS

Reggae Winehouse at 2Funky Music Café TICKETS

FINAL COIL || Colossloth || Matt Steady LIVE at The Metal Monocle FREE ENTRY

The Old School Sessions Day Party at Brick & Beam TICKETS

Copacabana Magic – The Barry Manilow Show at De Montfort Hall TICKETS

Bollywood vs Ol Skool at 2Funky Music Café TICKETS

Knighton Opera: The Flying Dutchman at St James The Greater Church TICKETS

Jamie Webster at O2 Academy TICKETS

Recitals at St James The Greater Church PAY AS YOU FEEL

The Johnny Crabb Trio at The Metal Monocle

The Spiritual Bat at The International TICKETS

The Alan Fletcher Band at The International TICKETS

Leicester International Music Festival 2026: Concert 1 (Britten, Schumann and Schubert) at Hansom Hall TICKETS

The History of Rock at Leicester Athena TICKETS

Michael Ball: Glow UK Tour TICKETS

Jazz Emu at the Y Theatre TICKETS

Leicester International Music Festival 2026: Concert 2 (Schubert, Britten, Huw Watkins, Schumann) TICKETS

Limehouse Lizzy (Thin Lizzy tribute) at the Y Theatre TICKETS

Too Much Too Young – The Music of 2Tone and Beyond at De Montfort Hall TICKETS

Moretallica (Metallica tribute) at The International TICKETS

Local Band Showcase at Firebug

Rebecca French + support at The Soundhouse TICKETS

Our Souls || Everyone Lies || On Crash Sunday at The Metal Monocle FREE ENTRY

Leicester International Music Festival 2025: Concert 3. A relaxed introduction to the world of classical music and musical instruments, featuring the story of Ferdinand the Bull at Hansom Hall TICKETS

Greyfriars/Haze & Static/Heather McDowall/Mantis at Firebug TICKETS

Leicester International Music Festival 2026: Concert 4 ‘Festival Finale’ (Schubert, Hollaway, Britten etc) at Hansom Hall TICKETS

The Dualers at Leicester Athena TICKETS

Fastlove: A Tribute to George Michael at De Montfort Hall TICKETS

The Jam’d (The Jam tribute) at The International TICKETS

Greyfriars plus The Brilliant Haze & Static, Heather McDowall and Mantis afternoon 16+ show at Firebug TICKETS

Trisubversion at the Metal Monocle

Barker & Fleetwood at The International (1.30pm) TICKETS

Brooke Law at The International (7.30pm) TICKETS

Goo + support at The Soundhouse TICKETS

Tom Ollendorff Trio at The International TICKETS

The Phantoms starring Lee Mead at De Montfort Hall TICKETS

Tribute to The Carpenters at Leicester Athena TICKETS

Unquiet Thoughts by the Castle Baroque Players, music from Renaissance England at St Mary de Castro Church TICKETS

Elvis by Candlelight at Leicester Cathedral TICKETS

Scott Matthews at the Y Theatre TICKETS

Erotic Secrets Of Pompeii at The Soundhouse TICKETS

Candlelight: Queen vs ABBA at the Guildhall (5.30pm) TICKETS

Candlelight: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac at The Guildhall (7.30pm) TICKETS

Dressed To Kill (KISS tribute) at The International TICKETS

Hex Poseur/SIOUXSIE SUICIDE/ Cyph_on at Firebug FREE ENTRY

The Music Of ABBA By Candlelight at Leicester Cathedral TICKETS

King Awesome The ultimate 80s arena rock tribute show at The International TICKETS

Virginia’s Wolves Album Launch Party at Firebug TICKETS

Metal Fatigue at the Metal Monocle

Thistle, with support from Daisy Chain at Firebug TICKETS

Bollywood Mehfil : Leicester at The Y Theatre TICKETS

Legends – Live in Concert featuring Sanjay Kapoor, Aaman Trikha and Mayuri Patalia at De Montfort Hall TICKETS

Cole Stacey – Live At Leicester Guildhall TICKETS

Sounds Of The Lioness – Amy Winehouse Tribute at The International TICKETS

thistle. plus Sex Germs & Canvas Tile matinee show at Firebug TICKETS

Kristin Hersh at The International TICKETS

Captain Fantastic & The Rocket Man Band (Elton John tribute) at De Montfort Hall TICKETS

The Warner E Hodges International All Stars with very special guest Stacie Collins at The International TICKETS

Busk Leicester gives musicians a chance to play in promoted spots around the city streets. Find out more here

Live music at Katie O’Briens every Friday and Saturday

Every Saturday afternoon, Soundhouse Summer Sessions

First Thursday of the month Clarendon Park Open Mic at Bar Dos Hermanos

Tuesday nights at the Soundhouse, Songwriters Open Mic

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

Open mic Irish Sessions at Duffys. 2nd Wednesday and last Friday of the month.

Traditional Irish music sessions at The Emerald Centre, 2nd Friday of the month