TL;DR
Piano Smithfield
Piano Smithfield is a recommended venue for free live music, particularly blues. It features a cozy atmosphere with good cocktails and friendly staff. Although it’s named Piano Smithfield, the venue hosts various bands playing different types of music, not just piano performances [1:4].
Open Mic Nights
For those interested in participating or enjoying an open mic night, the Victoria Pub in Deptford offers a relaxed environment where performers can showcase their talents without pressure. These events are designed to be judgment-free zones, welcoming both seasoned performers and newcomers [2]
[3].
Church Concerts
Central London churches frequently host free classical music concerts. These venues provide an opportunity to enjoy live music in a unique setting, often featuring talented musicians performing classical pieces [1:2].
Other Suggestions
While specific venues were highlighted, other users suggested exploring local pubs and bars that might offer live music without a cover charge. For instance, Pizza Express in Soho is known for its musical offerings [1:5]. Additionally, checking out buskers or street performers in popular areas like Lebauer could provide spontaneous musical experiences
[4:1].
Considerations Beyond Free Music
While seeking free music options, one user emphasized the importance of supporting paid live music venues to maintain a vibrant music scene. Paid venues often nurture local talent and provide a more sustainable model for artists [4:8].
Hi there! I will be in London last couple of days in May and need a little help.
I am looking to find out if there are any places (bars, venues, parks) that have live music (not concerts or famous artists just random performances) during this time - preferably close to central London.
Any help and suggestions appreciated.
Loads of the central London churches have concerts. They will mostly be classical.
And a lot at lunchtime.
Yes, I thought that but failed to say it, thanks!
The Jazz Cafe
I've been to Piano Smithfield, and it's great. It's a tiny venue, and there were a bunch of bands playing different types of blues there a few weeks back. It's not always piano music. The cocktails are really good, the staff are friendly, and if you want food, they basically get (high quality) delivery pizza for you. https://www.pianosmithfield.com/
pizza express in Soho
We run live music nights across London, so if you're in town you should definitely come down to one. There's an open jam tonight in Brixton and it's free entry.
Hi folks. I know how difficult it can be to find an open mic night in London these days so I decided to host my own.
Tuesday 10th June 2025, 7pm @ the Victoria pub, 177 Grove Street, Deptford. SE8 3QQ
I am not a professional musician (or host) but I wanted to create a relaxed, inviting environment where people feel confident to get up and share their talents, make new friends and enjoy an evening of music without pressure or pretence. So whether you're a seasoned performer or stepping up to the mic for the first time, this is a judgment-free zone.
The venue will have two acoustic guitars, two mics, probably a ukelele. Other instruments/backing tracks also welcome but obviously you’ll have to bring them.
I hope this post is allowed here. This is in no way a money making scheme. I am not being paid for hosting, there are no entry fees, just an opportunity for those who love music to meet some like minded people, play some songs and hear some new music. (Or old music)
You can either DM me on here or email the venue any questions.
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Awesome news!
Is this a music-only open mic or are you expecting it to broaden out to other performance arts too? (He asks a magician.)
It’s intended for music really because sometimes The tone can get a bit odd if you mix mediums and the audience isn’t always receptive, but it largely depends how many people turn up: If someone wanted to do a poem or spoken world or something I would probably try to accommodate them (unless there are also 15 musicians vying to get on)
Hi folks. I know how difficult it can be to find an open mic night in London these days so I decided to host my own.
Tuesday 10th June 2025, 7pm @ the Victoria pub, 177 Grove Street, Deptford. SE8 3QQ
I am not a professional musician (or host) but I wanted to create a relaxed, inviting environment where people feel confident to get up and share their talents, make new friends and enjoy an evening of music without pressure or pretence. So whether you're a seasoned performer or stepping up to the mic for the first time, this is a judgment-free zone.
The venue will have two acoustic guitars, two mics, probably a ukelele. Other instruments also welcome but obviously you’ll have to bring them.
I hope this post is allowed here. This is in no way a money making scheme. I am not being paid for hosting, there are no entry fees, just an opportunity for those who love music to meet some like minded people, play some songs and hear some new music. (Or old music)
You can either DM me on here or email the venue any questions.
We don't allow self promotion of events here, purely events you are attending and want company for.
such a great idea!
Thanks. We’d be very happy to see you there.
Fuck it , I might come
Come down big Dave. It’s no fun unless you’re there
Sounds great, I'm fairly local so will definitely swing by! (as a listener, my singing chops are non-existent)
Where is the best places to find free live music? I’ve looked around online a little bit ut it seems like many websites need to be updated. I would specifically love to find some blues music around here!
Like, no cover or completely free? Because LBB and Oden have no cover music on weekends but you'll look like an asshole if you don't buy a drink. Ritchie's usually has a Blues band on Thursday, don't know if there's a cover. Otherwise maybe you can catch a busker at Lebauer.
Oh I meant like not a concert ticket and thanks for the recs!
Joymongers,.. 3 nights a week usually. Just check their insta
Wednesdays at Ritchie's
Wahoo’s has a lot of great shows with no cover!
Respectfully, you should also seek out paid live music, too. We can't maintain a vibrant music scene if the only thing people ever seek out are free shows. The glut of free music at breweries around Greensboro has really devalued live music and makes it harder for places like The Flat Iron to bring in and nurture local and regional talent. Just my 2 cents...
That’s a great point! Do you have other suggestions of where to find paid live music? I’ll def start at The Flat Iron :)
Definitely keep on eye on the Flat Iron! I am not super familiar with the blues scene here per se, but I know they host a variety of genres that would definitely include blues. For my money, The Flat Iron is the best venue in Greensboro – the best sounding, a great cozy space, affordable tickets. I know that OneThirteen on Greene Street does mostly Country-ish bands, but maybe worth checking them out, too.
(I guess the other option too is keeping $10-$20 on you for when you see a free set you really like so you can 'tip' the band!)
Steel Hands on Saturday night. Issue is with the coliseum being next to it they charge non-Steel Hands goers $25 and on nights like tonight (Kat Williams) the lot was full by 8pm. Normally solo gigs with some solid talent, and a chill atmosphere. Just depends on your vibe.
I suspect many people will name Ministry of Sound as the best and rightly so, having been there myself to see kanine which absolutely knocked me out me trousers. But I was interested to see what other venues people might name, I need some good alternatives! I was at Grafix album launch in colours hoxton last night, and even though it was a top night, the bass just wasn’t hitting that sweet spot man! Especially on the neuro tracks, the volume and quality wasn’t doing the choons justice, I need that BOOM
Mad! I’m going there for problem central soon so that’s good to hear, wasn’t expecting to hear that given how it’s a pretty typical club
Yeah I was there for it this Friday!! Such a mad night, upstairs was a bit weird and the MC’s were wayyyy too loud up there, but the downstairs was crazy loud with unreal quality, enjoy man!
I’d say drumsheds/printworks are up there personally
Yeahhh I had the privilege of going to drumsheds before it closed down, sensational, printworks is top priority on the list of places I gotta go, I know it’s supposed to close down soon so I’m shook I might not get a sick dnb night/day there!
I've been to multiple events at Printworks, Pendulum live and deadmau5 were both spectacular. The lighting system in the main press hall is incredible too, it's constantly being reconfigured during shows to provide different effects.
Printworks is closing down?!
Even for house and techno etc I’ve heard the place is well past it and best avoided.
I’ve been going out in London for the last 10-15 years to dnb/house events and never seen a single thing at MOS that tempted me to attend.
Think it turned into a bit of tourist trap.
I've only been to a couple events at oyo, by the looks of it there's multiple rooms to the building. There is one with a booth in the centre, and a smaller one past the toilet shed of the door. Honestly I thought the sound was shit yes there was bass but it wouldn't say it was well balanced with the tops. The room downstairs was a bit better, void system if you remember right? Again I don't think the system was tuned well, and some of the speakers were turned off. Been a sound/AV tech for nearly 10 years, I'm not botching because I'm being snotty, yeah I noticed when audio is bad but I let other people notice and discuss it before I stick my heavy opinionated spoon into things. I'm just curious why people like the venue so much. And on that note: does anyone with an ear for audio have their own comments on this venue, and maybe your faves in London for sound? / Nice one bruvvaaaasss. \
+1 for XOYO and fabric. E1 is also fantastic but far too loud, bring earplugs (should do this anywhere tbh, we only have one set of ears, make them last)
Yeahhh any of my mates that have gone to e1 have claimed it is incredibly loud, and part of me really wants that, because I do love nothing more than raves where the music is overwhelming however it of course comes at a price
Big room in E1 always impressed me.
Do decent events even happen at MOS anymore? I haven’t heard people talk about this place since the early 00s….. heyday was the late 90s.
Also honourable mention and RIP to Plastic People…… 😢
The Steel Yard, no question. It's in the rail arches under Cannon Street station so it's completely sonically insulated and their Nova system makes best use of it. Lots of DnB events there too, it's the spiritual home of Virus Recordings' gigs. Earplugs required.
Hello Mancunians, I don't suppose you know anywhere in town that does live music on Saturday afternoons? I'm taking my mum out the weekend after next for her birthday and she wants 'classy' vibes, so gentle music and elegant cocktails. Ideally, around 3pm after lunch. I've looked at BOTW and Matt & Phreds already, as well as Sonata. Any recommendations? Thank you!
Refuge possibly but might just be a dj
Thanks very much, I'll have a look!
Refuge have just announced their dec listings - def some choirs and other music stuff on at weekends
Blues kitchen sorry
Thanks, I'll check it out.
Blues club?
I know we are ruled by idiots but surely even the tories can recognise the long-term negative economic impact of letting these venues go bust. Or will they just turn a blind eye and let the land these venues reside on be gobbled up by property developers and turned into over-priced flats?
If all the businesses that make the high cost of living in the city worth it go bust, then what's the point of living in the city? I'm American, so things are obviously different here, with how spread out most cities/towns/suburbs are, but I don't really have a desire to live in any city if music venues, theatres, bars, etc. are either shut down or belong to some developer conglomerate.
Well...looks as if it isn't much better in the US
I just don't think they actually are capable of seeing the benefit of investing in anything, it has been ten years of reducing all investment into inrastructure, culture or anything really. They are chronically unable to look beyond the next self-made crisis, choosing instead to sit and watch the country grind itself into economic and cultural depression.
The article specifies it a little clearer, but the fact is that most venues are in very prime real estate and without a reprieve from rent payments for that prime commercial real estate, the venues have to be booking sold out shows nonstop to pay their bills. I think the long-term impact of this will possible be venues moving to cheaper areas in outer suburbs or rural areas, but those are much harder to book sold out shows without a confluence of population. Damned either way. Very sad.
I live in rural England, in the south west and we have two towns close to each other that have venues.. it is such a task to fill them even with fairly reputable bands. Like you say damned either way.
In Birmingham we have a lot of venues in Digbeth, which is an 'up and coming area' (i.e. ex industrial shithole where trendy bars can pop up for cheaper rent) - seems like a no brainer for music venues to move to areas like these outside of the city centre but still accessible by public transport.
I hope it's not a case that there will be less demand for live music in the medium to long term.
honestly I'm even more scared for my friends in bands, I know a lot of them that have basically said they're done even once things do reopen. Most small bands are already basically destitute, and now their main source of income is gone for even longer than most people's (even when shit is reopening, live music is basically guaranteed to be one of the last things to restart)
COVID is only going to widen the wealth gap in music even more immensely, and I'm scared to see how it affects things
Yep. I'm in a small band. Can confirm.
Bet the Mac isn’t short of a few quid.
Welcome to a world of band's onlyfans where you can see their feet, or patreons where we can see their drunk doodles on napkins. Everyone's gotta eat somehow.
All to be replaced by luxury flats probably
Are there bars that have free live music / open mic nights on a regular basis?
follow @ undercurrentsmpls on instagram, they post live music events daily free¬ free, but you will learn about all of the active music venues in the twin cities through that account and you'll find the spots you like best!
Monday night open mic at Terminal
White squirrel bar in Saint Paul!
White squirrel and 331. Tip the bands!
berlin. check their calendar to see the prices. not everything is free
Happening all day. 17 acts over 8 locations. 10:30a-9p.
Looks fun!
Interesting!
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free live music venues in london
Key Considerations for Free Live Music Venues in London:
Types of Venues: Look for pubs, parks, and community centers that often host free live music events. Many local bars and cafes also feature live music nights without cover charges.
Event Schedules: Check the venues' websites or social media pages for event calendars. Many places have regular live music nights, especially on weekends.
Outdoor Events: During the summer months, parks like Hyde Park and Regent's Park often host free concerts and music festivals. Keep an eye out for local listings.
Local Festivals: London hosts various free music festivals throughout the year, such as the Notting Hill Carnival and the Thames Festival. These events often feature a range of genres.
Open Mic Nights: Many venues have open mic nights where local musicians perform for free. This is a great way to discover new talent and enjoy live music without spending money.
Recommendations:
The Old Blue Last: A well-known pub in Shoreditch that frequently hosts free live music events.
The Camden Assembly: Offers a variety of free gigs, especially for up-and-coming artists.
The Southbank Centre: Often has free outdoor performances and events, particularly during the summer.
The Jazz Cafe: While some events have a cover charge, they also host free entry nights.
By exploring these venues and keeping an eye on local listings, you can enjoy a vibrant live music scene in London without spending a dime!
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