A Guide to Live Music Venues in Brighton

Brighton has an esteemed reputation for its thriving music scene and community, so it’s no wonder that there are plenty of live music venues to choose from. With a plethora of choices, from international acts to grassroots music, it can be quite overwhelming if you’re new to Brighton or the music scene. In this blog post, we’ll highlight the most popular live music venues in Brighton, helping you feel more at home as you explore the brilliant venues our vibrant city has to offer.

WaterBear Venue

Exclusively operated by WaterBear, our very own WaterBear Venue is one of Brighton’s most iconic seafront spots. It hosts events and gigs for both students and the public and is utilised for WaterBear classes and masterclasses. The venue’s cove-like vibe, with its underground shelter feel and foliage ceiling, makes it a unique spot. With comfortable seating and a licensed bar, it’s also a great place to socialise. WaterBear musicians have opportunities to perform here and can book the venue for their own gigs. This is not just a venue; it's a crucial part of the learning experience at WaterBear, where education and real-world performance blend seamlessly.

To view what’s on at the WaterBear Venue, check out the Instagram page: @waterbearvenue

Read more about the WaterBear Venue here.

Polite Bureaux performing at the WaterBear Venue

The Green Door Store

Situated directly beneath Brighton Railway Station, The Green Door Store is one of Brighton’s most renowned live music venues. Previously a Victorian horse hospital, this industrial-style music hub has been platforming local musicians since 2011. With affordable events almost every day and a capacity of 170, it’s a favourite within the local music scene. Bands like Starbenders, The Wytches, and GEL have graced its stage.

Event listings for The Green Door Store can be found on their website, here.

The Hope and Ruin

A stone’s throw from Brighton Train Station, The Hope and Ruin is a 100% plant-based pub and live music venue. It hosts local artists and touring bands and serves vegan food from the Beelzebub caravan. The venue features a bar area for live performances and an additional 150-capacity music space upstairs. Acts like DITZ, Welly, and CLT DRP have performed here.

Check out events happening at The Hope and Ruin on their website, here.

Komedia

In the heart of Brighton’s famous Lanes, Komedia is one of the larger venues in Brighton, known for comedy, music, and cabaret. It has two performance spaces: The Basement, ideal for large music gigs and club nights with a capacity of 400, and The Studio for more intimate events with a capacity of 150. Don’t miss Duke’s cinema above Komedia, one of the oldest cinemas in the world!

Click here to see the schedule of events at Komedia.

The Rossi Bar

Established in late 2018, The Rossi Bar is a small but exciting live music venue with a capacity of 50. It has platformed many local artists like SNAYX, Lambrini Girls, and Hotwax. Besides live music, The Rossi Bar hosts poetry and experimental nights and is often involved in local multi-venue festivals. The bar is upstairs, while the Rossi Basement is where the live action happens.

Click here for a list of upcoming shows at The Rossi Bar.

The Pipeline

Located on Little East Street in the South Lanes, The Pipeline is a rock bar and restaurant, ideal for musicians starting out or looking to organise their own gigs. It provides a full backline, including a drum kit. The bar and restaurant downstairs are decorated with lively décor and a retro jukebox, while the upstairs live music space has a capacity of 60 and often fills up quickly.

You can find The Pipeline on Instagram here, or you can check out their website.

The Prince Albert

Just a short walk from Brighton Train Station, The Prince Albert is one of Brighton’s most colourful buildings, and features art like Banksy’s ‘Kissing Coppers’. Originally a three-storey townhouse, it now operates as a pub downstairs and a 100-capacity live music venue upstairs.

Find out what’s on at The Prince Albert by clicking here.

Oh Ronnie performing at the WaterBear Venue

Patterns

For a hybrid of underground club culture and live music, visit Patterns, located opposite Brighton’s iconic pier. Since opening in 2015, it has become a hub for club culture and live music, hosting genres like jazz, indie, and pop. The Basement, with a capacity of 300, is where most events take place. Big names like Flyte, Horse Meat Disco, and Goldie (MBE) have performed here.

For event details at Patterns click here.

The Brunswick

In Hove, The Brunswick features a large sunny beer garden, two live performance spaces, a bar, and a restaurant. ‘The Venue’ has a capacity of 150 and hosts a mix of different genres (including regular Jazz Jams), while the Cellar Bar, with a capacity of 60, is perfect for live bands and heavier music.

Click here to see what’s on at The Brunswick.

CHALK

Formerly known as ‘The Haunt’, CHALK is one of Brighton’s popular clubs, especially for students. Located in Brighton Coach Station, it hosts both touring artists and club nights. The main live music room can change capacity, depending on the event, often around 600. Artists like Tom Jones, Little Simz, and YUNGBLUD have performed here.

Explore what’s happening at CHALK by clicking here.

Daltons

One of Brighton’s newest venues, Daltons, opened in spring 2023. Located just below the Brighton Zip on ‘Dalton’s Beach’, it has two live music rooms. The main room holds 170 standing, while the small room holds 50 and can also be hired as a rehearsal space. With its beachfront location, Daltons is already a popular spot.

For a list of what’s on at Daltons click here.

The Folklore Rooms

Above The Quadrant pub, The Folklore Rooms is an intimate folk venue with a capacity of 60. It hosts a wide range of shows, including seated events, and has previously showcased artists like Passenger, Bess Atwell, and George Ogilvie. The venue’s whimsical vibe makes it a unique and popular spot.

See what’s scheduled at The Folklore Rooms by clicking here.

Josh Roberts performing at the WaterBear Venue, Brighton

ALPHABET

Located in Dyke Road, the Alphabet is an audio-led venue & HiFi pub hosting live performances for both emerging and established artists. Formally a former Gothic Chapel it is now a bohemian theatre featuring a beautiful art deco bar and a labyrinth of corridors. The venue also hosts a variety of community events ranging from album launches to listening parties. 

Click here to view upcoming events at ALPHABET.

DUST

Located in the South Lanes, DUST is a new grassroots music venue and club. Since opening in autumn 2023, it has hosted artists like FatDog, Haley Blais, and Heart of a Coward. DUST also presents themed music club nights and has a capacity of roughly 200-300.

Click here to view upcoming events at DUST.

Concorde 2

Considered Brighton’s main independent music venue, Concorde 2 is a classic Victorian building located east of Palace Pier. With a standing capacity of 600, it has hosted legendary artists like The Foo Fighters, Amy Winehouse, and Carl Cox. It’s an all-rounder for music-based entertainment, offering a mix of touring artists, tribute bands, and club nights.

Discover what’s happening at Concorde 2 by clicking here.

With such a rich variety of live music venues, Brighton offers something for every music lover. Whether you’re into indie, rock, jazz, or club nights, you’ll find the perfect venue to enjoy the vibrant music scene in this coastal city. Join us at WaterBear and become a part of this exciting musical community! ​

WaterBear – The College of Music

WaterBear offers BA (Hons) degree and master’s courses made for today’s musicians, artists and industry professionals. Its colleges are based in the heart of Brighton and Sheffield, two amazing UK cities with incredible musical roots and heritage. The college also has a range of online distance learning courses.

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WaterBear is a College of Falmouth University, a pioneer in creative industries education, entrepreneurship and innovation. Run by musicians for musicians WaterBear is about smaller class sizes, flexible course delivery, bespoke one-to-one mentoring and exclusive work experience and career development opportunities.