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BrightonBrighton FacilitiesWaterBear Music Bar
BrightonBrighton FacilitiesWaterBear Music Bar

EXPLORE

WATERBEAR MUSIC BAR

The WaterBear Music Bar is the latest addition to the WaterBear family. Located in Kemptown it has long been a cornerstone of Brighton’s music scene.

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LIVE PERFORMANCE AND SOCIAL SPACES

The WaterBear Music Bar is a fantastic space for all types of gigs and events. The ground floor features a bar and an intimate performance area while the basement is a dedicated live music space. The space is available for WaterBear musicians and for touring bands and artists to book, offering a vibrant hub for live performances.

It is an ideal learning and social space for WaterBear artists and musicians, benefiting from access to the space for classes, rehearsals, live performance workshops, and stagecraft development, further enhancing their hands-on learning experience. It’s also a great place for our musicians to socialise, with refreshments available, and a licensed bar operating for our calendar of evening events. 

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WATERBEAR MUSIC BAR COLLEGE ACTIVITY

The Music Bar is available for students to book their own gigs and events, and you’ll get regular opportunities to work there too. We also have another venue in Brighton called the WaterBear Venue offering the same opportunities for our students. 

STUDENT NIGHTS

Student socials take place throughout the year and include open mic nights, events, and live gigs, offering plenty of opportunities to unwind, perform, and connect.

STUDENT GIGS AND EVENTS

Students can book the venue to host their own gigs and events, supported by our in-house events team. WaterBear Live events happen regularly, showcasing the talent within our community.

LIVE PERFOMANCE WORKSHOPS

The venue regularly hosts live performance workshops as part of the timetable, helping students refine their stagecraft in a professional, supportive setting.

Keeping music LIVE TOUR

The WaterBear Venue is on the final leg of our Keeping Music Live Tour. This nationwide tour features WaterBear crew, and artists and bands performing alongside local acts at grassroots venues across the UK, all in support of the independent live music scene. More information can be found below.

DEVELOPMENT WEEK

Development Week brings industry into the venue. Expect guest speakers, masterclasses, panels, seminars, and performances from top musicians and partners across the music business.

SHOWCASE EVENTS

Our regular showcases give students the chance to perform alongside professional musicians. Past events held at our sister venue include the acclaimed Night of Amy Winehouse featuring members of Amy Winehouse’s original band.

FRESHERS WEEK

Freshers Week is a highlight of the year, featuring major headliners and giving both new and current students the chance to perform. It’s the perfect way to connect with your community and immerse yourself in WaterBear life.

WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES

The venue offers a range of hands-on work experience opportunities for students looking to build real-world skills. These include joining the in-house band, shadowing live sound engineers, assisting with stage management, and gaining bar or front-of-house experience.

SONGWRITING CAMPS

Our songwriting camps provide a creative and collaborative space for artists to write, experiment, and develop new material using the venue’s industry-standard facilities.

KEEPING MUSIC LIVE TOUR

Independent music venues lie at the heart of grassroots music, where it all begins. This is where many emerging artists and musicians begin their journey to becoming successful, confident performers. In collaboration with the Music Venue Trust, we’ve launched the Keeping Music Live campaign to stand with and support these venues, to raise awareness of the challenges they face, and to champion their vital role in shaping the future of music. 

Keeping Music Live

Venue Gallery

A selection of our vast array of exciting events at the venue.

WaterBear Venue

The WaterBear Venue is WaterBear’s very own seafront music venue and club supporting live music and independent grassroots bands and artists in Brighton and across the UK.

WaterBear Venue

Music Bar ENQUIRIES

If you would like to propose a weekday music event at the WaterBear Music Bar and find out more about the venue hire, facilities and specifications, please contact our events team who would love to hear your plans. Please contact us using the enquiry form below and provide as much information as possible. If you are a current student, you will be entitled to a discounted hire fee.

If you require any further assistance, please contact the WaterBear enquiries team on 01273 726230 or email [email protected].

Open Days