Clubs & Venues
photo courtesy of Lew Tassell
Here are brief details, along with links, to some clubs/venues that stage blues gigs in the United Kingdom. They are organised alphabetically by county.
Sadly venues often close and sometimes new ones open so we cannot guarantee that this information is always absolutely up to date.
If you notice any errors, broken links etc. or if you have details of other venues which you wish to see included here, please contact us at [email protected] Thank you.
Thank you to Jonathan Townsend for his valuable help in maintaining the Clubs & Venues Directory. Jonathan is a musician with The Blues Duo – The King Biscuit Boys (www.somethinglikethis.org.uk) and an occasional writer/reviewer for blues magazines.
AVON
The Thekla - a former cargo ship moored in the Mud Dock area of Bristol's Floating Harbour. The ship was built in Germany in 1958 and worked in the coastal trades. The Grove, East Mud Dock, Bristol BS1 4RB
The Tunnel - Independent live music and club venue offering a wide range of live music events - Arches 31 & 32, Bristol & Exeter Mews, Lower Station Approach Road, Temple Meads, Bristol, BS1 6QF
BEDFORDSHIRE
Esquires - Independent music venue. Catch the hottest new band on the Main Stage, dance the night away in Holy Moly's or grab a drink in Danny's Bar - 60A Bromham Road, Bedford, MK40 2QG
BERKSHIRE
Arlington Arts Centre – Always introducing you to up-and-coming blues and folk artists, as well as veteran craftspeople of the scene – Arlington Arts Centre, Mary Hare, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 3BQ
Jagz – Ascot club/bar/restaurant, stages the best in all forms of jazz & blues -Station Hill, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 9EG
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Blues at The Stables – World class music and entertainment - Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, MK17 8LU
Dusty's - every other Wednesday and is located at the Holmer Green Sports Association near High Wycombe
CHESHIRE
Bluefunk Rhythm and Blues Club - We promote the best International touring and UK blues artists with around 30 events per year - The Poynton Legion Club, Georges Road, West Poynton, Cheshire, SK12 1JY
Telford’s Warehouse – An independently run freehouse/bar/restaurant and a renowned music and arts venue - Telford’s Warehouse, Tower Wharf, Chester, CH1 4EZ
CLEVELAND
Redcar R&B Club - Rhythm & Blues music at an accessible price in the Redcar area - The Citz Club, 104 Lord Street, Redcar, Cleveland, TS10 3BP
Saltburn Blues Club - bringing the best of local and national rhythm and blues to Saltburn.
COUNTY DURHAM
Darlington R&B Club – Live blues and rock bands -The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 1SG
Sedgefield Rock & Blues Club - A small yet perfectly formed music venue and a club run by enthusiasts
DERBYSHIRE
Clowne Rock & Blues Club – Clowne Community Centre, Villa Park, Recreation Close, Clowne, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S43 4PL
The Flower Pot – A landmark Real Ale pub and nationally recognised live music venue - 19-25 King St, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 3DZ
DEVON
The B-Bar – Occasional blues at the Barbican Theatre, Castle Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2NJ
Brixham Blues Club - BBT2 (Brixham Blues Club) - 2nd Thursday of the month at the Maritime Inn, Brixham, TQ5 9AH
Otterton Mill – a working mill with restaurant, bakery and gallery and live music throughout the year! – Otterton Mill, Otterton, nr Budleigh Salterton, Devon, EX9 7HG
Teignmouth Blues Club - Formed in 2012 with the aim of promoting blues in the Teignmouth area. The Teignmouth Blues Club meets monthly (currently every 3rd Wednesday in the month) at The Oystercatchers Cafe, Northumberland Place, Teignmouth.
DORSET
Barrelhouse Blues Club – Blues, Jazz and rock club - at The Exchange, Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1FH
Blues Nights - Dorchester Arts Centre, School Lane, The Grove, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XR
DA Blues - Blues at Dorchester Arts, The Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1HF
Mr Kyps – Original touring artists and tribute bands – 8a Parr Street, Parkstone, Poole, BH14 0JY
ESSEX
Blues At Barleylands – Barleylands Road, Billericay, CM11 2UD
Blues at Marigolds – jazz and blues at Harlow Cricket Club, Marigolds, Chippingfield, Old Harlow, CM17 0DJ
Blues in the City - Monthly and Festival days bringing the best live Blues and Roots music to Chelmsford at the Bassment 16 Wells Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1HZ
The Essex Arms - A great spot for music lovers, with some of the best bands around.
Marigolds Blues Club - Mid month blues at Harlow Cricket Club, Chippingfield, Old Harlow, Essex, CM17 0DJ
New Crawdaddy Blues Club - Friday nights are Blues nights at this very popular Club now residing at The Holiday Inn, Basildon - Cranes Farm Road (A1235), Waterfront Walk, Festival Leisure Park, Basildon, Essex. SS14 3DG
The Retreat – The Retreat is a unique venue, that plays host to some of the greatest act in blues music from around the globe - 42 Church Street, Bocking, Braintree, CM7 5JY
Riga Live Music – Southend’s premier live music venue – Upstairs at O’Neills, 119a High Street, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1LH
Seaxe Bar – Blues, Country and Roots regularly at The Essex Arms, Warley Hill, Brentwood, CM14 5HA
The Touchline – The best in live music - original artists, tributes and covers - Hockley Community Centre, Westminster Drive, Hockley, Essex, SS5 4XD
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Vonnies Blues Club - Hosts acts from the field of Blues and Jazz music - The Charlton Kings Club, 21 Church Street, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, GL53 8AP
HAMPSHIRE
Basingstoke Blues Club – great blues at the Moose Centre, Churchill Way, Basingstoke, RG21 7QU
Boarhunt Blues Club – North Boarhunt Parish Hall, Trampers Lane, North Boarhunt, Fareham, Hampshire, PO17 6DD
The Brook - The South Coasts Premier Music Venue - 466 Portswood Road, Portswood, Southampton, SO17 3SD
Talking Heads - 16-22 The Polygon, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 2BN 02380 361970
Bullfrog Blues Club – Onslow Road, Southsea
Forest Arts Centre – blues and more at Old Milton Road, New Milton, BD25 6DS
The Joiners - Southampton’s premier small touring venue - Living Live Music since 1968 - 141 St Marys Street, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 1NS
The Railway - Longest, and arguably the best, established Live Music venue and Pub in Winchester - 3 St Pauls Hill, Winchester, SO22 5AE
HEREFORDSHIRE
Hereford Blues Club - Booth Hall, East Street, Hereford, HR1 2LW
HERTFORDSHIRE
Blues Bar Tring - 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Tring Park Cricket Club, London Road, Tring, Herts HP23 6HA
KENT
Bottleneck Blues Club - The Roffen Suite, 41 New Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1DX
The Wrotham Arms - Premier live music venue in Broadstairs - Ramsgate Road, Broadstairs, CT10 1QQ
Blues With A Bottle - - Free blues club which meets mostly on the first and third Wednesday of every month - The Anchor, 32 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1AS
Kevin Beale has prepared a Google map with details of a number of Kent venues that put on Blues gigs. Here
LANCASHIRE
Big House Blues Bar - A dedicated live blues music Bar & Grill based in Darwen, Lancashire, providing the best of blues, blues rock, Delta blues and everything in between
Juke-Joint Blues - Weekly acoustic blues jam sessions at the Robert Gillow Pub, 64 Market Street, Lancaster, LA1 1HP
(Phone: 01524 36092) every Sunday from 5.00pm - 8.00pm
Lancaster Blues Forum - Monthly lectures on early blues with live performances from local blues artists - Lancaster Library, Market Square, Lancaster
LEICESTERSHIRE
The Musician – fillin’ yer boots with roots in Leicester The Musician Venue and Bar, Clyde Street, Leicester, LE1 2DE Phone: 0116 251 0080
LINCOLNSHIRE
Hope Tavern - The home of blues music in Lincolnshire - Caister Road, Holton-le-Moor, Market Rasen
Louth Blues Club - A non profit members' club dedicated to keeping blues alive and attracting quality live blues music to Louth.
LONDON
100 Club - London's iconic 100 Club: 100 Oxford Street, London, W1d 1LL
606 Club – Live jazz, Latin and blues seven nights a week: 90 Lots Road, Chelsea, London, SW10 0QD Phone: 020 7352 5953
Ain’t Nothin’ But – Live blues in London seven nights a week: 20 Kingly Street, Soho, London, W1B 5PZ
Blue Sundays in De Hems - New blues venue every Sunday from 2nd Oct 2016 - 11 Macclesfield Street, Soho, W1D 5BW
Borderline – all music genres in the heart of Soho: Orange Yard, Manette St, London, W1D 4JB
Brook’s Blues Bar – at Jazz Café at Posk, The Polish Social & Cultural Association, 238-246 King Street, London, W6 0RF
Bull’s Head - 373 Lonsdale Road, Barnes, London, SW13 9PY Phone: 020 8876 5241
Coach & Horses – blues jam every Wednesday from 8:30pm: 391 Leyton High Road, Leyton, E10 5NA
The Colour House Theatre Blues Club - First Sunday of the month
Crawdaddy Club Richmond - Twickenham Road, London TW9 2SF
Eel Pie Club – The Cabbage Patch pub, 67 London Road, Twickenham, TW1 3SZ
The New Cross Roads Blues Club - Every Wednesday from 11th October at The Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Road, SE14 6TY
St Harmonica's Blues Club - One of London’s top 5 blues bars – The Evening Standard - every Friday: 6 Cannon Hill, Southgate, London N14 7HG
Ronnie Scott’s – Home of the best live jazz in London – one of the world’s premier jazz venues: 47 Frith Street, Soho, London, W!D 4HT Phone: 020 7439 0747
The Silver Bullet – blues and jazz jam nights in Finsbury Park: 5 Station Place, N4 2DH Phone: 020 7619 3639
The Troubador – Live Music Venue, Restaurant, Wine Bar, Gallery, Coffee House - 263-267 Old Brompton Road, London, SW5 9JA Phone: 020 7370 1434
Promoter Pete Feenstra has a number of venues in and around London –www.feenstra.co.uk
The Tuesday Night Music Club - Every Tuesday we present live blues based music - c/o The Comrades Club, 194 Brighton Road, Coulsdon, Greater London, CR5 2NF
NORTH YORKSHIRE
Ryedale Blues Club - monthly blues club at The Milton Rooms, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7LX
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Corn Market Blues - Northamptonshire's dedicated Blues/Rock Concert Promotions - 63 Rockingham Road, Corby, Northants, NN17 1AG
Wednesday Blues Club - every Wednesday at the Malt Shovel Tavern, Northampton
NORTHUMBERLAND
Bubbles Bar - Live music venue and Cellar Club - 58a Station Road, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9UJ Phone: 01670 850800
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Running Horse - Nottingham’s answer to the House Of Blues!
OXFORDSHIRE
Brasenose Arms - Station Road, Cropredy, Oxfordshire, OX17 1PW Phone: 01295 750244
Famous Monday Blues - Jericho Tavern, 56 Walton Street, Jericho, Oxford, OX2 6AE Phone 441865 311775
Oxford Blues – Link to a cornucopia of blues gigs around Oxford.
Red Hot Blues Club - 3rd Friday of each month
SCOTLAND
Borders Blues Club - predominantly first Friday of the month in Innerleithen
Cupar Blues and Beyond Club - The club is a voluntary organisation with objectives to keep music live based in Cupar, Fife.
Edinburgh Blues Club - Edinburgh Blues Club is a Social Enterprise established in January 2014 to harness popular support for regular blues events in Edinburgh.
Falkirk Blues Club - Falkirk Blues Club provides live Blues Music events in Falkirk (mainly on the last Thursday of every month), where people can enjoy Blues Music in a safe, friendly environment.
The Ferry in Glasgow - 25 Anderston Quay, Glasgow, G3 8BX Phone: 01698 360085
Smokie Blues – dedicated to promoting live blues in Arbroath and around Angus, Scotland.
SHROPSHIRE
South Shropshire Blues Club - at Ludlow Brewery and Oscars Bar in Ludlow Assembly Rooms.
STAFFORDSHIRE
Lichfield Arts – live jazz and blues every Friday at Lichfield Guildhall, Donegal House, Bore Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6LU.
Pokey Hole Blues Club - The original club dates from 1969, now reformed after a 47 year break at Lichfield Sports Club, Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, WS13 7 SQ
Potteries Blues Club - at the Old Post Office Theatre, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 4JH and other Potteries venues
Shenstone Blues Club - at the Shenstone Country Club, Lichfield
SUFFOLK
The Milkmaid Blues - at The Constitutional Club, 12 Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds
SURREY
Boogaloo Promotions - Home of blues, boogie and rock'n'roll
Boom Boom Club - The Borough Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2EY. This is a members club but membership is available through prebooking and as part of the ticket price. Phone Pete Feenstra on 0208 761 9078
Cellar Bar Blues – blues & boogie at Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QR
Cranleigh Arts Centre - 1 High Street, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8AS
Surrey and South London Rhythm and Blues Club - monthly live music nights at Soper Hall, Caterham. Usually on the 3rd Friday of the month.
SUSSEX
Crawley Blues Club – if you like the blues, this is the place to be
The Ranelagh Arms – Sunday Session and occasional blues - 2-3 The Hight Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1RP
The Neptune – compact and bijou music bar in Hove: the Live Music Bar, 10 Victoria Terrace, Kingsway, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 2WB
Ypres Castle Inn - Gungarden, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7HH Phone 01797 223248
TEESSIDE
Blues at the Bay – The most "intimate" Blues venue in the North East they have bands coming from London to Scotland to play - Cleveland Bay, 718 Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton On Tees, TS16 0JE
TYNE & WEAR
Billy Bootleggers - blues & bourbon bar in Nelson Street, Newcastle upon Tyne
The Speakeasy - takes place every Thursday at The Harbour View Pub, 1 Benedict Road, Sunderland
The Strugglin Blues Club - takes place on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month at The Ship Isis in Sunderland.
WALES
Blues Dragon Club – Cardiff - Blues night 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month - 23 Gwennyth Street, Cardiff
Borough Blues Club - monthly Blues Club. Cwmbran Rugby Club, Off Station Rd, Cwmbran NP44 1NY
CafeJazz - Cardiff - Jazz, Blues and food– weekly Blues night on Fridays: 21 St Mary Street, Cardiff, CF10 1PL
Clwb Ifor Bach - Rock club focuses on homegrown acts, with low key shows by big names, but also features dance music. 11 Womanby St, Cardiff CF10 1BR
Goin’ Up The Country – formerly Hooker Blues Club: Worthenbury Village Hall. Church Street, Worthenbury, Wrexham
Roots n' All - Bringing Live Music to Barry, Penarth & South Wales
The Andrew Buchan Bar, Cardiff – regular jam nights - 28 Albany Road, Cardiff
The Globe - a former cinema with a balcony and an auditorium, hosting well-known and up and coming bands across the genres. 125 Albany Rd, Cardiff CF24 3NS
The Gwdihw – regular jam nights: 6 Guildford Crescent, Off Churchill Way, Cardiff, CF10 2HJ
The Muni - live music venue with wide variety of genres. Municipal Buildings, Gelliwastad Rd, Pontypridd CF37 2DP
The Tramshed - Tramshed is a music and arts venue in Cardiff, Wales, located in a Grade II listed building that was once the old tram depot for west Cardiff. The newly redeveloped venue opened to the public in October 2015. Clare Rd, Cardiff CF11 6QP
Mid Wales Rhythm and Blues Club - Regular monthly or more frequent gigs - The Muse, Old Museum, Glamorgan Street, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7DW
WEST MIDLANDS
Crossroads Blues Club – Blues open mic sessions, guest artistes and Blues jams on Thursday nights - the Tower of Song, Cotteridge, Birmingham
The Robin 2, Bilston – “the Midlands best live music venue” - 20-28 Mount Pleasant, Bilston, Wolverhampton, WV14 7LJ
Ryan's Gig Guide - 21 years serving Birmingham and the Black Country
WEST YORKSHIRE
Marsh Blues Club - good times and the best live musicians in Huddersfield
YORKSHIRE
Honey Bee Blues Club - Held in pubs and venues throughout Sheffield
Howden Live – volunteer-run, charity registered, organisation “enjoying live entertainment in the company of others” - 11 Market Place, Howden, East Yorkshire, DN14 7BJ
Keighley Blues Club – Worth Valley’s original blues venue: Keighley Cougars RLFC, Royd Ings Avenue, Keighley, BD21 3RF
Ripley Blues – Built in 1854, it has taken a while for the Town Hall to boogie but in 1999 it discovered the blues!: Ripley Town Hall, Ripley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 3AX
Saltburn Blues Club - Bringing the best of local and national rhythm and blues - Saltburn Cricket Club, Markse Mill Lane, Saltburn