Cambridgeshire has a better gig circuit than its size suggests. Touring bands come through Cambridge every week, the university keeps a classical hall busy all term, and Peterborough, St Ives and Ely book a steady run of tribute nights, folk and big names on their way round the country. The catch is that most of the good stuff is spread across small rooms and ticket sites rather than one handy listing.
This guide covers thirteen venues and clubs, split between Cambridge, the Great Ouse towns of St Neots, St Ives and Ely, and Peterborough, with the two big folk festivals in the seasonal section. Every one was checked in November 2026. The biggest change to know about is at the Cambridge Corn Exchange: Cambridge City Council decides at Full Council on 26 November 2026 whether to close it for about 18 months from the end of December 2026.
Details were accurate at the time of research in November 2026. Line-ups, prices and venue plans change, so please check each venue’s own website or ticket page before you travel.
Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire
Cambridge has the county’s widest choice by a distance. It runs the whole scale, with a 19th century trading hall at one end and pub rooms where the band is close enough to touch at the other. Most of these venues are within walking distance of each other or of the railway station, which matters on a late night when the last bus has gone.
Cambridge Corn Exchange
Indoor activity
- The city’s largest regular concert venue, run on a not-for-profit basis by Cambridge City Council, which marked its 150th anniversary in 2025
- The programme mixes touring rock and pop, folk, tribute shows and comedy, with autumn 2026 dates including Gipsy Kings by André Reyes, Bellowhead and Ocean Colour Scene
- Bellowhead play on Thursday 19 November 2026 and Ocean Colour Scene on Thursday 26 November 2026, both at 7.30pm
- Cambridge City Council’s Cabinet discusses a major refurbishment on 17 November 2026, and Full Council makes the final decision on 26 November 2026
- If the plan is approved, the venue closes at the end of December 2026, works start in January 2027 and reopening is expected in summer 2028, about 18 months later
- No events programme has been published for January 2027 onwards, because the venue chose not to book shows it might have to cancel
- If the refurbishment is turned down, the venue says new shows should start appearing from autumn 2027
- The planned works include a new roof, better toilets and accessibility, and improved facilities for audiences and performers
- Wheelchair spaces are on the flat floor and in the boxes, there are two accessible toilets, and assistance dogs are welcome; for standing shows the accessible seats are in the boxes
Address: 2 Wheeler Street, Cambridge CB2 3QB
Phone: 01223 357851 (tickets and access bookings, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm)
Website: cornex.co.uk
How to book: Online through the Corn Exchange website, where each show has its own booking page
For a lot of people in the county, the Corn Exchange was the venue for their first proper gig, and the last weeks of 2026 may be the final chance to go for a while. The main hall has a flat floor and a balcony, so shows run seated or standing depending on the act, and there is no raised viewing platform for standing gigs. The Grand Arcade car park is a couple of minutes’ walk across the road. Park and ride is cheap at £4 return, but the buses stop at about 8.30pm Monday to Saturday, which rules it out for getting home after most gigs. If the closure goes ahead, keep an eye on the Junction and the Peterborough venues for tours that would normally have stopped here.
Cambridge Junction
Indoor activity
- An arts centre on Clifton Way that books gigs, club nights, comedy, theatre and family shows across more than one performance space
- Music leans towards indie, dub, reggae, electronic, folk and well-known names on the club circuit, with Goldie: Live on Wednesday 11 November 2026 and Gentleman’s Dub Club on Thursday 12 November 2026
- Autumn 2026 also brought Huey Morgan on 27 October and Peatbog Faeries on 28 October, which gives a fair idea of the range
- Tickets are sold through the Junction’s own website, which also carries venue, booking and accessibility information
- Many gigs are standing only, so check the event page if you need a seat
- The box office can be reached on 01223 511 511
Address: Clifton Way, Cambridge CB1 7GX
Website: junction.co.uk
Phone: 01223 511 511
How to book: Online through the Junction website or by phone
The Junction is the venue most likely to have a band you have actually heard of on a Tuesday night. Its listings mix acts on the way up with older names who still pull a loyal crowd, and Goldie and Gentleman’s Dub Club in the same week show how far it reaches beyond guitar bands. It sits on Clifton Way in the south east of the city rather than the historic centre, so it is worth checking the bus or taxi options home before a late show. Arrive early for sold out standing gigs if you want a view.
The Portland Arms
Indoor activity
- A pub on Chesterton Road with a separate back room that has been one of Cambridge’s main grassroots gig venues for years
- Local press has described the concert room as holding around 200 people, which is small enough to stand within a few metres of the band
- Dates on sale include Abigail Lapell on 18 November 2026, Countless Skies on 5 December 2026, Downtown Boys on 8 December 2026 and The Frank and Walters on 1 May 2027
- The Commoners comedy night runs on the first Friday of some months, including 6 November and 4 December 2026, with doors at 7.30pm
- The venue took part in the 2026 Cambridge Folk Festival city-wide programme, with Frankie Archer playing there
- Tickets for most shows are sold through WeGotTickets and other online ticket sites, so check the listing for each gig
Address: 129 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 3BA
How to book: Online through WeGotTickets or the ticket link on each gig listing
The Portland is the sort of room bands remember, because the crowd is close enough to see their faces. It is still a traditional pub at the front with real ales, so you can have a pint before the doors open without needing a ticket. The gig room is about a stage, a PA and the people in front of it, and on a busy night it gets hot and loud, which is the point. Being on the north side of the river, it is an easy walk back into town after the show.
The Blue Moon
Indoor activity
- A pub on Norfolk Street in the Petersfield area, east of the city centre, that puts on regular gigs from local and touring bands, mostly indie, punk, alternative and acoustic acts
- Upcoming shows include Old Saw on 12 February 2027 and Psychic Lemon on 19 February 2027
- The Cambridge Indiepop All-Dayer takes over the venue from 2pm on Saturday 14 November 2026, with Baker Island and Nat Johnson on the bill; it had sold out, with a waiting list, when we checked
- The programme is not just music: drag shows, quiz nights and community meetups also appear on the calendar
- It serves traditional pub food and local ales as well as hosting gigs
- Tickets are sold online through sites such as WeGotTickets and Ents24
Address: 2 Norfolk Street, Cambridge CB1 2LF
How to book: Through the ticket link on each event listing
The Blue Moon is a small local pub where the audience on gig nights is often a mix of regulars and friends of the band. It is a good place to catch a new Cambridge act for the price of a couple of drinks, and a handy fallback when the Portland is sold out. Punk gigs, drag shows and quiz nights can all turn up in the same fortnight, so read the listing before you go. Expect to stand on popular nights.
Cambridge Modern Jazz Club at Hidden Rooms
Indoor activity
- A promoter-run jazz club that books UK and international jazz musicians at Hidden Rooms, a bar on Jesus Lane in the city centre
- Recent shows have run on Thursday nights, with doors at 7pm and music from 7.30pm
- The autumn 2026 programme includes the Jean Toussaint Quintet on 12 November (sold out, with a waiting list), Anaïs Reno on 19 November and Jazz Samba on 3 December
- General admission for the Anaïs Reno show was £20 plus a £2 booking fee, with student tickets at £15 plus a £1.50 fee
- Shows are for over 18s only
- Tickets are sold through the club’s WeGotTickets page, and popular nights do sell out in advance
- The club lists genre on each ticket page, so you can tell a Latin night from straight-ahead modern jazz before you book
Address: Hidden Rooms, 7b Jesus Lane, Cambridge CB5 8BA
Website: wegottickets.com/CambridgeModernJazzClub
How to book: Online through the club’s WeGotTickets page
Small group jazz works best in a small room, and that is what the Cambridge Modern Jazz Club offers. It brings in players you would otherwise travel to London to hear, and the audience comes to listen. Ticket numbers are small, with only a few dozen left for some shows a fortnight out, so book as soon as a name you like is announced. Student prices make it one of the cheaper ways to hear touring jazz in the county.
West Road Concert Hall
Indoor activity
- The concert hall of the University of Cambridge Faculty of Music, known for its acoustics and used by university ensembles, city orchestras and visiting performers
- The programme is mostly classical, with orchestral, chamber and choral concerts, plus jazz from the Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra
- November 2026 concerts include Cambridge Philharmonic on Saturday 7 November, a Cambridge University Lunchtime Concert on Tuesday 10 November and Josephine Davies with the Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra on Sunday 15 November
- Concerts cluster in university term time, so autumn listings are busiest from October to early December
- Summer concerts also take place, such as Cambridge Concert Orchestra’s Living Composers programme in July 2026
- From 19 October 2026, access from the city centre end of Sidgwick Avenue is restricted on weekdays from 7am to 5pm while a traffic order is installed; once complete, the Sidgwick car park will only be reachable from the eastern end
- Tickets are sold by each concert’s promoter, so the booking route varies from one event to the next
Address: 11 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DP
Website: westroad.org
How to book: Through the link on each concert listing on the West Road website
West Road is home to the university’s Faculty of Music, and it is the best place in the county to hear a student orchestra take on something ambitious. University and community concerts usually cost far less than a professional orchestra would. The jazz orchestra nights are worth knowing about for people who would not normally go near a classical hall. Check the travel note before driving, as the Sidgwick Avenue changes affect how you reach the car park.
The Great Ouse Towns: St Neots, St Ives and Ely
Follow the Great Ouse downstream and the live music changes character. These towns are about community venues, folk clubs, tribute nights and one very large cathedral, and most tickets cost less than a city gig.
St Neots Folk Club
Indoor activity
- A long-running folk club that meets every Tuesday evening from 7.30pm to 9.30pm
- Meetings are held at the Eatons Community Centre in Eaton Socon, on the west side of St Neots
- Annual membership costs £20
- Guest performers in 2026 included the singer-songwriter Gren Bartley in June
- Black Cat Radio, the St Neots community station, lists the club’s weekly nights in its events calendar
- Some of the club’s concerts have been held at the Priory Centre in St Neots, which is closed for redevelopment
- We could not find a club website, so the community radio listing is the easiest way to check a night is on
Address: The Eatons Community Centre, 18 The Maltings, Eaton Socon, St Neots PE19 8ES
How to book: Turn up on a Tuesday evening; check the club’s listing on Black Cat Radio for guest nights
Folk clubs are where a lot of the county’s working musicians actually play, and few meet as often as St Neots. A weekly club works out at well under 50p a night for members, which makes it the cheapest regular live music in this guide. It is a community centre rather than a pub, so this is a listening crowd. Check the radio listing before your first visit, as guest nights and members’ nights can differ.
St Ives Corn Exchange
Indoor activity
- A community-run hall built by a local businessman in 1864, saved by residents after it closed in 2001 and reopened in June 2010 after renovation
- It is run as a Community Interest Company with volunteers and professional staff
- Music is mainly tribute acts and local bands, with The Great Pretenders, a tribute to Freddie Mercury and Brian May, booked for 14 November 2026
- A free-entry open mic night runs from 7pm, including one on 13 November 2026
- Green182, a Green Day and Blink-182 tribute, played on 1 August 2026 with tickets at £15
- The building also hosts wrestling, quizzes, cinema and community events, so check what is on before you go
- Spaces include the Charter Hall and the Tony Burgess Room, and the venue is close to the Guided Busway
- Tickets are sold through TicketSource, and the box office is on 01480 496955
Address: The Pavement, The Old Riverport, St Ives PE27 5AD
Website: thecornexchange.org.uk
Phone: 01480 496955
How to book: Online through TicketSource (ticketsource.co.uk/cexevents), by phone or by email to bookings@thecornexchange.org.uk
The St Ives Corn Exchange sits in the Old Riverport area by the Great Ouse, so a gig can easily be the end of an afternoon by the river. It is a proper town hall venue, run by people who fought to keep it, and the crowd tends to be local and up for a singalong. Tribute nights are the bread and butter here, and they are good value. The free open mic is worth a look if you want to hear who is playing locally.
Ely Cathedral
Indoor activity
- One of England’s largest medieval cathedrals, which hosts choral concerts, candlelit concerts and touring acts in the nave as well as daily sung services
- Ely Choral Society performs In Remembrance on 7 November 2026
- The Drifters play the cathedral on 27 November 2026, and Luca Luciano is listed for 15 April 2027
- Christmas by Candlelight on Saturday 5 December 2026 at 7.30pm features West End singers and a live band, with tickets sold through Concerts By Candlelight
- Candlelit tribute concerts also run in summer, such as Beatles and Westlife evenings in July 2026
- Concerts are often run by outside promoters, so tickets may be sold through the promoter’s website rather than the cathedral’s
- Check the cathedral’s opening times page for closures or restricted access before you visit
Address: Chapter House, The College, Ely CB7 4DL
Website: elycathedral.org
How to book: Through the cathedral’s events pages, or the promoter’s ticket link for candlelit concerts
Hearing music under the Octagon at Ely is something you do not forget. The acoustic is huge, which suits choirs and slow, big sounds better than fast rock, so choose the concert accordingly. Candlelit shows sell well and seats at the back can feel a long way from the stage, so book early for a better view. We covered choral Evensong in our Romantic Cambridgeshire guide; this entry is about the ticketed concerts. Ely station is within walking distance, which makes it easy to get home without driving.
The Maltings, Ely
Indoor activity
- A riverside events venue that hosts live music, theatre, comedy and family shows alongside weddings and conferences
- The music programme is mostly tribute bands and themed nights
- Autumn 2026 dates include The Flight Tonight: The Songs of Joni Mitchell on 12 November, Brentwood Mac on 21 November and Marquee Square Heroes, a Marillion tribute, on 28 November
- Shake It Off Stage, a Taylor Swift tribute, is booked for 18 February 2027
- Afternoon shows also appear, such as The Good Old Music Hall Days on 26 November 2026
- It sits on Ship Lane by the River Great Ouse, a short walk from the cathedral and the city centre
- Tickets are sold through the venue’s website, and the office can be contacted on 01353 662633 or at maltings@elycity.gov.uk
Address: The Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely CB7 4BB
Website: themaltingsely.org.uk
Phone: 01353 662633
How to book: Online through the Maltings website
The Maltings is a sociable venue that suits a night out with friends who want to hear songs they know. The setting by the river is the real bonus, with Ely’s waterside a few steps from the door. Most evening shows listed for autumn 2026 finish between 9.30pm and 10.30pm, which suits those driving home across the Fens. If you are making a weekend of it, the cathedral is a short walk up the hill.
Peterborough
Peterborough has a larger choice than most people outside the city realise, with a theatre on Broadway for big tours, a multi-purpose venue in Bretton for tributes and family shows, and a grassroots club in the city centre. The city’s venues also pick up tours that skip Cambridge.
New Theatre Peterborough
Indoor activity
- A large theatre on Broadway in the city centre that hosts touring concerts, comedy, musicals and tribute shows
- Music in November 2026 includes Kerry Ellis on 12 November and the UK Pink Floyd Experience on 14 November, and Wet Wet Wet play on 8 February 2027
- The Amy Winehouse Band plays on 21 November 2026
- Comedy is a big part of the programme, with Gary Delaney on 11 November 2026, Simon Brodkin on 22 November 2026 and Russell Howard on 3 July 2027
- The programme leans towards established names and theatre tours rather than new bands
- Tickets are sold through the theatre’s own website, and the box office is on 01733 852992
- It is in the city centre, so it can be reached by train from Ely, March and Huntingdon
Address: 46 Broadway, Peterborough PE1 1RS
Website: newtheatre-peterborough.com
How to book: Online through the New Theatre website or by phone
The New Theatre is where Peterborough goes for a big night out with a seat. Kerry Ellis, Wet Wet Wet and a run of tribute nights give a good sense of the audience it pulls: people who want a polished show and a proper interval. Comedy takes up a lot of the calendar, so music dates come in clusters. If the Cambridge Corn Exchange closes from January 2027, it may pick up some of the touring shows that would have gone there.
The Cresset
Indoor activity
- A multi-purpose venue in Bretton, on the west side of Peterborough, that has hosted events for more than 45 years
- The music programme is dominated by tribute shows, with Thank ABBA For The Music on 21 November 2026, The Drifters on 9 January 2027 and Genesis Connected on 26 March 2027
- Bigger names do appear, such as The Proclaimers in July 2026
- Other 2027 bookings include Uptown Funk on 12 February, Sun Records the Concert on 20 February and Rock Icons on 15 April
- There is a pub and restaurant on site, open daily, so you can eat before a show
- It also runs a performing arts programme for all ages and community activities
- The box office is on 01733 265 705, and tickets are sold online through each show’s page
Address: The Cresset, Rightwell, Bretton, Peterborough PE3 8DX
Website: cresset.co.uk
Phone: 01733 265 705
How to book: Online through the Cresset website or by phone
The Cresset is a reliable choice for a tribute night, and the line-up for early 2027 covers The Drifters, Pink, Sun Records rock and roll and Genesis. It is in Bretton rather than the city centre, so check bus times or plan to drive. The on-site pub means you do not have to hunt for somewhere to eat first, as food is served at lunchtime and drinks run into the evening. Check age guidance for later-starting gigs.
The Met Lounge
Indoor activity
- A grassroots live music venue on Bridge Street in the city centre, owned by Steve Jason
- It books local and touring bands, acoustic acts, ska, indie, punk and tribute nights
- November 2026 shows include rocketsuit rogue on 6 November, The Dualers on 12 November, Vigilantes on 13 November and Courtney Hadwin on 20 November
- Songkick listed nine upcoming concerts at the venue in early November 2026
- It was one of more than 500 grassroots venues in the national Everywhere At Once festival from 26 to 28 June 2026, with indie and guitar bands on the Friday, pop punk on the Saturday and acoustic acts on the Sunday
- Tickets are sold through online ticket sites including Ticket247, Skiddle and Ents24
Address: Bridge Street, Peterborough PE1 1HA
How to book: Through the ticket link on each gig listing
The Met Lounge is Peterborough’s answer to the Portland Arms: a small room where local bands cut their teeth and touring acts play to a crowd who chose to be there. Its Everywhere At Once weekend put local indie, pop punk and acoustic acts on three nights running, which is a good way in if you do not know the scene. It is the place to find out what Peterborough’s own bands sound like. Check each listing for door times, as they vary from show to show.
Seasonal Highlights
Spring: The Cresset’s Genesis Connected on 26 March 2027 and Rock Icons on 15 April 2027, Luca Luciano at Ely Cathedral on 15 April 2027 and The Frank and Walters at the Portland Arms on 1 May 2027.
Summer: Ely Folk Festival runs from 9 to 11 July 2027, with day tickets from £36, weekend tickets at £130 and under 12s free; the 2026 festival, its 40th, was held on the Stuntney Estate. Cambridge Folk Festival returns to three days at Cherry Hinton Hall from Friday 30 July to Sunday 1 August 2027, with full festival tickets from £170 and a city-wide programme of folk gigs in the weeks before. Candlelit concerts at Ely Cathedral and the late June Everywhere At Once grassroots festival also fill the summer calendar.
Autumn: University term concerts at West Road Concert Hall from October, the Cambridge Indiepop All-Dayer at the Blue Moon on 14 November 2026 and the busiest touring weeks of the year at the Junction and the Portland Arms in October and November.
Winter: Christmas by Candlelight at Ely Cathedral on 5 December 2026, Jazz Samba at Hidden Rooms on 3 December 2026, the last scheduled Corn Exchange shows in December 2026 if the refurbishment is approved, and The Drifters at the Cresset on 9 January 2027.
A Note From Inside Cambridge
We wrote this guide because live music in Cambridgeshire is easy to miss if you only look at the big venues. Some of the best nights we have had were in pub back rooms, a city centre jazz bar and a folk club on a Tuesday, and we wanted to put those alongside the names everyone knows.
If you run a venue, promote gigs or play in a band and something here has changed, please let us know. We would especially like to hear from venues in Wisbech, March, Huntingdon and the villages for the next update.
Before You Go
- Check the Cambridge Corn Exchange website after 26 November 2026, when councillors decide whether it closes for refurbishment from the end of December 2026
- Songkick, WeGotTickets, Ents24 and Skiddle carry most listings for the smaller venues, and following a venue on Songkick sends alerts when new dates are announced
- For local listings, try Black Cat Radio’s events calendar in St Neots, the Peterborough Telegraph gig guides and the Cambridge 105 events pages
- Small rooms such as the Portland Arms and Hidden Rooms can sell out, so buy online before travelling from the other end of the county
- Standing is the norm at the Junction, the Portland Arms, the Blue Moon and the Met Lounge, so check the event page if you need a seat or step-free access
- Hidden Rooms jazz nights are for over 18s only, and age rules vary for late gigs elsewhere, so check before taking teenagers
- Cambridge park and ride buses stop at about 8.30pm Monday to Saturday, so they will not get you back after most gigs; trains or a city car park are usually the better bet
- The Six Six Bar on East Road was marked as closed long term in June 2026 and is looking for new tenants, so do not rely on older listings for it
- Concerts at Ely Cathedral are often sold by outside promoters, so check you are on the right booking site before you pay
