The Best Live Music Venues in Brighton

If music be the food of love, head to Brighton. There you’ll find a smorgasbord of venues programming live music from local artists alongside international stars. Folk, indie, hip hop, soul, R&B, rock, electronic, dub/reggae, dance, jazz – you name it, Brighton’s got it. There’s a serious scene here, and we’ve rounded up some of the finest places to get in on the act.

A rainy street scene at dusk with two people walking under an umbrella. Buildings are illuminated in the background, including one with a large, colorful mural featuring various faces. Reflections from the wet pavement add to the vibrant atmosphere.

Where to rock out or unwind in Brighton

Concorde 2

Two DJs stand behind a mixing console on a blue-lit stage, playing music for a crowd. The audience's silhouettes and raised hands are visible in front of the stage, showcasing the energetic atmosphere. The setting suggests a lively concert or nightclub event.
www.facebook.com/Concorde2/

A little way down Brighton Marina lies Concorde 2, a legendary Brighton music venue. Hosting everything from all-day reggae festivals to all-night drum and bass raves, the hottest new jazz to legends of rock, Concorde 2 is an institution. The sound is second to none, the atmosphere is always lively, the programming is on point and there are so many memories wrapped up in this phenomenal venue that the buzz is palpable as soon as you approach along the seafront. It’s the reigning monarch of music in Brighton.

Concorde 2 can be found at Madeira Drive, BN2 1EN


The Mesmerist

A DJ wearing a denim jacket and cap performs on stage at a concert. He is surrounded by DJ equipment and is using headphones to mix tracks. A large crowd in front of the stage dances energetically to the music. The atmosphere appears lively and enjoyable.
www.facebook.com/mesmeristbar/

The Mesmerist, tucked away in the South Lanes among Brighton’s many music shops, occasionally features jazz trios or acoustic concerts, but really they’re all about the club nights. Consistently excellent DJs are a regular feature of this venue and if you’re in need of a good dance to some soul or swing – and who doesn’t every now and again? – The Mesmerist will cater for you.

The Mesmerist can be found at 1-3 Prince Albert Street, BN1 1HE


The Prince Albert

A vibrantly painted building features a colorful mural with numerous portraits of famous musicians and cultural icons. The building, adorned with bright blues, pinks, greens, and oranges, has green-painted windows and doors, standing out against a partly cloudy sky.
https://princealbertbrighton.co.uk/galleries-pub-bar/

The Prince Albert is a proper, poky pub tucked underneath Brighton station, and often the first stop for anyone hungry for music in Brighton with a stage upstairs that’s as sweaty a room as you’ll ever find. Sounds brilliant, doesn’t it? The list of acts to have performed here is as long as the queue for the bar and The Kooks, Maccabees and Royal Blood are just a few of the acts to have squeezed into the venue and sent crowds wild and floorboards sagging at their concerts. There’s even a giant original Banksy on the wall outside – that’s how special this place is.

The Prince Albert can be found at 48 Trafalgar Street, BN1 4ED


Green Door Store

A band performs on a dimly lit stage at the Green Door Store, with a singer at the forefront holding a microphone. Stage lights are directed towards the singer, and a cameraman is filming the performance from the left side. Instruments and band members are in the background.
https://thegreendoorstore.co.uk/gallery/

Green Door Store has been programming a diverse range of club nights and live music since its inception in Brighton in 2011. Located under the railway arches – a few paces away from the aforementioned Albert – it’s a hub for great atmosphere and fantastic music concerts. The acts are of an underground nature, but quality is guaranteed and local label Tru Thoughts also hosts a monthly party, Sonic Switch, which is always worth a trip.

The Green Door Store can be found at 2-4 Trafalgar Arches, underneath Brighton Station, BN1 4FQ


Resident Records

A band performs in a record store. A woman sits on stage, singing into a microphone. Behind her, two men play guitars while seated on amplifiers. The store's shelves are filled with vinyl records. Purple lighting illuminates the scene, and a banner reads album day.
www.facebook.com/residentmusic/

Now, Resident Records may primarily be a music shop (and one of the UK’s finest independent music shops at that) however it also regularly programs live in-store performances from local bands, cult heroes and up and coming acts from across the UK. It’s a Brighton institution, and well worth popping in for a browse.

Resident Records can be found at 27-28 Kensington Gardens, North Laine, BN1 4AL


Rose Hill Tavern

A cozy, crowded pub with wooden decor lit by warm, dim lights. People are mingling and chatting around the bar area, which is decorated with bright string lights and various quirky ornaments. A sign above reads WHITBREAD Fine Old STOUT & PORTER.
https://www.therosehill.co.uk/about

The Rose Hill Tavern is a cultural hub. Run by musicians and artists, they operate a not-for-profit and independent organisation that prides itself on its first-class sound system and its commitment to paying the artists who perform a fair fee. The staff are friendly, the artists are hand-picked from across the UK, and the whole vibe is full of musicians and right on. It’s a growing organisation with exciting projects in the pipeline – so now’s the perfect time to pay a visit, become a local and join the family.

The Rose Hill Tavern can be found at 70-71 Rosehill Terrace, BN1 4JJ


The Verdict

A band performs on stage in a dimly lit venue. The vocalist, wearing a colorful patterned dress, sings into the microphone, while the guitarist, bassist, and drummer play their instruments. The black background features subtle lighting and a few spotlights.
www.facebook.com/VerdictJazz/

If jazz is your thing, as well as many a music shop to plunder for rare vinyl, The Verdict is the place to head in Brighton. A proper jazz bar, with only 60-odd seats – all unreserved – this venue enthusiastically programmes the finest jazz players you’ve never heard of. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside the jazz is popping, the musicians are channelling and there’s some serious heat happening.

The Verdict can be found at 159 Edward Street, BN2 0JB