Leicester music venues

The Soundhouse, Southampton Street, 2015

The Shed

The Shed Leicester, March 2017. Photo by Kevin Gaughan.

Recently refurbished, The Shed re-opened on 1st April 2017. Now with two stages, this is Leicester’s longest-serving venue having opened in December 1994. See our feature article on the new Shed.

See the Shed’s page on Facebook. Or visit the Shed’s website.

The Soundhouse

Artwork in the courtyard of the Soundhouse, in June 2016.

A pub in Southampton Street that primarily functions as a live music venue.

See The Soundhouse page on Facebook. See the website for The Soundhouse.

The Musician

The Musician, Leicester, 2015

A permanent live music venue in the city centre known for its offering of folk and country and western acts as well as for hosting gigs of other genres.

See the Musician page on Facebook. Go to the website for The Musician.

Leicester O2 Academy

Union Square at Leicester’s O2 Academy, Handmade Festival 2016

Leicester has an O2.  It has a main arena and a small area called The Scholar Bar which is used regularly for gigs. The Academy is situated on the campus of the University of Leicester but the entrance is very near to the road.

See the website for the Leicester O2.

The Cookie

One of the popular city centre venues, The Cookie has purpose-made venue in the basement equipped with an up to date sound system and stage lighting.

See The Cookie on Facebook.

The Donkey

The Donkey Bar
Leicester, 2014.

A pub where live music happens regularly, noted for its eclectic mix of musical offerings.

See The Donkey on Facebook. The Donkey website.

Pi Bar

Our understanding is that this no longer holds live music events. (14/11/18)

Firebug

Firebug venue in Leicester. April 2017. Photo by Kevin Gaughan.

One of the larger city centre venues, live music takes place in the upstairs room which has a large stage and a fixed sound desk.  Especially noted for metal as well as almost all genres of rock.

Firebug.

The 2Funky Music Cafe

Carol Leeming at The Music Cafe compering Project: Live in November 2015.

The venue known as The Music Cafe is now called The 2Funky Music Cafe. Situated outside of the city centre, the venue has a large stage and two-tiered auditorium with a built-in sound system.

On Facebook, 2Funky Music Cafe page.

Duffy’s Bar

Duffy’s Bar is a traditional Irish pub in the heart of Leicester that also has a gig venue which hosts gigs of all genres.

A Craic at Duffy’s Bar

Duffy’s Bar on Facebook.

See also:

Our previous list of venues from June 2016.

See our list of promoters of live music in Leicester.

Our article about gigs and venues

About The Editor 536 Articles
The Editor of Music in Leicester magazine is Kevin Gaughan assisted by Trevor Locke