Swanage has a thriving, year-round music scene, covering all genres. There’s classical, jazz and blues festivals, family-friendly charity gigs, and live music in a range of pubs, village halls and theatre venues, bringing fresh new, local bands and established bigger names to Purbeck. Find upcoming concerts, open mic nights and free music sessions on our calendar.
🗓️ Friday 30th October 2026 Get your Halloween fancy dress outfits ready for Swanage RBL’s adults-only Halloween party tonight. DJ ‘Scary Steve’ will be on the decks providing the soundtrack to your night of dancing, plus there’ll be Halloween Bebop Bingo and themed cocktails and shots at the bar. Plus, take photos with your friends […]
🗓️ Saturday 31st October 2026 Celebrate Halloween at East Bar tonight with DJs Ricki Hill and Craig Selby. Halloween fancy dress encouraged!
🗓️ Friday 6th November 2026 Following their sell-out Christmas Cracker night in Harman’s Cross last year, The Churchfitters are back at the village hall tonight. With instruments fashioned from household items – picture a double bass made out of a saucepan and a musical saw – expect toe-tapping tunes with a difference from this folk/jazz […]
🗓️ Saturday 21st November 2026 Celebrate Swanage’s maritime music and history at the first ever Swanage Shanty Festival. The one-day event, hosted by Swanage-based shanty singers Kelp!, will feature shanty groups from across the south and south west of England, singing songs of the sea. There’ll be two stages and a bar open all day. […]
🗓️ Friday 27th November 2026 If you enjoy a slice of cake and a cup of tea or coffee with your live classical music, then head to The Mowlem this morning for one of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s popular Cake Concerts. Cake Concerts are open to everyone, but have been developed especially for people living […]
🗓️ Thursday 3rd – Thursday 17th December 2026 (Selected dates) Join Swanage Railway this December as its Christmas Carol Trains return with festive “steam, song and seasonal cheer”. Travel from Swanage to Corfe Castle and back on board a restored steam train and enjoy live music and Christmas carols as you journey through the Purbeck […]
🗓️ Friday 4th December 2026 Enjoy a “cocktail of classics” at The Mowlem this evening, with award-winning touring opera company, OperaUpClose. Set to English-translated works by Puccini, Mozart, Verdi and more, delivered with a contemporary twist, join four friends on a summer’s day picnic as they try to make sense of life, love and adulting. […]
🗓️ Saturday 5th December 2026 Enjoy a festive evening of music with Purbeck Arts Choir tonight at their annual Christmas concert. The performance will feature soloist Grace Lovelass, the youth choir and a solo piece by Simon Lole. The full programme will be released soon, but highlights include: Join the choir ‘Sing before you sign’ […]
🗓️ Saturday 5th December 2026 Dust off your dancing shoes and get ready to swing your partner at The Scott Arms tonight with Dorset ceilidh band favourites, The Black Sheep. For updates, visit The Scott Arms online: https://thescottarms.com
🗓️ Wednesday 9th December 2026 Join Swanage Town Band in a musical celebration of Christmas at its annual Carols on the Bandstand concert. Wrap up warm, bring a torch and join in the singing at Swanage’s historic bandstand for a traditional festive evening. Song sheets will be provided.
🗓️ Saturday 12th December 2026 Get into the Christmas spirit at The Mowlem this afternoon as Bournemouth Concert Brass returns with their Christmas Singalong concert. The brass band will lead the audience in singing all your favourite Christmas songs and carols – including their ever-popular rendition of 12 Days of Christmas.
🗓️ Thursday 17th December 2026 Come along to St Mary’s Church in Swanage tonight for an atmospheric evening of festive music. A Classical Christmas Candlelight Experience by Lumos is a collection of much-loved Christmas songs, carols and movie scores performed live by candlelight by a string trio. Programme Timings Two one-hour time slots are available: […]
🗓️ Saturday 16th January 2027 Join in the ancient tradition of wassailing at the Dorset Cider Farm this winter. The evening begins with live music, followed by a traditional play by the local Mummers, before a torch-lit procession to the apple orchards, where the trees will be blessed for a healthy harvest for the year […]
🗓️ Friday 9th – Sunday 11th July 2027 Get the date in your diary for the 2027 Swanage Jazz Festival. Enjoy free fringe concerts and performances in local pubs and hotels, alongside main ticketed events at venues including Swanage’s Mowlem Theatre and the festival marquee at Sandpit Field. There’s daytime and evening performances from both […]
🗓️ Thursday 29th July – Sunday 1st August 2027 Save the date for Camp Bestival 2027. The family-friendly music festival returns to Lulworth Castle between Thursday 29th July – Sunday 1st August, with a brand new line-up and festival theme. Find full information, along with ticket and line-up announcements online: dorset.campbestival.net Designed by families for […]
🗓️ Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd August 2027 Save the date for Purbeck Valley Folk Festival 2027! The family-friendly festival, set on a farm just outside Swanage, will return for another year with a packed line-up of great bands, soloists and loads of fun things to do – details to be announced in due course. […]
🗓️ Friday 10th – Sunday 12th September 2027 Get the date in your diary for Swanage Folk Festival 2027. The annual folk festival in Swanage takes place each September, bringing the town alive with traditional music and colourful dance displays, along with a range of activities to get involved in. It’s a weekend of folk concerts, […]