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.
🗓️ Saturday 8th November 2025 Jon Doran and the Northern Assembly is a contemporary folk collaboration that’s giving a new lease of life to traditional songs from around the British Isles. They’re playing at Langton Matravers as part of a UK tour with Artsreach. The trio is made up of: Tickets
🗓️ Thursday 13th November 2025 Best of Purbeck is back tonight for another evening of local talent and fundraising – tonight for the Swanage Community Defibrillator Partnership. This month’s featured musicians are:
🗓️ Friday 14th November 2025 The History of Rock Show is back and bigger than ever at The Mowlem tonight. The eight-piece cover band will be playing rock favourites by Led Zeppelin, plus classics from Deep Purple, Guns n’ Roses, Queen and more. It’s a celebration of rock music through the decades from the 1950s […]
🗓️ Friday 21st November 2025 Kingston Country Courtyard is hosting another Tudor evening tonight, with a themed three-course menu and Tudor-era music. Early music consort Courtlye Musick will be performing in Tudor costume, playing instruments from the medieval period to the 1600s. Tudor Feast Menu The three course Tudor feast will be served sharing-style at […]
🗓️ Saturday 22nd November 2025 The Bierfass Band is back at The Mowlem tonight for another evening of Oompah! The Dorset-based, ten-piece band will be bringing their “foot-stomping, thigh-slapping music” to the Showbar, with their signature mix of traditional polkas, waltzes and drinking tunes combined with British pop songs and other familiar favourites. Audience participation, […]
🗓️ Saturday 22nd November 2025 Back by popular demand, Swanage Fish & Food Festival’s Northern ‘Sole’ Night returns to the Con Club tonight. Bring your dancing shoes for a fundraising night of classic Northern soul, ska and Motown with DJ Tony in aid of the festival and its chosen charities.
🗓️ Saturday 29th November 2025 Funky Lemonade is back at The Scott Arms in Kingston tonight with another night of live DJ music. Headlining tonight is Jaguar Skills, with support from DJs Specifik, Cut la Funk, Cursa & L-Roy (Cult 45), playing a two-hour set.
🗓️ Saturday 29th November 2025 Enjoy another winter concert from Purbeck Arts Choir this November. The evening will feature Handel’s Messiah. Refreshments will be available to purchase during the interval. Tickets Join the choir Purbeck Arts Choir is looking for new members. They rehearse on a Thursday evening, and your first two taster sessions are […]
🗓️ Saturday 29th November 2025 Back by popular demand, performer and singing teacher James B Partridge returns to The Mowlem this November as he brings his UK tour of The Big Christmas Assembly back to Swanage. It promises to be a fun-filled evening of nostalgic Christmas songs, magical mash-ups and other festive surprises. Fun for […]
🗓️ Sunday 30th November 2025 ‘Vintage acoustic’ group Hot Fingers is playing at Corfe Castle Village Hall tonight. Expect a lively fusion of jazz, gypsy swing, country blues and gospel from the 1920s and ’30s. Tickets Check Hot Fingers out online: https://www.hotfingers.co.uk
🗓️ Wednesday 3rd December 2025 Come along to Swanage Methodist Church this evening for Swanage Town Band’s annual Christmas Concert. You can also join in a festive singalong with the band at Carols on the Bandstand on Wednesday 10th December.
🗓️ Thursday 4th December 2025 Soprano Callie Gaston and tenor Roger Paterson are joined by pianist Elspeth Wilkes in this musical theatre and opera gala evening in Studland tonight. Brought to Studland village hall by Artsreach, it’s the perfect ‘starter opera’, with famous operatic arias and duets from the likes of Puccini and Verdi, plus […]
🗓️ Saturday 6th December 2025 Swanage-based choir The Belvedere Singers is holding its annual Christmas Concert tonight, with its usual enjoyable variety of festive songs. With a mix of traditional carols and more modern Christmas songs – and of course some audience participation – the evening is bound to get you in the festive spirit. […]
🗓️ Saturday 6th December 2025 Get into the Christmas spirit with a brand new festive event at The Mowlem this afternoon. Bournemouth Concert Brass will lead a Christmas singalong featuring favourite Christmas songs and carols, with audience participation warmly encouraged. This family-friendly show is likely to be popular, so booking in advance is advised.
🗓️ Wednesday 10th December 2025 Join Swanage Town Band for a 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. In case of rain, the concert will be […]
🗓️ Thursday 11th & Thursday 18th December 2025 Join the Swanage Railway this December for its new Christmas Carol Train ride – a special festive journey from Swanage to Corfe Castle. The event will take place on a restored steam train and feature live music from six professional musicians led by local musical director, Angus […]
🗓️ Saturday 13th December 2025 Celebrate the festive season with Harmony Rocks Choir at their ‘Singing for Christmas’ concert. The afternoon performance held at St James’ Church in Kingston is free to attend, and is followed by a Christmas raffle and light refreshments. About the choir Harmony Rocks Choir is an all-female community choir that […]
🗓️ Tuesday 16th December 2025 Get into the festive spirit with Swanage-based Salamanda Swing Band’s annual Christmas Celebration. Bring your dancing shoes or just sit back and enjoy a programme of festive favourites and big band classics. Proceeds from tonight’s concert are going to Purbeck Youth Music. Last year tickets sold out, so get in […]
🗓️ Wednesday 17th December 2025 Come along for a festive drink and some Christmas cheer tonight and enjoy Castle Voice’s first performance at The Mowlem’s Showbar. They’ll be singing a range of Christmas classics, including Fairytale of New York and Do They Know It’s Christmas, plus lots more well-known favourite songs. And, as a special […]
🗓️ Saturday 27th December 2025 One of Dorset’s most popular ceilidh and barn dance bands is playing at The Square & Compass in Worth Matravers tonight for its annual festive shindig. Whilst there may be limited room inside to swing your partner!, it’s a chance to enjoy the band’s music at another great evening of […]
🗓️ Saturday 17th January 2026 Join in the ancient tradition of wassailing at the Dorset Cider Farm in Bushey (nr Corfe Castle) this winter. The evening begins with carols and morris dancing, along with a traditional Mummer play, before a torch-lit procession to the apple orchards, where the trees are blessed for a healthy harvest […]
🗓️ Friday 6th March 2026 Sea shanty singing group the Wareham Whalers is performing a collection of songs entitled ‘Shanties and Strange Stories‘ at Durlston this evening. It’s a celebration of the sea and life aboard sailing ships in the 18th and 19th centuries, through song, stories and shanties. Tickets Find out more about the […]
🗓️ Thursday 30th July – Sunday 2nd August 2026 Save the date for Camp Bestival, Lulworth 2026! The family-friendly music festival returns to Dorset from Thursday 30th July – Sunday 2nd August 2026. Tickets are on sale now and you can find line-up announcements and check out what happened in 2025 online: dorset.campbestival.net Designed by […]
🗓️ Thursday 20th – Sunday 23rd August 2026 Get the date in your diary for the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival 2026! The family-friendly festival, set on a farm just outside Swanage, returns from Thursday 20th – Sunday 23rd August 2026. Tickets are available now – find full details and line-up announcements on the PVFF website: […]
🗓️ Friday 11th – Sunday 13th September 2026 Get the date in your diary for Swanage Folk Festival 2026! 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, […]