🗓️ Saturday 20th June 2026 Celebrate the start of summer in Corfe today at Sandy Hill Arts’ Solstice Sounds. There’ll be live music, DJs, food and bar and you can gather to watch the sun set over the castle ruins in the distance. Line-Up
🎵 Music oriented events
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 20th June 2026 Swanage choir Castle Voices is hosting a brand new music event at The Mowlem this June – The Swanage Big Sing. It’s set to be a fun, vibrant show, with audience interaction – so bring your best singing voices! The community event is also bringing other local musical groups together, […]
🗓️ Sunday 21st June 2026 Join Swanage’s Karen Grant for an afternoon of song at this Midsummer Concert in Kingston. The musical afternoon at St James’ Church is raising money for the Psoriasis Association.
🗓️ Saturday 27th June 2026 Enjoy an evening of classical music with the Dorset County Orchestra’s annual Swanage Summer Concert. The programme will include: Tickets
🗓️ Sunday 28th June 2026 Dorset choral group Canzonetta is performing in Worth Matravers this afternoon. Their summer concert features a mix of sacred, folk and some lighthearted songs, with flautist Emma Estridge and accompanist Isabelle Butler. The performance at St Nicholas’ Church will be followed by tea and cake with the choir in the […]
🗓️ Tuesday 30th June 2026 Come and enjoy an evening of music from some of Purbeck’s most talented young musicians tonight. Purbeck Youth Music’s summer concert also features inter-school vocal, string, brass and woodwind groups and ensembles. Find out more about PYM online: www.purbeckyouthmusic.org
🗓️ Thursday 2nd July 2026 Alt-folk trio The Well is returning to Purbeck Folk Club tonight. They’ll be supported by local folk/shanty singer-songwriter Luke Russ. Bring your own drinks (glasses provided) or purchase refreshments, hot drinks and homemade cake from the pop-up café. Check The Well out on Instagram: www.instagram.com/the.well.band/
🗓️ Sunday 5th July 2026 Enjoy an evening of big band jazz classics in Harman’s Cross this evening with The Purbeck Big Band. It’s a celebration of summer, with the village hall bar serving Pimm’s and more.
🗓️ Thursday 9th – Sunday 12th July 2026 The Isle of Purbeck’s ‘hidden’ music festival returns to a secret location near Langton Matravers this weekend, with live music and a programme of nature and wellbeing activities. The festival kicks off on the Thursday afternoon, with an opening party that evening, before a full programme of […]
🗓️ Friday 10th – Sunday 12th July 2026 Swanage Jazz Festival returns this summer – with 2026 marking its 35th year. 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 […]
🗓️ Saturday 18th July 2026 There’s live music in Studland tonight with folk singer, cellist, fiddle and viola player Rachael McShane and her band The Cartographers. Combining trad folk and contemporary sounds, the trio is also playing at this year’s Purbeck Valley Folk Festival. Tickets Check Rachael McShane & The Cartographers out online: rachaelmcshane.co.uk/home
🗓️ Saturday 18th July 2026 Singer Tony Christie is stopping in Swanage as part of his 2026 Great Farewell tour. Singing live at The Mowlem with a band, Tony will be playing top tracks from his career, including Is This The Way To Amarillo?, I Did What I Did for Maria and Las Vegas.
🗓️ Saturday 18th July 2026 The Globe is hosting a family-friendly party day/night today, with DJ sets throughout the day from Harder Sounds. The pub takeover kicks off at 3pm with a children’s disco and face-painting and is raising money for local youth charity WillDoes. Line-Up & Timings
🗓️ Friday 24th July – Saturday 29th August 2026 (Selected Dates) The Mowlem’s packed programme of live music tribute acts returns for its fourth year this summer. Summer of Music is a chance to see some live bands on stage in The Mowlem’s theatre, followed by an afterparty in the Showbar after each show. Line-Up
🗓️ Friday 24th – Sunday 25th July 2026 Get ready for three evenings of entertainment with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at Corfe Castle this summer. Enjoy live music from a 14-piece BSO ensemble, alongside light shows against the castle’s dramatic ruins at sunset, with a different theme each day. Bring your own blanket or chair […]
🗓️ Thursday 30th July – Sunday 2nd August 2026 Camp Bestival is back at Lulworth Castle this summer, with a brand new line-up and festival theme. The family-friendly music festival returns to Dorset from Thursday 30th July – Sunday 2nd August 2026 and this year’s theme is The Seaside. Tickets are on sale now – […]
🗓️ 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 for another year with a packed line-up of great bands, soloists and loads of fun things to do. Tickets are available now – […]
🗓️ Tuesday 25th – Thursday 27th August 2026 Head to Ulwell Holiday Park this week for its first ever Summer Fun Week and Fete. There’ll be lots of family-friendly activities and events, including a dog show, live music, food, garden games and raffle. Programme of Events Tuesday 25th August Wednesday 26th August Thursday 27th August […]
🗓️ 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. This year’s highlights include The Longest […]
🗓️ Saturday 26th September 2026 Join Bournemouth Concert Brass at The Mowlem for a matinee performance of their annual Last Night of the Proms. They’ll be playing music from across the genres, including Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Jerusalem and the obligatory Land of Hope and Glory (audience participation encouraged!) Find out more about Bournemouth […]
🗓️ Thursday 1st – Sunday 4th October 2026 The annual Swanage Blues Festival brings the distinctive sounds of blues, roots and soul to Swanage’s pubs, bars and music venues each autumn. This October the festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Line-Up The line-up for 2026 has been announced, and includes the following acts, which have been […]
🗓️ Saturday 21st November 2026 Save the date for this brand new music event in Swanage. The Swanage Shanty Festival will feature Swanage-based singing group Kelp, and will be raising money for the RNLI. More details will be released soon…in the meantime, keep an eye on the festival’s Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588239393336
🗓️ 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 […]
🗓️ 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.