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 3rd – Sunday 5th October 2025 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, enjoy some 60 gigs across 15 great venues in Swanage and Purbeck. “Fans come from all over the world for Swanage’s charm, quirky […]
🗓️ Friday 5th – Sunday 7th September 2025 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, street performances, music and dance workshops, all topped off with a […]
🗓️ Thursday 4th – Sunday 7th September 2025 Enjoy four days of classical music on the Isle of Purbeck at a range of historic venues. Purbeck International Chamber Music Festival (PICMF) has grown into a hugely popular and unique event in Dorset after it began life as part of local art festival Purbeck Art Weeks. Each […]
🗓️ Thursday 14th – Sunday 18th August 2025 This family-friendly, intimate festival is set on a farm just outside Swanage and is one of the most popular events of its kind on the Jurassic Coast. Kick back to the sounds of world and roots music, and dust off your dancing shoes for some toe-tapping traditional […]
🗓️ Friday 11th – Sunday 13th July 2025 Swanage’s annual jazz festival is a firm favourite in the town’s busy events calendar, returning each year with over 50 bands performing live across three days. From free fringe outdoor concerts and performances in local pubs & hotels, to main ticketed events at venues including Swanage’s Mowlem […]
🗓️ Saturday 3rd May 2025 The Mowlem does Motown tonight in this upbeat tribute show. Legends of Motown celebrates all the legendary Motown-era artists, such as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Martha Reeves and lots more.
🗓️ Saturday 26th April 2025 It’s a night of tribute music at The Mowlem tonight with the Tom Petty & Fleetwood Mac Legacy Show. The two-hour concert is a celebration of the bands’ classic hits, including Free Fallin’, Go Your Own Way, Little Lies and lots more.
🗓️ Saturday 12th April 2024 Enjoy another spring concert from Purbeck Arts Choir this April. The evening will feature Fauré’s Requiem and Rutter’s Gloria amongst other pieces. Refreshments will be available to purchase during the interval. More information coming soon. Tickets Pick your tickets up from Corben’s Estate Agents nearer the time, or call 01929 […]
🗓️ Sunday 30th March 2025 Catch West African fusion band Touki in Langton tonight. Touki, meaning ‘voyages’, is formed of: They’ll be performing music from their latest album, Plastic Man, which is out now. Tickets Pick up tickets at Putlake Tea Rooms, call 01929 423834or 01929 422832 or buy online: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/dorset/langton-matravers-village-hall/amadou-diagne-cory-seznec-touki-plastic-man/e-vklzqg Check the band out […]
🗓️ Sunday 23rd March 2025 If you like books and music, this Artsreach performance in Studland is for you. The Bookshop Band performs songs inspired by books and have collaborated with the likes of Philip Pullman, Margaret Atwood and Louis de Bernières. Be entertained by multi-instrumentalists Beth Porter and Ben Please as they bring novels […]
🗓️ Sunday 16th March 2025 Cornish folk trio Jaclarabag is playing in Corfe tonight. Their music features folk songs from across the world, lively Balkan pieces and their own originals works. Jaclarabag is formed of: Between them, the trio has also composed music for and performed with a variety of theatre companies. Tickets Check Jaclarabag […]
🗓️ Friday 7th March 2025 A BSO ensemble of 14 musicians is bringing the sounds of stage and screen to The Mowlem tonight. The West End to Bollywood concert features music from favourite films and shows such as James Bond, Harry Potter, Moulin Rouge and Toy Story. Tickets This ‘BSO on your Doorstep’ performance is […]
🗓️ Saturday 22nd February 2025 To celebrate Swanage Town Council’s 50th Anniversary, the town mayor is putting on a charity ball at Swanage Bay View. The glitzy, black tie event will feature live music from Dorset band The Ratpack. Proceeds from the evening will go to Dementia Friendly Purbeck. Tickets
🗓️ Monthly Jazz Concerts Swanage Jazz Club holds regular live jazz sessions at the Isle of Purbeck Golf Club, in partnership with London’s Hampstead Jazz Club. It’s a programme of monthly shows in the golf club’s lounge bar, featuring jazz musicians from the UK and beyond, as well as local homegrown and up-and-coming Dorset talent. […]
🗓️ Monthly ceilidh dancing Local folk band Arish Mel holds regular, monthly ceilidh and barn dance nights in Kimmeridge village hall. No experience is necessary – the caller tells you what to do – and you don’t need a partner. Just turn up on your own or with friends and pay on the door. There […]
🗓️ Thursday 6th February 2025 Purbeck Folk Club is back with another night of live music in Langton, featuring singer-songwriter Kitty Stewart and Purbeck duo Badgerfox. Bring your own drinks (glasses provided) or purchase refreshments, hot drinks and homemade cake from the pop-up café. Check the musicians out online:
🗓️ Thursday 6th February 2025 Enjoy some live Argentine tango music with Tango Calor in a lively evening of song and stories. The trio has performed at a range of venues including tango clubs, arts centres and festivals such as WOMAD, and individually the musicians have played with various prestigious groups, ranging from the Welsh […]
🗓️ Wednesday 5th February 2025 Elvis in Blue Hawaii is a musical comedy show from award-winning theatre company Spitz & Co. Featuring all of Elvis’s hit songs, there’ll be plenty of audience interaction as Elvis impersonator Joe Reeve retells the classic Blue Hawaii movie. Refreshments including bar and pizza will be available. Tickets
🗓️ Bi-Monthly Jazz Sessions Enjoy two opportunities each month to listen to some live jazz from local bands Swanage Jazz Machine and Swing Easy Too in the relaxed setting of Swanage’s Grand Hotel. The afternoon concerts raise money for local charities, including CanCare, Dementia Friendly Purbeck and Purbeck Youth Music Come along for a drink […]
🗓️ Saturday 25th January 2025 If you can’t wait for September’s Swanage Folk Festival, you can come along to a special Celebration Afternoon today, hosted by the Folk Festival team. The free event will be held in The Showbar at The Mowlem and feature local folk-rock band The Savage Underdogs. The Celebration Afternoon will see […]
🗓️ Sunday 19th January 2025 Beat the January blues with The Mayday Singers at their annual afternoon of winter-inspired music. Entitled ‘Winter Song’, the performance will feature Vivaldi’s Gloria. Find out more about The Mayday Singers and all their upcoming events on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Maydaysingers/
🗓️ Saturday 18th January 2025 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 17th January 2024 Get your dancing shoes on for another night of live music at The White Swan with Phoenix Rock n’ Roll. They’ll be playing all your favourite hits from the 1950s through to the ’80s.
🗓️ Thursday 16th January 2025 Best of Purbeck is back for another evening of local talent and fundraising. This month the event is raising money for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice. Line-Up Doors open at 6.3pm. Tickets
Join St Mary’s Church for a vibrant programme of monthly open singing events. Each session will be led by a different visiting church musician. All music is provided and it’s free to attend – all are welcome. Timings No booking is necessary – just come along. 2025 Calendar of visiting guest directors
🗓️ Saturday 11th January 2025 Come along to an evening of live music from Swanage-based Karen Grant at Swanage United Reformed Church tonight. She’ll be singing a mix of modern, traditional and classical songs, and refreshments will be available.
🗓️ Thursday 9th January 2025 The Purbeck Arts Choir is looking for new singers to join its friendly, Swanage-based choir. Come along this evening for a free try-out – no audition required, and no musical experience necessary; just a love of singing. You’ll learn a range of pieces for Purbeck Art Choir’s next performance in […]
🗓️ Tuesday 7th January 2025 Come along to a free taster session with Swanage-based choir The Belvedere Singers. The choir is starting back for its spring term today, with regular weekly rehearsals continuing during term time. Your first two sessions are free and there’s no obligation to join. The Belvedere Singers is a fun, friendly […]
🗓️ Tuesday 31st December 2024 See the new year in in Studland at The Old Harry Bar. There’ll be buffet food available and a special happy hour from 8pm – 9pm, with buy-two-get-one-free on drinks. Be part of creating the night’s playlist with the house disco – add your favourite tracks at the bar before […]
🗓️ Tuesday 31st December 2024 See the new year in at The Square & Compass’s annual party night. Bass Therapy Sound System are back once more to kick the night off with some ‘dub tropical’ modern reggae sounds. For more events at The Square, visit the pub’s website: https://www.squareandcompasspub.co.uk/home.html