Want to rock out without splashing out? Soak up symphonies without dipping into your savings? Here’s our roundup of free live music in London — spanning all sorts of sounds.
Pssst! Many of these events take place at venues where it’s only polite to buy at least one drink.
Free rock, indie, folk and reggae music in London
Shacklewell Arms, Dalston: Proving that sometimes all you need is the backroom of a pub and the right attitude, the Shacklewell nary falls silent, with near-daily gigs, club nights and what-not. Many of these gigs are free entry, giving you future bragging rights to say ‘I saw [insert name of O2 headliners] back in the day for nowt’.
Old Blue Last, Shoreditch: This hip east London cornerhouse — once an afterwork hangout for Team Londonist — hosts various live outfits who might just be the next big thing. What’s more, you needn’t pay a penny for the privilege.
The Good Mixer, Camden Town: The cradle of Britpop, Amy Winehouse and other such phenomenons, the Good Mixer stages free shows from emerging talent most Thursdays and Sundays.
The Gladstone, Borough: Most Tuesdays and Sundays at the ‘Glad’ feature free gigs from various indie, folk and alt artists. There’s delicious Indian-English fusion food too, though sadly your paneer makhani pie is not on the house.
Sebright Arms, Cambridge Heath: Bright young indie acts often flout their wares for free at this music-driven boozer, while other nights offer entry for as little as £3 a pop.
Slim Jim’s Liquor Store, Islington: The Struts, Kelsy Karter and Greenday’s Billie Joe have all played this bra-bedangled dive bar, which regularly lays on free shows in its swampy depths.
Free jazz, blues and soul music in London
Ain’t Nothin’ But: As many as 50 blues artists strum their stuff on the stage of Soho’s authentic-feeling blues dive established in 1993, with free entry until 8.30pm/9pm, when a cover charge kicks in.
Basement Blues: Plunge beneath the streets of Notting Hill on Thursdays and Sunday to discover Basement Blues, a coming-together of some of the most smokin’ blues musicians on the circuit. It’s free entry, but book ahead.
Blues Kitchen Brixton, Camden and Shoreditch: Various free soul, neo-soul and blues nights are staged at the three London outposts of this chain throughout the week, with £6 cocktails on the docket on some nights, for those in the market for a cheapish night out.
Jamboree, King’s Cross: Every Sunday afternoon from 3pm-5pm, this bohemian-vibed world music venue welcomes The Prospective Collective to get you swinging and swaying over a pint or two. Jamboree is quite the place for free music sessions, with various other performances and jams playing out across the week. Check out the full line-up.
The Oval, Croydon: Sunday evenings at Croydon’s Oval Tavern are set aside for free blistering blues sessions courtesy of some seriously talented acts, to see off your weekend in sultry style.
The Ivy House, Nunhead: This parkside community pub — which features in our list of 100 best boozers — plonks a jazz band on the stage every Sunday afternoon from 4pm-6pm.
NT’s Loft, Hackney: Wednesdays mean a free serving of improvised jazz, soul, broken-beat and hip-hop at this lofty, boho-style joint — music kicking off at 8pm. Entry is free until 7.30pm.
Ninety One Living Room: Live jazz, flamenco, rap and more are on the docket at this voguish low-ceilinged hangout. While some shows will cost you, some are squint-inducingly cheap — and others, entirely gratis.
Magic Garden: Every second Thursday of the month sees a free blues jam come to Battersea’s Magic Garden pub.
Grow: The first Sunday of the month at Grow in Hackney welcomes Not The Usual Jam, in which all manner of musicians, instruments and genres pool together — and punters are told to expect the unexpected.
Free music jams and piano singalongs in London
Skehan’s, Telegraph Hill: Skehan’s — another of our top 100 pubs in London — hosts a multitude of other free music nights, including its Monday Jam Sessions. Check out the line-up.
Carradine’s Cockney Sing-a-Long: Ivory tickler extraordinaire Tom Carradine is at Mr Fogg’s Tavern, on St Martin’s Lane every Thursday* evening (8.30pm-10.30pm), coaxing folk into singing She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain, There’ll Always Be an England and suchlike. *Mondays during December
Duke of Kendal: Every Sunday from 7.30pm, Marble Arch’s Duke of Kendal pub invites you to gather around the ol’ joanna for a proper singalong.
TAM – Temple of Art and Music, Elephant and Castle: Sundays at TAM mean The Great British Blues Jam — which does what it says on the tin, between 4pm-7pm weekly.
Free classical music in London
Southwark Cathedral: Listen to Southwark Cathedral’s rousing T.C. Lewis organ for half an hour from 1.20pm every Monday. On Tuesdays, regular free recitals are held mid-afternoon at the cathedral.
Trinity Laban: Lap up the sounds of string quartets, pianists, harps and the like, courtesy of Trinity Laban’s regular free lunchtime concerts at venues including Greenwich’s Royal Naval College, St Alfege Church and the Queen’s House.
LSO St Luke’s: Once a month, the striking architectural mash-up of Jerwood Hall inside LSO St Luke’s opens for a free Friday concert, featuring a bijou group of London Symphony Orchestra musicians. Presenter Rachel Leach introduces the music, instruments and performers.
Croydon Minster: Flautists, pianists, choirs, organists… musicians of various stripes play 40-minute sets at the picturesque Croydon Minster during its regular series of free recitals. You’re welcome to bring your sandwiches.
Royal Academy of Music: Book ahead for regular free performances from Royal Academy of Music players in locations including Duke’s Hall. The handsome St Marylebone Parish Church also hosts semi-regular free lunchtime RAM recitals.
St Mary Abchurch, City of London: Nip into this side-street church at 12.30pm on a Tuesday for a free fix of organ tickling.
Lauderdale House, Highgate: The ivories of the Long Gallery’s piano get a regular tickling, thanks to its free lunchtime concerts from pianists belting out everything from Franz Liszt to Frederick Loewe, on various Tuesday and Thursdays throughout the year.
St Paul’s Cathedral: Be blown away by the redoutable swell of the iconic cathedral’s Grand Organ, which is played for half an hour every Sunday from 4.30pm. Just don’t request Feed the Birds. Entry is free and unticketed.
It’s impossible to make this a comprehensive list, but if we’ve missed something important, email will@londonist.com
