From Sidmouth Folk Week and Beautiful Days to Exeter's food festival, discover Devon's best festivals across every season. Plan your visit with Visit Devon.
Music Events in Devon
Devon is one of the UK's most exciting destinations for live music. Cultural hubs like Exeter and Plymouth anchor a year-round concert calendar, while the county's stunning outdoor settings — from clifftop amphitheatres to castle grounds — give Devon gigs an atmosphere you simply won't find anywhere else.
Whether you're catching a chart-topping headline act at Powderham Castle, discovering an up-and-coming band at a Dartmouth waterfront venue, or settling into a folk session at a moorland pub, Devon's live music scene rewards every kind of listener.
Live music venues in Devon
Devon's venue scene is more varied and more accomplished than many visitors expect. Exeter and Plymouth both support thriving live music ecosystems, with independent venues hosting everything from jazz nights and acoustic sessions to sell-out rock shows.
Exeter is the county's biggest music city, with venues ranging from intimate cellar bars to the Great Hall at Exeter University, which regularly attracts major touring artists. Plymouth Arena is one of the South West's largest indoor arenas, bringing household names to the city throughout the year.
Beyond the cities, Barnstaple, Torquay, Totnes and Brixham all have active local music scenes, with pubs and independent venues hosting live acts most weekends. It's well worth checking local listings when you're staying in any Devon town — you may find something genuinely special on your doorstep.
Outdoor concerts and big-name shows in Devon
For headline acts in spectacular settings, Devon has few rivals in the South West. Powderham Castle, set on the Exe estuary between Exeter and Dawlish, is one of the county's most celebrated concert venues — recent years have seen artists including Michael Bublé and Coldplay draw enormous crowds to its grounds.
Exeter Castle is another iconic outdoor concert location, offering an intimate amphitheatre feel that suits everything from classical performances to contemporary pop. Keep an eye on both venues across spring and summer for the biggest announcements.
Best time to visit for outdoor concerts: May to September. Most major outdoor shows are announced in late winter, so book accommodation early if you're planning a trip around a specific event.
Folk and acoustic music in Devon
Devon has a deep and genuinely celebrated tradition of folk music, and several events in this genre carry national — even international — reputations.
Sidmouth Folk Week is the standout. Running every August, it is one of the UK's oldest folk festivals and transforms the entire town into a week-long celebration of traditional and contemporary folk, with performances on stages, in pubs, and on the seafront throughout the day and into the night. It's an experience unlike anything else in Devon's calendar.
Teignmouth Folk Festival offers a more intimate alternative, with the estuary setting adding real charm to the weekend's programme of performances and sessions.
For something more eclectic, the Dart Music Festival in Dartmouth spreads across multiple venues in the town over a spring weekend, mixing folk, acoustic, jazz and world music in a format that makes the whole town feel like one big music venue.
Classical music events in Devon
Classical music lovers are well served in Devon, particularly through the Two Moors Festival — an annual autumn event that stages chamber music and recitals in extraordinary locations across Exmoor and Dartmoor. Candlelit concerts in moorland churches, performances in private manor houses, and recitals in village halls make this one of the most distinctive classical music experiences in the UK. Intimate by design, tickets sell out quickly.
Exeter Cathedral hosts a regular programme of choral and orchestral events throughout the year, and is worth checking regardless of when you visit.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see live music in Devon? Live music in Devon ranges from major concert venues like Powderham Castle to independent venues across Exeter, Barnstaple and Torquay, and grassroots open mic nights in pubs throughout the county.
When is Sidmouth Folk Week? Sidmouth Folk Week takes place each year in late July or early August. It is one of the UK's oldest and most respected folk events, and the town fills up quickly — book accommodation well in advance.
Are there classical music events in Devon? Yes. The Two Moors Festival is Devon's most celebrated classical music event, held each autumn across Exmoor and Dartmoor. Exeter Cathedral also hosts a regular programme of choral and orchestral performances year-round.
What is the best time of year for live music in Devon? Summer (June to September) brings the largest outdoor concerts and events. However, Devon's indoor venues and folk clubs run year-round, making any time of year a good time to catch live music across the county.