Les Misérables : School Edition
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Discover Blackburn
Live Music in Blackburn
Discover live gigs, underground shows, grassroots bands and rising talent in Blackburn
Wherever you are heading, most nights of the week you can find some form of live music to entertain you. In 2024 #blackburngigs was born to showcase lots of amazing local artists at venues right across the town centre, from the lively Firepit, to the intimate setting of The Drummer’s Arms. Supported by the Arts Council and Blackburn Council, most of the shows are free to attend, so check out their hub for a wide range of genres. In the meantime, below is a list of all the gigs across Blackburn, if you know of any we’ve not listed, just send us a message, we love to promote all Blackburn music.
Your guide to live music
Family Music
23 Jul 2026 until — 26 Jul 2026
We Will Rock You: The Musical by Queen & Ben Elton
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
Friday 24th July 2026
The Music Of Bruce Springsteen By Candlelight
Blackburn Cathedral
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Family Music
Thursday 27 August 2026
Simply Red Tribute: Holding Back The Years
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
 Friday 28 August 2026
Heaven Can Wait – A Tribute to the Music of Meat Loaf
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
Monday 31st August 2026
Maria Gajraj Bank Holiday Celebrity Organ Concert
Blackburn Cathedral
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Music
Thursday 3 September 2026
DESPERADOS: The Music & Legacy of Eagles
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Saturday 12 September 2026
ONE VOICE – The Music of Barry Manilow
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
Saturday 19th September 2026
The Music of The Eagles by Candlelight
Blackburn Cathedral
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Family Music
Sunday 20 September 2026
Moments Of Pleasure – Ultimate Tribute to Kate Bush
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
Friday 25th September 2026
Richard Durrant – The Art of Levitation
Blackburn Cathedral
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Family Music
Sunday 27 September 2026
A Tribute to Sting & the Police – Starring the Rozzers
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Sunday 4 October 2026
Reflections – the Musical Legacy of Diana Ross
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Wednesday 7 October 2026
The Opera Boys – The Farewell Tour starring Paul Potts
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Thursday 8 October 2026
Choose George: Celebrating George Michael
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Friday 9 October 2026
DS:UK…in Tribute to Dire Straits | ON anoTHEr NIGHT
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Saturday 10 October 2026
Club 80s Live – The UK’s Biggest Eighties Experience!
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
Sunday 11 October 2026
The Northern Swing Orchestra – A Tribute to Glenn Miller
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Wednesday 14 October 2026
The Searchers Experience Show – Starring Spencer James
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
Thursday 15 October 2026
The Johnny Cash Roadshow: The Prison Years Tour
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
 Friday 16 October 2026
Man of the World: The Music of Peter Green
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Wednesday 21 October 2026
Cal Halbert – 100 Impressions In One Hour
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Thursday 22 October 2026
STRONG ENOUGH – Ultimate Tribute Concert to Cher
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Thursday 29 October 2026
Sound & Vision – A tribute to David Bowie
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
Friday 30 October 2026
It’s A Beautiful Noise with Fisher Stevens – The Neil Diamond tribute
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
Saturday 31 October 2026
Barry Steele’s Roy Orbison Story – The Platinum Years
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Sunday 1 November 2026
Tommy & Tilly’s Magic Castle: A Spooktacular Pantomime
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Friday 6 November 2026
Voodoo Room: A Night of Hendrix, Clapton & Cream
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Saturday 7 November 2026
From Gold to Rio – The Greatest Hits of Spandau Ballet & Duran Duran
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Friday 18 December 2026
The Nice List – A Magical Family Santamime
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Comedy Music
Friday 15 & Saturday 16 January 2027
The Dazzling Diamonds – Comedy Drag Show
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Saturday 23 January 2027
Class of ’55 – The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Sunday 24 January 2027
Wired For Sound – Celebrating the Music of Cliff Richard
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
Saturday 30 January 2027
Forever Springsteen – The Ultimate Bruce Springsteen Tribute
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Music
Friday 5 February 2027
Tease – the Ultimate Burlesque & Cabaret Experience
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Sunday 7 February 2027
It Takes Two & The Supreme Dancers – Classic Hits of Motown and Soul
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Family Music
Friday 26 February 2027
50 Years of Fender – The Stratocaster Story
Blackburn Empire Theatre
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Featured Venue – The Firepit
Any restaurant can serve up a meal, but at The Firepit they aim to serve you an experience you will never forget and with the timely addition of #blackburngigs, this has never been more true.
Each Saturday evening, The Firepit will be hosting gigs from some of the best local talent and when you combine great music with everything from the tenderest of steaks, ribs and juicy burgers right through to their great vegetarian options, you cannot go wrong.
If you are looking for a few drinks to enhance the evenings entertainment, you can be assured of a wide selection of both cocktails and mocktails, to cater for all tastes.
Featured Venue – The Drummer’s Arms
The Drummer’s Arms is a well known venue for music in Blackburn, including the ever popular open mic nights, so they were an obvious venue to host some of the #blackburngigs.
Each Saturday at 5pm, you’ll find some great local talent playing for a couple of hours, completely free of charge. It’s a venue that loves its rock music, so be assured you’ll find plenty of guitars on stage, along with some amazing voices.
The bar itself offers a range of beers from stouts through to hoppy bitters, you’ll be sure you find something that wet’s your whistle. And just to prove it’s not just us that believes how great it is, it is CAMRA pub of the year!
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Chromatogram, Art in Manufacturing, by Lazarian. Photo by: Photographer Name