Free Acoustic Gigs at Durham’s The Light Put Local Musicians Centre Stage

Durham has a new place to catch live music without spending a penny on a ticket. The Light is bringing its acoustic gigs back on Thursday 19 November, giving audiences the chance to discover local artists in a relaxed setting — and, importantly, paying the musicians who take the stage.

Running on the third and fourth Thursdays of the month, the gigs are a chance to hear songs up close, discover somebody new and spend an evening supporting the region’s music scene. There’s no expectation that you’ll already know who’s playing — that’s part of the appeal.

The Light opened in August 2026 at Aykley Heads, in the former Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery building. The venue brings together exhibitions, history, creative activities and performances, and its Thursday evening programme is intended to make the space somewhere people can return to regularly, rather than just visit for a one-off exhibition.

For music fans, The Light Lounge offers something a little different from a conventional headline gig. The acoustic format gives audiences an opportunity to listen closely to the performances and get to know artists in a relaxed setting. Just as importantly, free entry removes one of the barriers that can stop people taking a chance on an unfamiliar name.

Local artists at the heart of the programme

Among the musicians lined up for the upcoming programme are Lost Lot, Sam Slatcher, Steve Pledger, Ingle Nook, Staithe and Izzy Neish, with organisers hoping to bring more performers into the series.

There’s a good mix of names there, and the idea is to build something people come back to rather than make every evening feel like a one-off. Individual artist dates haven’t been confirmed yet, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for the line-ups as they’re announced.

And while the gigs are free to attend, they’re not asking musicians to play for exposure. Every artist receives a flat fee. It’s a simple but important part of the programme, particularly for grassroots acts juggling the costs of recording, rehearsing and getting out to play.

The organisers are keen for the series to reach beyond the artists already booked. If you’re a musician looking for opportunities to perform in Durham, The Light Lounge is worth following as its programme develops. There’s room here for a regular connection between performers and audiences, with each month offering another opportunity for people to discover music they might otherwise miss.

Of course, a free gig still needs people in the room. Turning up, bringing a friend and giving a new artist a listen is what will help these nights grow.

The acoustic series returns on Thursday 19 November 2026, with performances planned for the third and fourth Thursdays of each month. The wider Thursday evening programme at The Light is advertised from 5pm to 8pm, but exact acoustic performance times and individual line-ups should be checked with the venue before travelling.

Venue: The Light, Aykley Heads, Durham, DH1 5TU.
Admission: Free to attend.
Further information: The Light’s official website and @thelightdurham on Instagram.

SoundBite North East will continue following the programme as more musicians and show details are announced.