Gigs and live events in Essex
Looking for something to do in Essex? Find upcoming jazz, gigs, comedy and live events at independent venues, from Colchester and Wivenhoe to Chelmsford and Brentwood.
Jazz and soul, blues and Americana, stand-up comedy and community arts: there is a night out here for most tastes. Every show is put on by an independent venue or promoter, so every ticket helps keep live events going in Essex.
Wivenhoe and Colchester are home to much of it, with live jazz in intimate rooms and nights out from Manningtree to Chelmsford and Brentwood. Your tickets arrive by email with a QR code to show on the door, and the price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Upcoming events in Essex
- Josh James & Friends, Wed 4 Nov 2026 at Three Wise Monkeys
- Amalgam at Patch, Fri 6 Nov 2026 at Patch
- The Lariat Sessions - Kylie Price, Fri 6 Nov 2026 at Hey Joe Music & Coffee
- Severalls: The Casualties from WW2 Remembered, Sat 7 Nov 2026 at Hollyhock Café
- Direct from Spain: Jose Almarcha Trio: "He's one of the greats of the Spanish guitar."- Critical Journal, Sat 7 Nov 2026 at Red Lion, Manningtree
- The Art Harbour CIC: Movember Art Jam, Wed 11 Nov 2026 at Hollyhock Café
- FUZZ: Groove Jazz Gig & Jam, Sat 14 Nov 2026 at The Commons cafe at the Minories
- Saturday Soul: Noel McCalla Quartet. "One of Britain's best soul singers." - Blues & Soul, Sat 14 Nov 2026 at Wivenhoe Congregational Church
- The London Bossa Quartet, Sun 15 Nov 2026 at Wivenhoe Congregational Church
- New Town Stories: Our Neighbours from WW1 Remembered, Sat 21 Nov 2026 at Hollyhock Café
- Full Butt Jokes at The Half Butt Inn, Sat 21 Nov 2026 at The Half Butt Inn
- Hannah Horton Quartet. "This is Horton's strongest work to date and shines from start to finish."- Jazz Views, Sun 29 Nov 2026 at Wivenhoe Congregational Church
- Lol & Glass Eye Comedy Presents Stand Up for Foodbanks, Wed 2 Dec 2026 at Three Wise Monkeys
- Stand Up for Foodbanks PLUS, Fri 4 Dec 2026 at Victoria Inn
- Clark Tracey Sextet perform Under Milk Wood & A Child's Christmas, Sun 20 Dec 2026 at Wivenhoe Congregational Church
- Blues & Greene: "Greene's tenor framed the song; warm, deliberate and confident." - London Jazz News, Sun 24 Jan 2027 at Wivenhoe Congregational Church
- Laura Lexx & Friends, Wed 3 Feb 2027 at Three Wise Monkeys
- Picante: High-energy mambo, salsa, samba, and bossa nova!, Sun 21 Mar 2027 at Wivenhoe Congregational Church
- Ben Crosland's All Star Band performs The Ray Davies Songbook, Sun 25 Apr 2027 at Wivenhoe Congregational Church
- Celebrating Miles Davis Weekend: Miles Ahead (2017 Film), Sat 22 May 2027 at Wivenhoe Congregational Church
- Celebrating Miles Davis Weekend: Steve Waterman Qnt. "An outstanding, enriching experience, easily the best of its kind I’ve heard." - Jazzwise, Sun 23 May 2027 at Wivenhoe Congregational Church
- Chris Ingham's Steely Jazz: A Becker/Fagen Songbook. ". . . full of compositional and improvisational riches." - Jazz Journal, Sun 13 Jun 2027 at Wivenhoe Congregational Church