Top things to do in Brighton — week of 6 April
Brighton in early April: Concorde 2 has a punk bill that should be illegal at this price, the Joker is doing a Wednesday open-mic worth the cab fare, and the Pavilion gardens are lush.
Right, week of the 6th, and Brighton is finally remembering it is not winter. The bands are back, the seafront is busy, and I have been to three gigs in five days and I am only mildly broken.
I dump my running list on the Brighton this-week page on Rifio. Saves me texting people the same five recommendations.
Monday: Pavilion gardens, a flask, that is it
Lush afternoon, a flask of coffee, a book, the Pavilion gardens. I refuse to pretend Brighton has a Monday event scene worth recommending.
Tuesday: The Joker, open decks
Tuesday at the Joker is open decks night, free entry, mostly local DJs trying out tracks. The bar staff are sound, the beer is reasonable, the music is hit-or-miss but when it hits it really hits.
Wednesday: Joker open mic
Same venue, different night, properly different vibe. Wednesday open mic is for songwriters — actual songs, not karaoke. Free, runs til 11, three of the regulars are genuinely brilliant.
Thursday: Komedia downstairs
Komedia downstairs has a touring circuit comedian doing a try-out hour for Edinburgh. £8, the room is small enough that you cannot hide. I would say which comic but they asked me not to. Find out for yourselves.
Friday: Komedia upstairs, full bill
The proper Friday bill — three acts, headliner is a name I will not pretend to be neutral about because I have been a fan for years. £15 doors, books out, do it now.
Saturday: Concorde 2, four-band punk bill
This is the one. Concorde 2, four bands, £14. Two of them are mates of mine and I will defend them to my grave, but the other two are properly good and should be playing bigger rooms by autumn.
Doors 8, first band on at 8:30 sharp. The seafront walk after is the perfect cool-down.
Sunday: Lush brunch, then nothing
Sunday in Brighton is for a long brunch and a stroll. Skip every event listing. The seafront does what seafronts do.
If you must have something, the free Brighton events list has a Sunday afternoon community thing on the Pavilion lawns that is genuinely sweet.
That is the week. Two club-adjacent nights, two comedy nights, one punk gig, one nap. Save them on Rifio so you do not forget. The reminder emails the day before are alot more useful than I expected when I started using them.
- 1
Concorde 2 punk bill
Madeira Drive · £14 · SatFour bands, two are mates, two are genuinely going somewhere. £14 is criminal value.
- 2
Komedia comedy night
Gardner St · £15 · FriTouring circuit headliner, sharp warm-up, the room is the right size to feel a joke land.
- 3
The Joker Wednesday open mic
Preston St · Free · WedBrighton open-mic for actual songwriters, not the karaoke kind. Free, decent beer.
FAQ
- What does this list cover?
- Mon 6 Apr to Sun 12 Apr 2026, mostly North Laine, the seafront, Kemp Town.
- Outdoors?
- Some. April Brighton weather is a coin toss but the Pavilion gardens are open.
8 comments
- tasha·
pavilion gardens monday rec was perfect, sat there for 3 hours, no regrets
- kit·
joker open decks was wild tuesday, one DJ played four bangers in a row, who was that guy
- megs·
wednesday songwriter open mic at the joker is consistently the best thing in brighton, lush call
- Sasha·
komedia thurs try-out was sharp, the headliner especially, will see them at the fringe for sure
- jen·
concorde 2 saturday was UNREAL, the third band were the best of the night imo
- mike s·
found this via the rifio brighton search, saved 4, made the weekend
- ella r·
sunday community thing on the lawns was so sweet, kids running around, lovely vibe
- ben·
komedia upstairs friday SOLD OUT by thursday morning, glad i booked early
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