What’s On Derby, Midlands 2025 guide jam packed with live music, comedy nights and theatre

There are plenty of events happening in Derby and the wider East Midlands this year.

We love supporting local artistes and are super keen to shine a much deserved spotlight on up and coming musicians, comedians and performers, as they take to the stage across various venues in Derby and beyond.

Dubrek Studios on Bridge Street boasts a jam packed listing showcasing various genres and an excellent smorgasbord of talent.

Derby’s own Lizzy Lenco is one of the fabulous creatives working hard to champion Derby’s comedy scene. They will be at the Ram Comedy Festival later this year.

Will Bailey oversees quirky themed events with a twist, such as Mean Girls Bottomless Brunch at Nottingham’s Saltbox (that is ‘so fetch’)!

If one of your new year’s resolutions was to get out more and expand those horizons, then this guide could be a great place to start.

Here are events in Derby, Nottingham and the wider Midlands, in chronological order.

This listing provides a snapshot of what’s on the horizon on the entertainment scene; if there are any events you’d like to add to the listing, get in touch by emailing [email protected], we would love to hear from you.

January

23 Five Lamps Film - BFI mixer and mini showcase at Dubrek, Derby

23 A Celebration of Father Ted with Joe Rooney at The Old Cold Store, Nottingham

24 Adeptus Gravis Musica, headliner Shrykull, Petrol Hoers and more at Dubrek, Derby

25 Beyond the Blue: Nina Blaszczyk + Phil Baggaley at Dubrek, Derby

27 Dubrek Jam hosted by Dom Scohy at Dubrek, Derby

28 Drink & Draw: Art and music social at Dubrek, Derby

29 Marseille single launch party at Dubrek, Derby

30 Cafe Palestina Social at Dubrek, Derby

31 Wordwise:Helen Dyson at Dubrek, Derby

31 MC Lizzy Lenco, Derby Comedy Club, Derby

February events in Derby 2025

February

February 1 - March 7: In the gallery: Geoff Litherland - History in Dust, running over selected dates over the month. The exhibition culminates in a live event on Friday March 7, 2025, more information can be found here.

February 6 - March 1: Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck’s classic novella is given the stage treatment in this multi-collaborative theatre production.

1 Greenhouse presents : Zopp + Halta.d, Dubrek, Derby

3 Monday Musings, Dubrek, Derby

5 Greenhouse Jam, Dubrek, Derby

6 Open Mic, Dubrek, Derby

7 Matt Ratcliffe Unity, Dubrek, Derby

8 Zah Zah & Friends Part 3 (Multimedia exhibition showcasing Midlands talent)

10 BooksQuad 6pm, Dubrek, Derby

10 Songwriter Club, Dubrek, Derby

11 Happy Tuesdays, Lubna Kerr with Justina Seselskaite, Dubrek, Derby

12 Derby Jazz Jam, Dubrek, Derby

13 RealTalk, Dubrek, Derby

14 Give Em Hell + Burning Circus (Pure Power Darkside Management), Dubrek, Derby

15 Cottons (This Feeling), Dubrek, Derby

17 Derby Peoples Cafe - A Charter for the People, Dubrek, Derby

18 Midlife Punk Podcast: P Rock the Doc -screening, Alex Shipman, Dubrek, Derby

19 Poetry Praise Sandwich, Dubrek, Derby

20 EMOM, Dubrek, Derby

22 Roadkill Blues Band, Dubrek, Derby

22 The Indie Night: Sam Scherdel + The Collide +Alchemy, Dubrek, Derby

23 Chris Sylla leads West African rhythm exploration

24 Dubrek Jam, Dubrek, Derby

25 Drink & Draw, Dubrek, Derby

26 Montana’s Pop Up, Dubrek, Derby

28 Wordwise Ty’rone Haughton, Dubrek, Derby

March events in Derby 2025

March

2 House Of Pain Wrestling at The Old Cold Store, Nottingham

8 Team America Bottomless Brunch at Saltbox, Nottingham

16 Aspire Wrestling at Popworld, Derby

22 Psychic Dancehall Festival, a new electronic and experimental music event at The Wardwick and Dubrek Studios, Derby

22 Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq. at The Angel, Nottingham

24 An Audience with Dame Prue Leith at Derby Theatre

April events in Derby 2025

April

24 The Ogretones at The Parish, Huddersfield

25 The Ogretones at Saltbox Nottingham

May events in Derby 2025

May

10 May TV Party Tonight! at Saltbox, Nottingham

28 May - 8 June

Ram Comedy Festival at various venues across Derby city

Showcase of alternative comedy at Dubrek as part of the Ram Comedy Festival.

For more information click here: ramcomedyfestival.co.uk

June events in Derby 2025

June

6 - 21 June, Kiss Me Quickstep follows the dreams of professional dancers in this ‘glitterball-filled show full of stunning ballroom dancing, sequins and secrets’. At Derby Theatre, Derby

13 - 15 June, Download Festival at Donington Park

20 June Nic Cage Against The Machine at Saltbox, Nottingham

July events in Derby 2025

July

3 - 13 Derby Summer Sessions featuring Human League, Rag'n'Bone Man and more at Markeaton Park, Derby

19 Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, tribute band playing all the greatest hits, at Becketwell Live, Derby

September events in Derby 2025

September

11 National treasure Miriam Margolyes takes to the stage in From A to Z, at Becketwell Live, Derby

16 GK Barry Saving Grace’s Jungle Fever at Becketwell Live, Derby

October events in Derby 2025

October

3 Björn Again will have you on your feet dancing the night away to ABBA inspired classics, at Becketwell Live, Derby

3 Live wrestling hosted by Angelos Epithemiou, at The Old Cold Store, Nottingham

11 Tim Peake comes to Derby - hear first-hand from the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station and conduct a spacewalk during his six month mission. It is set to be an ‘out of this world’ event!

Derby directory

Becketwell Live, 2 Colyear Stree, Derby DE1 1LA

For more information click here: becketwelllive.co.uk

The Derby Comedy Club, The Derby Conference Centre, London Road, Derby DE24 8UX

For more information and events at this venue click here: thederbyconferencecentre.com

Derby Theatre, 15 Theatre Walk, St Peter's Quarter, Derby DE1 2NF

For more information click here: derbytheatre.co.uk

Dubrek Studios, 67 Bridge Street, Derby DE1 3LB

For ticket prices, event timings or more information about Dubrek click here: dubrek.co.uk

The Victoria Inn, 12 Midland Place, Derby DE1 2RR

For more information about Will Bailey and events click here: adventuremayhemproductions.co.uk