Venue guide
Gold Coast live music venues worth leaving the house for
For musicians, gig lovers, touring acts and anyone trying to find where the good noise is hiding.
From intimate dive bars to market stages, beachside pubs, recording spaces, clubs and cultural venues, the Coast has always been an incubator for creativity.
Bookmark this tab for Gold Coast live music rooms, venue links and places worth checking when you are hunting for a show.
Last updated: June 2026
Start here
Gold Coast gigs
Find upcoming Gold Coast gigs, touring shows and live music dates.
View the gig guide →Monthly picks
A tighter shortlist of Gold Coast gigs, things to do and music moments.
See monthly picks →Gold Coast festivals
Music festivals, beachside weekends and major cultural dates.
View festival guide →
1. Vinnies Dive Bar, Southport
It is dark, dingy and the floors are sticky. There is even the occasional broken toilet.
The good news is the beers are cold and the people are insanely nice at Vinnies.
If you love smaller gigs, packed to the rafters with excitable, tattooed punks, this is your hang out.
Major supporters of the local music scene, these guys would give you the shirts off their backs.
2. Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Burleigh Heads
Taking inspiration from a psychedelic Californian desert, this industrial estate oasis absolutely pops as a live music venue, and is a budding muso’s dream.
Snapping up best Gold Coast Music Venue gongs in 2021 and 2022, Mo’s is a hive for creatives and good times.
The space has become a circuit staple for touring acts and also includes studios, recording and rehearsal rooms, hot desk spaces and a car park with serious event potential.
3. Miami Marketta, Miami
This vibrant night market is a converted mechanics warehouse turned open-air music hub, offering a treasure trove of culture, art, global street food and boutique bars.
A pioneer in the night market sector, Miami Marketta comes alive with food, music and ticketed acts.
Played here: Canadian indie-psych band TOPS.
4. Asylum, Surfers Paradise
This lush downtown nightclub attracts world-class DJs and will have you dancing till dawn like no one is watching.
Asylum wants you to leave your ideas of normal at the door, with bougie cocktails, custom lounge seating and VIP booths.
5. Last Night On Earth, Southport
A poster-lined dive bar with neon lights, Last Night On Earth offers back-alley entertainment with tasty tunes, spiked punch and finger-licking-good burgers.
With live music Thursday to Sunday, this place is a social hub for after-surf beers, cracking meals and bonza times.
6. Soundlounge, Currumbin
This adaptable space at the picturesque waterfront Currumbin RSL is the host of popular mini festivals, Creekfest and Dream Sound.
With a strong focus on transforming the music scene, Soundlounge offers original local, national and international musicians.
Played there: The Terrys, The Black Sorrows, Sarah Blasko, Angus & Julia Stone and Tijuana Cartel.
7. Nightjar, Burleigh Heads
Let your sun-drenched hair free in the sea breeze with a margarita in hand, while you soak up the sounds of a sweet showcase of Gold Coast talent.
Nightjar is a local fave dive bar down Justin Laneway, with live music six nights a week.
There is no dress code and no rules at this surfer’s den, just good old-fashioned fun.
8. Den Devine, Broadbeach
This stylish, award-winning live music venue is the home of jazz and blues music on the Gold Coast.
Relax with homely food, cocktails, craft beers, wine and spirits while soulful sounds keep you safely away from the Broadbeach chaos.
9. The Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
The Cooly Hotel prides itself on pulling kick-ass acts such as iconic blues legend Ash Grunwald.
But also: The Cooly Recording Sessions.
This niche event supports local songwriters, making The Cooly one of the best places for live music on the Gold Coast.
With big acts hailing from across Australia and overseas, check this joint out if you are serious about quality sound.
10. Elsewhere, Surfers Paradise
There is a flashing dancefloor housed in retro-industrial detailing.
Serving locals since 2003, Elsewhere has the lights, the drinks, the vibe and, most importantly, the live music.
From Thursday to Sunday, this venue takes you from Cavill Avenue to a universe far beyond the glitter strip.
11. Eddie’s Grub House, Coolangatta
Underneath the beachside suburb’s famous Pink Hotel, Eddie’s hosts gnarly jam nights and starry-eyed open mics with music from flaming good up-and-comers.
With phat fries and fatter beats, there is always something going on here with locals farewelling the day over American-style fried chicken burgers and cheap laughs.
This rock’n’roll dive bar, live music venue and burger joint loves kooky, quintessentially Gold Coast offerings such as Disgraceland, where Elvis meets punk rock.
12. Waxy’s Irish Pub, Surfers Paradise
Set in the heart of Surfers Paradise, Waxy’s Irish Pub is a jovial Irish watering hole for music fans.
Set over two levels of entertainment, including the Skyline Rooftop Bar, Waxy’s serves meals that make you feel like you have had a hug and tall cheery froths.
Loaded with charm, it is the perfect spot for a casual drink, old-fashioned nosh and pub rock.
13. Finn McCool’s, Surfers Paradise
Another Irish pub-turned-performance arena, Finn McCool’s is a solid live music venue supporting local musicians from Thursday to Sunday.
A bustling pub filled with a feel-good crowd, this inner-city, beachside venue heavily promotes local talent.
If you are seeking good conversation, hearty fare, a pint of Guinness and dancing, put Finn McCool’s on the local music hit-list.
14. Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Kingscliff
Just south of the border, this absolute beachfront institution is known fondly by locals as The Kingy.
Waltz from the ocean to the bar at this iconic beach hotel, much-loved by holidaymakers.
Played there: San Cisco and The Angels. Coming up in the old list: The Beautiful Girls and Ruby Fields.
15. HOTA, Surfers Paradise
Home of the Arts, AKA HOTA, is a major performing arts centre funded by Gold Coast City Council.
It hosts open-air concerts, comedy festivals, award ceremonies and community events.
Vibrant and family-friendly, HOTA attracts world-renowned artists and local budding talent.
Big names such as Nick Cave and Amy Shark have played here.
16. Surfers Pavilion, Surfers Paradise
Whether you arrive by tinny or taxi, it does not matter.
This light-filled waterfront tavern is where you will find the after-work bougie brigade sipping mimosas before throwing caution to the wind.
The decks spin all weekend with a resident DJ, as sunny afternoons turn into lively evenings.
Played there: Basement Jaxx, The Stafford Brothers and Peking Duk.
17. The Lawn, The Star Gold Coast
If frocking up and having a cheeky bet is your thing, The Lawn at The Star Gold Coast is the perf place to relax away from the inner-city riff-raff.
A sprawling open-air space, it is a garden party with live music every weekend from 5.30pm.
Played there: Kyle Lionhart, Rogue Traders and Savage.
18. The Avenue, Surfers Paradise
There is live music flowing all weekend at The Avenue, from Friday to Sunday.
Friday and Saturday nights are reserved for the late-night groovers, with the venue morphing into one of the Gold Coast’s best nightclubs into the wee hours.
There is a constant glow of greatness here across both the decks and stage, and an eager fun-seeking crowd.
Main feature image: Nightjar.
Latest Gold Coast music stories
Read the latest YELO stories, tour announcements, gig updates and venue news connected to the Gold Coast.
More Gold Coast guides
Gold Coast monthly picks
Music, things to do and standout moments worth knowing.
See monthly picks →Queensland Music Calendar
Gigs, festivals, venue news and live music dates across the state.
View calendar →Got a Gold Coast gig or venue tip?
Send it to YELO
Send through Gold Coast gigs, venue updates, festival dates, local stories and live music tips for possible inclusion in YELO’s gig guides and coverage.
