Chester’s live calendar is already starting to take shape, and the first half of 2026 is looking stronger than anyone expected.
Big names passing through small rooms, folk outsiders finding the perfect spaces, and promoters across the city quietly putting together line‑ups that feel properly considered.
This week we’re looking ahead at five gigs worth circling on the calendar; a mix of heavy hitters, cult favourites and artists who thrive in the kind of intimate venues Chester does best.
Fantastic Negrito: The Live Rooms, Sunday 25th of January
Chester’s in for something special here. Fantastic Negrito, a three‑time Grammy winner and one of the most gripping live performers around, is stopping at The Live Rooms as part of his UK run. Bigger cities get him in theatres; we get him in a room where you can actually feel the band’s pulse up close.
His shows have a reputation for being charged with something deeper than just musicianship. Blues, soul, gospel, funk; all pulled together with a rawness that feels lived‑in. He doesn’t just play at a crowd; he drags the whole room into the moment.
He’s touring off the back of ‘Son of a Broken Man’, with festival dates and major city shows either side of this one. The fact Chester sits on that route is a stroke of luck for anyone who values seeing world‑class artists in intimate spaces.
For a city that thrives on nights where the room feels too small for the sound coming off the stage, this one’s going to stick in the memory.
Charm of Finches — St Mary’s Creative Space, Thursday 26th of February
Roman Candle are bringing something beautifully out‑of‑step with the usual winter noise here. Charm of Finches, the Australian sister duo known for their close harmonies and quietly devastating songwriting, are set to fill St Mary’s Creative Space with the kind of stillness that only works in a room built for it.
Their music sits somewhere between modern folk and chamber pop… strings, soft edges, and lyrics that cut far deeper than their gentle delivery suggests. It’s intimate work, the sort that thrives in a space like St Mary’s, where every breath and bow stroke hangs in the air a little longer than it should.
They’ve been touring internationally off the back of their recent releases, gathering a reputation for shows that feel more like shared moments than performances.
Roman Candle have a knack for spotting artists who suit the room, and this pairing is exactly that: thoughtful music in a space that rewards attention.
For anyone who wants a night that leans into quiet power rather than volume, this one’s going to land just right.
Trappist Afterland & Henry Parker: The Golden Eagle, Friday 13th of March
A proper double bill for the heads. Trappist Afterland and Henry Parker sharing a room as small and characterful as The Golden Eagle is the sort of booking that reminds you why Chester’s grassroots venues matter.
Trappist Afterland bring their unmistakable blend of psych‑folk, devotional drones and strange, circling melodies; music that feels half‑ritual, half‑storytelling. There’s a depth to what they do that rewards a close room, the kind where you can actually feel the instruments breathing.
Henry Parker sits in a different corner of the folk world but complements them perfectly. His playing is rooted in the British tradition… clean, intricate guitar work, songs that move with patience, and a tone that feels grounded without ever slipping into nostalgia. He’s one of those artists who can hold a room with nothing more than a well‑placed chord and a steady voice.
Together, they make a bill that’s rare for a pub venue: two artists who take their craft seriously, each offering something distinct but connected. It’s the kind of night where you walk in expecting a gig and walk out feeling like you’ve been somewhere else entirely.
FREE ENTRY/HAT PASS AROUND FOR PERFORMERS
DJ Yoda: The Live Rooms, Saturday 4th of April
A proper spring jolt for Chester.
DJ Yoda returns to The Live Rooms with the kind of set that reminds you why he’s lasted decades without ever feeling dated. He’s one of the few DJs who can move between hip‑hop, pop culture cut‑ups, left‑field samples and straight‑up party energy without losing the thread; a selector who treats the decks like an instrument rather than a playlist.
Yoda’s shows are always built on surprise. One minute you’re in classic boom‑bap, the next you’re blindsided by a film quote, a forgotten TV theme or a hook you didn’t realise you remembered. It’s playful, clever, and completely unpretentious… The sort of night where the crowd ends up grinning as much as dancing.
The Live Rooms suits him. Big enough for a proper atmosphere, small enough that you feel the shifts and drops in real time.
Chester doesn’t get many DJs of his calibre passing through on standalone dates, so this one’s going to pull a wide crowd: hip‑hop heads, sample nerds, and anyone who just wants a night that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Ian Prowse + Igloo Hearts: Storyhouse (Blue Lantern Series) Tuesday 23rd of June
The Blue Lantern nights at Storyhouse have quietly become one of the most reliable fixtures in Chester’s calendar; thoughtful bookings, warm rooms, and artists who actually suit the space.
This one’s a perfect example: a double bill pairing Ian Prowse with Igloo Hearts, two acts who come from different corners of the songwriting world but meet in the middle on heart, craft and honesty.
Ian Prowse needs little introduction around here. Whether you know him from Amsterdam, Pele, or his solo work, he’s built a reputation on songs that carry both fight and feeling. Live, he has that rare ability to make a room feel like a gathering rather than a gig… Stories, politics, heartbreak, hope, all delivered with the same open‑hearted conviction he’s known for.
Igloo Hearts bring a different kind of intensity. Their harmonies, arrangements and lyrical detail lean toward the intimate and the quietly affecting… Music that rewards a listening room like Storyhouse.
Together, it’s a bill that shows exactly what the Blue Lantern series is aiming for: pairing established voices with rising ones, giving both the space to breathe, and offering Chester audiences something deeper than a standard tour stop.
That’s the early stretch of 2026 taking shape… a mix of big hitters, quiet gems and the kind of bookings that remind you how much this city punches above its weight when the right artists land in the right rooms.
If this is how the year starts, the rest of it’s going to be worth keeping an eye on.
Until then, mark your calendars, support the rooms that keep the lights on, and keep showing up for the music being made and brought into Chester.
Have a fantastic week.
