Live Music in Guildford

The Stranglers formed here in 1974 and played their first gig at The Star Inn, a pub that has been hosting live music for over 400 years. That lineage gives Guildford a credible claim on the British punk and new wave story, and the town's ties to progressive rock run equally deep through Andrew Latimer of Camel, who was born here. The scene today spans a genuine range of venues: The Boileroom anchors the alternative end, G Live pulls in national and international touring acts, and The Holroyd Arms functions as a reliable community hub for everything from local bands to major names passing through. Add the Guildford International Music Festival each year and the GI Music Lounge's regular jazz and acoustic programming, and Guildford sustains a live music culture that goes well beyond its compact size.