Music on the Beach in Cornwall

Summer’s here, and there’s no better way to round off a beach day than with live music and a sea view — whether you’re swaying to sunset tunes or dancing barefoot in the sand.

In Cornwall, you don’t need a festival wristband to catch the vibe. From tucked-away beach bars to cliffside hangouts, we’ve got a soundtrack of under-the-radar artists, rising bands, and genre-hopping DJs lighting up the coast all summer long.

Here are some of our favourite spots for tipples and tunes by the sea… 

SurfSide, Polzeath

This rum bar and music venue is bang on the beach in Polzeath, welcoming sandy-soled, salty-locked punters to quench their thirst with toes in the sand as the sun sets. With a long list of rum-based cocktails served up by expert mixologists, a laidback beach bar ambience and a rolling programme of acoustic sets, live bands and DJs (including Sunset Social Club and local legend James Dixon), it’s our top spot for a post-surf sundowner and music alongside the rhythm of the ocean. 

Music at Surfside >>

RE:SET Bedruthan Live

Re:Set on the clifftops of North Cornwall. Not just with the magic of mind-blowing sunsets, swooping seabirds and spectacular views of Bedruthan Steps. This summer, Bedruthan Live is back, bringing emerging artists, cult favourites and DJs to one of the most breathtaking backdrops in Britain. Think pre-gig saunas, pop-up food stalls, and onsite camping — it’s the kind of scene that makes you want to stay awhile. Bring the crew, pitch up, and let the music roll.

Re:Set Bedruthan Live

Lusty Glaze, Newquay 

So much more than a cool beach bar nestled in a paradise cove, Lusty Glaze has been dubbed the ‘most picturesque live music venue in the UK’ by The Times. Making the most of its jaw-dropping location during the dreamy summer evenings, there are three free sundowner music sessions a week from July to September, featuring an array of local musicians and DJs. It’s our go-to for mid-week music and a Sunday beach chill, but if you fancy an all-out party vibe grab tickets for July’s Ibiza Club Classics or September’s Disco Club Classics.

Music at Lusty Glaze >>

Trevone Beach Café, Trevone

Not so long ago, we knew Trevone Beach Stores and Café as a pasty and coffee pitstop on coast path walks and days at the beach. Then along came Bruno’s bar with local tipples, wood-fired pizzas, tacos and burgers, luring the beach goers long after their daytime adventures on sea. Now there’s a huge canopy and a summer menu of music on the terrace, to boot, with acoustic and DJ sets accompanying the sublime sunsets and the beat of the waves. 

Music at Trevone Bay >>

Treyarnon Bay YHA, Treyarnon

Whether you’ve been dipping in the tidal pool, barbecuing on the beach, or taking in the views from Trevose Head, Treyarnon Bay YHA beckons you in to sink a beer on the terrace while soaking up seaside tunes from an array of musical acts. Sometimes it’s jazz and funk on the menu, other times blues and soul, but it’s always atmospheric and a sublime spot for a sunset session that tickles all the senses. 

Music at Treyarnon Bay >>

Shoreside, Carlyon Bay, St Austell 

The south coast’s hottest new music venue on the beach is Carlyon Bay, where Shoreside is hosting a mighty line-up of live music every Friday throughout summer. Weather won’t stop play with the stage in a brand-new stretch tent, so you can hunker from whatever the British climate throws our way and choose your tempo from all sorts of bands and DJs. With a mile-long shoreline out the front, if summer is in full swing, no doubt you’ll want to listen while basking on the white sands with a tipple in hand. 

Music at Carlyon Bay >>

Gylly Beach Café, Falmouth 

One of the coolest beach bars in Cornwall, the Gylly Beach Café has always managed to combine great food and drink, with laidback music events in a cracking oceanside setting. And with a wrap-around terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows, its chilled out Sunday evening music sessions are the best place to end the weekend with a sea dip and sounds as the sky turns pink. 

Music at Gylly Beach >>

The Watering Hole, Perranporth

Cornwall’s famous beach bar on the surf-lashed sand at Perranporth, The Watering Hole has been hosting live music sessions for decades. Whether you’re looking for an 80’s party night, club anthems or chart-topping headliners, there’s a tunes-on-the-beach session for all musical tastes, in a lively venue where the sunsets deserve as much attention as the rockstars. 

Music at The Watering Hole >>

Know any other cool beachside music events coming up this summer? Contact us and let us know.