What's On in Nottingham
Friday 18 September 2026 · This weekend · City guide
Nottingham is pulling out all the stops this Friday, with a lineup that stretches from late-afternoon good vibes all the way through to the small hours of Saturday morning. Whether you are chasing a classic rock thrill, a bass-heavy underground experience, or something sun-kissed and tropical, the city has a door open and a dancefloor ready for you. Get your plans sorted early — tonight is one of those nights where you will genuinely wish you could be in five places at once.
Highlights

THE GOODNESS - Fridays @ Billy's — Kick off your Friday the right way at Billy Bootleggers, where The Goodness takes over from 4:00pm and gives you the perfect excuse to leave work behind at a very civilised hour. This is the kind of warm-up that feels like a destination in itself — a loose, lively atmosphere in one of Nottingham's most characterful bars. Check the website for pricing and get there early to bag your spot before the evening crowd floods in.

Flamin' Groovies — San Francisco rock and roll royalty, the Flamin' Groovies have been making gloriously ragged, joyful music since the late 1960s, and catching them live is a genuine privilege. Metronome is an ideal room for it — intimate enough that you can feel every fuzzy guitar chord in your chest, yet polished enough to let the band's legendary energy fill every corner. Doors are at 7:00pm and tickets are £28, which for a band of this vintage and vitality is an absolute bargain.

HOOKED X DISTINCT PRESENTS WHO'S NXT? w/ Nersha + More (DNB) — Tucked away in the atmospheric Secret Vault, this drum and bass showcase is all about platforming the next wave of talent, with Nersha leading a bill that promises raw energy and serious low-end weight. At just £6–£10 it is one of the most affordable ways to spend a Friday night in the city, and the venue's underground feel makes every drop hit harder. Doors open at 9:00pm — arrive ready to move.

HONEY EVENTS summer garden party — There is something wonderfully optimistic about a garden party that starts at 10:00pm, and HONEY EVENTS are clearly committed to squeezing every last drop out of summer at Nottingham Secret Garden. Expect a relaxed but buzzing outdoor atmosphere, the kind of setting where conversation flows as easily as the music does, all for just £5–£10. It is the sort of night you stumble home from at dawn, already planning when the next one is.

TROPILOCO Notts #001 @ Ocean Nightclub — Brand new to Nottingham and already sounding like exactly what the city needs, TROPILOCO lands at Ocean Nightclub at 10:30pm for what promises to be a vibrant, Latin-tinged first chapter. The number one in the title tells you everything — this is a debut, and debut nights in club culture have a special electricity that regulars talk about for years. Grab your £8 ticket, bring your best moves, and be part of the beginning of something.
Full listings
| Event | Venue | Time | Price | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Music | |||||
| Flamin' Groovies | Metronome | 7:00pm | £28 | Tickets | |
| Nightlife | |||||
| THE GOODNESS - Fridays @ Billy's | Billy Bootleggers Nottingham | 4:00pm | Check website | Tickets | |
| HOOKED X DISTINCT PRESENTS WHO'S NXT? w/ Nersha + More (DNB) | Secret Vault Nottingham | 9:00pm | £6–£10 | Tickets | |
| HONEY EVENTS summer garden party | Nottingham Secret Garden | 10:00pm | £5–£10 | Tickets | |
| TROPILOCO Notts #001 @ Ocean Nightclub | Ocean Nightclub | 10:30pm | £8 | Tickets | |