Going to a gig

Start with the calendar: filter by the day and a genre, and open a show to see the venue, the times, the age limit and where the tickets are sold.

Big tours go on sale months ahead, often with a presale first; small clubs sell a few weeks before. The venue's own newsletter is the surest way to hear first.

Buy from the venue's box office or the ticket company it links to. Booking fees differ from company to company, so compare the total price at checkout.

If a show is sold out, use the official resale the venue or the ticket company links to, and be careful with tickets sold by strangers. Many venues have e-tickets, so check which name and which phone the ticket is on.

Every show has an age limit, and the listing says which: all ages, with an adult under a certain age, 16+, 18+. Some limits belong to the venue, some to the artist.

Take photo ID such as a passport or a driving licence: the door can ask for proof of age, and you must be 18 to buy alcohol.

A ticket shows two times: doors, when the venue opens, and show, when the first act starts. One or two support acts usually play before the headliner.

The headliner often goes on an hour or more after the doors. Arrive at doors for the front; arrive later if you only want the headliner.

Most clubs are standing only, first come, first served. Clubs allow small bags and often have a cloakroom; arenas allow only a small bag, so read the venue's bag policy before you go.

Gigs are loud. Earplugs lower the volume without taking the music away, and the merch stand, where the band sells shirts and records, is the best way to put money in their pocket.

Check the last train and the night buses before the night: services thin out late, and arenas empty all at once. National Rail's journey planner and your local operator's app have the times.

Book a place to stay if you travel to another city for a big night, and plan a taxi pickup a street away from the crowd.