Imagine heading to your local for a pint, settling in to watch the rugby and discovering that a band you’d normally buy tickets to see is about to play a few feet away from you.
At Skehan’s, that’s not quite as unlikely as it sounds.
Music has always been part of life at our Nunhead pub. We have live music six days a week, from trad music and folk sessions to jams, rock’n’roll and Saturday night gigs. But every now and then, something happens that even the regulars weren’t expecting.
Over the last couple of years, we’ve welcomed some rather special surprise guests. Kingfishr have played here. The Pogues have turned up. And, more recently, The Scratch transformed a pre-Six Nations afternoon into an unforgettable live gig.
You really never know who might turn up at Skehan’s.
The Night Kingfishr Came to Skehan’s
Back in September 2024, fast-rising Irish indie-folk band Kingfishr made a surprise appearance at Skehan’s.
There was no big-ticket concert experience or enormous stage separating the musicians from the audience. Instead, those lucky enough to be in the pub found themselves enjoying an intimate performance from a band rapidly making a name for themselves.
It’s exactly the kind of spontaneous experience that makes live music in a pub so special. You might have arrived expecting an ordinary evening and gone home with a story you’ll be telling for years.
For a pub with such strong connections to Irish music in London, having Kingfishr play felt particularly fitting.
Dinner…and a Secret Appearance from The Pogues
Then came December 2025 and a Christmas party that became rather more memorable than anyone might have anticipated.
Skehan’s hosted the launch of Pears For Lunch, the creative food and music series founded by chef Ben Lippett and music promoter Louisa Lippett.
Ben was in the kitchen, with his Henwe’s Pork Pie among the dishes being served, while Jameson sponsored the Christmas celebration.
But there was another ingredient to the evening.
The Pogues Were the Secret Guests
The Pogues made a surprise appearance, turning an already special dinner into something extraordinary.
It was the perfect combination for Skehan’s: great food, an intimate setting, Irish musical heritage and a room full of people sharing an experience they hadn’t known was coming.
For anyone interested in trad music London venues and the wider Irish music scene, it was also a reminder that some of the best musical moments don’t necessarily happen in concert halls.
Sometimes they happen down the pub.
Came for the Rugby, Stayed for The Scratch
Our most recent surprise came on 4 February 2026.
The Scratch were making their way around London on a pop-up pub tour when Skehan’s became one of their stops.
And the timing couldn’t have been better.
People were already heading to the pub ahead of the Six Nations. Some had simply planned an afternoon of rugby and a few drinks.
Instead, they got The Scratch.
One of our favourite reactions afterwards summed up the experience perfectly: imagine wandering into Skehan’s to watch the rugby and unexpectedly finding yourself at one of the best gigs you’ve ever seen.
That’s difficult to plan for. And perhaps that’s precisely the point.
Why Secret Gigs Feel at Home at Skehan’s
These appearances might be unusual, but live music certainly isn’t.
Skehan’s is a live music pub throughout the week, with Monday Jam Sessions, alternating Irish and English Trad Sessions on Tuesdays, two music events on Wednesdays, Friday rock’n’roll and karaoke, Saturday gigs and Sunday Folk Sessions.
That means musicians walking through the door don’t feel out of place.
There’s already an audience that loves music. There’s already a community of musicians around the pub. Most importantly, there’s an atmosphere where performers and customers aren’t kept at arm’s length from one another.
That closeness is part of the magic.
Music Without the Velvet Rope
There’s something else these three appearances have in common.
They happened in a proper local pub.
Skehan’s remains independent and family-run, with a traditional front bar, pool and darts, a hidden beer garden and Chai’s Garden Thai restaurant alongside its extensive weekly programme.
Regulars know one another. New faces get drawn into conversations. Musicians play within touching distance of the people listening.
It’s informal, friendly and sometimes wonderfully unpredictable.
And when someone rather famous happens to pick up an instrument, there isn’t a VIP area separating them from everyone else.
So, Who’s Next?
We couldn’t possibly tell you.
What we can tell you is that there’s already plenty of music to discover at Skehan’s every week. If you love trad music, Irish folk, spontaneous jam sessions or live bands, there’s usually a good reason to pop in. Skehan’s current programme runs across six days of the week. But if you’re sitting at home wondering whether to come down for a pint tonight, perhaps this is your sign.
After all, you never quite know who might turn up.
FAQs
Does Skehan’s have live music every week?
Yes. Skehan’s hosts live music six days a week, including trad, folk, jam sessions, rock’n’roll and live gigs.
Which famous bands have played surprise gigs at Skehan’s?
Recent secret appearances have included Kingfishr, The Pogues and The Scratch.
Where can I hear trad music in London?
Skehan’s in Nunhead hosts alternating Irish and English trad sessions every Tuesday evening.
Can musicians play at Skehan’s?
Yes. Skehan’s welcomes musicians, with open jam sessions and opportunities to get involved in its regular music programme.
Where is Skehan’s?
Skehan’s is at 1 Kitto Road in Nunhead, South East London, close to Peckham and Brockley.