Bands For Hire East Midlands
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Sonic Moon
Boasting professionalism, diversity & unique musicianship, Sonic Moon pull a huge array of genres into their repertoire & guarantee you a busy dance floor....
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George Street Sessions
A perfect centre piece to any event, with an ever-growing outstanding reputation. Covering a range of styles from Pop, Rock, Jazz & Soul; George Street Ses...
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Sassy Deluxe
Non-stop hits delivered to the dance floor, 100% entertainment guaranteed! SASSY DELUXE will keep your dance floor moving with classic & current stompe...
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The Rusty Nails
Introducing The Rusty Nails, the UK's premiere Edwardian Street Brass Band! With many years experience honing their one-of-a-kind show, the band are no str...
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If you need any help, please submit a quick enquiry and we'll be happy to help you pick the perfect band.
Or call 01782 740839 for immediate assistance
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The Rockets
The Rockets specialise in exceeding expectations with musicianship of the highest quality, giving you full-on entertainment and 100% live authenticity....
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All Folked Up
Introducing Cornwall's freshest addition to the wedding and events scene: All Folked Up! With 75 years of gigging experience between them, this exciting ba...
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The Reeves
The Reeves are a piano-led professional band playing everything you need to hear at your party! From Indie must-haves like Oasis and The Kooks, to iconic c...
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Ultratones
A dynamic, female fronted four-piece band, creating a whirlwind of excitement and fresh energy. Seamlessly blending smooth pop vocals with a dash of rockin...
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Prime Soul
Performing a selection of the best Soul, Disco, Funk & Pop tunes; Prime Soul will bring the party vibe and their infectious energy to your event. Membe...
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Three Of A Kind
A high energy acoustic trio with tight three part harmonies and a repertoire that can cater for all ages, from 50's Rock 'n' Roll to current chart hits! Wi...
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The Lucky Sons
A fun & energetic 4-piece folk-pop band love to entertain crowds with their ‘Mumford and Sons’ style! The Lucky Sons turn common rock and pop and dance son...
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The Venturas
One of the hottest wedding and event bands in the UK is The Ventures. They have performed at countless weddings and events throughout the world from their ...
Explore more bands for hire in the East Midlands...
179,404 Events Made Awesome So Far
“Young Funks is a band that knows how to entertain and connect with their audience. Their blend of classic and contemporary hits, combined with their infectious energy and exceptional talent, makes them a must-see act. Whether you’re a fan of old-school soul or modern pop, Young Funks has somet...”
Chris booked Young Funks for their event
“We had the pleasure of hiring Lights Alive for our wedding, and they absolutely exceeded all our expectations! Not only did they deliver an incredible performance, but their state-of-the-art stage presence and programmed lighting truly elevated the entire atmosphere of our celebration. From the mome...”
Joe A booked Lights Alive for their Wedding
“Thankyou all so much for playing and entertaining everyone at my party. You truly are an amazing band and delightful bunch of lads. Everyone Thoroughly enjoyed themselves and you made the night extra special for me. I wish you all every success for the future and keep doing what you do!”
Vicky booked Lights Alive for their event
Booking Guide
Everything You'll Need to Know Before You Hire A Band In the East Midlands
A function band (or cover band / wedding band / party band as they’re also known) is a live band that specialises in performing popular rock and pop music for function events such as weddings, corporate events and private parties. They usually consist of a drummer, bass player, guitarist and lead singer, with larger bands also including a keyboard player, brass section and backing singers.
All Alive Network bands are a self-contained entertainment package, providing all of the equipment required when you book a band, without clients having to hire additional sound and lighting equipment. They often travel over a large geographical area, and their performances are designed specifically for the demands of private events.
A function band setlist will contain a variety of rock and popular music from the 1950s right through to current chart acts, performing dancefloor-filling hits. A typical repertoire might feature artists such as:
- The Beatles
- The Rolling Stones
- The Kinks
- Elvis
- Van Morrison
- Stevie Wonder
- Bruno Mars
- The Killers
- Daft Punk
- Taylor Swift
- Take That
- Maroon 5
- Ed Sheeran
- James Bay
- Oasis
- Blur
- Coldplay
- Kings of Leon
- Arctic Monkeys
- Beyoncé
- Justin Bieber
- Katy Perry
Guitar bands
Usually formed of 3–5 members with an indie/pop/rock guitar based sound, covering artists like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles through to The Killers and Arctic Monkeys.
Pop/Funk/Soul bands
Containing anything from 5–12 members, often with female lead vocals and more prominent use of keyboards or a brass section, playing classic pop and Motown through to contemporary pop/RnB artists like Taylor Swift, Pharrell, Rihanna, Maroon 5, Amy Winehouse, Beyoncé.
Our bands are regularly booked for a range of events and locations across the UK and internationally – for weddings, corporate events, private parties, venues, festivals, and more. The most popular locations include:
Most popular counties:
- London
- Surrey
- Kent
- Hampshire
- Essex
- West Sussex
- Hertfordshire
- Gloucestershire
- Cheshire
- Oxfordshire
- Berkshire
- East Sussex
- North Yorkshire
- Devon
- Warwickshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Somerset
- Dorset
- West Midlands
- Cambridgeshire
- Norfolk
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Northamptonshire
- Shropshire
- West Yorkshire
- Derbyshire
- Wiltshire
- Lancashire
- Nottinghamshire
Most popular cities:
The search form at the top of the page includes all counties of the UK. Simply run a search selecting your event type, the location and the date and we will show you a list of artists who are available along with their price and distance from your event location. The list is sorted by popularity, but you can reorder based on distance if you're specifically looking for a local band for hire.
Rock and pop bands like the guys and girls in the list above specialise in lively and energetic performances so you and your guests can party! They are usually the headline evening entertainment, perfect for events including:
- Weddings
- Corporate events
- Private parties
- Bar Mitzvas and Bat Mitzvas
- Charity fundraiser events
- Black Tie events
- Gala Balls
- Festivals
- Pubs / clubs / venues
- HM Armed Forces Events
- University events
For weddings, a live band can perform the first dance, as well as provide background music between sets, delivering an all-in-one wedding entertainment solution. Many bands also offer jazz or acoustic sets for your drinks reception, and solo guitar / piano for your ceremony and wedding breakfast. These options can help to keep costs down, in comparison with hiring separate performers for your wedding day.
For corporate events, bands can provide walk-on music for awards ceremonies.
Volume considerations at your event
If you’ve ever been to a live gig, you’ll know there’s nothing quite like the exciting, big sound of a live band! Alive Network's bands can offer an electrifying live performance with a sound and volume to match. A volume level in the region of 95dB – 110dB is standard.
If your venue has a sound limiter or volume restrictions, many bands offer an electronic drum kit option which can significantly reduce the overall volume of the band. You can find our sound limiter friendly bands here.
If you prefer your entertainment to serve as background music, where guests can still easily hold a conversation in the same room, then you might like to consider a Jazz / Swing band, solo singer / guitarist or Rat Pack singer. All of these artists are able to perform popular music but in a more laid-back style.
Space considerations at your event
A typical 4-piece band will need an area of around 4 metres wide by 3 metres deep. For approximate requirements, see ‘How much space will a live band need?’, below.
Prices vary depending on the number of members in the band and their travel distance to your event.
The average price of a 4-piece function band is £1,800.
Larger bands who specialise in corporate events vary in price between £2,500 – £30,000 depending on their size and experience.
This table shows a breakdown of the range of costs for different types of function bands:
- Duos - £500 - £1100
- 3-piece bands - £750 - £2,500
- 4 piece bands - £750 - £4000
- 5-piece bands - £1000 - £5000
- 6 piece bands - £1300 - £6500
- 7 piece bands and bigger - £1900 - £27,000
Below are the bands that we feel are currently flying the flag as the leading rock and pop bands in the UK right now, based on a combination of popularity, performance quality and innovation:
For a list of Alive's most booked bands right now, see our list of the 'Top 10 Function Bands UK Wide'
Most bands offer two 60-minute performances as standard, though many can perform for longer if required. You can spread out a two-hour performance by splitting it into three 40-minute sets.
For most weddings and private parties, the band would arrive at 6pm, get set up and sound checked by 7.30pm to 8pm, then start the first performance around 9pm, with the second performance starting around 10.30pm, through to a standard midnight curfew. Many bands will offer longer performances at an additional cost, including finishing times of 1am and 2am.
Bands will provide background music from an MP3 player or laptop between their performances.
The average volume level of most fully-amplified 4-piece guitar-based rock and pop bands, is between 95dB – 110 dB (decibels), with occasional volume peaks of around 120dB. This is a big, roof-raising sound with lots of energy, making them the perfect headliners to your party!
If your venue has noise restrictions or a sound limiter, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a band. Just speak to our Entertainment Coordinators before you book to find the right artists for you. Many of our bands have the option of an electric drum kit, which can significantly help to reduce overall volume. Check out our sound limiter friendly collection here.
Most bands can work within a space of 4 metres wide by 3 metres deep, but this increases as you add more members. The guide below shows how much space bands of different sizes require:
- 3-piece band = 3 x 3 metres
- 4-piece band = 4 x 3 metres
- 5 and 6-piece band = 5 x 3 metres
- 7-piece band and bigger = 5-6 x 4 metres or more
To unload, set up and sound check takes on average 60 – 90 minutes, depending on how close the band can park relative to the space they’re performing in. Some busy London hotels insist bands load in via a suppliers entrance, using an elevator shared with caterers and staff. This can greatly extend set up times.
After the performance, it takes around 45 – 60 minutes to pack down and load out.
To really rock at your event, most live bands need:
- a suitably-sized, safe, dry performance area. If performing outside, they will require cover – either from the rain or from the scorching sun!
- parking, preferably with easy access to the venue
- refreshments such as soft drinks and sometimes food, depending on how long you have booked them for.
All Alive Network bands will provide their own PA system, microphones, stage lighting, backline amplifiers and instruments.
Aside from finding some of the best Function Bands in the UK and getting expert advice from our friendly staff, one of the main reasons to hire a Function Band from Alive Network Entertainment Agency is security. We ensure your booking is covered 24/7 against any eventuality, so that no matter what, you can enjoy your event without worrying about whether your entertainment will turn up. If your Function Band is ill or unable to perform, our team will be on hand to source a suitable replacement even out of office hours and at short notice. Imagine having to do that yourself!?
- Outstanding five-star customer service
- Emergency cover 24/7, 365 days a year
- Hand-picked Function Bands for the ultimate in quality and reliability
- Safe, secure booking contracts for your peace of mind
- Easy enquiry and booking process
- Hundreds of Rock and Pop Function Bands to choose from
- Trusted brand with over 110,000 previous clients & high-profile industry partnerships
- Instant online Function Band prices & availability
Established in 1999, Alive Network has grown to become the UK's largest live entertainment agency and one of the leading online entertainment booking services in the world. We specialise in wedding entertainment, party entertainment and corporate entertainment, trusted by companies like Apple, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Coca-Cola & Nike, and we have helped over 110,000 customers to hire the perfect live entertainment for their events. We are formally partnered with BIMM, the largest and leading provider of contemporary music education in the UK and Europe, ensuring that we are able to bring you the very best new talent exclusively at Alive Network.
For information on joining Alive Network please visit our 'How to join' pages here.
What you will need in order to apply?
- High quality audio tracks and promo photos
- Reliable, good quality equipment & your own transport
- A setlist of music suited to private events
- Smart formal stage clothes, suited to private events
- A PA system & stage lighting suited to audiences of up to 200 people
- Reliable, professional band mates
For a more comprehensive booking guide please read ‘Booking a function band – Everything you’ll ever need to know’.
If you have any other queries, simply visit our FAQ page.
Alternatively, our dedicated expert entertainment coordinators are on-hand to help. Simply call 0845 108 5500 or email enquiries@alivenetwork.com.
Why Choose Alive?
26 years providing you with the very best live bands for hire in the East Midlands
Five-Star Service
Get 1:1 help & ideas quickly from your dedicated entertainment expert
Budget Friendly
Big or small, luxe or less, we get you the best value with transparent pricing
Handpicked By Us
All artists selected by
our expert talent scouts
Safe & Secure
Reliable artists. Secure contracts. 24/7 Emergency Cover. Peace of mind.