Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Shim sham to a jazz band or tap your toes to dixieland at your wedding or party. We also offer big bands, crooners, Postmodern and Gypsy jazz bands for hire.
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Award-winning saxophone and guitar duo playing sophisticated standards for a wide variety of events and celebrations.
London's finest lounge/jazz boogie organ combo, Gin & Tonic play a mix of current pop tunes and classic standards in their own inimitable style.
Compact in size but delivering a grand sound, The Slick City Swingers masterfully recreate the vibrant swinging tunes of the classic big band era.
Versatile piano and sax duo playing a mix of jazz, pop, soul background music for receptions and dinners.
High-energy and vibrant, this band keeps the dance floor alive with a thrilling mix of hits—from Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire to Lizzo and Adele—guaranteeing an unforgettable celebration.
Recreating the talent, charisma and experience of Frank Sinatra in both sound and style!
A sassy, swingin' jazz band from Cardiff to get your party jumping, playing the best tunes from the last 100 years in a vintage style with a contemporary sound.
Exceptional jazz and swing trio with an extensive repertoire of classic jazz tunes by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and George Gershwin, plus an optional pop repertoire. Suitable for elegant background music.
Superb gypsy jazz trio playing a lively and eclectic mixture of Latin and jazz standards, with some surprising pop covers thrown into the mix, too. Extra musicians and solo guitar sets available. Low season and midweek discounts.
A finalist on Britain's Got Talent, The Swing King is a hugely popular singer of Rat Pack, jazz & swing standards as well as modern pop hits. Live 6-piece band option available.
Vintage Jukebox, with highly talented jazz and blues musicians, sets an unmatched musical standard. From jazz standards to the latest pop hits, Vintage Jukebox are capable of catering to events and weddings, offering tailor-made entertainment for any occasion.
Fantastic vocal harmony group specialising in the beautiful music from the 1940s and 50s. Amazing harmonies, beautiful dance routines, and stunning costumes!
The Gin Rickeys are a postmodern jukebox band giving a jazzy and Latin twist to pop classics, from Dua Lipa to Junior Senior, with a dash of Rosalia and a sprinkle of Aretha Franklin. Imagine a postmodern jukebox, but with an extra dose of energy!
The silky sound of Rich's sax will make any drinks reception or social gathering a joyous occasion! Rich has a wide selection of music chosen to create a relaxing atmosphere and easy listening.
A classy vintage vocal trio, Pink Shoelaces offers a mix of modern and classic songs, and they're also available with a live band for a full musical experience.
From the smooth sounds of classic jazz to the upbeat rhythms of swing and Latin, this talented saxophone and keyboard background duo are happy to tailor their performance to your exact preferences.
This dynamic band hits all the right notes with classic Lindy hop and jump jive tunes, along with swinging renditions of chart-toppers by Pharrell and Bruno Mars. With their all-singing, all-swinging style, they're a sure bet for getting everyone up and dancing on the floor.
The Bon Bons add a touch of vintage glamour to any event or party, charming audiences with classics from the 1940s/50s or delivering a retro twist on modern chart hits. They're a delightful treat that's sure to please everyone!
This lively and spirited guitar duo offers a diverse repertoire, spanning jazz and gypsy to Italian music, all reimagined with a fresh, unique twist. They provide the ideal, unobtrusive background ambiance for weddings and parties.
Vintage Swing takes you back to the golden age of swing. This dynamic 2-7 piece ensemble pays tribute to the Jazz Age and the Swing Era, capturing the spirit of these iconic musical periods.
All our jazz bands are fully self-contained with their own PA sound system so you don’t have to worry about speakers or sound engineers.
Some of our jazz swing bands will bring lighting for the stage or dance-floor for after-dinner entertainment too – check the band's profile page for more details.
Our jazz bands typically play two 1-hour sets or 3 x 40 minute sets of music, but they can play for longer (for an additional cost) if preferred.
If you need the band to play for longer or later than midnight, extra fees can apply.
For afternoon and early evening events, most jazz musicians will aim to arrive about 90 minutes before the scheduled start of the performance. For evening events, bands aim to arrive from 5pm or 6pm at the latest, regardless of the finish time.
Duos or trios rarely need more than 30 minutes to set-up and do a quick sound-check (test that their levels are appropriate for the venue).
Larger line-ups may need up to 90 minutes, but the exact time required will be detailed in your booking contract.
Our jazz wedding bands will be happy to learn and perform your first dance request – provided they think they can arrange it for their line-up and do it justice.
Check the band’s profile to see what they can offer and if they can’t do it live, they could just play it through their PA system using Spotify or an mp3 player.
Amplified line-ups (all line-ups excluding unplugged trad jazz bands) can provide recorded jazz music between sets via a device (yours or theirs), free of charge.
Many are able to upgrade to a more advanced service using virtual DJ software so that they can mix songs and take your guests’ requests – check the band’s profile page for details.
There are a few things you'd need to ensure, when booking a jazz band:
If booking a jazz band for afternoon or early evening background sets, and the band won't remain on site for more than 4 hours, you won't have to provide a meal, but refreshments would be appreciated.
Most jazz bands can perform within the limits of sound limiters with no problems.
However, if you’re booking a larger swing band (upwards of a 4-piece) including drums and brass, it’s worth checking the noise restrictions at your venue.
In many cases, levels can be reduced by asking the drummer to use brushes or “hot rods” instead of wooden sticks.
Most swing or dance bands booked for evening parties are reserved between 6 and 12 months before your event, but the top bands can get snapped up a full 18 months in advance.
So we recommend starting your search as soon as possible. This is especially crucial if you're planning a Saturday wedding from April to September.
If you're booking a background jazz band for your afternoon reception, or if you're planning an off-season wedding between October and March, there will likely still be good options available at around the 6 month mark.
Our jazz bands vary in price from under £500 for a guitar and sax duo, right up to £4000 for a 12-piece big band.
The typical price paid for a jazz band in 2024 was approximately £1000.
Hiring a jazz band locally will save you money on travel and accommodation costs. Use the filter menus at the top of this page to narrow down acts based in your region only.
We have jazz bands based all over the UK. Also see:
In the event that a band member falls ill or is unable to attend on the day, the band are obliged to arrange a substitute musician to take their place.
In the very unlikely event that none of the band members can attend, we'll make every effort to secure a replacement jazz band in a comparable style and within the same price range from our extensive range of acts. If you don't like any of our suggested replacements, we'll give you a full refund.
All of our jazz bands will require a soundcheck ahead of the show and a soundcheck usually takes between 60 and 90 minutes. It's best if the venue is free of guests at this point, both for the band’s convenience and your guests’ comfort.
If the space cannot be free of guests, some of our jazz bands can arrange a ‘noiseless’ line-check in order to set up the equipment without disturbing proceedings.
Not necessarily. Our jazz bands will play pre-recorded music during any intervals. This music can be provided by the band, or you can give them a playlist of your own.
Some bands are able to provide their own DJ service for before and/or after the performance but check out their individual profiles for more details.
There are a couple of instances where it might be worth hiring a separate DJ as well as the band:
If you're planning on finishing very late, it might be more cost-effective to hire a separate DJ than pay the whole band to stay on.
If you have specialised tastes or beat-matching is particularly important to you, a DJ might be the best option for you.
If you simply can’t decide which jazz band is right for you, call us on 0333 242 0560 or send us a message to tell us what part of your day you need music for, and your musical preferences, and we’ll be more than happy to suggest suitable acts.
In the meantime, you can read this handy guide on how to book a band.
Feel free to check out the band’s song list on their profile page and send over any preferred song choices in advance.
Jazz bands are unlikely to accept “on the fly” requests as they may not be part of their repertoire and the band may not have the appropriate musical or vocal arrangements to do them justice, especially if requests fall outside of the genre.
Sticking to their song list and giving them chance to rehearse in advance will ensure your jazz band can give you their very best performance.
As long as you have cover to protect the band and their equipment from the elements and a good power supply, your jazz band should be able to play outdoors.
Let us know when booking if you’re planning an outdoor event and we’ll be happy to provide you with a checklist of all you’ll need.
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