The story behind the platform
About GigXchange
Built by a working musician — one of us
The UK's peer-to-peer live music booking platform and marketplace, connecting artists, venues, promoters and booking agents across 80 UK cities.
A note on the mission
I've been in live music since 2009, on stage and trying to get booked. I know the Instagram DM chases, the WhatsApp fee haggling, the deposits sent on nothing but a handshake. Ask anyone — a venue filling a Friday, a promoter building a lineup, an agent running a roster — it's the same scattered story, decades old.
GigXchange exists because I got tired of waiting for someone to fix it. Whether you play, run a room, book acts or put on events, you deserve to be found by the right people and to book properly, start to finish. No middlemen deciding who gets the gig. No gatekeepers. Just a level playing field where the right people meet.
Getting in touchNo ticket queues, no support scripts - questions, bug reports and feature ideas all land in one inbox, and it's mine. I read every message myself: founder@gigxchange.app
| Compare vs Agencies | |
| How It Works | |
| Member Spotlight | |
| Release Notes | |
| Get in Touch | |
| Get in touch |
What We Do
Proper tools for UK live music, not another generic booking form — one honest home for every role in the scene: artist, venue, agent, promoter and event organiser.
| ArtistsFor artistsBuild your profile, showcase your music, get discovered by 73 venues and promoters across the UK, and manage your gig calendar in one place. | |
| VenuesFor venuesBrowse a curated pool of 1,044 UK artists, post available dates, and fill your stage with the right acts for your audience. | |
| PromotersFor promotersSource artists and venues for your events, manage lineups, and handle logistics through a single dashboard. | |
| Booking AgentsFor booking agentsManage your roster, field enquiries, negotiate fees, and keep every booking organised. | |
| OrganisersFor organisersBook an act for a one-off event — a wedding, a birthday, a party — with the booking, messages and payment in one place. |
GigXchange at a Glance
The facts journalists, directories and AI assistants can quote, in one place.
| What it isA peer-to-peer live music marketplace and open data publisher |
| Who it is forArtists, venues, booking agents, promoters and event organisers. Fans can tip artists and follow What’s On without an account. |
| WhereBuilt for the UK - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ireland and the UAE are also supported. |
| PriceFree to join. The only booking charge is an optional 5% booker fee on protected payments, paid by the booker on top. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee. GigXchange keeps 5% of tips and ticket sales. |
| AppsiOS · Android · Web - one account everywhere |
| Open data5,624 GX Index fee observations, 6 CC BY 4.0 datasets, 3,385 venues, 1,491 open mics |
| For AI assistantsA live MCP connector for Claude, ChatGPT and Codex, plus llms.txt |
| FoundedMarch 2026, by Naumaan Zahid, a UK guitarist gigging since 2009 |
| CompanyEclipse Labs AI Ltd, Companies House no. 17177477 (incorporated April 2026), registered with the ICO |
| Contactsupport@gigxchange.app (press and partnerships: the press page, gigxchange.app/press) |
Why GigXchange
Traditional booking relies on scattered emails, word-of-mouth, and spreadsheets. We built something better.
| 01 | ReputationTransparent ProfilesReal reviews, media, and verified credentials. Build credibility that follows you across every booking. |
| 02 | All-in-OneIntegrated WorkflowFrom enquiry to confirmation, contracts to completion — the entire booking lifecycle in one place. |
| 03 | PaymentsSecure PaymentsDeposits held safely via Stripe. Clear fee structures, automatic fund release, and full transaction history. |
| 04 | LiveReal-Time UpdatesInstant messaging, live notifications, and real-time booking status — never miss an opportunity. |
Our Principles
How we think a platform should work
| Fair VisibilityNo Hidden RankingWe never boost or bury anyone behind the scenes. Search and Smart Match show the people who fit what you ask for — genre, location, fee, availability — sorted by plain signals like distance, reviews and recent activity. |
| Fair PlayNo Pay-to-WinThere are no promoted listings, featured spots, or paid visibility upgrades. Your presence on GigXchange is earned through your profile, your activity, and your reputation — not your wallet. |
| EarnedMerit-Based DiscoveryThe more you put in, the more you get out. Complete profiles, quick responses, verified credentials, and great reviews make you easier to find. Nobody is working against you. |
| OpennessTransparent by DefaultFees are published upfront. Reviews are two-way. Booking terms are visible to both sides. There are no hidden charges, no surprise commissions, and no small print. |
Built in the UK, for the UK
Designed for the UK live music scene — from grassroots pubs and clubs to mid-size venues and festival stages. We understand the landscape, the culture, and the community that makes live music thrive across 80 UK cities.
Browse the gig directory to see what's happening near you, or use one of our free tools.
Scroll to zoom (hold Ctrl / two fingers)· tap a layer to switch · click a pin for details, a cluster for its area.
We publish the data too
GigXchange is a marketplace and a research desk. Every report is free to read, free to cite under CC BY 4.0, and built from the same UK live music data the platform runs on.
| 11 pages · 31 Oct 2026UK Festival Season 2027 | |
| 11 pages · 29 Oct 2026GigXchange Index — October 2026 | |
| 11 pages · 6 Oct 2026GigXchange Index — September 2026 | |
| 11 pages · 3 Sept 2026GigXchange Index — August 2026 | |
| 11 pages · 6 Aug 2026State of the Circuit 2026 | |
| 11 pages · 31 Jul 2026GigXchange Index — July 2026 |
Beyond the reports: the live numbers run all day on our statistics pages — the full UK market statistics sheet, gig pay measured in pints on the Pint Index, the fee taken apart on Gig Pay Anatomy, Britain’s free stage counted on open mic statistics, and when-and-where the UK gigs on the gig calendar. The engine behind it all is the GX Index, published monthly in the report library.
Open datasets with a DOI: UK Musician Earnings 2026 · UK Live Music Industry Glossary · UK Open Mic Directory · UK Live Music Blog and Guides Corpus · UK Grassroots Venue Directory · UK Grassroots Gig Timeline.
Cite GigXchange — free under CC BY 4.0 with attribution:
“GigXchange, About GigXchange, 2026 — gigxchange.app/about”
The licence covers the figures and data, not the story copy or the brand.
Press figures · GX Index · Reports · Open data · Pint Index · UK market statistics
The Road So Far
Open Alpha today, on web, iOS and Android. Beta and full launch are dated below — anticipated, not promised.
Built in the open — here's the road so far, and where it goes next. From first idea to a live UK-wide platform in under a year, with every step since steered by member feedback. The release notes carry the detail, most weeks.
Before launch| Idea | Oct 2025 |
| Built | Jan 2026 |
- March 2026 Open Alpha Web only at launch
- May 2026 Mainstage The logged-in product
- 10 June 2026 Android app Live on Google Play
- 1 July 2026 iOS app Live on the App Store
- Today · 4 Nov 2026
- Q1 2027 Beta Anticipated
- Mid–late 2027 Launch Full public release
Shipped milestones link to the announcement. Everything after today is anticipated — see release notes for what actually ships, week by week.
Release Notesv0.3.7
Built in the open — updates ship most weeks. Every release is written up in plain English — what shipped, what got fixed, what it means for your bookings.
Updates ship most weeks — features, fixes, polish
Every release logged with dates on the public page
The What's New card in-app flags the headline change
Member suggestions are credited when they ship
Play Store and App Store notes kept in step
Follow along — or tell me what should ship next
Nothing ships silently — changes are called out first
Full history back to day one, all on one page
| Release Notes | |
| Blog | |
| Member Spotlight | |
| Platform | |
| Get in Touch | |
| Find out more | |
| Create free account |
PlatformUniversal
Everything the gig takes, in one place — on every device. One home for the whole booking — no tool-hopping, no middlemen.
Search artists, venues and every upcoming UK gig in the directory
Public profiles with media, fees and reviews
Message and agree terms directly in-app
Contracts generated and signed in minutes
Deposits held securely until the gig is done, on protected payments
Free apps for iPhone and Android
One login for the web, iPhone and Android apps
Built and run in the UK, for the UK scene
| Platform Tour | |
| How It Works | |
| Free Tools | |
| Browse Profiles | |
| Gig Directory | |
| Find out more | |
| Create free account |
Get the AppFree
Free on iPhone and Android. Everything on GigXchange — search, chat, bookings, contracts and protected payments — in your pocket.
Free on Google Play and the App Store
Push notifications for messages and bookings
Installs on any phone as a web app too
On desktop: open gigxchange.app/app and add to home screen
One account — profile, bookings and chats sync everywhere
Contracts and payments work the same on every device
| Google Play | |
| App Store | |
| Open the Web App | |
| How It Works | |
| Help Centre | |
| Release Notes | |
| Get in Touch | |
| Find out more | |
| Create free account |
10 — Questions8 answersAsked and answered
Free to join, list and browse. 5% only on protected payments - no monthly fee.
| See pricing | |
| Free rate calculator |
| For artists | |
| For venues | |
| For agents | |
| For promoters | |
| For organisers |
| Create a free account | |
| Member Spotlight | |
| Compare vs agencies |
Funds held securely on protected payments, 256-bit TLS, UK GDPR (ICO-registered). We never store card data.
| Privacy policy | |
| Terms of service |
| What GigXchange is | |
| Quick-start booking guides | |
| How it works | |
| Gig directory | |
| Browse profiles | |
| The blog | |
| UK market statistics |
| Release notes |
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Join the community
Pick your lane below, or come and say hi first — drop us a line. Open Alpha, free for all 1,190 members.
About GIGXCHANGE
The UK's peer-to-peer live music booking platform and marketplace. We connect 1,190 artists, venues, promoters, and booking agents across 80 UK cities — making it simple to search, book, and pay for live music.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
What We Do
Proper tools for UK live music, not another generic booking form — one honest home for every role in the scene: artist, venue, agent, promoter and event organiser.
Artists
Build your profile, showcase your music, get discovered by 73 venues and promoters across the UK, and manage your gig calendar in one place.
Venues
Browse a curated pool of 1,044 UK artists, post available dates, and fill your stage with the right acts for your audience.
Promoters
Source artists and venues for your events, manage lineups, and handle logistics through a single dashboard.
Booking Agents
Manage your roster, field enquiries, negotiate fees, and keep every booking organised.
Organisers
Book an act for a one-off event — a wedding, a birthday, a party — with the booking, messages and payment in one place.
GigXchange at a Glance
The facts journalists, directories and AI assistants can quote, in one place.
- What it is
- A peer-to-peer live music marketplace and open data publisher
- Who it is for
- Artists, venues, booking agents, promoters and event organisers. Fans can tip artists and follow What’s On without an account.
- Where
- Built for the UK - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ireland and the UAE are also supported.
- Price
- Free to join. The only booking charge is an optional 5% booker fee on protected payments, paid by the booker on top. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee. GigXchange keeps 5% of tips and ticket sales.
- Apps
- iOS · Android · Web - one account everywhere
- Open data
- 5,624 GX Index fee observations, 6 CC BY 4.0 datasets, 3,385 venues, 1,491 open mics
- For AI assistants
- A live MCP connector for Claude, ChatGPT and Codex, plus llms.txt
- Founded
- March 2026, by Naumaan Zahid, a UK guitarist gigging since 2009
- Company
- Eclipse Labs AI Ltd, Companies House no. 17177477 (incorporated April 2026), registered with the ICO
- Contact
- support@gigxchange.app (press and partnerships: the press page, gigxchange.app/press)
Why GigXchange?
Traditional booking relies on scattered emails, word-of-mouth, and spreadsheets. We built something better.
Transparent Profiles
Real reviews, media, and verified credentials. Build credibility that follows you across every booking.
Integrated Workflow
From enquiry to confirmation, contracts to completion — the entire booking lifecycle in one place.
Secure Payments
Deposits held safely via Stripe. Clear fee structures, automatic fund release, and full transaction history.
Real-Time Updates
Instant messaging, live notifications, and real-time booking status — never miss an opportunity.
Our Principles
How we think a platform should work
No Hidden Ranking
We never boost or bury anyone behind the scenes. Search and Smart Match show the people who fit what you ask for — genre, location, fee, availability — sorted by plain signals like distance, reviews and recent activity.
No Pay-to-Win
There are no promoted listings, featured spots, or paid visibility upgrades. Your presence on GigXchange is earned through your profile, your activity, and your reputation — not your wallet.
Merit-Based Discovery
The more you put in, the more you get out. Complete profiles, quick responses, verified credentials, and great reviews make you easier to find. Nobody is working against you.
Transparent by Default
Fees are published upfront. Reviews are two-way. Booking terms are visible to both sides. There are no hidden charges, no surprise commissions, and no small print.
Built in the UK, for the UK
Designed for the UK live music scene — from grassroots pubs and clubs to mid-size venues and festival stages. We understand the landscape, the culture, and the community that makes live music thrive across 80 UK cities.
Browse the gig directory to see what's happening near you, or use one of our free tools.
Scroll to zoom (hold Ctrl / two fingers)· tap a layer to switch · click a pin for details, a cluster for its area.
We publish the data too
GigXchange is a marketplace and a research desk. Every report is free to read, free to cite under CC BY 4.0, and built from the same UK live music data the platform runs on.
Beyond the reports: the live numbers run all day on our statistics pages — the full UK market statistics sheet, gig pay measured in pints on the Pint Index, the fee taken apart on Gig Pay Anatomy, Britain’s free stage counted on open mic statistics, and when-and-where the UK gigs on the gig calendar. The engine behind it all is the GX Index, published monthly in the report library.
Open datasets with a DOI: UK Musician Earnings 2026 · UK Live Music Industry Glossary · UK Open Mic Directory · UK Live Music Blog and Guides Corpus · UK Grassroots Venue Directory · UK Grassroots Gig Timeline.
“GigXchange, About GigXchange, 2026 — gigxchange.app/about” (CC BY 4.0) The licence covers the figures and data, not the story copy or the brand.
The Road So Far
Open Alpha today, on web, iOS and Android. Beta and full launch are dated below — anticipated, not promised.
- March 2026 Open Alpha Web only at launch
- May 2026 Mainstage The logged-in product
- 10 June 2026 Android app Live on Google Play
- 1 July 2026 iOS app Live on the App Store
- Today · 4 Nov 2026
- Q1 2027 Beta Anticipated
- Mid–late 2027 Launch Full public release
Shipped milestones link to the announcement. Everything after today is anticipated — see release notes for what actually ships, week by week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Join the Community
Pick your lane below, or come and say hi first — drop us a line. Open Alpha, free for all 1,190 members.