Bands for hire
Hire a band in Nottingham
Hire wedding, function, cover and tribute bands in Nottingham. Live bands from £80, function from £500, weddings £500-£1,200.
Nottingham, UK
Bands for Hire in Nottingham
From Hockley DIY pubs to Trent Valley wedding venues, Nottingham has a band for every brief — wedding, function, cover, tribute, indie or DJ. Browse local artists and book direct, no agency markup.
At a glance
What a band costs
Pubs & bars
£80–£250
Corporate
£350–£900
Wedding
£500–£1200
Hiring a band in Nottingham typically costs £80–£1200 in 2026.
Before you book
What to know
Wedding bands in Nottingham typically charge £500–£1,200, with function bands hitting the same range for corporate dinners, product launches and Christmas parties. The…
Why GigXchange
Book direct
Book direct on GigXchange — message bands before you commit, hear real audio and read verified reviews, then pay securely through Stripe escrow. No agency markup.
Last updated: 7 May 2026
Wedding, Function and Cover Band Rates in Nottingham
The GX Index from GIGXCHANGE tracks live UK booking rates — these Nottingham medians come from Nottingham artists and venues submitting what they actually charge. Numbers update nightly — submit your rate below to help improve the index.
Hiring a Band in Nottingham — What You Need to Know
Whether you run a weekly open mic or you're planning a one-off event, here's what actually matters when booking live music in Nottingham.
Pubs & Bars
Nottingham's pub music scene is one of the Midlands' best-kept secrets. From Hockley's indie bars to the traditional pubs around the Lace Market, there's live music every night. Most pubs pay £80–£250 for a 2-set evening, with cover bands and acoustic duos working the same circuit. See live gigs in Nottingham for the current calendar. The city has a strong DIY ethic — bands here graft hard and build loyal followings. Nottingham audiences are knowledgeable and supportive, particularly of original music.
Weddings & Private Events
Wedding bands in Nottingham typically charge £500–£1,200, with function bands hitting the same range for corporate dinners, product launches and Christmas parties. The surrounding countryside (Sherwood Forest, the Trent Valley, and the Nottinghamshire estates) offers stunning wedding venues — Colwick Hall, Hodsock Priory, Wollaton Hall, and converted barns across the county are popular choices. Nottingham bands regularly cover Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire too — good value for high-quality musicians in a central location.
Restaurants & Hotels
Nottingham's restaurant scene has grown significantly — the Lace Market's fine dining spots, independent eateries in Hockley, and rooftop bars in the city centre all book live music. Jazz trios, acoustic duos, and soul singers work well. The Lace Market Hotel, Hart's, and St James Hotel regularly host live entertainment. Pay ranges from £80 for a solo act to £350+ for a quality trio. Nottingham's central location means you can draw from a wide pool of Midlands talent.
What Does a Band Cost in Nottingham?
Typical rates for Nottingham bands in 2026. Prices vary by band size, genre, and event type.
Solo / Duo
£70 – £200
Acoustic, jazz, singer-songwriter
Pub / Bar Gig
£80 – £250
2 sets, own PA, covers or originals
Corporate Event
£350 – £900
Full band, pro sound, smart dress
Wedding
£500 – £1,200
Full evening, first dance, DJ option
Bands by Area in Nottingham
Nottingham's music scenes cluster by area. Knowing where to look helps you find the right sound.
Hockley
Nottingham's creative quarter and the epicentre of the city's independent music scene. Hockley is home to Rough Trade, The Bodega, and dozens of independent bars and cafes that host live music. The scene here is indie, alternative, and proudly DIY — bands book their own shows, promote their own gigs, and build grassroots followings. If you want an act with authentic underground credibility — including rock and indie acts — Hockley is where to look.
Lace Market
Nottingham's upscale entertainment district. The Lace Market's cocktail bars, restaurants, and boutique hotels create demand for polished live music — jazz, soul, and sophisticated acoustic acts. Musicians who work this area are experienced professionals who understand ambient performance. The Lace Market Hotel and surrounding bars regularly book live entertainment. Perfect for corporate events, restaurant bookings, and private functions that need class and reliability.
Sneinton
An increasingly creative neighbourhood east of the city centre. Sneinton Market has become a hub for independent businesses and creative events, including regular live music. The area has a multicultural character that's reflected in its music — reggae, world music, and cross-genre experimentation alongside indie and electronic acts. Rescue Rooms, nearby on the edge of the city centre, anchors a thriving mid-size venue scene. Great for finding eclectic, boundary-pushing musicians.
Beeston & West Bridgford
Nottingham's southern suburbs have their own musical identity. Beeston's pubs and West Bridgford's gastropubs host regular live music nights — mainly acoustic, folk, and covers. The audience here is slightly older and more settled than the city centre crowd. Musicians from these areas are reliable, versatile, and experienced at playing to mixed-age audiences. Ideal for finding acts for family events, pub residencies, and community occasions.
Notable Nottingham Venues to Hire For
If you book live music in any of these spaces, you’ll find Nottingham artists who already know the room.
Royal Concert Hall & Theatre Royal
Nottingham's flagship classical and corporate concert venues — Royal Concert Hall and Theatre Royal. Hallé tours, jazz festivals, and prestige galas run year-round. The East Midlands has a strong conservatoire-trained classical community feeding these stages — ideal hires for charity galas, awards nights, and high-end corporate evenings.
Rock City & Rescue Rooms
Two of the UK's most-loved mid-size rock venues — Rock City has hosted nearly every band that matters; Rescue Rooms anchors the city's indie circuit. Local bands cutting their teeth here are tour-hardened and festival-tested, ready for high-energy brand events and arena-style private parties.
The Bodega, Metronome & The Chameleon
Nottingham's beloved 100–300 cap rooms — The Bodega, Metronome and The Chameleon. Indie, electronic, jazz, and experimental programmes nightly. If you run a similarly sized venue across the East Midlands, the bands gigging at these rooms are exactly who you want on your shortlist — original, gig-hardened, and reasonably priced.
Lace Market, Hockley & the Park hospitality
Nottingham's hospitality circuit. The Lace Market's restaurants and boutique hotels (Hart's, Lace Market Hotel), Hockley's independents, and the Park Estate's private-event spaces regularly book pianists, jazz duos, and acoustic acts for evening service. Acts here are polished and respectful of historic-building noise limits.
Motorpoint Arena Nottingham & Trent Bridge
The city's largest event spaces — Motorpoint Arena hosts conferences and awards alongside touring music; Trent Bridge runs cricket-season hospitality and out-of-season corporate galas. Function bands, big-band jazz, and tribute acts experienced with arena PA and large-format ballroom acoustics thrive in this circuit.
Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire country house weddings
Nottingham's wedding circuit reaches across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and into Lincolnshire. Colwick Hall, Hodsock Priory, Eastwood Hall, Stoke Rochford Hall, and Goosedale all run busy summer seasons. Local function bands, string quartets, and acoustic ceremony acts know the venues, the curfews, and the rural load-in logistics each enforces.
Compare Booking Platforms in Nottingham
If you're hiring a band in Nottingham, these are your options, scored across 10 dimensions.
Bands for Hire — Platform Comparison
What matters when you're the one doing the hiring.
| Feature | GigXchange | Encore | GigPig | Alive Network | Lemonrock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commission (you pay) | 0–5% (transparent) | Included in quote (~20%) | Free for artists | Included in quote (~20%, varies) | Free |
| Talk to the band first? | Yes — message before booking | Mediated through platform | After they accept | Mediated through agency | Yes — direct contact |
| Hear them play? | Audio tracks + videos on profile | Sample clips | Videos | Promo videos | External links only |
| See real reviews? | Two-way verified reviews | Client reviews only | Two-way | Client reviews only | No reviews |
| Payment protection | Stripe escrow — released after gig | Via agency | Via platform | Via agency | Cash / bank transfer |
| Contract included? | Auto-generated, digitally signed | Agency contract | Basic terms | Agency contract | No |
| Original music acts? | All genres — originals welcome | Mostly covers / function | Mixed | Covers / function only | Strong original scene |
| Best for | Direct booking, any budget | High-budget weddings | Regular pub/bar slots | Large corporate events | Discovery / networking |
How to Hire a Band on GIGXCHANGE
Three steps. About five minutes from signup to first booking.
01Listing
Post your gig
Fill in five details: date, venue, genre, budget, set length. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network. No agency handling the hand-off.
02Shortlist
Review applications
Artists apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing. Compare them next to each other rather than tab-switching.
03Booking
Book and pay securely
Once the fee’s signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties. Funds are held in Stripe escrow until the gig is complete. Ratings post from both sides when the booking closes.
Frequently Asked Questions
A solo acoustic act for a pub costs £70–£200. A full band for a wedding is £500–£1,200. Nottingham offers excellent value. East Midlands rates are competitive, and the city's strong music scene means there's deep talent to choose from. On GigXchange, you see the band's actual price and pay just 8% platform commission, avoiding the 20–30% agency markup.
Nottingham has a famously strong underground scene. The city's DIY culture has produced bands like Sleaford Mods, Jake Bugg, and Brockhampton. Indie and alternative dominate, but there's a strong electronic scene (particularly around the old warehouse spaces), a growing hip-hop community, and solid rock and blues circuits. Rescue Rooms and The Bodega are proving grounds for up-and-coming talent. The city's two universities keep the scene young and experimental.
Hockley is Nottingham's creative heartland, it's packed with original acts. Post your gig on GigXchange specifying original music and the Hockley area, and you'll reach bands who already know the scene intimately. Rough Trade and The Bodega anchor the area's live music community, and musicians here are used to playing intimate, character-filled spaces. You'll get acts with genuine artistic credibility who'll draw their own crowd.
Yes. Nottingham's central location is a major advantage, bands regularly cover Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Sheffield, Leicester, and Derby are all within 30-40 minutes. Birmingham and Leeds are under an hour. Discuss travel arrangements directly with the band through GigXchange messaging before confirming.
Payment is held in Stripe escrow until the gig is completed. If the band cancels, your money is returned automatically. GigXchange also includes emergency cover. If your booking evaporates, re-post the slot and available artists with free diaries can step in fast.
Yes — Nottingham has a healthy tribute scene (indie, Britpop, 80s, Motown, Madness, ABBA) plus strong covers culture. Cover bands typically charge £400–£900 depending on size and night. Most function bands also work as cover bands for parties and corporate events. Nottingham's event market spans Motorpoint Arena, Rock City, Rescue Rooms, and The Royal Concert Hall — Splendour Festival in Wollaton Park brings big names to the city every summer. Search by tribute act or specific era and you'll see profiles within minutes.
Filter Nottingham artists by genre, scan audio and reviews on each profile, then request the booking with one click. If you're an artist, our how to get gigs in Nottingham guide covers the full circuit. There's no agent between you and the act — communication is direct; payment runs through GigXchange's escrow.
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