Browse All Booking Guides
85+ free UK live music booking guides — wedding bands, function bands, DJs, tribute acts, ceilidh and solo acoustic acts, covered city by city and season by season. Each one pairs real 2026 fees from the GigXchange Index with lead times, setlist ideas, venue suggestions and contract tips, so you know what to pay, when to book and what to ask before you commit. Book direct at 0–8% commission, no agency markup.
Last updated: 28 May 2026
Browse All Guides
Compare UK booking rates, lead times, setlists and venues across 85+ free guides — wedding bands, function bands, DJs, tribute acts, ceilidh, plus city and seasonal-specific advice. Updated nightly from the GigXchange Index.
The UK live music industry contributes roughly £7.6bn a year (UK Music's Music by Numbers 2024), yet most bookings still run on handshakes and DMs. These guides cut through that: how much to pay a band in your city, how to vet an act, contract basics, what agency commission really costs, and how independent artists get on more stages without a middleman — grounded in the GigXchange Index, the Musicians' Union's £140 three-hour minimum, and the Music Venue Trust's 830+ grassroots venue register.
City-by-city guides
Every guide family built city-by-city, so the rates and lead times reflect your local market, not a national average.
Real UK rates
Typical fee range from solo acoustic through 5-piece function band. Expect 25–50% deposit on confirmation.
Lower than agencies
GigXchange’s transparent 0–8% sits well below the ~20% typical agency cut, with 830+ grassroots venues feeding the booking circuit.
Bands for hire
For Venues 23 guidesVenues and private clients looking to book a live band.
How to get gigs
For Artists 23 guidesArtists looking for practical gig-booking advice and active opportunities.
Seasonal booking guides
For Venues 10 guidesChristmas, NYE, weddings, festivals — peak-window timing, pricing tiers and setlist suggestions.
Performer hire guides
For Venues 10 guidesWedding bands, DJs, function bands, string quartets, tribute acts — pricing, format and what to ask.
How to book live music
For Venues 23 guidesVenue owners and event organisers — local rates, genre fit, licensing and a step-by-step guide.
Upcoming Events
Live music nights, gigs and shows happening across the UK — live on GigXchange right now.
Can't see your city?
We're rolling out UK-wide. GIGXCHANGE publishes booking & career guides for every corner of the UK — Greater London, the North West, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Wales, Scotland and the South Coast. New cities drop weekly, driven by signup activity.