Find a band
Find a Band in Derby
Book a Derby band direct - rock at The Hairy Dog, acoustic and folk nights across the city, and function acts for Derbyshire weddings. Band hire here starts from about £600 (GX Index).
Updated 27 October 2026
Find a band in Derby — book, sign and pay in one place
Find a Band in Derby: the Short Answer
A band in Derby costs from about £600 for a 3–4 piece band at a pub or bar - the East Midlands median fee acts take home, from 27 fees on the GX Index; quotes can run higher once travel, PA and set length are added. 1 Derby act has a GigXchange profile and 27 Derby venues list live music.
| What it costs · £600 3–4 piece bandEast Midlands take-home median · 27 fees |
| On GigXchange · 1 Derby actwith a profile you can browse |
| Venues listed · 27 Derby venuesputting on live music |
| If they cancel · Rescue a replacement fastGX Gig Rescue invites available acts |
Bands You Can Book in Derby
You will find them working City Centre, The Cathedral Quarter and Darley Abbey. For a pub or bar, start with self-contained acts that bring their own PA and play two 45-minute sets.
Bands Available for Gigs in Derby
Every act here is a band or musician available for gigs in Derby: the availability calendar on each profile shows the dates they are free. Listen to the audio, read the reviews, then message two or three and agree the fee in chat - the contract and payment are handled in one place. The full process is in how to book live music.
| Browse all Derby acts | |
| How to book live music |
Who's Available This Weekend in Derby
Here is who we have available in Derby this weekend: 1 of our 1 Derby act has nothing booked or blocked on Saturday 31 October in their GigXchange calendar. Message an act to confirm your night.
Nothing booked or blocked Booked or unavailable
Calendars checked Sat 31 Oct, 22:59
| Post a gig | |
| Act cancelled? Gig Rescue |
What you'll pay for a band in Derby
Fees for pubs and bars in Derby run from about £265 for a solo act at a pub or bar to £1,783 for a 5+ piece band at a wedding - UK medians of what acts take home. Line-up, set length and travel move a quote above these; the figures update nightly from the GX Index.
| Pub or bar · solo actmiddle 50% £162–£330 · UK · 546 fees | £265 |
| Pub or bar · duomiddle 50% £250–£500 · UK · 93 fees | £325 |
| Pub or bar · 3–4 piece bandmiddle 50% £500–£700 · East Midlands · 27 fees | £600 |
| Pub or bar · 5+ piece bandmiddle 50% £400–£1,050 · UK · 307 fees | £525 |
| Wedding · 3–4 piece bandmiddle 50% £810–£1,559 · UK · 1,616 fees | £1,129 |
| Wedding · 5+ piece bandmiddle 50% £1,353–£2,206 · UK · 427 fees | £1,783 |
| Submit your rate | |
| See the UK gig rates |
Finding a Band in Derby — What You Need to Know
What works at Ryans Bar, Ye Olde Dolphin Inne and Blacksmiths Lounge tells you a lot about Derby's rooms. Match the act to the room size, the crowd and the night: covers fill a pub, originals bring their own following.
| Pubs & BarsDerby's live week is spread across a lot of pubs. Ryans Bar has acoustic, folk and singer-songwriter nights from Wednesday to Saturday, The Bless and The Bishop Blaise book rock and indie, The Maypole Inn and The Creaky Floorboard run acoustic and folk, and The Hairy Dog is the city's rock, punk and metal room. |
| Restaurants & HotelsBlacksmiths Lounge's acoustic, jazz and soul nights at the weekend show the softer side of the city - the right players for dinners and receptions. |
| Weddings & Private EventsDerbyshire weddings - from Darley Abbey to the villages around Melbourne - book covers, soul and function acts. A Derby band knows the county; confirm set times and PA before you book. |
Which Type of Band Fits Your Room?
Cover, pub, function, tribute — what each one is, what it costs in Derby, and who books it.
| Cover BandsThe default for pubs and bars — recognisable songs, full room. A covers act typically plays two 45-minute sets. |
| Pub BandsRock, blues and indie acts working the Derby pub circuit week in, week out — own PA, self-contained, used to small stages. |
| Function BandsBigger line-ups for weddings, corporate dinners and parties - size and set length set the fee. |
| Tribute & OriginalsTribute nights fill rooms on otherwise quiet evenings; original acts bring their own following. Both book direct on GigXchange. |
Four Checks Before You Book
| Hear them livePlay a live video or live recording on the act's profile, not just a studio track - that is how they will sound in your room. |
| Reviews from nights like yoursRead what reviews say about nights like yours - a pub night, a wedding or a party - not just the star rating. |
| Set list, PA and timingsGet the set list and set times in writing, and confirm who brings the PA, the floor space needed and when they arrive to set up. |
| Put it in the contractAgree the fee and the times, and read the cancellation terms in the GigXchange booking agreement, before you confirm. |
How to Book a Band on GIGXCHANGE
3 steps. About 5 minutes from signup to first booking: post your gig, review the acts who apply, then book with a contract and your payment held until after the gig.
| 01 | ListingPost your gigFill in 5 details: date, venue, genre, budget, set length. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network — takes about 5 minutes, no agency handling the hand-off. |
| 02 | ShortlistReview applicationsActs apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing, and compare them side by side rather than tab-switching. |
| 03 | BookingBook and pay securelyOnce the fee’s signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties in under 1 minute. Funds are held securely via Stripe and released 5 days after the event completes. Ratings post from both sides when the booking closes. |
Agree the Terms in Writing
| Agree the brief and the terms in writing - the date, set times, fee, deposit, cancellation and what the price includes. Who brings the PA, the stage space and the power - written into the contract so nobody guesses on the night. Many venues ask acts for public liability insurance. Musicians’ Union members are covered to £10 million each with their membership. If the act drops out: GX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts near you. The first to accept is booked. |
Band Cancelled? Find a Replacement in Derby
Emergency band replacement without ringing round an agency out of hours - Gig Rescue sends your night to acts who are free that evening, and the first to accept is booked.
Every GigXchange profile carries a live availability calendar, so you’re only ever looking at acts who can actually make your date. Message shortlisted bands directly, agree the fee in chat, and the contract and payment are handled in one place — realistic to turn around same-week, often same-day.
| 01 | The datePick the gig that fell through, or tell it the night. |
| 02 | The call-outUp to 25 free acts invited at once. |
| 03 | The show goes onThe other invites close the moment one act accepts. |
| Rescue this gig — broadcast to available bands | |
| Browse available Derby bands |
Bands by Area in Derby
Derby's live music clusters in City Centre, The Cathedral Quarter, Darley Abbey and Melbourne & South Derbyshire, with 27 Derby venues listing live music on GigXchange. Knowing the area tells you the sound - and which acts already play there.
| City CentreThe Hairy Dog, Ryans Bar and The Bless - rock, punk and acoustic most nights. |
| The Cathedral QuarterMr Shaws House on Sadler Gate books indie, alternative and indie folk. |
| Darley AbbeyDarley Park hosts outdoor rock, pop and soul events. |
| Melbourne & South DerbyshireMelbourne Assembly Rooms programmes folk, tribute and choral nights. |
Derby Venues Listing Live Music
| Ryans Bar |
| Ye Olde Dolphin InneCathedral Quarter |
| Blacksmiths Lounge |
| The Bless |
| The Maypole Inn |
| The Vic InnDerby · c. 150 capacity |
11 — Questions11 answersFrequently asked questions
Bands in DerbyLocal
Browse and compare local bands in Derby. Find the right band for your Derby event.
Browse Derby artists and bands
Compare styles, set lengths and fees
Message and book direct — no middlemen
Two-way verified reviews
Free to browse — 5% only on protected payments
| Browse Derby bands | |
| Post a gig | |
| Find out more | |
| Post a gig |
Derby GigsLive
Upcoming gigs in Derby — the local directory. What's on in Derby — the local gig directory.
One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages
Sorted by date, refreshed continuously
Free and ticketed shows both listed
Every gig links its venue
| Derby gigs | |
| UK gig directory | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
Derby VenuesLocal
Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Derby. Capacity, backline and booking contacts for Derby venues.
Grassroots venues, pubs and stages
Capacity and backline specs where known
Re-verified on a rolling cycle
Claim your venue to keep it current
| Derby venues | |
| Live music for pubs | |
| Live music for hotels | |
| Live music for care homes | |
| Live music for clubs | |
| Live music for holiday parks | |
| Live music for boats | |
| For venues | |
| Find out more | |
| Post a gig |
Derby Open MicsWeekly
Free stage time — Derby open mic nights. Just starting out? Derby open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle.
Weekly open mic nights across Derby
Filter by night of the week
Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play
The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs
| Derby open mics | |
| UK open mic finder | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
Guides & RatesFree
How to book and what to pay in Derby. Everything you need before you book a band in Derby.
How to book live music
Live median fees on the GigXchange Index
Written for venues and event planners
| Derby rates | |
| How to book | |
| UK gig rates | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
More resources for Derby's live music scene - the fee guides, venue lists, gig listings and how-to guides that sit alongside this page, all free to read.
| Live Music in DerbyThe full Derby scene — venues, audiences and the local live-music calendar. | |
| Upcoming Gigs in DerbyThe Derby gig calendar. | |
| Derby VenuesDerby rooms that book live music. | |
| Open Mics in DerbyDerby's weekly open mic nights. | |
| Gig RescueAct cancelled? Send your date to available acts nearby and fill it fast. | |
| UK Gig RatesWhat UK acts actually charge by event type - median fees from the live GigXchange Index. |
| Live music in Derby | |
| How to book live music |
| Venues in Derby | |
| Open mics in Derby | |
| Upcoming gigs in Derby |
| NYE Bands & DJs | |
| Awards Night & Black-Tie Bands | |
| Festival Season Bands | |
| Valentine's Day Bands | |
| Summer Wedding Bands |
| How to book a musician in the UK | |
| Hiring a wedding band in London | |
| Booking platforms compared |
Share what you charged or paid — anonymous, under a minute. 3 rates unlocks 30 days of UK fee trends.
| Add your rate |
Artists within 30 miles of Derby.
| Search bands near Derby |
| What it pays | |
| What to know | |
| FAQs | |
| Browse bands | |
| Post a gig |
Ready to find a band in Derby?
Post a gig for free, no card on file. Membership is free, and we are keeping it free permanently for the first 250 sign-ups. Open alpha, you’re early.
Find a Band in Derby
Book a Derby band direct - rock at The Hairy Dog, acoustic and folk nights across the city, and function acts for Derbyshire weddings. Band hire here starts from about £600 (GX Index).
Last updated: 27 October 2026
Find a Band in Derby: the Short Answer
A band in Derby costs from about £600 for a 3–4 piece band at a pub or bar - the East Midlands median fee acts take home, from 27 fees on the GX Index; quotes can run higher once travel, PA and set length are added. 1 Derby act has a GigXchange profile and 27 Derby venues list live music.
Bands You Can Book in Derby
You will find them working City Centre, The Cathedral Quarter and Darley Abbey. For a pub or bar, start with self-contained acts that bring their own PA and play two 45-minute sets.
Bands Available for Gigs in Derby
Every act here is a band or musician available for gigs in Derby: the availability calendar on each profile shows the dates they are free. Listen to the audio, read the reviews, then message two or three and agree the fee in chat - the contract and payment are handled in one place. The full process is in how to book live music.
Who's Available This Weekend in Derby
Here is who we have available in Derby this weekend: 1 of our 1 Derby act has nothing booked or blocked on Saturday 31 October in their GigXchange calendar. Message an act to confirm your night.
Nothing booked or blocked Booked or unavailable
Calendars checked Sat 31 Oct, 22:59
What you'll pay for a band in Derby
Fees for pubs and bars in Derby run from about £265 for a solo act at a pub or bar to £1,783 for a 5+ piece band at a wedding - UK medians of what acts take home. Line-up, set length and travel move a quote above these; the figures update nightly from the GX Index.
- Pub or bar · solo act £265 median · 546 observationsmiddle 50% £162–£330 · UK
- Pub or bar · duo £325 median · 93 observationsmiddle 50% £250–£500 · UK
- Pub or bar · 3–4 piece band £600 median · 27 observationsmiddle 50% £500–£700 · East Midlands
- Pub or bar · 5+ piece band £525 median · 307 observationsmiddle 50% £400–£1,050 · UK
- Wedding · 3–4 piece band £1,129 median · 1,616 observationsmiddle 50% £810–£1,559 · UK
- Wedding · 5+ piece band £1,783 median · 427 observationsmiddle 50% £1,353–£2,206 · UK
Finding a Band in Derby — What You Need to Know
What works at Ryans Bar, Ye Olde Dolphin Inne and Blacksmiths Lounge tells you a lot about Derby's rooms. Match the act to the room size, the crowd and the night: covers fill a pub, originals bring their own following.
Your Room
Derby's live week is spread across a lot of pubs. Ryans Bar has acoustic, folk and singer-songwriter nights from Wednesday to Saturday, The Bless and The Bishop Blaise book rock and indie, The Maypole Inn and The Creaky Floorboard run acoustic and folk, and The Hairy Dog is the city's rock, punk and metal room.
Blacksmiths Lounge's acoustic, jazz and soul nights at the weekend show the softer side of the city - the right players for dinners and receptions.
Derbyshire weddings - from Darley Abbey to the villages around Melbourne - book covers, soul and function acts. A Derby band knows the county; confirm set times and PA before you book.
Which Type of Band Fits Your Room?
The default for pubs and bars — recognisable songs, full room. A covers act typically plays two 45-minute sets.
Rock, blues and indie acts working the Derby pub circuit week in, week out — own PA, self-contained, used to small stages.
Bigger line-ups for weddings, corporate dinners and parties - size and set length set the fee.
Tribute nights fill rooms on otherwise quiet evenings; original acts bring their own following. Both book direct on GigXchange.
Four Checks Before You Book
Play a live video or live recording on the act's profile, not just a studio track - that is how they will sound in your room.
Read what reviews say about nights like yours - a pub night, a wedding or a party - not just the star rating.
Get the set list and set times in writing, and confirm who brings the PA, the floor space needed and when they arrive to set up.
Agree the fee and the times, and read the cancellation terms in the GigXchange booking agreement, before you confirm.
How to Book a Band on GIGXCHANGE
3 steps. About 5 minutes from signup to first booking: post your gig, review the acts who apply, then book with a contract and your payment held until after the gig.
Post your gig
Fill in 5 details: date, venue, genre, budget, set length. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network — takes about 5 minutes, no agency handling the hand-off.
Review applications
Acts apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing, and compare them side by side rather than tab-switching.
Book and pay securely
Once the fee’s signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties in under 1 minute. Funds are held securely via Stripe and released 5 days after the event completes. Ratings post from both sides when the booking closes.
Agree the brief and the terms in writing - the date, set times, fee, deposit, cancellation and what the price includes. Who brings the PA, the stage space and the power - written into the contract so nobody guesses on the night. Many venues ask acts for public liability insurance. Musicians’ Union members are covered to £10 million each with their membership. If the act drops out: GX Gig Rescue sends an urgent invite to available acts near you. The first to accept is booked.
Band Cancelled? Find a Replacement in Derby
Emergency band replacement without ringing round an agency out of hours - Gig Rescue sends your night to acts who are free that evening, and the first to accept is booked.
Every GigXchange profile carries a live availability calendar, so you’re only ever looking at acts who can actually make your date. Message shortlisted bands directly, agree the fee in chat, and the contract and payment are handled in one place — realistic to turn around same-week, often same-day.
- 01
The date
Pick the gig that fell through, or tell it the night.
- 02
The call-out
Up to 25 free acts invited at once.
- 03
The show goes on
The other invites close the moment one act accepts.
Bands by Area in Derby
Derby's live music clusters in City Centre, The Cathedral Quarter, Darley Abbey and Melbourne & South Derbyshire, with 27 Derby venues listing live music on GigXchange. Knowing the area tells you the sound - and which acts already play there.
City Centre
The Hairy Dog, Ryans Bar and The Bless - rock, punk and acoustic most nights.
The Cathedral Quarter
Mr Shaws House on Sadler Gate books indie, alternative and indie folk.
Darley Abbey
Darley Park hosts outdoor rock, pop and soul events.
Melbourne & South Derbyshire
Melbourne Assembly Rooms programmes folk, tribute and choral nights.
Derby Venues Listing Live Music
Acts travel, and the right one is often one town over — try Nottingham, Leicester or Stoke-on-Trent if your date is tight in Derby.
Find a Band in Derby: FAQ
Ready to find a band in Derby?
Post a gig for free, no card on file. Membership is free, and we are keeping it free permanently for the first 250 sign-ups. Open alpha, you’re early.