Find a band
Find a Band in Durham
Book a Durham band direct - folk and acoustic sessions in the city's old pubs, indie at the Gala, and acts for college balls and County Durham weddings. 4 Durham acts are on GigXchange, and band hire here starts from about £350 (GX Index).
Updated 27 October 2026
Find a band in Durham — book, sign and pay in one place
Find a Band in Durham: the Short Answer
A band in Durham costs from about £350 for a 3–4 piece band at a pub or bar - the UK median fee acts take home, from 379 fees on the GX Index; quotes can run higher once travel, PA and set length are added. 4 Durham acts have a GigXchange profile and 8 Durham venues list live music.
| What it costs · £350 3–4 piece bandUK take-home median · 379 fees |
| On GigXchange · 4 Durham actswith a profile you can browse |
| Venues listed · 8 Durham venuesputting on live music |
| If they cancel · Rescue a replacement fastGX Gig Rescue invites available acts |
Bands You Can Book in Durham
The circuit runs through City Centre & Millennium Place, Claypath & Gilesgate and Crossgate. 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 Durham
Every act here is a band or musician available for gigs in Durham: 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 Durham acts | |
| How to book live music |
Who's Available This Weekend in Durham
Here is who we have available in Durham this weekend: 4 of our 4 Durham acts have 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 Our Durham Acts Play
Alternative Rock leads Durham's roster with 2 acts, then indie rock (2) and pop (2). 4 local acts list 16 styles on their profiles - these are the top 8. Where a style has its own hire guide, the link opens it: line-ups, fees and what to agree with the act.
| # | Style | Acts |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alternative Rock | 2 |
| 02 | Indie Rock | 2 |
| 03 | Pop | 2 |
| 04 | Rock | 2 |
| 05 | Afrobeat | 1 |
| 06 | Ambient | 1 |
| 07 | Blues | 1 |
| 08 | Drum & Bass | 1 |
What you'll pay for a band in Durham
Expect about £265 for a solo act at a pub or bar and up to £1,783 for a 5+ piece band at a wedding in Durham, on UK take-home medians. 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% £275–£600 · UK · 379 fees | £350 |
| 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 Durham — What You Need to Know
Durham rooms run from Ye Old Elm Tree, The Drunken Duck and The Station House upwards, and each suits a different act. Match the act to the room size, the crowd and the night: covers fill a pub, originals bring their own following.
| Pubs & BarsDurham is a folk and acoustic city at heart. Ye Old Elm Tree on Crossgate runs folk sessions on Mondays and Tuesdays, The Woodman Inn in Gilesgate and The Station House host acoustic and singer-songwriter nights, and The Drunken Duck on Claypath and the Angel Inn bring the rock and indie. |
| Restaurants & HotelsFor dinners and receptions, the city's folk and acoustic players are the obvious choice - the regulars from Crossgate and Gilesgate sessions. |
| Weddings & Private EventsCounty Durham weddings and university balls want versatile bands for long evenings. Local covers and party acts work those nights - agree set lengths, PA and travel in chat. |
Which Type of Band Fits Your Room?
Cover, pub, function, tribute — what each one is, what it costs in Durham, 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 Durham 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 Durham
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 Durham bands |
Bands by Area in Durham
City Centre & Millennium Place, Claypath & Gilesgate, Crossgate and North Road are Durham's live music areas, with 8 Durham venues listing live music on GigXchange. Knowing the area tells you the sound - and which acts already play there.
| City Centre & Millennium PlaceThe Gala programmes indie, folk and jazz on the city's biggest small stage. |
| Claypath & GilesgateThe Drunken Duck and The Woodman Inn - rock on Fridays, acoustic on Thursdays. |
| CrossgateYe Old Elm Tree is Durham's folk session pub. |
| North RoadThe Station House runs Thursday folk and acoustic nights. |
Durham Venues Listing Live Music
| Ye Old Elm TreeCrossgate |
| The Drunken DuckClaypath · c. 80 capacity |
| The Station HouseNorth Road |
| Waddington Street CentreWaddington Street |
| Gala DurhamMillennium Place · c. 500 capacity |
| The Holy GrAleSt Margarets Garth |
12 — Questions12 answersFrequently asked questions
Bands in DurhamLocal
Browse and compare local bands in Durham. Find the right band for your Durham event.
Browse Durham 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 Durham bands | |
| Post a gig | |
| Find out more | |
| Post a gig |
Durham GigsLive
Upcoming gigs in Durham — the local directory. What's on in Durham — 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
| Durham gigs | |
| UK gig directory | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
Durham VenuesLocal
Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Durham. Capacity, backline and booking contacts for Durham 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
| Durham 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 |
Durham Open MicsWeekly
Free stage time — Durham open mic nights. Just starting out? Durham open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle.
Weekly open mic nights across Durham
Filter by night of the week
Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play
The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs
| Durham open mics | |
| UK open mic finder | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
Guides & RatesFree
How to book and what to pay in Durham. Everything you need before you book a band in Durham.
How to book live music
Live median fees on the GigXchange Index
Written for venues and event planners
| Durham rates | |
| How to book | |
| UK gig rates | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
More resources for Durham'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 DurhamThe full Durham scene — venues, audiences and the local live-music calendar. | |
| Upcoming Gigs in DurhamThe Durham gig calendar. | |
| Durham VenuesDurham rooms that book live music. | |
| Open Mics in DurhamDurham'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 Durham | |
| How to book live music |
| Venues in Durham | |
| Open mics in Durham | |
| Upcoming gigs in Durham |
| 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 Durham.
| Search bands near Durham |
| What it pays | |
| What to know | |
| FAQs | |
| Browse bands | |
| Post a gig |
Ready to find a band in Durham?
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 Durham
Book a Durham band direct - folk and acoustic sessions in the city's old pubs, indie at the Gala, and acts for college balls and County Durham weddings. 4 Durham acts are on GigXchange, and band hire here starts from about £350 (GX Index).
Last updated: 27 October 2026
Find a Band in Durham: the Short Answer
A band in Durham costs from about £350 for a 3–4 piece band at a pub or bar - the UK median fee acts take home, from 379 fees on the GX Index; quotes can run higher once travel, PA and set length are added. 4 Durham acts have a GigXchange profile and 8 Durham venues list live music.
Bands You Can Book in Durham
The circuit runs through City Centre & Millennium Place, Claypath & Gilesgate and Crossgate. 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 Durham
Every act here is a band or musician available for gigs in Durham: 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 Durham
Here is who we have available in Durham this weekend: 4 of our 4 Durham acts have 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 Our Durham Acts Play
Alternative Rock leads Durham's roster with 2 acts, then indie rock (2) and pop (2). 4 local acts list 16 styles on their profiles - these are the top 8. Where a style has its own hire guide, the link opens it: line-ups, fees and what to agree with the act.
- #1 Alternative Rock 2 acts
- #2 Indie Rock 2 acts
- #3 Pop 2 acts
- #4 Rock 2 acts
- #5 Afrobeat 1 act
- #6 Ambient 1 act
- #7 Blues 1 act
- #8 Drum & Bass 1 act
What you'll pay for a band in Durham
Expect about £265 for a solo act at a pub or bar and up to £1,783 for a 5+ piece band at a wedding in Durham, on UK take-home medians. 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 £350 median · 379 observationsmiddle 50% £275–£600 · UK
- 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 Durham — What You Need to Know
Durham rooms run from Ye Old Elm Tree, The Drunken Duck and The Station House upwards, and each suits a different act. Match the act to the room size, the crowd and the night: covers fill a pub, originals bring their own following.
Your Room
Durham is a folk and acoustic city at heart. Ye Old Elm Tree on Crossgate runs folk sessions on Mondays and Tuesdays, The Woodman Inn in Gilesgate and The Station House host acoustic and singer-songwriter nights, and The Drunken Duck on Claypath and the Angel Inn bring the rock and indie.
For dinners and receptions, the city's folk and acoustic players are the obvious choice - the regulars from Crossgate and Gilesgate sessions.
County Durham weddings and university balls want versatile bands for long evenings. Local covers and party acts work those nights - agree set lengths, PA and travel in chat.
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 Durham 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 Durham
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 Durham
City Centre & Millennium Place, Claypath & Gilesgate, Crossgate and North Road are Durham's live music areas, with 8 Durham venues listing live music on GigXchange. Knowing the area tells you the sound - and which acts already play there.
City Centre & Millennium Place
The Gala programmes indie, folk and jazz on the city's biggest small stage.
Claypath & Gilesgate
The Drunken Duck and The Woodman Inn - rock on Fridays, acoustic on Thursdays.
Crossgate
Ye Old Elm Tree is Durham's folk session pub.
North Road
The Station House runs Thursday folk and acoustic nights.
Durham Venues Listing Live Music
Acts travel, and the right one is often one town over — try Sunderland, Newcastle or Middlesbrough if your date is tight in Durham.
Find a Band in Durham: FAQ
Ready to find a band in Durham?
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.