Skip to content

Find a band

Find a Band in Exeter

Find an Exeter band to book direct - indie and punk at The Cavern, acoustic and folk nights across the city's pubs, and function acts for Devon weddings. Band hire here starts from about £350 (GX Index).

£350Fee from
2Local acts
2Free this weekend
8Styles
379Fees tracked

Updated 27 October 2026

Find a band in Exeter — book, sign and pay in one place

01 — The short answer

Find a Band in Exeter: the Short Answer

A band in Exeter 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. 2 Exeter acts have a GigXchange profile and 21 Exeter venues list live music.

What it costs · £350 3–4 piece bandUK take-home median · 379 fees
On GigXchange · 2 Exeter actswith a profile you can browse
Venues listed · 21 Exeter venuesputting on live music
If they cancel · Rescue a replacement fastGX Gig Rescue invites available acts
02 — The acts

Bands You Can Book in Exeter

The circuit runs through City Centre & Gandy Street, St David's and Topsham. 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 Exeter

Every act here is a band or musician available for gigs in Exeter: 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 Exeter acts
How to book live music
03 — Bands you can book in Exeter
Project 50NewArtist · Exeter
GroovesyncNewArtist · Exeter
04 — This weekend

Who's Available This Weekend in Exeter

Here is who we have available in Exeter this weekend: 2 of our 2 Exeter acts have nothing booked or blocked on Saturday 31 October in their GigXchange calendar. Message an act to confirm your night.

05 — What they play

What Our Exeter Acts Play

Rock leads Exeter's roster with 2 acts, then blues (1) and country (1). 2 local acts list 8 styles on their profiles. Where a style has its own hire guide, the link opens it: line-ups, fees and what to agree with the act.

#StyleActs
01Rock 2
02Blues 1
03Country 1
04Folk 1
05Funk 1
06Jazz 1
07Punk Rock 1
08R&B 1
06 — What it costs

What you'll pay for a band in Exeter

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 Exeter, on UK take-home medians. Line-up, set length and travel move a quote above these; the figures update nightly from the GX Index.

£350
Pub or bar · 3–4 piece band
Median · UK · 379 fees
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
07 — What to know

Finding a Band in Exeter — What You Need to Know

Exeter rooms run from Exeter Corn Exchange, Exeter Phoenix and The Lemon Grove 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 & BarsExeter's small rooms book something most nights. The Cavern is the city's indie, punk and post-punk venue, the Old Fire House runs folk, indie and rock on Fridays, and Coolings on Gandy Street and the Ship Inn keep acoustic, folk and covers sets going midweek and at the weekend.
Restaurants & HotelsRestaurants and hotels tend to book jazz and acoustic players - the regulars from Henry's Bar on Fridays and The Mermaid's Wednesday jazz and acoustic night.
Weddings & Private EventsDevon weddings stretch from country houses outside the city to venues on the Exe estuary, so an Exeter covers or function band saves on travel and knows the county. Ask what each fee covers for set length, PA and the drive.

Which Type of Band Fits Your Room?

Cover, pub, function, tribute — what each one is, what it costs in Exeter, 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 Exeter 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.
08 — How to book

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.

01ListingPost 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.
02ShortlistReview 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.
03BookingBook 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.
09 — Before you confirm

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.
10 — Last minute

Band Cancelled? Find a Replacement in Exeter

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.

GX Gig Rescue in the GigXchange app - tell it where the gig was booked and it invites available acts near you
01The datePick the gig that fell through, or tell it the night.
02The call-outUp to 25 free acts invited at once.
03The show goes onThe other invites close the moment one act accepts.
Rescue this gig — broadcast to available bands
Browse available Exeter bands
11 — Where to look

Bands by Area in Exeter

City Centre & Gandy Street, St David's, Topsham and Whimple & East Devon are Exeter's live music areas, with 21 Exeter venues listing live music on GigXchange. Knowing the area tells you the sound - and which acts already play there.

City Centre & Gandy StreetThe Cavern, the Corn Exchange and Coolings - from punk shows to tribute nights within a few streets.
St David'sBomba books indie rock, folk and singer-songwriters near the station.
TopshamTopsham Brewery's taproom by the river hosts rock, indie and acoustic sets.
Whimple & East DevonVillage pubs like the New Fountain Inn run Saturday acoustic and folk nights.

Exeter Venues Listing Live Music

Exeter Corn ExchangeExeter City Centre · 500 capacity
Exeter Phoenix450 capacity
The Lemon GroveStreatham Campus · 800 capacity
12 Bar Music & Social
Ship Innc. 80 capacity
Artigiano
Acts travel, and the right one is often one town over — try Plymouth, Cardiff or Swansea if your date is tight in Exeter.

12 — Questions12 answersFrequently asked questions

A band in Exeter 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. See the UK gig rates on the GX Index.
Yes. Every GigXchange profile carries a live availability calendar, so you only see Exeter acts who are free on your date, and if an act drops out, GX Gig Rescue sends your gig to available acts in one click. Agree the fee in chat and the contract is in place the same day.
Exeter's acts play most in City Centre & Gandy Street, St David's, Topsham and Whimple & East Devon. Venues listing live music include Exeter Corn Exchange and Exeter Phoenix. Browse Exeter acts on GigXchange - 2 have a profile, with audio, reviews and live availability.
Search Exeter acts by genre, fee and the date you need, ask Smart Match for a shortlist of who is free, or post a gig and let acts apply. Every profile has audio, video and reviews to check before you message.
Browse the Exeter acts here, check their availability, and message two or three with your date and venue. The fee, contract and payment are agreed in one place on GigXchange.
The Cavern, the Old Fire House and the Exeter Phoenix all programme local acts - see Exeter venues.
Yes - the Exeter gig calendar and the city's open mic nights show who is playing where.
Payment is held until after the gig, so a cancellation is refunded, and Gig Rescue sends your date to available acts nearby.
You agree the fee with the act, with a contract and protected payment and no agency commission. See how it works.
Here is who we have available in Exeter this weekend: 2 of our 2 Exeter acts have nothing booked or blocked on Saturday 31 October in their GigXchange calendar. Message an act to confirm your night. See who’s available this weekend.
Rock leads Exeter's roster with 2 acts, then blues (1) and country (1). 2 local acts list 8 styles on their profiles. The top styles across our Exeter acts: Rock (2), Blues (1), Country (1), Folk (1), Funk (1).
In a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. Official sources: GOV.UK - Live Music Act guidance and PPL PRS - TheMusicLicence.
13 — At a glance
Bands in ExeterLocal

Browse and compare local bands in Exeter. Find the right band for your Exeter event.

Browse Exeter 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

Exeter GigsLive

Upcoming gigs in Exeter — the local directory. What's on in Exeter — 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

Exeter VenuesLocal

Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in Exeter. Capacity, backline and booking contacts for Exeter 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

Exeter Open MicsWeekly

Free stage time — Exeter open mic nights. Just starting out? Exeter open mic nights, re-verified on a rolling cycle.

Weekly open mic nights across Exeter

Filter by night of the week

Free stage time — walk in, sign up, play

The grassroots pipeline to paid gigs

Guides & RatesFree

How to book and what to pay in Exeter. Everything you need before you book a band in Exeter.

How to book live music

Live median fees on the GigXchange Index

Written for venues and event planners

14 — Explore more

More resources for Exeter'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 ExeterThe full Exeter scene — venues, audiences and the local live-music calendar.
Upcoming Gigs in ExeterThe Exeter gig calendar.
Exeter VenuesExeter rooms that book live music.
Open Mics in ExeterExeter'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.
15 — Keep exploring

Ready to find a band in Exeter?

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.

Live music on stage: a band under the lights
Exeter, South West

Find a Band in Exeter

Find an Exeter band to book direct - indie and punk at The Cavern, acoustic and folk nights across the city's pubs, and function acts for Devon weddings. Band hire here starts from about £350 (GX Index).

The scene Exeter · on GigXchange
£350
Fee from
GX Indexmedian
2
Local acts
LocalExeter
2
Free this weekend
Calendarschecked
8
Styles
ListedExeter
379
Fees tracked
GX Indexnightly
79
UK cities
ActivePlatform
Find a band in Exeter — book, sign and pay in one place

Last updated: 27 October 2026

Find a Band in Exeter: the Short Answer

A band in Exeter 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. 2 Exeter acts have a GigXchange profile and 21 Exeter venues list live music.

What it costs£3503–4 piece bandUK take-home median · 379 fees
On GigXchange2Exeter actswith a profile you can browse
Venues listed21Exeter venuesputting on live music
If they cancelRescuea replacement fastGX Gig Rescue invites available acts

Bands You Can Book in Exeter

The circuit runs through City Centre & Gandy Street, St David's and Topsham. For a pub or bar, start with self-contained acts that bring their own PA and play two 45-minute sets.

Play in Exeter?
Join free as an artist
Post a gig
Exeter acts apply to you
Act cancelled?
Fill the date with Gig Rescue

Bands Available for Gigs in Exeter

Every act here is a band or musician available for gigs in Exeter: 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 Exeter

Here is who we have available in Exeter this weekend: 2 of our 2 Exeter 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, 22:58

What Our Exeter Acts Play

Rock leads Exeter's roster with 2 acts, then blues (1) and country (1). 2 local acts list 8 styles on their profiles. Where a style has its own hire guide, the link opens it: line-ups, fees and what to agree with the act.

  1. #1 Rock 2 acts
  2. #2 Blues 1 act
  3. #3 Country 1 act
  4. #4 Folk 1 act
  5. #5 Funk 1 act
  6. #6 Jazz 1 act
  7. #7 Punk Rock 1 act
  8. #8 R&B 1 act

What you'll pay for a band in Exeter

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 Exeter, on UK take-home medians. Line-up, set length and travel move a quote above these; the figures update nightly from the GX Index.

The going rate £350 Pub or bar · 3–4 piece band Median · UK · 379 fees
  • Pub or bar · solo act £265 median · 546 observations
    middle 50% £162–£330 · UK
  • Pub or bar · duo £325 median · 93 observations
    middle 50% £250–£500 · UK
  • Pub or bar · 3–4 piece band £350 median · 379 observations
    middle 50% £275–£600 · UK
  • Pub or bar · 5+ piece band £525 median · 307 observations
    middle 50% £400–£1,050 · UK
  • Wedding · 3–4 piece band £1,129 median · 1,616 observations
    middle 50% £810–£1,559 · UK
  • Wedding · 5+ piece band £1,783 median · 427 observations
    middle 50% £1,353–£2,206 · UK

Finding a Band in Exeter — What You Need to Know

Exeter rooms run from Exeter Corn Exchange, Exeter Phoenix and The Lemon Grove 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

Pubs & Bars

Exeter's small rooms book something most nights. The Cavern is the city's indie, punk and post-punk venue, the Old Fire House runs folk, indie and rock on Fridays, and Coolings on Gandy Street and the Ship Inn keep acoustic, folk and covers sets going midweek and at the weekend.

Restaurants & Hotels

Restaurants and hotels tend to book jazz and acoustic players - the regulars from Henry's Bar on Fridays and The Mermaid's Wednesday jazz and acoustic night.

Weddings & Private Events

Devon weddings stretch from country houses outside the city to venues on the Exe estuary, so an Exeter covers or function band saves on travel and knows the county. Ask what each fee covers for set length, PA and the drive.

Which Type of Band Fits Your Room?

Cover Bands

The default for pubs and bars — recognisable songs, full room. A covers act typically plays two 45-minute sets.

Pub Bands

Rock, blues and indie acts working the Exeter pub circuit week in, week out — own PA, self-contained, used to small stages.

Function Bands

Bigger line-ups for weddings, corporate dinners and parties - size and set length set the fee.

Tribute & Originals

Tribute 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 live

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.

Reviews from nights like yours

Read what reviews say about nights like yours - a pub night, a wedding or a party - not just the star rating.

Set list, PA and timings

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.

Put it in the contract

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.

01Listing

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.

02Shortlist

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.

03Booking

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.

Before you confirm

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 Exeter

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.

GX Gig Rescue in the GigXchange app - tell it where the gig was booked and it invites available acts near you
  1. 01

    The date

    Pick the gig that fell through, or tell it the night.

  2. 02

    The call-out

    Up to 25 free acts invited at once.

  3. 03

    The show goes on

    The other invites close the moment one act accepts.

Bands by Area in Exeter

City Centre & Gandy Street, St David's, Topsham and Whimple & East Devon are Exeter's live music areas, with 21 Exeter venues listing live music on GigXchange. Knowing the area tells you the sound - and which acts already play there.

City Centre & Gandy Street

The Cavern, the Corn Exchange and Coolings - from punk shows to tribute nights within a few streets.

St David's

Bomba books indie rock, folk and singer-songwriters near the station.

Topsham

Topsham Brewery's taproom by the river hosts rock, indie and acoustic sets.

Whimple & East Devon

Village pubs like the New Fountain Inn run Saturday acoustic and folk nights.

Exeter Venues Listing Live Music

Exeter Corn ExchangeExeter City Centre · 500 capacity
Exeter Phoenix450 capacity
The Lemon GroveStreatham Campus · 800 capacity
Ship Innc. 80 capacity

Acts travel, and the right one is often one town over — try Plymouth, Cardiff or Swansea if your date is tight in Exeter.

Find a Band in Exeter: FAQ

A band in Exeter 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. See the UK gig rates on the GX Index.
Yes. Every GigXchange profile carries a live availability calendar, so you only see Exeter acts who are free on your date, and if an act drops out, GX Gig Rescue sends your gig to available acts in one click. Agree the fee in chat and the contract is in place the same day.
Exeter's acts play most in City Centre & Gandy Street, St David's, Topsham and Whimple & East Devon. Venues listing live music include Exeter Corn Exchange and Exeter Phoenix. Browse Exeter acts on GigXchange - 2 have a profile, with audio, reviews and live availability.
Search Exeter acts by genre, fee and the date you need, ask Smart Match for a shortlist of who is free, or post a gig and let acts apply. Every profile has audio, video and reviews to check before you message.
Browse the Exeter acts here, check their availability, and message two or three with your date and venue. The fee, contract and payment are agreed in one place on GigXchange.
The Cavern, the Old Fire House and the Exeter Phoenix all programme local acts - see Exeter venues.
Yes - the Exeter gig calendar and the city's open mic nights show who is playing where.
Payment is held until after the gig, so a cancellation is refunded, and Gig Rescue sends your date to available acts nearby.
You agree the fee with the act, with a contract and protected payment and no agency commission. See how it works.
Here is who we have available in Exeter this weekend: 2 of our 2 Exeter acts have nothing booked or blocked on Saturday 31 October in their GigXchange calendar. Message an act to confirm your night. See who’s available this weekend.
Rock leads Exeter's roster with 2 acts, then blues (1) and country (1). 2 local acts list 8 styles on their profiles. The top styles across our Exeter acts: Rock (2), Blues (1), Country (1), Folk (1), Funk (1).
In a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. Official sources: GOV.UK - Live Music Act guidance and PPL PRS - TheMusicLicence.
Naumaan Zahid
Founder & Builder

Live gigs across the UK, kept fresh. Spot something wrong or missing? Let me know and I’ll fix it.

Did you know? The UK is one of the world’s largest music markets, behind only the US and Japan.
Email me directly →