Browse All Booking Guides
85+ free guides — wedding bands, function bands, DJs, by city, by season. Direct booking, 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.