Slow-burn to stomp - the late-night band
Hire Blues Bands
Blues bands and musicians for pubs, blues nights, festivals and parties - hear them, agree the set and sign one contract.
Updated 21 October 2026
Where to Book Blues Bands
A blues act plays the music rock grew out of - Chicago and Delta blues, blues-rock and soul-blues - from a solo singer-guitarist to a trio or a full band with harmonica or keys. It suits pubs, bar residencies, blues nights and festivals. For a jazz set see jazz bands, and for a louder night see rock bands.
Booking Playbook
Pubs · Bars · Blues nights · Festivals · Private parties. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one.
| When to BookWeekends and festival season go first - 1 to 3 months ahead for a pub night, longer for a festival. See how far ahead to book. |
| What Format WorksTypical shape: two sets of 45 to 60 minutes, building from slow blues to up-tempo stompers. Agree the PA, the volume, the stage space and the finish. |
| Mistakes to Avoid1. The wrong flavour. Ask whether it is traditional, blues-rock or soul-blues. 2. Too loud for a small room. Agree the volume. 3. No PA plan. Agree who brings it. 4. No finish time. Put it in the contract. 5. No contract. Every GigXchange booking has one. |
Pick Your Line-up
What each size of blues act is, and the room it suits.
| Solo or duoA singer-guitarist on acoustic or electric, often with harmonica, or a duo adding a second guitar, harmonica or a cajon. Suits: Small pubs, dinners and early sets - a real blues sound at a volume that suits a small room. |
| TrioGuitar, bass and drums, with one of them singing - the classic electric blues line-up. Suits: Most pub and blues-club nights: enough power for a dance, small enough for a corner stage. |
| 4-pieceThe trio plus harmonica, keys (often a Hammond organ sound) or a second guitar, so the solos and the rhythm can trade off. Suits: Bigger rooms, parties and blues nights that want a fuller sound. |
| Full band with hornsFive or more players, adding a sax or a small brass section for soul-blues and jump blues. Suits: Festivals, big parties and dancefloors. |
Blues Bands by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree.
| Pub blues nightsTwo sets building from slow blues to stompers. Agree: Volume and finish - see live music for pubs. |
| ResidenciesThe same night each month, a regular crowd. Agree: A run of dates in one contract. |
| FestivalsA 45 to 60-minute festival slot. Agree: Stage times - see festival season bands. |
| Private partiesUp-tempo blues and soul for dancing. Agree: The must-play songs. |
What Does It Cost?
UK fees by occasion and line-up, all genres - the live GX Index (middle half of recorded fees).
| Pub / barFull band · Solo £162–£325 · Duo £250–£500 | £275–£1,125 |
| WeddingFull band · Solo £240–£450 · Duo £443–£792 | £729–£1,907 |
| CorporateFull band · Solo £278–£469 · Duo £446–£1,020 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private partyFull band · Solo £250–£542 · Duo £250–£500 | £500–£1,210 |
| Festival (30–45 min)Full band · Solo TBC · Duo TBC | £200–£1,783 |
Repertoire & Format
What this performer type actually delivers — by category, with real examples.
Blues standards
| Sweet Home Chicago — Robert Johnson |
| The Thrill Is Gone — B.B. King |
| Hoochie Coochie Man — Muddy Waters |
| Stormy Monday — T-Bone Walker |
| Born Under a Bad Sign — Albert King |
Blues-rock
| Pride and Joy — Stevie Ray Vaughan |
| Crossroads — Cream |
| Red House — Jimi Hendrix |
| Rock and Roll — Led Zeppelin |
Soul-blues and singalongs
| I’d Rather Go Blind — Etta James |
| Mustang Sally — Wilson Pickett |
| Hound Dog — Big Mama Thornton |
| Got My Mojo Working — Muddy Waters |
Where Blues Bands Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works.
Pubs and bars
| Pubs with a blues night — a trio, two sets |
| Bar residencies — the same band on the same night each month |
Clubs and festivals
| Blues clubs and societies — traditional and electric sets |
| Blues and roots festivals — a 45 to 60-minute slot |
Private events
| Birthday parties — up-tempo blues and soul |
| Dinner parties — a solo or duo at background volume |
How to Book on GIGXCHANGE
Three steps. About five minutes from signup to first booking.
| 01 | FindFind acts or post your gigBrowse acts by sound, line-up and area, or post your date free - date, venue, genre, budget and set length - and acts apply. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network. |
| 02 | ShortlistReview applicationsArtists apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing. |
| 03 | BookingBook and pay securelyOnce the fee's signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties. Funds are held securely via Stripe until the gig is complete. |
Booking for a private party rather than a venue? Start with GigXchange for organisers.
11 — Questions7 answersFrequently asked questions
Browse ActsUK-wide
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Costs & RatesLive
What blues bands cost in 2026. Realistic 2026 fees before you book.
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The Booking PlaybookFree
When to book, what works, what to avoid. The practical version — timing, formats and mistakes to avoid.
When to book (and when prices spike)
What lineup and format works
Repertoire and format guidance
Mistakes that cost real money
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Ready to Book a blues band?
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.
Hire Blues Bands
Blues bands and musicians for pubs, blues nights, festivals and parties - hear them, agree the set and sign one contract.
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Where to Book Blues Bands
GIGXCHANGE is where you book blues bands direct in the UK. 107 blues musicians and bands are on the platform - 42 of them trios and bands, the rest solo and duo acts, booked for pubs, bars, blues nights, festivals and private parties. Listen to each act on their profile, message them before you commit, and every booking comes with a contract you both sign. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee, and the booking fee is 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
A blues act plays the music rock grew out of - Chicago and Delta blues, blues-rock and soul-blues - from a solo singer-guitarist to a trio or a full band with harmonica or keys. It suits pubs, bar residencies, blues nights and festivals. For a jazz set see jazz bands, and for a louder night see rock bands.
Meet the Acts
Real member profiles you can listen to, message and book direct - 42 trios and bands, the rest solo and duo acts.
Browse Blues Musicians and Bands
All 107 blues musicians and bands on GigXchange. Filter by line-up and region, then open a profile to listen and message.
Pick Your Line-up
What each size of blues act is, and the room it suits. Fees for each line-up are in the live table below.
- Solo or duoA singer-guitarist on acoustic or electric, often with harmonica, or a duo adding a second guitar, harmonica or a cajon.Suits: Small pubs, dinners and early sets - a real blues sound at a volume that suits a small room.
- TrioGuitar, bass and drums, with one of them singing - the classic electric blues line-up.Suits: Most pub and blues-club nights: enough power for a dance, small enough for a corner stage.
- 4-pieceThe trio plus harmonica, keys (often a Hammond organ sound) or a second guitar, so the solos and the rhythm can trade off.Suits: Bigger rooms, parties and blues nights that want a fuller sound.
- Full band with hornsFive or more players, adding a sax or a small brass section for soul-blues and jump blues.Suits: Festivals, big parties and dancefloors.
Not sure which to pick?
Tell the act the room, the guest numbers and what the music is for - drinks, dinner or dancing - and they will suggest a line-up. Post your date free on GIGXCHANGE and blues musicians and bands of every size can apply.
Blues Bands by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree with the act before the day.
- Pub blues nightsTwo sets building from slow blues to stompers.Agree: Volume and finish - see live music for pubs.
- ResidenciesThe same night each month, a regular crowd.Agree: A run of dates in one contract.
- FestivalsA 45 to 60-minute festival slot.Agree: Stage times - see festival season bands.
- Private partiesUp-tempo blues and soul for dancing.Agree: The must-play songs.
Put it in writing
Whatever the occasion, agree the times, the sets and the fee in the chat - every booking on GIGXCHANGE comes with a contract you both sign.
Booking Playbook
Pubs · Bars · Blues nights · Festivals · Private parties. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one.
When to Book
Weekends and festival season go first - 1 to 3 months ahead for a pub night, longer for a festival. See how far ahead to book.
What Format Works
Typical shape: two sets of 45 to 60 minutes, building from slow blues to up-tempo stompers. Agree the PA, the volume, the stage space and the finish.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. The wrong flavour. Ask whether it is traditional, blues-rock or soul-blues. 2. Too loud for a small room. Agree the volume. 3. No PA plan. Agree who brings it. 4. No finish time. Put it in the contract. 5. No contract. Every GigXchange booking has one.
What Do UK Gigs Actually Pay?
Real UK fee ranges from 4,234 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Solo | Duo | Full Band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pub / bar | £162–£325 | £250–£500 | £275–£1,125 |
| Wedding | £240–£450 | £443–£792 | £729–£1,907 |
| Corporate | £278–£469 | £446–£1,020 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private party | £250–£542 | £250–£500 | £500–£1,210 |
| Festival (30–45 min) | TBC | TBC | £200–£1,783 |
Repertoire & Format
What this performer type actually delivers — by category, with real examples.
Blues standards
- Sweet Home ChicagoRobert Johnson
- The Thrill Is GoneB.B. King
- Hoochie Coochie ManMuddy Waters
- Stormy MondayT-Bone Walker
- Born Under a Bad SignAlbert King
Blues-rock
- Pride and JoyStevie Ray Vaughan
- CrossroadsCream
- Red HouseJimi Hendrix
- Rock and RollLed Zeppelin
Soul-blues and singalongs
- I’d Rather Go BlindEtta James
- Mustang SallyWilson Pickett
- Hound DogBig Mama Thornton
- Got My Mojo WorkingMuddy Waters
Requests, first dances and setlists
Most acts will learn a request or two if you ask early - a first dance, a family favourite or a walk-on song. Ask in the chat on GIGXCHANGE before you book, so the act confirms it in writing, and listen to the tracks and setlists many acts publish on their profile first.
Where Blues Bands Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works.
Pubs and bars
- Pubs with a blues nighta trio, two sets
- Bar residenciesthe same band on the same night each month
Clubs and festivals
- Blues clubs and societiestraditional and electric sets
- Blues and roots festivalsa 45 to 60-minute slot
Private events
- Birthday partiesup-tempo blues and soul
- Dinner partiesa solo or duo at background volume
Booking for one of these rooms?
Every room is different. Tell the act the venue, the room size, the power and the load-in time, and agree the finish - then put it all in the contract you both sign on GIGXCHANGE.
How to Book on GIGXCHANGE
Three steps. About five minutes from signup to first booking.
Find acts or post your gig
Browse acts by sound, line-up and area, or post your date free - date, venue, genre, budget and set length - and acts apply. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network.
Review applications
Artists apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing.
Book and pay securely
Once the fee's signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties. Funds are held securely via Stripe until the gig is complete.
Booking for a private party rather than a venue? Start with GigXchange for organisers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Book a blues band?
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.