Stories and singalongs - the room that listens
Hire Folk Acts
Folk singers and bands for pubs, folk clubs, weddings and festivals - hear them, agree the set and sign one contract.
Updated 21 October 2026
Where to Book Folk Acts
A folk act plays traditional and modern folk - English, Scottish and Irish songs, acoustic singer-songwriters and folk bands with fiddle, guitar and accordion. Many are solo singers and duos, which suits pubs, folk clubs, weddings and village halls. For a caller-led dance night see ceilidh bands, and for a single performer of any style see solo acts.
Booking Playbook
Pubs · Folk clubs · Weddings · Festivals · Village halls. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one.
| When to BookSummer festivals and wedding Saturdays go first - 3 to 6 months ahead, a few weeks for a pub night. See how far ahead to book. |
| What Format WorksTypical shape: two sets of 40 to 60 minutes, often unamplified in a small room. Agree whether the act brings a PA, the space and the finish. |
| Mistakes to Avoid1. A listening act in a loud room. Folk works best when the room listens. 2. Dance or listen? For dancing, book a ceilidh band. 3. No PA plan. A big room needs one. 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 folk act is, and the room it suits.
| Solo singerOne voice with guitar, banjo, fiddle or concertina, playing traditional songs and their own. Suits: Pub sessions, folk clubs, ceremonies and listening rooms. |
| DuoTwo voices or voice and fiddle - the classic folk pairing. Suits: Weddings, small rooms and folk clubs. |
| TrioThree players - often guitar, fiddle and accordion or mandolin - with one or two of them singing. Suits: Bigger rooms, weddings and festival stages. |
| Folk bandFour or five players adding bass and percussion to the fiddle, guitar and accordion, loud enough to dance to. Suits: Evening parties, folk-rock nights and festival stages. |
Folk Acts by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree.
| Pub folk nightsTwo listening sets or a session. Agree: The space and the finish - see live music for pubs. |
| WeddingsAcoustic folk for the ceremony and drinks. Agree: The walk-in and signing songs. |
| FestivalsA 30 to 45-minute slot. Agree: Stage times - see festival season bands. |
| Village halls and fetesA family-friendly afternoon or evening set. Agree: The PA and the times. |
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.
Traditional songs
| Wild Mountain Thyme — traditional |
| The Parting Glass — traditional |
| Scarborough Fair — traditional |
| Whiskey in the Jar — traditional |
| The Wild Rover — traditional |
Folk revival
| The Times They Are a-Changin’ — Bob Dylan |
| Fairytale of New York — The Pogues |
| Streets of London — Ralph McTell |
| Dirty Old Town — Ewan MacColl |
Modern folk and singer-songwriter
| Little Lion Man — Mumford & Sons |
| Skinny Love — Bon Iver |
| Ho Hey — The Lumineers |
| The Cave — Mumford & Sons |
Where Folk Acts Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works.
Pubs and folk clubs
| Pubs with a folk night or session — a solo or duo, unamplified |
| Folk clubs — two listening sets |
Weddings
| Ceremony and drinks reception — acoustic folk at background volume |
| Village hall and barn weddings — a folk band for the evening |
Festivals and community events
| Folk festivals — a 30 to 45-minute slot |
| Village fetes and halls — a family-friendly set |
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 folk acts 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 folk act?
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 Folk Acts
Folk singers and bands for pubs, folk clubs, weddings and festivals - hear them, agree the set and sign one contract.
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Where to Book Folk Acts
GIGXCHANGE is where you book folk acts direct in the UK. 90 folk singers and bands are on the platform - 10 of them trios and bands, the rest solo and duo acts, booked for pubs, folk clubs, weddings, festivals and village halls. 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 folk act plays traditional and modern folk - English, Scottish and Irish songs, acoustic singer-songwriters and folk bands with fiddle, guitar and accordion. Many are solo singers and duos, which suits pubs, folk clubs, weddings and village halls. For a caller-led dance night see ceilidh bands, and for a single performer of any style see solo acts.
Meet the Acts
Real member profiles you can listen to, message and book direct - 10 trios and bands, the rest solo and duo acts.
Browse Folk Singers and Bands
All 90 folk singers 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 folk act is, and the room it suits. Fees for each line-up are in the live table below.
- Solo singerOne voice with guitar, banjo, fiddle or concertina, playing traditional songs and their own.Suits: Pub sessions, folk clubs, ceremonies and listening rooms.
- DuoTwo voices or voice and fiddle - the classic folk pairing.Suits: Weddings, small rooms and folk clubs.
- TrioThree players - often guitar, fiddle and accordion or mandolin - with one or two of them singing.Suits: Bigger rooms, weddings and festival stages.
- Folk bandFour or five players adding bass and percussion to the fiddle, guitar and accordion, loud enough to dance to.Suits: Evening parties, folk-rock nights and festival stages.
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 folk singers and bands of every size can apply.
Folk Acts by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree with the act before the day.
- Pub folk nightsTwo listening sets or a session.Agree: The space and the finish - see live music for pubs.
- WeddingsAcoustic folk for the ceremony and drinks.Agree: The walk-in and signing songs.
- FestivalsA 30 to 45-minute slot.Agree: Stage times - see festival season bands.
- Village halls and fetesA family-friendly afternoon or evening set.Agree: The PA and the times.
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 · Folk clubs · Weddings · Festivals · Village halls. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one.
When to Book
Summer festivals and wedding Saturdays go first - 3 to 6 months ahead, a few weeks for a pub night. See how far ahead to book.
What Format Works
Typical shape: two sets of 40 to 60 minutes, often unamplified in a small room. Agree whether the act brings a PA, the space and the finish.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. A listening act in a loud room. Folk works best when the room listens. 2. Dance or listen? For dancing, book a ceilidh band. 3. No PA plan. A big room needs one. 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.
Traditional songs
- Wild Mountain Thymetraditional
- The Parting Glasstraditional
- Scarborough Fairtraditional
- Whiskey in the Jartraditional
- The Wild Rovertraditional
Folk revival
- The Times They Are a-Changin’Bob Dylan
- Fairytale of New YorkThe Pogues
- Streets of LondonRalph McTell
- Dirty Old TownEwan MacColl
Modern folk and singer-songwriter
- Little Lion ManMumford & Sons
- Skinny LoveBon Iver
- Ho HeyThe Lumineers
- The CaveMumford & Sons
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 Folk Acts Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works.
Pubs and folk clubs
- Pubs with a folk night or sessiona solo or duo, unamplified
- Folk clubstwo listening sets
Weddings
- Ceremony and drinks receptionacoustic folk at background volume
- Village hall and barn weddingsa folk band for the evening
Festivals and community events
- Folk festivalsa 30 to 45-minute slot
- Village fetes and hallsa family-friendly set
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 folk act?
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.