A voice for the ceremony, the drinks and the party
A singer for hire is one vocalist - singing to backing tracks, with their own guitar or piano, or as half of a duo - for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, parties and dinners. Hear them first, agree the songs and sign one contract.
Updated 7 November 2026
A singer is one vocalist - with backing tracks, their own guitar or piano, or a second player as a duo. A singer suits the moments a band is too big or too loud: the ceremony, the drinks, dinner, a birthday at home, a memorial. For instrumental sets see solo acts; for a full evening dancefloor see wedding bands.
Weddings · Ceremonies · Birthday parties · Dinners · Funerals and memorials. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one. Each card covers one decision: when to book, what format works and the mistakes that cost bookers money.
| When to BookSummer Saturdays and December go first - book 6 to 12 months ahead for a summer wedding, 3 to 6 for a corporate event, a few weeks for a party or a weeknight. See how far ahead to book. |
| What Format WorksTypical shape: 2 or 3 sets of 30 to 45 minutes - the ceremony songs, background sets through the drinks and dinner, and a livelier set to finish. Agree who brings the PA, the space and power, the first-dance or walk-in song, and any requests. |
| Mistakes to Avoid1. No songs agreed. Send the ceremony, first-dance and must-play songs early. 2. Too loud for dinner. Agree the volume. 3. No PA or power checked. Ask what the singer brings. 4. No breaks agreed. Agree the set times. 5. No contract. Every GigXchange booking has one. |
What each kind of singer is, and what it suits. Fees for each line-up are in the live table below, so you can match the size of the act to your budget and your room.
| Singer with backing tracksOne vocalist with a PA and produced tracks - a full sound from one performer. Suits: Ceremonies, parties and functions. |
| Singer-guitarist or singer-pianistA vocalist who plays their own guitar or keys - a warmer, acoustic sound. Suits: Drinks receptions, dinners and pubs. |
| Vocal duoA singer with a second player or singer - two parts and harmonies. Suits: Weddings and bigger rooms. |
| Ceremony or memorial singerA singer booked for a few chosen songs at a set moment. Suits: Wedding ceremonies, funerals and memorials. |
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 singers of every size can apply.
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree with the act before the day. Use it as the checklist for your first call with the act.
| Wedding ceremonyThe walk-in, a song for the signing and the walk-out. Agree: The songs, the timings and what the registrar allows. |
| Drinks and dinnerBackground sets between the ceremony and the speeches. Agree: The volume and where the singer stands. |
| Birthday or anniversary partyOne or two sets of favourites. Agree: The songs and a finish time - see party bands for a dancefloor. |
| Funeral or memorialOne or two chosen songs at a set point in the service. Agree: The songs, the timing and the sound system. |
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.
Real UK fee ranges from 5,063 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Pub / barFull band · Solo £162–£330 · Duo £250–£500 | £275–£1,003 |
| WeddingFull band · Solo £271–£500 · Duo £463–£810 | £812–£2,206 |
| CorporateFull band · Solo £281–£474 · Duo £446–£1,275 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private partyFull band · Solo £250–£542 · Duo £250–£500 | £583–£1,353 |
| Festival (30–45 min)Full band · Solo TBC · Duo TBC | £200–£1,783 |
What this performer type actually delivers — by category, with real examples. Use it to check the act covers the moments that matter to you before you ask for a quote.
| A Thousand Years — Christina Perri |
| Make You Feel My Love — Adele |
| Can't Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley |
| Perfect — Ed Sheeran |
| At Last — Etta James |
| All of Me — John Legend |
| Fly Me to the Moon — Frank Sinatra |
| Valerie — Amy Winehouse |
| Dreams — Fleetwood Mac |
| Golden Hour — JVKE |
| Sunday Morning — Maroon 5 |
| The Way You Look Tonight — Frank Sinatra |
| Mr Brightside — The Killers |
| Don't Stop Me Now — Queen |
| Dancing Queen — ABBA |
| Shut Up and Dance — Walk the Moon |
| Sweet Caroline — Neil Diamond |
| I Wanna Dance with Somebody — Whitney Houston |
| Over the Rainbow — Judy Garland |
| Hallelujah — Leonard Cohen |
| Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler |
| Amazing Grace — traditional |
| Time to Say Goodbye — Andrea Bocelli |
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.
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works, and what each kind of room tends to put on. Use it to see where your kind of booking fits.
| Ceremony rooms and register offices — a singer for the walk-in and signing |
| Country house hotels and barns — singer and guitar through the drinks |
| Marquees and gardens — a singer with a battery PA outdoors |
| Birthdays and anniversaries — a singer for a set or two of favourites |
| Function rooms and pubs — see live music for pubs |
| Restaurants and hotel bars — background sets (see live music for hotels) |
| Crematoria, churches and wakes — one or two chosen songs, sung live |
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.
Three steps, about five minutes from signup to your first booking: post the date and budget, compare the acts who reply or invite one you like, then confirm with a contract and a held deposit.
| 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.
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Hire Singers
A singer for hire is one vocalist - singing to backing tracks, with their own guitar or piano, or as half of a duo - for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, parties and dinners. Hear them first, agree the songs and sign one contract.
Last updated: 7 November 2026
Where to Book Singers
GIGXCHANGE is where you book singers direct in the UK. 110 singers are on the platform, booked for weddings, ceremonies, birthday parties, dinners and funerals and memorials. 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 singer is one vocalist - with backing tracks, their own guitar or piano, or a second player as a duo. A singer suits the moments a band is too big or too loud: the ceremony, the drinks, dinner, a birthday at home, a memorial. For instrumental sets see solo acts; for a full evening dancefloor see wedding bands.
Meet the Acts
Real member profiles you can listen to, message and book direct. Each card shows the act's line-up, where they are based and how to start a conversation.
Browse Singers
All 110 singers on GigXchange. Filter by line-up and region, then open a profile to listen and message. Every profile has a message button, and most carry music to play and a fee range.
Pick Your Singer
What each kind of singer is, and what it suits. Fees for each line-up are in the live table below, so you can match the size of the act to your budget and your room.
- Singer with backing tracksOne vocalist with a PA and produced tracks - a full sound from one performer.Suits: Ceremonies, parties and functions.
- Singer-guitarist or singer-pianistA vocalist who plays their own guitar or keys - a warmer, acoustic sound.Suits: Drinks receptions, dinners and pubs.
- Vocal duoA singer with a second player or singer - two parts and harmonies.Suits: Weddings and bigger rooms.
- Ceremony or memorial singerA singer booked for a few chosen songs at a set moment.Suits: Wedding ceremonies, funerals and memorials.
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 singers of every size can apply.
Singers by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree with the act before the day. Use it as the checklist for your first call with the act.
- Wedding ceremonyThe walk-in, a song for the signing and the walk-out.Agree: The songs, the timings and what the registrar allows.
- Drinks and dinnerBackground sets between the ceremony and the speeches.Agree: The volume and where the singer stands.
- Birthday or anniversary partyOne or two sets of favourites.Agree: The songs and a finish time - see party bands for a dancefloor.
- Funeral or memorialOne or two chosen songs at a set point in the service.Agree: The songs, the timing and the sound system.
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
Weddings · Ceremonies · Birthday parties · Dinners · Funerals and memorials. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one. Each card covers one decision: when to book, what format works and the mistakes that cost bookers money.
When to Book
Summer Saturdays and December go first - book 6 to 12 months ahead for a summer wedding, 3 to 6 for a corporate event, a few weeks for a party or a weeknight. See how far ahead to book.
What Format Works
Typical shape: 2 or 3 sets of 30 to 45 minutes - the ceremony songs, background sets through the drinks and dinner, and a livelier set to finish. Agree who brings the PA, the space and power, the first-dance or walk-in song, and any requests.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. No songs agreed. Send the ceremony, first-dance and must-play songs early. 2. Too loud for dinner. Agree the volume. 3. No PA or power checked. Ask what the singer brings. 4. No breaks agreed. Agree the set times. 5. No contract. Every GigXchange booking has one.
What Do UK Gigs Actually Pay?
Real UK fee ranges from 5,063 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Solo | Duo | Full Band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pub / bar | £162–£330 | £250–£500 | £275–£1,003 |
| Wedding | £271–£500 | £463–£810 | £812–£2,206 |
| Corporate | £281–£474 | £446–£1,275 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private party | £250–£542 | £250–£500 | £583–£1,353 |
| Festival (30–45 min) | TBC | TBC | £200–£1,783 |
Repertoire & Format
What this performer type actually delivers — by category, with real examples. Use it to check the act covers the moments that matter to you before you ask for a quote.
Wedding ceremony (walk-in, signing, walk-out)
- A Thousand YearsChristina Perri
- Make You Feel My LoveAdele
- Can't Help Falling in LoveElvis Presley
- PerfectEd Sheeran
- At LastEtta James
- All of MeJohn Legend
Drinks and dinner (background)
- Fly Me to the MoonFrank Sinatra
- ValerieAmy Winehouse
- DreamsFleetwood Mac
- Golden HourJVKE
- Sunday MorningMaroon 5
- The Way You Look TonightFrank Sinatra
Party set (sing-along)
- Mr BrightsideThe Killers
- Don't Stop Me NowQueen
- Dancing QueenABBA
- Shut Up and DanceWalk the Moon
- Sweet CarolineNeil Diamond
- I Wanna Dance with SomebodyWhitney Houston
Funerals and memorials
- Over the RainbowJudy Garland
- HallelujahLeonard Cohen
- Wind Beneath My WingsBette Midler
- Amazing Gracetraditional
- Time to Say GoodbyeAndrea Bocelli
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 Singers Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works, and what each kind of room tends to put on. Use it to see where your kind of booking fits.
Weddings
- Ceremony rooms and register officesa singer for the walk-in and signing
- Country house hotels and barnssinger and guitar through the drinks
- Marquees and gardensa singer with a battery PA outdoors
Parties at home and in venues
- Birthdays and anniversariesa singer for a set or two of favourites
- Function rooms and pubssee live music for pubs
Dining and hospitality
- Restaurants and hotel barsbackground sets (see live music for hotels)
Funerals and memorials
- Crematoria, churches and wakesone or two chosen songs, sung live
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 your first booking: post the date and budget, compare the acts who reply or invite one you like, then confirm with a contract and a held deposit.
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
The 9 questions answered below run from “How much does it cost to hire a singer in the UK (2026)?” to “We book singers regularly. How do venues find new ones?”.
Ready to Book a singer?
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. Acts reply in the app, and you choose who to book.