Motown to modern R&B - the floor-filling voice
Hire Soul & R&B Bands
Soul bands and R&B singers for weddings, parties, bars and corporate nights - hear them, agree the set and sign one contract.
Updated 21 October 2026
Where to Book Soul & R&B Bands
A soul act plays Motown, classic soul, funk and modern R&B - from a solo R&B singer over tracks to a band with horns and backing vocals. It suits weddings and parties because almost everyone knows the songs. For a wider party set see wedding bands and function bands.
Booking Playbook
Weddings · Corporate · Parties · Bars · Hotels. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one.
| When to BookSummer Saturdays and December go first - 6 to 12 months ahead for a wedding, a few weeks for a bar night. See how far ahead to book. |
| What Format WorksTypical shape: two sets of 60 to 75 minutes for a band, or two or three shorter sets for a solo singer. Agree the line-up (horns or not), the PA, the first dance or key songs, and the finish. |
| Mistakes to Avoid1. Horns or no horns? Agree the line-up and the stage space. 2. Old soul or modern R&B? Say what the crowd wants. 3. No key-song list. Send it early. 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 soul and R&B act is, and what it suits.
| Solo soul or R&B singerOne soul or R&B vocalist over backing tracks, or with a guitarist or keys player. Suits: Bars, drinks receptions and launches. |
| 4 to 5 pieceA lead singer with guitar, bass, drums and keys - the core of every soul band. Suits: Most weddings and parties. |
| 6 to 8 piece with hornsThe core band plus a horn section (sax, trumpet, trombone) and backing vocals - the Motown sound. Suits: Big weddings, ballrooms and awards nights. |
| DuoA singer with keys or guitar - soul and R&B stripped back. Suits: Hotel bars, dinners and drinks receptions. |
Soul & R&B Bands by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree.
| WeddingsA soul set after dinner, the first dance played live. Agree: The first dance and the finish - see wedding bands. |
| Corporate nightsA party set after the speeches. Agree: Timings and the PA. |
| Bars and hotelsA solo singer or duo at the right volume. Agree: A run of dates - see live music for hotels. |
| Private partiesMotown and disco for every age. 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.
Motown and classic soul
| Ain’t No Mountain High Enough — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell |
| My Girl — The Temptations |
| Superstition — Stevie Wonder |
| Respect — Aretha Franklin |
| Signed, Sealed, Delivered — Stevie Wonder |
| Stand by Me — Ben E. King |
Funk and disco
| September — Earth, Wind & Fire |
| I Feel Good — James Brown |
| Le Freak — Chic |
| Uptown Funk — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars |
Modern soul and R&B
| Valerie — Amy Winehouse |
| Crazy in Love — Beyoncé |
| Rehab — Amy Winehouse |
| Leave the Door Open — Silk Sonic |
Where Soul & R&B Bands Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works.
Weddings
| Country house and barn weddings — a soul band with horns for the evening |
| Hotel weddings — a solo singer for the drinks, the band after dinner |
Corporate and awards
| Hotel ballrooms — a party set after the awards |
| Product launches — a short set from a solo R&B singer |
Bars and hotels
| Cocktail and hotel bars — a solo soul singer or duo |
| Bars with a weekend night — a 4 or 5-piece |
Private parties
| Birthdays and anniversaries — Motown and disco for every age |
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 soul & R&B 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 soul 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 Soul & R&B Bands
Soul bands and R&B singers for weddings, parties, bars and corporate nights - hear them, agree the set and sign one contract.
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Where to Book Soul & R&B Bands
GIGXCHANGE is where you book soul & r&b bands direct in the UK. 115 soul and R&B acts are on the platform - 24 of them trios and bands, the rest solo and duo acts, booked for weddings, corporate, parties, bars and hotels. 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 soul act plays Motown, classic soul, funk and modern R&B - from a solo R&B singer over tracks to a band with horns and backing vocals. It suits weddings and parties because almost everyone knows the songs. For a wider party set see wedding bands and function bands.
Meet the Acts
Real member profiles you can listen to, message and book direct - 24 trios and bands, the rest solo and duo acts.
Browse Soul and R&B Acts
All 115 soul and R&B acts on GigXchange. Filter by line-up and region, then open a profile to listen and message.
Pick Your Line-up
What each size of soul and R&B act is, and what it suits. Fees for each line-up are in the live table below.
- Solo soul or R&B singerOne soul or R&B vocalist over backing tracks, or with a guitarist or keys player.Suits: Bars, drinks receptions and launches.
- 4 to 5 pieceA lead singer with guitar, bass, drums and keys - the core of every soul band.Suits: Most weddings and parties.
- 6 to 8 piece with hornsThe core band plus a horn section (sax, trumpet, trombone) and backing vocals - the Motown sound.Suits: Big weddings, ballrooms and awards nights.
- DuoA singer with keys or guitar - soul and R&B stripped back.Suits: Hotel bars, dinners and drinks receptions.
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 soul and R&B acts of every size can apply.
Soul & R&B Bands by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree with the act before the day.
- WeddingsA soul set after dinner, the first dance played live.Agree: The first dance and the finish - see wedding bands.
- Corporate nightsA party set after the speeches.Agree: Timings and the PA.
- Bars and hotelsA solo singer or duo at the right volume.Agree: A run of dates - see live music for hotels.
- Private partiesMotown and disco for every age.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
Weddings · Corporate · Parties · Bars · Hotels. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one.
When to Book
Summer Saturdays and December go first - 6 to 12 months ahead for a wedding, a few weeks for a bar night. See how far ahead to book.
What Format Works
Typical shape: two sets of 60 to 75 minutes for a band, or two or three shorter sets for a solo singer. Agree the line-up (horns or not), the PA, the first dance or key songs, and the finish.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. Horns or no horns? Agree the line-up and the stage space. 2. Old soul or modern R&B? Say what the crowd wants. 3. No key-song list. Send it early. 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.
Motown and classic soul
- Ain’t No Mountain High EnoughMarvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- My GirlThe Temptations
- SuperstitionStevie Wonder
- RespectAretha Franklin
- Signed, Sealed, DeliveredStevie Wonder
- Stand by MeBen E. King
Funk and disco
- SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire
- I Feel GoodJames Brown
- Le FreakChic
- Uptown FunkMark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
Modern soul and R&B
- ValerieAmy Winehouse
- Crazy in LoveBeyoncé
- RehabAmy Winehouse
- Leave the Door OpenSilk Sonic
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 Soul & R&B Bands Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works.
Weddings
- Country house and barn weddingsa soul band with horns for the evening
- Hotel weddingsa solo singer for the drinks, the band after dinner
Corporate and awards
- Hotel ballroomsa party set after the awards
- Product launchesa short set from a solo R&B singer
Bars and hotels
- Cocktail and hotel barsa solo soul singer or duo
- Bars with a weekend nighta 4 or 5-piece
Private parties
- Birthdays and anniversariesMotown and disco for every age
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 soul 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.