How to book live music
How to Book Live Music in the UK
Whether you run a pub, a hotel, a restaurant or a festival, booking live music in the UK comes down to the same steps: know your room, set a budget from real fees, check the licence, then agree it in writing.
Updated 25 October 2026
Booking Live Music in the UK: the Short Answer
Booking live music in the UK costs about £1,129 for a 3–4 piece wedding band and £265 for a solo act in a pub or bar - the UK medians from 1,616 and 546 fees on the GX Index. Regular nights fill about 4–6 weeks out, and December and summer weekends 8–12 weeks out, when the good acts go first. In England and Wales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm in a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing law - check with your local council.
| What it costs · £1,129 3–4 piece wedding bandUK median · 1,616 fees |
| When to book · 4–6 weeks aheadRegular nights fill about 4–6 weeks out, and December and summer weekends 8–12 weeks out, when the good acts go first |
| Licensing · 500 people or fewerEngland & Wales, 8am-11pm; Scotland and NI have their own law |
| Venues listed · 3,227 UK venuesin the GigXchange directory |
What Live Music Costs in the UK
What acts across the UK are paid, act type by act type - each bar is a live median with its fee count and the middle 50% of fees, UK-wide.
| Pub or bar · solo actmiddle 50% £162–£330 · UK · 546 fees | £265 |
| Pub or bar · duomiddle 50% £250–£500 · UK · 93 fees | £325 |
| Pub or bar · 3–4 piecemiddle 50% £275–£600 · UK · 379 fees | £350 |
| Pub or bar · 5+ piecemiddle 50% £400–£1,050 · UK · 307 fees | £525 |
| Private party · 3–4 piecemiddle 50% £583–£1,444 · UK · 537 fees | £915 |
| Corporate · solomiddle 50% £278–£469 · UK · 191 fees | £392 |
| Wedding · 3–4 piecemiddle 50% £810–£1,559 · UK · 1,616 fees | £1,129 |
| Wedding · 5+ piecemiddle 50% £1,353–£2,206 · UK · 427 fees | £1,783 |
| See full UK rate breakdown | |
| Submit your venue's rates |
6 Steps to Book the Right Act in the UK
Booking an act in the UK takes 6 steps, from knowing your room to agreeing the brief and the terms in writing - the timing for the UK is under the steps.
6 steps from first search to a confirmed act in the UK
| Know your room before you approach acts - the capacity, the stage space, whether you have a PA, and when the act can load in. A five-piece band in a 40-seat bar is a mismatch, and most acts ask these questions before they quote. |
| Set a budget from real fees. Use the GX Index for live medians by act type and region, and the Musicians’ Union for its recommended minimums. A clear budget range attracts acts who fit. |
| Check your licensing — In England and Wales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm in a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing law - check with your local council. The rules for the UK are below. |
| Book 4–6 weeks ahead in the UK — Regular nights fill about 4–6 weeks out, and December and summer weekends 8–12 weeks out, when the good acts go first |
| Hear them first. Watch a live video or catch them at an open mic - a studio recording does not tell you how an act sounds in a room like yours. |
| Put the booking in writing - the date, arrival and set times, the fee and any deposit, who brings the PA, and what happens if either side cancels. If an act drops out late, a Gig Rescue call-out invites available acts who take last-minute work. |
| When to book in the UKRegular nights fill about 4–6 weeks out, and December and summer weekends 8–12 weeks out, when the good acts go first. Weddings and corporate dates are often booked 6–12 months ahead. |
Choosing the Right Act for a UK Room
Choose an act for a UK room on three checks - their live audio, their reviews and their tech rider - then on what already fills rooms near you.
3 checks on every act you book
Audio, reviews and the tech rider - the same three, every time.
| Step 1 · Listen to Their AudioNot just one polished studio track — live recordings or videos that show how they sound in a real room. Every GigXchange profile includes audio tracks, live video, and a gear list. If an act only has studio tracks and no live footage, that's a flag. |
| Step 2 · Read Their ReviewsOn GigXchange, Google, or social media. One bad review is nothing; a pattern of late arrivals or unprofessional behaviour is a red flag. Two-way verified reviews are the most reliable. |
| Step 3 · Check Their Tech RiderWhat equipment they need, when they'll arrive for setup, how long for soundcheck. Professional acts have this ready. If they don't, that tells you something. |
What fills rooms in the UK
Covers and party bands fill most Friday and Saturday rooms. Acoustic solo acts and duos suit food-led pubs, restaurants and quieter weeknights. Jazz, swing and soul trios suit cocktail bars and hotels, and folk and ceilidh acts suit village halls and community events.
| Covers & party bandsThe Friday and Saturday staple for pubs, clubs and private parties - songs everyone knows, played loud enough to dance to. Check the set length and the volume for your room. |
| Acoustic solo & duoFood-led pubs, restaurants and weeknight sessions. One or two players, a small PA, and a sound that leaves room for conversation. |
| Jazz, swing & soulCocktail bars, hotels and Sunday lunches. A trio or quartet that can play background for dinner and lift the room later. |
| Folk & ceilidhVillage halls, community events, Burns Night and St Patrick’s Day. A ceilidh band with a caller gets a whole room dancing. |
Who You Can Book in the UK
Acts across the UK are on GigXchange and 3,227 UK venues are listed - browse the acts, then see who already books live music near you.
Licensing & Rules in the UK
In England and Wales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm in a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing law - check with your local council. Below: the licences, then what changes in 2027.
Who to ask: your local council
Licensing is local - your council has the final word on your premises licence and any event notice.
| England and WalesLive music in a licensed venueBetween 8am and 11pm, live music to an audience of 500 or fewer needs no entertainment licence while the venue is open for alcohol sales - amplified or not. Unamplified live music needs none in those hours, at any audience size. Conditions added on a licence review can still apply. GOV.UK - Live Music Act guidance |
| UKYou still need TheMusicLicenceThat is permission to hold the event, not copyright. Playing or performing music in public needs a music licence from PPL PRS. PPL PRS - TheMusicLicence |
| England and WalesOne-off events: a TENFor an event outside your licence: fewer than 500 people at all times, including staff, up to 7 days. Give the council at least 10 clear working days' notice (a late TEN: 5). One premises can have up to 15 a year, 21 days in total. GOV.UK - Temporary events notice |
| England and WalesKeep the neighbours on sideYour council can act if noise becomes a statutory nuisance. Agree finish times and volume with the act in the contract. GOV.UK - Noise nuisances |
| ScotlandLicensing in ScotlandScotland has its own law: the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 for alcohol premises and, for many events, a public entertainment licence from the council under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The English and Welsh live music exemption does not apply. GOV.UK - Public entertainment licence |
| Northern IrelandLicensing in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland has its own law: live music in most public venues needs an entertainments licence from the district council. The English and Welsh live music exemption does not apply. GOV.UK - Entertainment licence (Northern Ireland) |
| EnglandBusiness rates: a 20% cut from April 2027Pubs, social clubs and live music venues get 20% off their business rates bills from April 2027, on top of the 15% relief on 2026/27 bills. The cut runs for 2027/28 and 2028/29; live music venues with a rateable value of £1 million or more stay on the 15% relief. GOV.UK - Business rates for pubs and venues |
| WalesBusiness rates: a 30% cut proposed from April 2027Hospitality and leisure venues in Wales with a rateable value below £51,000, live music venues among them, would get 30% off from 1 April 2027, subject to Senedd approval. Welsh Government - 30% rates cut |
| ScotlandBusiness rates: 40% relief continues in 2027/28Licensed hospitality premises and music venues on the mainland with a rateable value of £100,000 or less get 40% relief from 2026/27 to 2028/29, up to £110,000 a year - no new change for 2027. mygov.scot - Hospitality relief |
| UKMartyn's Law: expected in spring 2027The 2025 Act covers premises where 200 to 799 people may be present at the same time, staff included (standard tier), or 800 and over (enhanced). A public event with entry checks where 800 or more people are expected at once is in scope too, unless it is held at premises already in the enhanced tier. The SIA expects the duties to start in spring 2027 and will confirm the date. GOV.UK - Martyn's Law and the SIA |
| Read the full UK live music licensing guide |
How to Book Live Music by City
Fees, licensing and the local scene differ city to city - each guide covers one city.
| London & the South EastThe biggest pool of acts in the country and the highest fees - book early for Fridays, Saturdays and December, when the best acts are taken months ahead. |
| The North & the MidlandsManchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle each have deep local scenes, and acts travel between them. Covers, indie and soul acts fill most rooms. |
| ScotlandGlasgow and Edinburgh have strong live circuits, ceilidh bands are in demand all year, and licensing follows Scottish law - check with your council before you book. |
| Wales & Northern IrelandCardiff and Belfast lead their own scenes. Wales follows the same licensing rules as England, Northern Ireland has its own - check with your council. |
| BelfastNorthern Ireland | |
| BirminghamWest Midlands | |
| BradfordYorkshire and the Humber | |
| BrightonSouth East England | |
| BristolSouth West England | |
| CardiffWales | |
| CoventryWest Midlands | |
| EdinburghScotland | |
| GlasgowScotland | |
| Kingston upon HullYorkshire and the Humber | |
| LeedsYorkshire and the Humber | |
| LeicesterEast Midlands | |
| LiverpoolNorth West England | |
| LondonGreater London | |
| ManchesterNorth West England | |
| NewcastleNorth East England | |
| NorwichEast of England | |
| NottinghamEast Midlands | |
| PlymouthSouth West England | |
| SheffieldYorkshire and the Humber | |
| SouthamptonSouth East England | |
| Stoke-on-TrentWest Midlands | |
| SunderlandNorth East England | |
| WolverhamptonWest Midlands | |
| Every UK city79 cities with live music listings |
Booking Platforms Compared for UK Venues
Three routes UK venues use to book an act - GigXchange, an agency or an online marketplace - set side by side on cost to you, the contract, how your payment is protected and how fast you can confirm. What an agency takes per booking.
Side by side, feature by feature
GigXchange · Encore| Post a gig & receive bids | Yes — free listingNo — request quotes |
| Hear before you book | Full audio + video + live clipsSample clips |
| Verified reviews | Two-way verifiedClient-side only |
| Secure deposit / payment | StripeAgency invoice |
| What it costs | 0–5% booker fee20% of the fee (from the act) |
| Digital contract | Auto-generatedVia agency |
| Original music acts | All genres welcomeMostly covers / function |
| Best for | All venue types — post and compareWeddings, corporate |
Side by side, feature by feature
GigXchange · GigPig| Post a gig & receive bids | Yes — free listingNo — browse only |
| Hear before you book | Full audio + video + live clipsVideos |
| Verified reviews | Two-way verifiedTwo-way |
| Secure deposit / payment | StripePlatform payment |
| What it costs | 0–5% booker fee£15/gig or from £199/mo |
| Digital contract | Auto-generatedNo |
| Original music acts | All genres welcomeMixed |
| Best for | All venue types — post and compareRegular pub slots |
Side by side, feature by feature
GigXchange · Alive Network| Post a gig & receive bids | Yes — free listingNo — request quotes |
| Hear before you book | Full audio + video + live clipsPromo videos |
| Verified reviews | Two-way verifiedClient-side only |
| Secure deposit / payment | StripeAgency invoice |
| What it costs | 0–5% booker fee~20% on top of the act's price |
| Digital contract | Auto-generatedVia agency |
| Original music acts | All genres welcomeCovers / function |
| Best for | All venue types — post and compareLarge corporate events |
Side by side, feature by feature
GigXchange · Lemonrock| Post a gig & receive bids | Yes — free listingForum posts |
| Hear before you book | Full audio + video + live clipsExternal links only |
| Verified reviews | Two-way verifiedNo reviews |
| Secure deposit / payment | StripeCash / bank transfer |
| What it costs | 0–5% booker feeFree |
| Digital contract | Auto-generatedNo |
| Original music acts | All genres welcomeOriginal-heavy |
| Best for | All venue types — post and compareNetworking / discovery |
How to Book Live Music on GIGXCHANGE
Three steps, and most bookers finish them in an evening: post the date and budget, compare the acts who reply or invite one you have found, then confirm with a contract and a held deposit.
| 01 | Step 1Post a gig or search actsSay what you need - date, set times, budget, genre and any tech - or search UK acts by genre, fee and free date. A posted gig reaches every verified act across the UK. |
| 02 | Step 2Shortlist and checkHear each act live on their profile, read their two-way reviews and check their tech rider, then message the ones you like before anyone commits. |
| 03 | Step 3Confirm, sign and payAgree the fee in chat and both sides sign the digital contract. You pay 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. Both sides review after the night. |
11 — Questions12 answersFrequently asked questions
Artists in the UKUK
Browse and compare live acts in the UK. Find the right act for your UK venue or event.
Browse UK artists and bands
Compare styles, set lengths and fees
Message and book direct — no middlemen
Two-way verified reviews
Free to browse — 5% only on protected payments
| Browse UK artists | |
| Post a gig | |
| Find out more | |
| Post a gig |
UK GigsLive
Upcoming gigs across the UK — the gig directory. What's on in the UK — see what other rooms programme.
One-off gigs at indie venues and community stages
Sorted by date, refreshed continuously
Free and ticketed shows both listed
Every gig links its venue
| UK gigs | |
| UK gig directory | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
UK VenuesUK
Grassroots venues, pubs and stages in the UK. Capacity, backline and booking contacts for UK venues.
Grassroots venues, pubs and stages
Capacity and backline specs where known
Re-verified on a rolling cycle
Claim your venue to keep it current
| UK venues | |
| Live music for pubs | |
| Live music for hotels | |
| Live music for care homes | |
| Live music for clubs | |
| Live music for holiday parks | |
| Live music for boats | |
| For venues | |
| Find out more | |
| Claim your venue |
UK Open MicsWeekly
Scout new talent — the UK open mic nights. Hear acts live before you book — UK's open mic nights.
Weekly open mic nights across the UK
Filter by night of the week
Scout acts in a real room before committing
The grassroots pipeline to paid bookings
| UK open mics | |
| UK open mic finder | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
Guides & RatesFree
What to pay and how to book in the UK. Everything you need before you book in the UK.
Find a band in the UK
Live median fees on the GigXchange Index
Licensing essentials for venues
The artist-side guide — see both sides
| UK rates | |
| Licensing | |
| UK gig rates | |
| Find a band | |
| How to get gigs (artist side) | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
More resources for booking and programming live music in the UK: what acts are paid, which venues already book music, where the open mics run and how other bookers plan their nights.
| How to Book Live Music by CityThe 24 city guides - local fees, licensing, venues and acts, city by city. | |
| Hire by Act TypeWedding bands, DJs, string quartets, tribute acts - what each costs and how to book them. | |
| Seasonal Booking GuidesChristmas, New Year, weddings and festivals - when to book and what it costs. | |
| Corporate EntertainmentChristmas parties, awards nights and conferences - acts for company bookers. | |
| UK Gig RatesWhat UK acts actually charge by gig type. Median fees from the live GigXchange Index. | |
| UK Open Mic FinderHear acts live before you book - open mic nights across the UK. | |
| UK Gig DirectoryUpcoming gigs across the UK - see what other venues are programming. |
| Live music in the UK | |
| Find a band in the UK | |
| How to get gigs (UK guide) |
| Venues in the UK | |
| Open mics in the UK | |
| Upcoming gigs in the UK |
| NYE Bands & DJs | |
| Awards Night & Black-Tie Bands | |
| Festival Season Bands | |
| Valentine's Day Bands | |
| Summer Wedding Bands |
| How to book a musician in the UK | |
| Live music licensing in the UK | |
| Booking platforms compared | |
| What changes for venues in 2027 |
Share what you charged or paid — anonymous, under a minute. 3 rates unlocks 30 days of UK fee trends.
| Add your rate |
Ready to Book Live Music in the UK?
Free venue account, no card on file. Membership is free, and we are keeping it free permanently for the first 250 sign-ups. Open alpha — you are early.
How to Book Live Music in the UK
Whether you run a pub, a hotel, a restaurant or a festival, booking live music in the UK comes down to the same steps: know your room, set a budget from real fees, check the licence, then agree it in writing.
Last updated: 25 October 2026
Booking Live Music in the UK: the Short Answer
Booking live music in the UK costs about £1,129 for a 3–4 piece wedding band and £265 for a solo act in a pub or bar - the UK medians from 1,616 and 546 fees on the GX Index. Regular nights fill about 4–6 weeks out, and December and summer weekends 8–12 weeks out, when the good acts go first. In England and Wales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm in a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing law - check with your local council.
What Live Music Costs in the UK
What acts across the UK are paid, act type by act type - each bar is a live median with its fee count and the middle 50% of fees, UK-wide.
Before you agree a fee, check it against the GX Index from GIGXCHANGE: real fees UK bookers paid acts, taken from the whole UK. Each row says how many fees sit behind it, and the figures refresh every night.
- Pub or bar · solo act £265 median · 546 observationsmiddle 50% £162–£330 · UK
- Pub or bar · duo £325 median · 93 observationsmiddle 50% £250–£500 · UK
- Pub or bar · 3–4 piece £350 median · 379 observationsmiddle 50% £275–£600 · UK
- Pub or bar · 5+ piece £525 median · 307 observationsmiddle 50% £400–£1,050 · UK
- Private party · 3–4 piece £915 median · 537 observationsmiddle 50% £583–£1,444 · UK
- Corporate · solo £392 median · 191 observationsmiddle 50% £278–£469 · UK
- Wedding · 3–4 piece £1,129 median · 1,616 observationsmiddle 50% £810–£1,559 · UK
- Wedding · 5+ piece £1,783 median · 427 observationsmiddle 50% £1,353–£2,206 · UK
6 Steps to Book the Right Act in the UK
Booking an act in the UK takes 6 steps, from knowing your room to agreeing the brief and the terms in writing - the timing for the UK is under the steps.
- Know your room before you approach acts - the capacity, the stage space, whether you have a PA, and when the act can load in. A five-piece band in a 40-seat bar is a mismatch, and most acts ask these questions before they quote.
- Set a budget from real fees. Use the GX Index for live medians by act type and region, and the Musicians’ Union for its recommended minimums. A clear budget range attracts acts who fit.
- Check your licensing — In England and Wales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm in a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing law - check with your local council. The rules for the UK are below.
- Book 4–6 weeks ahead in the UK — Regular nights fill about 4–6 weeks out, and December and summer weekends 8–12 weeks out, when the good acts go first
- Hear them first. Watch a live video or catch them at an open mic - a studio recording does not tell you how an act sounds in a room like yours.
- Put the booking in writing - the date, arrival and set times, the fee and any deposit, who brings the PA, and what happens if either side cancels. If an act drops out late, a Gig Rescue call-out invites available acts who take last-minute work.
When to book in the UK
Regular nights fill about 4–6 weeks out, and December and summer weekends 8–12 weeks out, when the good acts go first. Weddings and corporate dates are often booked 6–12 months ahead.
Choosing the Right Act for a UK Room
Choose an act for a UK room on three checks - their live audio, their reviews and their tech rider - then on what already fills rooms near you.
Listen to Their Audio
Not just one polished studio track — live recordings or videos that show how they sound in a real room. Every GigXchange profile includes audio tracks, live video, and a gear list. If an act only has studio tracks and no live footage, that's a flag.
Read Their Reviews
On GigXchange, Google, or social media. One bad review is nothing; a pattern of late arrivals or unprofessional behaviour is a red flag. Two-way verified reviews are the most reliable.
Check Their Tech Rider
What equipment they need, when they'll arrive for setup, how long for soundcheck. Professional acts have this ready. If they don't, that tells you something.
What fills rooms in the UK
Covers and party bands fill most Friday and Saturday rooms. Acoustic solo acts and duos suit food-led pubs, restaurants and quieter weeknights. Jazz, swing and soul trios suit cocktail bars and hotels, and folk and ceilidh acts suit village halls and community events.
Covers & party bands
The Friday and Saturday staple for pubs, clubs and private parties - songs everyone knows, played loud enough to dance to. Check the set length and the volume for your room.
Acoustic solo & duo
Food-led pubs, restaurants and weeknight sessions. One or two players, a small PA, and a sound that leaves room for conversation.
Jazz, swing & soul
Cocktail bars, hotels and Sunday lunches. A trio or quartet that can play background for dinner and lift the room later.
Folk & ceilidh
Village halls, community events, Burns Night and St Patrick’s Day. A ceilidh band with a caller gets a whole room dancing.
Know the kind of act you want? The hire guides cover covers bands, party bands, solo acts and jazz bands - or compare every performer type.
Who You Can Book in the UK
Acts across the UK are on GigXchange and 3,227 UK venues are listed - browse the acts, then see who already books live music near you.
Licensing & Rules in the UK
In England and Wales, live music to 500 people or fewer between 8am and 11pm in a venue licensed for alcohol and open for sales needs no extra licence - you still need TheMusicLicence. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing law - check with your local council. Below: the licences, then what changes in 2027.
Between 8am and 11pm, live music to an audience of 500 or fewer needs no entertainment licence while the venue is open for alcohol sales - amplified or not. Unamplified live music needs none in those hours, at any audience size. Conditions added on a licence review can still apply. GOV.UK - Live Music Act guidance
That is permission to hold the event, not copyright. Playing or performing music in public needs a music licence from PPL PRS. PPL PRS - TheMusicLicence
For an event outside your licence: fewer than 500 people at all times, including staff, up to 7 days. Give the council at least 10 clear working days' notice (a late TEN: 5). One premises can have up to 15 a year, 21 days in total. GOV.UK - Temporary events notice
Your council can act if noise becomes a statutory nuisance. Agree finish times and volume with the act in the contract. GOV.UK - Noise nuisances
Scotland has its own law: the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 for alcohol premises and, for many events, a public entertainment licence from the council under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. The English and Welsh live music exemption does not apply. GOV.UK - Public entertainment licence
Northern Ireland has its own law: live music in most public venues needs an entertainments licence from the district council. The English and Welsh live music exemption does not apply. GOV.UK - Entertainment licence (Northern Ireland)
Pubs, social clubs and live music venues get 20% off their business rates bills from April 2027, on top of the 15% relief on 2026/27 bills. The cut runs for 2027/28 and 2028/29; live music venues with a rateable value of £1 million or more stay on the 15% relief. GOV.UK - Business rates for pubs and venues
Hospitality and leisure venues in Wales with a rateable value below £51,000, live music venues among them, would get 30% off from 1 April 2027, subject to Senedd approval. Welsh Government - 30% rates cut
Licensed hospitality premises and music venues on the mainland with a rateable value of £100,000 or less get 40% relief from 2026/27 to 2028/29, up to £110,000 a year - no new change for 2027. mygov.scot - Hospitality relief
The 2025 Act covers premises where 200 to 799 people may be present at the same time, staff included (standard tier), or 800 and over (enhanced). A public event with entry checks where 800 or more people are expected at once is in scope too, unless it is held at premises already in the enhanced tier. The SIA expects the duties to start in spring 2027 and will confirm the date. GOV.UK - Martyn's Law and the SIA
Booking privately rather than for a venue? A genuinely private event usually needs none of this — see GigXchange for organisers.
How to Book Live Music by City
Fees, licensing and the local scene differ city to city - each guide below covers one city's venues, acts and council. Which UK cities run the most gigs.
London & the South East
The biggest pool of acts in the country and the highest fees - book early for Fridays, Saturdays and December, when the best acts are taken months ahead.
The North & the Midlands
Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle each have deep local scenes, and acts travel between them. Covers, indie and soul acts fill most rooms.
Scotland
Glasgow and Edinburgh have strong live circuits, ceilidh bands are in demand all year, and licensing follows Scottish law - check with your council before you book.
Wales & Northern Ireland
Cardiff and Belfast lead their own scenes. Wales follows the same licensing rules as England, Northern Ireland has its own - check with your council.
The city guides
Booking Platforms Compared for UK Venues
Three routes UK venues use to book an act - GigXchange, an agency or an online marketplace - set side by side on cost to you, the contract, how your payment is protected and how fast you can confirm. What an agency takes per booking.
| Feature | GigXchange | Encore | GigPig | Alive Network | Lemonrock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post a gig & receive bids | Yes — free listing | No — request quotes | No — browse only | No — request quotes | Forum posts |
| Hear before you book | Full audio + video + live clips | Sample clips | Videos | Promo videos | External links only |
| Verified reviews | Two-way verified | Client-side only | Two-way | Client-side only | No reviews |
| Secure deposit / payment | Stripe | Agency invoice | Platform payment | Agency invoice | Cash / bank transfer |
| What it costs | 0–5% booker fee | 20% of the fee (from the act) | £15/gig or from £199/mo | ~20% on top of the act's price | Free |
| Digital contract | Auto-generated | Via agency | No | Via agency | No |
| Original music acts | All genres welcome | Mostly covers / function | Mixed | Covers / function | Original-heavy |
| Best for | All venue types — post and compare | Weddings, corporate | Regular pub slots | Large corporate events | Networking / discovery |
How to Book Live Music on GIGXCHANGE
Three steps, and most bookers finish them in an evening: post the date and budget, compare the acts who reply or invite one you have found, then confirm with a contract and a held deposit.
- 01
Post a gig or search acts
Say what you need - date, set times, budget, genre and any tech - or search UK acts by genre, fee and free date. A posted gig reaches every verified act across the UK.
- 02
Shortlist and check
Hear each act live on their profile, read their two-way reviews and check their tech rider, then message the ones you like before anyone commits.
- 03
Confirm, sign and pay
Agree the fee in chat and both sides sign the digital contract. You pay 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately. Both sides review after the night.
Booking Live Music in the UK: FAQ
The questions the UK bookers ask most - the first answered with this page's live fees.
Ready to Book Live Music in the UK?
Free venue account, no card on file. Membership is free, and we are keeping it free permanently for the first 250 sign-ups. Open alpha — you are early.