Q1 + Q4 — peak Sep–Nov and Jan–Mar
Book Awards Night & Black-Tie Bands
Industry awards, gala dinners and black-tie balls need music that fits the running order - quiet through dinner, a walk-on for each award, then a dancefloor. Find the band, hear them first and book direct.
Updated 24 October 2026
Where to Book Awards Night & Black-Tie Bands
An awards night band works to someone else’s running order. It plays quietly through drinks and dinner, gives each winner a short walk-on, waits through the speeches, then fills the dancefloor. Most gala dinners book a function band, a jazz or swing band for a black-tie room, and often a DJ to finish. For December company dinners, see Christmas party bands.
Browse all 47 function bands · Browse all 83 jazz musicians and bands
When to Book
Awards season runs Thursday, 1 October to Tuesday, 15 December 2026. The busiest acts are already booked - post your date and see who is free. Lock the act in before you print anything with the date on it.
| Starts1 Oct Under way |
| Book byNow Late bookings welcome |
| Typical fee£669+ £669–£1,708 - corporate events, full band (GX Index) |
| Acts123 On GigXchange now |
Booking Playbook
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 BookAwards nights cluster in spring and early summer and again from October to mid-December. Book once the venue and date are set - usually three to six months ahead. Send the act the event’s running order as soon as you have it, so they can plan the walk-ons. |
| What Format WorksFunction band (5+ piece): drinks, dinner, walk-ons and two dance sets. Swing or big band: a black-tie, Rat Pack style evening. Jazz trio or duo: drinks and dinner only, with a DJ for the dancing. Band and DJ: the band for the dance sets, the DJ to the finish. |
| Mistakes to Avoid1. No running order. The band needs to know when the awards start and how long the speeches run. 2. Walk-on music nobody agreed. List the categories and agree one short sting or song for each. 3. A too-loud dinner set. Ask for a quieter line-up through dinner, then the full band for dancing. 4. Forgetting the dress code. Black tie applies to the band too - say so. 5. A handshake deal. Book through GigXchange and the contract is created for you. |
Pick Your Line-up
What each kind of act is, and which awards night 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.
| Function band (5+ piece)Vocals, band and horns, playing dinner, walk-ons and dance sets. Suits: Gala dinners with a dancefloor - see function bands. |
| Swing or big bandA horn section and a crooner for a Rat Pack evening. Suits: Black-tie balls - see jazz bands. |
| Jazz trio or duoPiano, bass and drums, or a duo, at dinner volume. Suits: Drinks and dinner, with a DJ for the dancing. |
| Band and DJThe band for the dance sets, a DJ before and after. Suits: Long nights that run past midnight - see DJs. |
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 acts of every size can apply.
Awards Night & Black-Tie Bands 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.
| Industry awardsDrinks, dinner, the awards with walk-ons, then two dance sets. Agree: The running order, walk-on music and how the band links to the AV team. |
| Black-tie ballA swing band through dinner and the dancing. Agree: The dress code, set times and any first dance for the hosts. |
| Company awards dinnerA trio for drinks and dinner, a band or DJ after the awards. Agree: Breaks around the speeches and a meal for the act. |
| Charity galaBackground music, a short set around the auction, then dancing. Agree: The auction timing and when the band can play loudly. |
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.
How the Night Runs
A typical awards dinner with a function band. Move the times to suit your running order, then agree them with the act. Agree each part with the act in writing before the day.
| 18:30 · Drinks receptionA trio or duo from the band at background volume. |
| 19:30 · DinnerQuiet music between courses. |
| 21:00 · The awardsA short walk-on for each winner, then the band waits through the speeches. |
| 22:15 · First dance setThe full band, with the biggest songs to get the room up. |
| 23:15 · Second setMore floor-fillers, then a DJ or playlist to the finish. |
Make it the act's running order too
Send this timeline to the act in the chat on GIGXCHANGE - set times, breaks and the finish - so it goes into the contract you both sign.
What Do UK Gigs Actually Pay?
Real UK fee ranges from 4,629 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Pub / barFull band · Solo £162–£330 · Duo £250–£500 | £275–£1,050 |
| WeddingFull band · Solo £271–£500 · Duo £463–£810 | £810–£2,206 |
| CorporateFull band · Solo £278–£469 · 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 |
Setlist & Repertoire Suggestions
What audiences actually want to hear, not what looks good on a press kit. Send the act the moments you need covered and let them build the set around them.
Walk-on stings
| The Best - Tina Turner |
| Eye of the Tiger - Survivor |
| Celebration - Kool and the Gang |
| Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen |
Dinner sets
| Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra |
| Feeling Good - Nina Simone |
| Moondance - Van Morrison |
After the awards
| September - Earth, Wind and Fire |
| I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston |
| Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars |
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.
Venues & Spaces That Book This Season
Real examples of UK venues, hotels, and event spaces that programme this kind of booking, so you can see what a room your size usually puts on and when.
Hotels and conference venues
| Hotel ballrooms - gala dinners for 200 to 1,000 guests (see live music for hotels) |
| Conference centres - industry awards with a stage and in-house AV |
Other rooms
| Livery halls and museums - black-tie dinners with a swing band |
| Members’ clubs - smaller awards with a trio |
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.
| 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. |
Organising this as a private event? GigXchange for organisers covers contracts, protected payment and the licence answer.
12 — Questions8 answersFrequently asked questions
Browse ActsUK-wide
Find the right act for awards night & black-tie bands. Browse, compare and book acts for awards night & black-tie bands.
Filter by genre, budget, location and availability
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 acts | |
| Find performers | |
| Find out more | |
| Post a gig |
Costs & RatesLive
What awards night & black-tie bands cost in 2026. Realistic 2026 fees before you book.
Entry, mid and premium tier pricing
Live medians on the GigXchange Index
What drives peak-date premiums
Free to cite, updated nightly
| What it costs | |
| GX Rate Index | |
| Submit your rate | |
| Find out more | |
| Post a gig |
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
Setlist and repertoire suggestions
Mistakes that cost real money
| Overview | |
| When it is | |
| Costs & timing | |
| FAQs | |
| Find out more | |
| Post a gig |
All Booking GuidesFree
Seasonal, city and role guides — all free. Every GigXchange booking guide in one place.
Seasonal booking guides like this one
Find a band, city by city
How to book live music guides
Artist-side guides — see both sides
| All booking guides | |
| UK gig rates | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
Live Music by CityUK
Find acts and venues near your event. Every UK scene, city by city.
City-by-city booking guides
Local venues and open mics
Local rate benchmarks
Find performers near your event
| All UK cities | |
| Find performers | |
| Find out more | |
| Join free |
More booking guides and resources: what acts are paid across the UK, how to book by city or performer type, and the seasonal guides for the dates that sell out first.
| All Booking GuidesBrowse Find a Band, How to Get Gigs, and Seasonal Booking Guides. | |
| UK Rate BenchmarkSee what UK bands actually charge by city, gig type, and band size. | |
| Browse the DirectoryFilter by genre, budget, location and availability. |
| Hiring a wedding band in London | |
| Function band hire in Manchester | |
| How much do UK gigs pay? |
Share what you charged or paid — anonymous, under a minute. 3 rates unlocks 30 days of UK fee trends.
| Add your rate |
| Browse UK performers | |
| Live music by city | |
| Booking guides | |
| 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 |
Ready to Book awards entertainment?
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.
Book Awards Night & Black-Tie Bands
Industry awards, gala dinners and black-tie balls need music that fits the running order - quiet through dinner, a walk-on for each award, then a dancefloor. Find the band, hear them first and book direct.
Last updated: 24 October 2026
Where to Book Awards Night & Black-Tie Bands
GIGXCHANGE is where you book awards night & black-tie bands direct in the UK. 47 function bands and 83 jazz musicians and bands are on the platform. 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.
An awards night band works to someone else’s running order. It plays quietly through drinks and dinner, gives each winner a short walk-on, waits through the speeches, then fills the dancefloor. Most gala dinners book a function band, a jazz or swing band for a black-tie room, and often a DJ to finish. For December company dinners, see Christmas party bands.
When to Book
Awards season runs Thursday, 1 October to Tuesday, 15 December 2026. The busiest acts are already booked - post your date and see who is free. Lock the act in before you print anything with the date on it.
Meet the Acts
Real member profiles you can listen to, message and book direct for awards night & black-tie bands. Each card shows the act's line-up, where they are based and how to start a conversation.
Browse all 47 function bands →Browse all 83 jazz musicians and bands →
Pick Your Line-up
What each kind of act is, and which awards night 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.
- Function band (5+ piece)Vocals, band and horns, playing dinner, walk-ons and dance sets.Suits: Gala dinners with a dancefloor - see function bands.
- Swing or big bandA horn section and a crooner for a Rat Pack evening.Suits: Black-tie balls - see jazz bands.
- Jazz trio or duoPiano, bass and drums, or a duo, at dinner volume.Suits: Drinks and dinner, with a DJ for the dancing.
- Band and DJThe band for the dance sets, a DJ before and after.Suits: Long nights that run past midnight - see DJs.
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 acts of every size can apply.
Awards Night & Black-Tie Bands 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.
- Industry awardsDrinks, dinner, the awards with walk-ons, then two dance sets.Agree: The running order, walk-on music and how the band links to the AV team.
- Black-tie ballA swing band through dinner and the dancing.Agree: The dress code, set times and any first dance for the hosts.
- Company awards dinnerA trio for drinks and dinner, a band or DJ after the awards.Agree: Breaks around the speeches and a meal for the act.
- Charity galaBackground music, a short set around the auction, then dancing.Agree: The auction timing and when the band can play loudly.
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.
How the Night Runs
A typical awards dinner with a function band. Move the times to suit your running order, then agree them with the act. Agree each part with the act in writing before the day.
- 18:30 · Drinks receptionA trio or duo from the band at background volume.
- 19:30 · DinnerQuiet music between courses.
- 21:00 · The awardsA short walk-on for each winner, then the band waits through the speeches.
- 22:15 · First dance setThe full band, with the biggest songs to get the room up.
- 23:15 · Second setMore floor-fillers, then a DJ or playlist to the finish.
Make it the act's running order too
Send this timeline to the act in the chat on GIGXCHANGE - set times, breaks and the finish - so it goes into the contract you both sign.
Booking Playbook
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
Awards nights cluster in spring and early summer and again from October to mid-December. Book once the venue and date are set - usually three to six months ahead. Send the act the event’s running order as soon as you have it, so they can plan the walk-ons.
What Format Works
Function band (5+ piece): drinks, dinner, walk-ons and two dance sets. Swing or big band: a black-tie, Rat Pack style evening. Jazz trio or duo: drinks and dinner only, with a DJ for the dancing. Band and DJ: the band for the dance sets, the DJ to the finish.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. No running order. The band needs to know when the awards start and how long the speeches run. 2. Walk-on music nobody agreed. List the categories and agree one short sting or song for each. 3. A too-loud dinner set. Ask for a quieter line-up through dinner, then the full band for dancing. 4. Forgetting the dress code. Black tie applies to the band too - say so. 5. A handshake deal. Book through GigXchange and the contract is created for you.
What Do UK Gigs Actually Pay?
Real UK fee ranges from 4,629 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Solo | Duo | Full Band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pub / bar | £162–£330 | £250–£500 | £275–£1,050 |
| Wedding | £271–£500 | £463–£810 | £810–£2,206 |
| Corporate | £278–£469 | £446–£1,275 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private party | £250–£542 | £250–£500 | £583–£1,353 |
| Festival (30–45 min) | TBC | TBC | £200–£1,783 |
Setlist & Repertoire Suggestions
What audiences actually want to hear, not what looks good on a press kit. Send the act the moments you need covered and let them build the set around them.
Walk-on stings
- The BestTina Turner
- Eye of the TigerSurvivor
- CelebrationKool and the Gang
- Don’t Stop Me NowQueen
Dinner sets
- Fly Me to the MoonFrank Sinatra
- Feeling GoodNina Simone
- MoondanceVan Morrison
After the awards
- SeptemberEarth, Wind and Fire
- I Wanna Dance with SomebodyWhitney Houston
- Uptown FunkMark Ronson and Bruno Mars
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.
Venues & Spaces That Book This Season
Real examples of UK venues, hotels, and event spaces that programme this kind of booking, so you can see what a room your size usually puts on and when.
Hotels and conference venues
- Hotel ballroomsgala dinners for 200 to 1,000 guests (see live music for hotels)
- Conference centresindustry awards with a stage and in-house AV
Other rooms
- Livery halls and museumsblack-tie dinners with a swing band
- Members’ clubssmaller awards with a trio
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.
Organising this as a private event? GigXchange for organisers covers contracts, protected payment and the licence answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Book awards entertainment?
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.