Q4 — peak Oct–Nov
Book Bonfire Night Entertainment
Fireworks displays, school fairs and pub bonfire parties all want music around 5 November. Find a folk act, a party band or a singer, hear them first and book direct, with a contract every time.
Updated 24 October 2026
Where to Book Bonfire Night Entertainment
Bonfire Night entertainment is music that works outside, in the cold, around a fireworks display: folk acts and acoustic duos for the early evening, a party band for a pub or club party afterwards, and a PA that can carry announcements for the display. The weekend nearest 5 November is the busy one. For the week before, see Halloween entertainment. Diwali often falls in the same fortnight - see Diwali entertainment.
Browse all 95 folk singers and bands · Browse all 51 party bands
When to Book
Bonfire Night is Thursday, 5 November 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.
| Date5 Nov This week |
| Book byNow Late bookings welcome |
| Typical fee£583+ £583–£1,353 - private parties, full band (GX Index) |
| Acts143 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 BookDisplays and parties land on the weekend nearest 5 November, so start looking by early autumn. Outdoor events need more planning than a room - agree the power, the cover from rain and the timings around the fireworks before you book. |
| What Format WorksFolk act or acoustic duo: short sets while people arrive and queue for food. Party band: a pub or club party after the fireworks. Singer with a PA: announcements and music for a school or community display. DJ: a family party with songs everyone knows. |
| Mistakes to Avoid1. No cover for the act. Kit and rain do not mix - agree a gazebo, a covered stage or an indoor fallback. 2. No power plan. Ask where the nearest socket or generator is before the act arrives. 3. Music over the fireworks. Agree the stop time so the display is not drowned out, or plan a soundtrack with the act. 4. Cold hands. Short sets with breaks work better outside in November. 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 Bonfire Night event 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.
| Folk act or acoustic duoA singer with a guitar, or a duo, playing short sets. Suits: Displays and school fairs while people arrive - see folk acts. |
| Party bandA 4- or 5-piece band for two sets. Suits: Pub and club parties after the fireworks - see party bands. |
| Singer with a PAA solo act whose PA also carries announcements. Suits: Community displays - see solo acts. |
| DJOne person with a full PA and songs for all ages. Suits: Family parties in a hall or a club - 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.
Bonfire Night Entertainment 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.
| Community fireworks displayAcoustic sets while people arrive, a stop for the display, then music while people leave. Agree: Cover, power, the stop time and who makes announcements. |
| Pub bonfire partyA duo outside early, then a band inside after the fireworks. Agree: Where the act sets up, and the finish time. |
| School or club fairA singer with a PA through the afternoon and early evening. Agree: Set lengths, safety announcements and power. |
| Garden partyA duo or a DJ for family and friends. Agree: Cover from the weather and a finish time that suits the neighbours. |
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 community fireworks evening. Move the times to suit your display, then agree them with the act. Agree each part with the act in writing before the day.
| 17:30 · Gates openAn acoustic act plays while people arrive and queue for food. |
| 18:30 · The bonfireThe fire is lit, with a short set and announcements on the PA. |
| 19:00 · The fireworksThe band stops, and the display runs in silence or to a soundtrack. |
| 19:20 · After the displayA last set while people head home. |
| 20:00 · Pack downAgree with the organiser when the act can pack away safely in the dark. |
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 4,647 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 |
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.
Around the fire
| Fireworks - Siouxsie and the Banshees |
| Light My Fire - The Doors |
| Firework - Katy Perry |
| Burning Love - Elvis Presley |
Folk and acoustic sets
| Galway Girl - Steve Earle |
| The Wild Rover - traditional |
| Wonderwall - Oasis |
After the display
| Mr Brightside - The Killers |
| Dancing in the Moonlight - Toploader |
| Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen |
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.
Outdoor
| Community and school fireworks displays - an acoustic act and a PA for announcements |
| Farms and country estates - ticketed displays with food and music |
Pubs and clubs
| Pubs with a garden - a bonfire party with a band or duo (see live music for pubs) |
| Social and sports clubs - family displays with a DJ (see live music for clubs) |
Private
| Gardens and village halls - family parties with a duo or a DJ |
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. Planning a fete or fun day? See live music for a fete or fun day.
12 — Questions8 answersFrequently asked questions
Browse ActsUK-wide
Find the right act for Bonfire Night entertainment. Browse, compare and book acts for Bonfire Night entertainment.
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Costs & RatesLive
What Bonfire Night entertainment 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
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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
Setlist and repertoire suggestions
Mistakes that cost real money
| Overview | |
| When it is | |
| Costs & timing | |
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All Booking GuidesFree
Seasonal, city and role guides — all free. Every GigXchange booking guide in one place.
Seasonal booking guides like this one
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Artist-side guides — see both sides
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Live Music by CityUK
Find acts and venues near your event. Every UK scene, city by city.
City-by-city booking guides
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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. |
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Share what you charged or paid — anonymous, under a minute. 3 rates unlocks 30 days of UK fee trends.
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| Live music for boats |
Ready to Book Bonfire Night 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 Bonfire Night Entertainment
Fireworks displays, school fairs and pub bonfire parties all want music around 5 November. Find a folk act, a party band or a singer, hear them first and book direct, with a contract every time.
Last updated: 24 October 2026
Where to Book Bonfire Night Entertainment
GIGXCHANGE is where you book Bonfire Night entertainment direct in the UK. 95 folk singers and bands and 51 party 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.
Bonfire Night entertainment is music that works outside, in the cold, around a fireworks display: folk acts and acoustic duos for the early evening, a party band for a pub or club party afterwards, and a PA that can carry announcements for the display. The weekend nearest 5 November is the busy one. For the week before, see Halloween entertainment. Diwali often falls in the same fortnight - see Diwali entertainment.
When to Book
Bonfire Night is Thursday, 5 November 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 Bonfire Night entertainment. Each card shows the act's line-up, where they are based and how to start a conversation.
Browse all 95 folk singers and bands →Browse all 51 party bands →
Pick Your Line-up
What each kind of act is, and which Bonfire Night event 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.
- Folk act or acoustic duoA singer with a guitar, or a duo, playing short sets.Suits: Displays and school fairs while people arrive - see folk acts.
- Party bandA 4- or 5-piece band for two sets.Suits: Pub and club parties after the fireworks - see party bands.
- Singer with a PAA solo act whose PA also carries announcements.Suits: Community displays - see solo acts.
- DJOne person with a full PA and songs for all ages.Suits: Family parties in a hall or a club - 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.
Bonfire Night Entertainment 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.
- Community fireworks displayAcoustic sets while people arrive, a stop for the display, then music while people leave.Agree: Cover, power, the stop time and who makes announcements.
- Pub bonfire partyA duo outside early, then a band inside after the fireworks.Agree: Where the act sets up, and the finish time.
- School or club fairA singer with a PA through the afternoon and early evening.Agree: Set lengths, safety announcements and power.
- Garden partyA duo or a DJ for family and friends.Agree: Cover from the weather and a finish time that suits the neighbours.
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 community fireworks evening. Move the times to suit your display, then agree them with the act. Agree each part with the act in writing before the day.
- 17:30 · Gates openAn acoustic act plays while people arrive and queue for food.
- 18:30 · The bonfireThe fire is lit, with a short set and announcements on the PA.
- 19:00 · The fireworksThe band stops, and the display runs in silence or to a soundtrack.
- 19:20 · After the displayA last set while people head home.
- 20:00 · Pack downAgree with the organiser when the act can pack away safely in the dark.
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
Displays and parties land on the weekend nearest 5 November, so start looking by early autumn. Outdoor events need more planning than a room - agree the power, the cover from rain and the timings around the fireworks before you book.
What Format Works
Folk act or acoustic duo: short sets while people arrive and queue for food. Party band: a pub or club party after the fireworks. Singer with a PA: announcements and music for a school or community display. DJ: a family party with songs everyone knows.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. No cover for the act. Kit and rain do not mix - agree a gazebo, a covered stage or an indoor fallback. 2. No power plan. Ask where the nearest socket or generator is before the act arrives. 3. Music over the fireworks. Agree the stop time so the display is not drowned out, or plan a soundtrack with the act. 4. Cold hands. Short sets with breaks work better outside in November. 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 4,647 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 |
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.
Around the fire
- FireworksSiouxsie and the Banshees
- Light My FireThe Doors
- FireworkKaty Perry
- Burning LoveElvis Presley
Folk and acoustic sets
- Galway GirlSteve Earle
- The Wild Rovertraditional
- WonderwallOasis
After the display
- Mr BrightsideThe Killers
- Dancing in the MoonlightToploader
- Don’t Stop Me NowQueen
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.
Outdoor
- Community and school fireworks displaysan acoustic act and a PA for announcements
- Farms and country estatesticketed displays with food and music
Pubs and clubs
- Pubs with a gardena bonfire party with a band or duo (see live music for pubs)
- Social and sports clubsfamily displays with a DJ (see live music for clubs)
Private
- Gardens and village hallsfamily parties with a duo or a DJ
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. Planning a fete or fun day? See live music for a fete or fun day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Book Bonfire Night 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.