Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Shim sham to a jazz band or tap your toes to dixieland at your wedding or party. We also offer big bands, crooners, Postmodern and Gypsy jazz bands for hire.
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Experienced, sax-led jazz trio, performing jazzy takes on pop music from The Beatles to Sam Smith as well as classic jazz. Suitable for mellow background music at weddings, corporate events and more!
Swinging, vintage-themed band playing a mixture of modern hits in a quirky, vintage style alongside authentic 20s-40s material.
An intoxicating blend of swing, jazz and contemporary pop performed by experienced, world-class musicians. Additional musicians and afternoon sets also available.
Hugely entertaining and swinging 1920s-style jazz band, who have previously performed at Wembley Stadium. The band put their own unique and eccentric take on modern pop, from Taylor Swift to Motorhead! DJ laptop service available on request.
A traditional gypsy jazz and acoustic swing band, these folks masterfully play Django Reinhardt classics, along with swing-style covers of modern artists. Available as an instrumental line-up or with female vocals.
Upbeat, Dixieland jazz band playing songs in the classic New Orleans style. Great for toe-tapping background music. Also available as a marching band line-up is available for parades and funerals.
The Retro Pops re-interpret classic pop songs from the 1970s to the 2020s in a variety of other genres, from jazz and blues to calypso. A fresh approach to the traditional party band format.
Highly experienced and entertaining jazz / swing function band playing the classic hits from artists such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Michael Bublé, and more.
Versatile jazz trio bringing mellow jazz vibes to any occasion, perfect for background ambiance or jazzing up a themed party. The trio can expand to include a singer or drummer on request.
Focusing on the vibrant music of the roaring twenties and capturing the era's glitz and glamour, Scotch & Soda stand out as the premier 1920s jazz band on the boardwalk.
Versatile and stylish, this trio’s large repertoire of smooth jazz standards and jazzy pop hits is perfect for setting a lively, laid-back mood at any event.
Tantalizing singer available as a soloist or with a live band in varying sizes. Lily sings the best of vintage and postmodern jazz in sparkling 1920s style.
Combining smooth vocal harmonies, toe-tapping rhythms, and infectious melodies, The Swing Tigers play classic swing for dancing, breathing new life into timeless classics.
A one-of-a-kind 5-piece jazz and swing band, specializing in a postmodern twist by performing pop standards with a classic jazz flair. If the mood calls for it, they effortlessly switch to funk and soul tunes to get everyone on their feet and dancing.
The Richmond Jazz Trio, a young and professional group making waves on the UK jazz scene, dazzles with jazz classics from legends like Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, and others.
Two seasoned, award-winning musicians who have showcased their talents at prestigious UK jazz venues such as Ronnie Scott's and the 606 Jazz Club, as well as enlivened countless weddings and private events.
Elegant and entertaining, this jazz trio specialise in the sounds of The Great American Songbook – think Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald – delivering a timeless atmosphere and a classy touch to any celebration.
Drawing inspiration from the Golden Age of Jazz, The Velvet Tones pay tribute to the iconic Ladies of Jazz by performing classics from the Great American Songbook and songs popularized by legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone.
Immersing their audience in the essence of New Orleans' "roaring 20s" jazz era, The Canal Street Swing Band have earned acclaim at numerous venues, from raucous bars to highly respected jazz festivals.
Contemporary acoustic duo with a flamenco, swing style, breathing a new life into songs you already love!
All our jazz bands are fully self-contained with their own PA sound system so you don’t have to worry about speakers or sound engineers.
Some of our jazz swing bands will bring lighting for the stage or dance-floor for after-dinner entertainment too – check the band's profile page for more details.
Our jazz bands typically play two 1-hour sets or 3 x 40 minute sets of music, but they can play for longer (for an additional cost) if preferred.
If you need the band to play for longer or later than midnight, extra fees can apply.
For afternoon and early evening events, most jazz musicians will aim to arrive about 90 minutes before the scheduled start of the performance. For evening events, bands aim to arrive from 5pm or 6pm at the latest, regardless of the finish time.
Duos or trios rarely need more than 30 minutes to set-up and do a quick sound-check (test that their levels are appropriate for the venue).
Larger line-ups may need up to 90 minutes, but the exact time required will be detailed in your booking contract.
Our jazz wedding bands will be happy to learn and perform your first dance request – provided they think they can arrange it for their line-up and do it justice.
Check the band’s profile to see what they can offer and if they can’t do it live, they could just play it through their PA system using Spotify or an mp3 player.
You can also browse our top 10 jazz bands for weddings.
Amplified line-ups (all line-ups excluding unplugged trad jazz bands) can provide recorded jazz music between sets via a device (yours or theirs), free of charge.
Many are able to upgrade to a more advanced service using virtual DJ software so that they can mix songs and take your guests’ requests – check the band’s profile page for details.
There are a few things you'd need to ensure, when booking a jazz band:
If booking a jazz band for afternoon or early evening background sets, and the band won't remain on site for more than 4 hours, you won't have to provide a meal, but refreshments would be appreciated.
Most jazz bands can perform within the limits of sound limiters with no problems.
However, if you’re booking a larger swing band (upwards of a 4-piece) including drums and brass, it’s worth checking the noise restrictions at your venue.
In many cases, levels can be reduced by asking the drummer to use brushes or “hot rods” instead of wooden sticks.
Most swing or dance bands booked for evening parties are reserved between 6 and 12 months before your event, but the top bands can get snapped up a full 18 months in advance.
So we recommend starting your search as soon as possible. This is especially crucial if you're planning a Saturday wedding from April to September.
If you're booking a background jazz band for your afternoon reception, or if you're planning an off-season wedding between October and March, there will likely still be good options available at around the 6 month mark.
Our jazz bands vary in price from under £400 for a guitar and sax duo, right up to £4000 for a 12-piece big band.
The typical price paid for a jazz band in 2022 was approximately £900.
Hiring a jazz band locally will save you money on travel and accommodation costs. Use the filter menus at the top of this page to narrow down acts based in your region only.
We have jazz bands based all over the UK. Also see:
In the event that a band member falls ill or is unable to attend on the day, the band are obliged to arrange a substitute musician to take their place.
In the very unlikely event that none of the band members can attend, we'll make every effort to secure a replacement jazz band in a comparable style and within the same price range from our extensive range of acts. If you don't like any of our suggested replacements, we'll give you a full refund.
All of our jazz bands will require a soundcheck ahead of the show and a soundcheck usually takes between 60 and 90 minutes. It's best if the venue is free of guests at this point, both for the band’s convenience and your guests’ comfort.
If the space cannot be free of guests, some of our jazz bands can arrange a ‘noiseless’ line-check in order to set up the equipment without disturbing proceedings.
Not necessarily. Our jazz bands will play pre-recorded music during any intervals. This music can be provided by the band, or you can give them a playlist of your own.
Some bands are able to provide their own DJ service for before and/or after the performance but check out their individual profiles for more details.
There are a couple of instances where it might be worth hiring a DJ as well as the band:
If you're planning on finishing very late, it might be more cost-effective to hire a separate DJ than pay the whole band to stay on.
If you have specialised tastes or beat-matching is particularly important to you, a DJ might be the best option for you.
If you simply can’t decide which jazz band is right for you, call us on 0333 242 0560 or send us a message to tell us what part of your day you need music for, and your musical preferences, and we’ll be more than happy to suggest suitable acts.
In the meantime, you can read this handy guide on how to choose a wedding band.
Feel free to check out the band’s song list on their profile page and send over any preferred song choices in advance. Jazz bands are unlikely to accept “on the fly” requests as they may not be part of their repertoire and the band may not have the appropriate musical or vocal arrangements to do them justice, especially if requests fall outside of the genre.
Sticking to their song list and giving them chance to rehearse in advance will ensure your jazz band can give you their very best performance.
As long as you have cover to protect the band and their equipment from the elements and a good power supply, your jazz band should be able to play outdoors. Let us know when booking if you’re planning an outdoor event and we’ll be happy to provide you with a checklist of all you’ll need.
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