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Manchester bands for hire

Our experts have gathered together the best party bands in Manchester, Bolton and the North West. From rock and pop cover bands to jazz, swing and ceilidh bands for hire.

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from£1,180

Agent Smith

  • 4-6
  • (229)

Exceptional party and wedding band playing everything from vintage 1950s rock’n’roll to cutting edge pop, indie and R&B. High profile clients include BT, Mini Cooper and Microsoft.

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from£1,995

Downtown Underground

  • 6-7
  • (122)

World-class pop, funk and soul function band, refreshing and recreating the classic soul sounds of the 60s, 70s and 80s, alongside soul-infused contemporary pop and R&B.

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from£1,325

Century

  • 4-5
  • (60)

With joint female and male lead vocals and a backing band of unrivalled funkmeisters, Century put on a fun, rip-roaring show that your guests will never forget.

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from£880

The Aviators

  • 3-4
  • (54)

With a repertoire spanning six decades, this dynamic party band sings everything from Fleetwood Mac to Daft Punk, promising a hassle-free, all-inclusive celebration with top-notch PA and lighting.

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from£1,815

Manhattan

  • 5-10
  • (84)

Dynamic Motown, pop and soul band with stunning female and male lead vocals, impressive industry credentials and a playlist of soulful floor-fillers by artists such as Marvin Gaye, Justin Timberlake and Rihanna.

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from£995

Skylight

  • 3
  • (100)

Powerful party and wedding band, ready to get your party rocking! The band have a diverse songlist which will surprise, delight and keep your guests dancing and singing along.

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from£1,120

The Different Lights

  • 4
  • (115)

Outstanding wedding band playing chart, indie, rock anthems and Britpop and featuring guitars, keyboards and vocal harmonies for a big, versatile sound!

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from£1,185

The Vendettas

  • 4-5
  • (71)

Exciting female-fronted wedding band playing the biggest party hits, from modern pop, 80s and 90s, disco/funk to rock, Motown and soul. The band have performed at Glastonbury and Edinburgh festival.

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from£995

Hudson

  • 3
  • (163)

One of our leading wedding bands in the North West, Hudson are a powerful trio playing everything from uptempo 50s rock'n'roll to last week's number 1.

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from£830

The Beat Kings

  • 3
  • (45)

Experienced East Midlands wedding and party band with a massive playlist of rock, pop, reggae and soul, from Bob Marley to Bruno Mars. Afternoon acoustic sets and DJ service also available.

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from£1,215

Mastersound

  • 4-7
  • (80)

Danceable, piano-led pop and soul band from the West Midlands, with both female and male lead vocals and a song list of danceable rock, soul and pop anthems from Chuck Berry to Adele.

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from£2,460

Soul Motion

  • 8
  • (43)

Comprising eight seasoned musicians with a wealth of experience behind them, Soul Motion deliver a knockout show for your special event, whether it is a wedding, corporate function, birthday party or festival. Weekday discounts available.

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from£980

The Alternatives

  • 4
  • (51)

Guitar-led wedding and party band playing infectious renditions of all your favourite party hits, The Alternatives will have you singing along until closing time!

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from£1,230

The Suit Ups

  • 5-6
  • (49)

Energetic and experienced five-piece covering pop, rock, soul, and Motown hits from the 60s to today to keep the dance floor packed all night long.

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from£1,485

The Flavours

  • 4-8
  • (39)

The Flavours energise any event with chart-topping hits, soulful classics, and good time vibes, offering acoustic sets, DJ services, and a personalised playlist to keep the party going!

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from£1,225

Gallery

  • 4
  • (49)

Fresh-faced, high-energy 4-piece band featuring both male and female vocals and playing all of the nation's favourite dance floor fillers – from The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Blondie to George Michael, Dua Lipa, and The Arctic Monkeys.

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from£775

The Fade

  • 3
  • (41)

A fully live, big-sounding 3-piece band playing only the best sing-a-long indie, rock and pop hits by artists such as The Killers, Oasis, The Beatles and many more.

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from£890

Banzai

  • 3-6
  • (62)

Energetic party band playing crowd-rousing anthems by Huey Lewis, The Killers, Oasis, Lady Gaga, The Weekend and more!

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from£2,400

Drum n Brass

  • 5-10
  • (59)

Performing hi-octane brass arrangements of floor-fillers by Daft Punk, Queen, Beyonce and more, Drum 'n' Brass are a fresh alternative to traditional cover bands. Male vocals optional.

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from£1,270

The Sonics

  • 4
  • (67)

Phenomenally popular party & wedding band in the North West, featuring outstanding male vocals, guitar synth and a large set list of danceable rock, soul, reggae and pop music, from The Beatles to The Weeknd.


The easy way to hire live bands in Manchester

  • The very best live bands in Manchester
  • Function bands, cover bands, jazz bands and more
  • Expert band hire advice, support and booking tips
  • Fast customer service and an easy booking process
  • 24/7 emergency band replacement and cover

Guide to booking party bands in Manchester

Why should I hire a live party band in Manchester for my event?

From Oasis and the Happy Mondays to Elbow and Everything Everything – Manchester has been spawning musical talent for decades. Our Manchester party bands draw on this city’s rich musical heritage to make your event unique and memorable.

If you’re planning a wedding reception, hire a Manchester wedding band to play the very best, floor-filling covers from the last 60 years? They can play everything from The Beatles to the Bruno Mars, so they’re guaranteed to have something for everyone.

What style of music do your Manchester bands perform?

Whether you’re planning a high-end corporate gala or a raucous rock’n’roll band for a teenage birthday party, we have the Manchester band for you. And you can be sure that the dancing won’t stop between sets: our bands offer a DJ service which is much cheaper than hiring a separate DJ – and some bands even provide it for nothing.

Whatever your budget, you can be sure that we’ll only supply you with the most talented, reliable party bands available – all our bands have been hand picked by our experts, so whatever you choose, you’ll get a wonderful show!

This page is dedicated to Manchester bands for hire, but if you’re after solo musicians to play gentle music during a reception, dinner or cocktail party – check out our guitarists, pianists or harpists.

Can you provide background musicians for hire in Manchester?

This page is dedicated to party bands, but Function Central is an entertainment agency providing musicians in Manchester for hire throughout the day, not just at your evening reception.

For a wedding ceremony, you could hire one of our Manchester string quartets.

For the perfect accompaniment to a cocktail party and drinks receptions, we have Manchester-based guitarists and pianists.

Or for a summer garden party or outdoor event, our steel bands and Dixieland jazz bands in Manchester are much in-demand!

Do you offer other musical genres, such as ceilidh or jazz bands in Manchester?

If you’re looking for some sophisticated music to brighten up a small venue and get your guests dancing, how about a swinging Manchester jazz band?

If you’re having a family celebration and want to entertain the children, we have some of the finest ceilidh bands in Manchester.

Do we need to provide any equipment for the band?

Our Manchester bands all come fully equipped for your event – it’s just worth getting in touch if you think your event will exceed 250 guests, as extra equipment might then be necessary.

You just need to make sure that the band has a power source to plug in to and a space to perform!

We recommend a flat and sheltered stage area of at least 3x3 meters for a 3-piece band – then add an extra metre squared per band member that you have booked.

A raised stage is preferable for maximum impact but our bands are flexible to all kinds of set ups!

Where do your Manchester bands tend to perform?

The city that gave the world Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Chemical Brothers, Simply Red, Take That and M People requires only the ultimate musical entertainment at any event.

Whether you have invited guests to Worsley Park, King Street Townhouse, Great John Street, The Castlefield Rooms, The Lowry, Albert's Restaurant & Bar or Didsbury House Hotel, our bands are ready to help you party well into the night.

Our Manchester bands have played at events throughout the city, including Bolton, Sale, Rochdale, Stockport, Salford, Wigan, Oldham, Bury, Atherton, Altrincham, Trafford, Piccadilly, Hulme Rochdale, Glossop, Cheadle and Eccles.

You can hire a Manchester party band to perform anywhere in the UK wide and internationally.

How can we save money on our Manchester party band?

Before you book more musicians for afternoon background music, check whether members of your band can provide this – it'll save you additional costs, such as travel.

If you haven't yet set your event date, consider booking a midweek or winter date to take advantage of the most competitive rates.

Always consider hiring a band from your local area, to save on travel and accommodation costs. We have bands based in most major towns and cities across the UK.


Find local cover bands in Manchester and UK wide

Function Central is a leading covers band hire agency. We provide exceptional talent for private events, both in Manchester, throughout the UK and internationally. Hire a local band to save on costs – we have bands based in most major UK towns and counties.

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