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Jazz bands for hire

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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from£750

Midnight Blue

  • London
  • 3-5
  • (75)

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!

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from£1,660

The Basin Street Band

  • London
  • 6-7
  • (27)

Swinging, vintage-themed band playing a mixture of modern hits in a quirky, vintage style alongside authentic 20s-40s material.

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from£860

The Postmodern Jazz Cats

  • London
  • 3-7
  • (24)

An intoxicating blend of swing, jazz and contemporary pop performed by experienced, world-class musicians. Additional musicians and afternoon sets also available.

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from£1,350

Bertie And The Spiffs

  • West Yorkshire
  • 4-5
  • (23)

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.

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from£735

Django’s Jive

  • London
  • 3-5
  • (22)

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.

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from£710

The 12th Street Swingers

  • Surrey
  • 3-6
  • (39)

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.

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from£1,285

The Retro Pops

  • Sheffield
  • 4-6
  • (47)

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.

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from£995

Knights of Swing

  • Kent
  • 4
  • (22)

Highly experienced and entertaining jazz / swing function band playing the classic hits from artists such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Michael Bublé, and more.

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from£1,475

Scotch and Soda

  • London
  • 4-5
  • (18)

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.

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from£380

Lily Von Rouge

  • Derbyshire
  • 1-10
  • (14)

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.

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from£1,660

Canal Street Swing Band

  • Leeds
  • 5-7
  • (21)

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.

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from£980

Boho Hustle

  • Cardiff
  • 4-7
  • (22)

Fun, lively 4-piece playing classic and modern rock & pop with a jazzy, boho twist! The band's winning combination of infectious energy and dancefloor cool is winning over audiences at weddings and parties up and down the UK.

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from£840

The Richmond Jazz Trio

  • Oxfordshire
  • 3-6
  • (41)

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.

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from£490

The Velvet Tones

  • London
  • 2-5
  • (14)

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.

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from£445

Kemptown Manouche

  • Brighton
  • 2-8
  • (2)

With an infectious, vintage-inspired sound, this upbeat gypsy swing band featuring a female vocalist is sure to bring a joyful atmosphere to your event.

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from£740

The Slick City Jazz Stompers

  • London
  • 2-7
  • (21)

The Slick City Jazz Stompers play trad jazz in the traditional New Orleans style – perfect for background music to help create a fun, informal and relaxed atmosphere at summer events.

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from£1,845

The Highball Swingers

  • Liverpool
  • 5-7
  • (43)

Quirky vintage swing band with a fantastic female lead putting a retro take on modern songs like Get Lucky, Uptown Funk and Billie Jean.

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from£615

The Sunshine Strutters

  • London
  • 3-7
  • (16)

Inspired by the jazz of the 1920s and 30s with a few interesting numbers from other eras thrown in to spice things up, their trade-mark is the variety, freshness and fun that they imbue all their performances with.

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from£1,450

April Skies

  • Leeds
  • 5
  • (14)

Elegant and dynamic jazz band with a classy repertoire of jazz standards with an optional female vocalist if desired. Smaller and larger instrumental ensembles are available to cater for the setting.

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from£1,355

Postmodern Swing Club

  • Sussex
  • 5-9
  • (22)

Offering jazz reworks of contemporary hits alongside classic Rat Pack repertoire, Postmodern Swing Club will take you by surprise with their reworked vintage versions of Katy Perry and Oasis to Nirvana and Radiohead! Larger line-ups also available.


Booking a wedding jazz band?

Music is an integral part of any wedding celebration, and there's nothing like the elegant and timeless sounds of jazz to set the tone for your special day.

Whether you're looking for romantic ballads during your drinks reception or photos, or swinging big band tunes in the evening, we've got you covered.

Choosing a genre

Some of our most popular wedding jazz band genres are:

  • Modern jazz bands
    The jazz trio is the most popular format. These play a mixture of jazz standards from the Great American Songbook made famous by artists such as Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday as well as songs by modern jazz or easy listening artists such as Jamie Cullum and Norah Jones.
  • Trad or dixieland jazz
    The earliest form of jazz, originating from New Orleans in the early 20th century, with a focus on collective improvisation. Dixieland bands typically consist of a trumpet, trombone, clarinet, piano, drums, and a double bass or tuba and are ideal as background music at outdoor wedding receptions as they don't require a power supply.
  • Swing and big band
    These larger line-ups include vocals and drums, and are intended for dancing at evening wedding parties. Often these bands will perform swinging jazz arrangements of pop hits (in the style of the band Postmodern Jukebox), by artists such as Beyonce, Dua Lipa and Harry Styles.
  • Vintage/Great Gatsby-style
    With a similar repertoire to our swing and big bands, but dressed in vintage costumes – a glamorous choice for a high-end wedding. Artists include giants of the swing era, such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. They're also likely to perform pop songs in a jazz style.
  • Gypsy jazz
    Also known as Jazz Manouche, gypsy jazz originated in France in the 1930s and is synonymous with guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli. A typical gypsy jazz band might include an acoustic guitar, double bass and violin, or another melody instrument such as clarinet or accordion. The music is usually upbeat and lively, which makes it ideally suited to garden wedding receptions.

Choosing the right size band

Smaller wedding jazz bands such as a guitar and sax duo or sax, piano and bass trio are ideal for background music. These line-ups generally don't include a drummer, so guests will still be able to hear themselves talk.

Larger swing bands and big bands are recommended for dancing, as these usually include a drummer and a frontman/woman.

As a general rule:

  • If you're after background music during your drinks reception, photos or wedding meal, book a duo, trio or quartet.
  • If you're after music to dance to in the evening: book a 5-piece band at a minimum, taking care to ensure that this includes a vocalist and drummer.

Remember, if your event doesn’t have the budget or space for more than one musician, you can still hire one of our jazz pianists or solo Rat Pack style singer who will add a touch of elegance and class to any event.


Jazz band booking FAQs

Do your jazz bands bring all their own equipment?

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.

How long do jazz bands perform for?

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.

When will the band arrive at my venue?

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.

How long do jazz bands take to set up?

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.

I'm booking a jazz band for my wedding – can they play my first dance?

Our wedding jazz 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.

What happens in the band's breaks?

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.

Is there anything that we need to provide for the band?

There are a few things you'd need to ensure, when booking a jazz band:

  • Power: Most jazz bands will need access to at least two standard domestic plug sockets. Trad jazz/dixieland bands would usually perform “unplugged” and will not require power, so are ideal for garden parties.
  • Space: as a guide, allow approximately 1.5 square metres per musician. There's no need for a stage, as long as the performance area is flat, hard, and level.
  • Shelter: if the band is required to play outdoors, they will also need shelter from the rain and the sun. So if you don't have shelter, make sure you have an indoor back-up option, in case of rain.

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.

Our venue has a sound limiter – is this easy to manage?

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.

How far in advance are jazz bands booked?

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.

How much does it cost to hire a jazz band?

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.

Should I hire a local jazz band?

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:

How else can we save money on our jazz band?

  • If you've already booked a swing band for the evening party, it's likely the musicians in the band will be able to provide background music earlier on in the day too, for a nominal charge. This could 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.

What happens if the band is forced to cancel?

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.


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The easy way to hire jazz bands

  • Swing, trad, dixieland & gypsy jazz bands for hire
  • From background jazz duos and trios to large big bands for dancing
  • Fast customer service and secure payments
  • 24/7 emergency support & jazz band cover
  • Comprehensive band contracts for your peace of mind

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