The Top 10 Best Acoustic Duos for UK Weddings (With Prices)

4 July 2020
Blog post by Adam Southall
Estimated read time: 4 minutes

In this blog post, we'll list out the 10 most popular acoustic duos for hire at weddings in the UK on FixTheMusic, based on the number of their confirmed bookings for 2021 and 2022.

The UK is home to some of the finest acoustic duos in Europe...bands that perform regularly at high-end corporate events and celebrity weddings.

You'll see that there is a huge range of styles and that many of the acoustic duos offer something a bit different to make your wedding truly memorable.

Browse UK Acoustic Duos

Acoustic duos on FixTheMusic have public liability insurance and PAT tested equipment.

What exactly is an acoustic duo?

It’s a duo of musicians with one or both members singing, with one or both playing on acoustic guitar.

This, of course, is not a strict definition though. One member of the duo can instead perform on keyboard or even a reduced drum kit (snare and hi-hat) or any other acoustic instrument for that matter.

Acoustic duos are very popular options for garden parties, as well as for socially-distanced weddings and events in the COVID era.

FixTheMusic's acoustic duos perform in a variety of styles, from pop and rock covers to soul, indie and RnB.

The most frequently asked question we receive is...how much does it cost to hire an acoustic duo for a wedding or party in the UK?

The exact price to hire an acoustic duo will vary according to a few different factors, but you can usually expect to pay between £500 and £900 for most UK acoustic duos. Some acoustic duos with less professional experience may charge a bit less than this – and other acoustic duos who are in especially high demand are able to price themselves higher than the cost range above.

Factors that will have an impact on the exact cost include travel and accommodation expenses (if necessary), how long you want the acoustic duo to perform for (e.g. if it's just at the wedding ceremony, or if you want to hire the acoustic duo for your drinks reception, first dance and evening party too), and whether they provide all of their own sound and lighting equipment.

So here's the list of the 10 best acoustic duos for hire in the UK for 2021...

1. The Chain
2. Acoustic Royale
3. The Tonics
4. NOMAD Lite
5. Sunbirds Duo
6. Cover Brothers
7. Magenta Duo
8. The London Acoustic Duo
9. The Martinis
10. Ignite Duo

So let's take a closer look at the most in-demand acoustic duos in the UK this year...

1. The Chain
Average booking price: £1,357 (as of December 2020)
Location: London, UK

Graduates of Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), The Chain both sing with Obadiah accompanying on acoustic guitar.

What makes them stand out are their unique vocal harmony arrangements. Their repertoire spans many genres and styles covering songs of every decade from 1930s-2010s.

For the past five years, this experienced duo has performed at weddings, corporate events, private parties and as the resident duo on several cruise lines.

With a repertoire of over 250+ songs, The Chain cover classic and modern songs in various genres: Pop, Jazz standards, Country, Singer-Songwriter, 60s, 70s and more!

View more videos and read verified reviews of The Chain ➡️

2. Acoustic Royale
Average booking price: £962 (as of December 2020)
Location: Bristol, UK

Acoustic Royale specialise in taking the very best songs from an era or artist & mashing them together in a way that takes the listener by surprise and leaves them wanting more!

They a diverse range of covers that rarely sound the same as the original and more often than none sound completely fresh & original.

View more videos and read verified reviews of Acoustic Royale ➡️

3. The Tonics
Average booking price: £826 (as of December 2020)
Location: London, UK

The Tonics is a friendly London-based act that provides entertainment for weddings, corporate functions and private parties.

Using an assortment of loop stations, harmony pedals and other clever tricks, Barry and Larissa create the atmosphere, sound and groove of a full five-piece band.

View more videos and read verified reviews of The Tonics ➡️

4. NOMAD Lite
Average booking price: £1,750 (as of December 2020)
Location: London, UK

NOMAD Lite are the miniature spin-off from Europe's most famous wireless roaming band NOMAD.

With the guile and charisma to supercharge any party or wedding, this duo are fast becoming a must-have for high-end functions in London and worldwide.

NOMAD Lite perform a huge repertoire of upbeat covers, specialising in mashups and medleys.

View more videos and read verified reviews of NOMAD Lite ➡️

5. Sunbirds Duo
Average booking price: £1,404 (as of December 2020)
Location: Surrey, UK

Sunbirds Duo are a young, modern and dynamic acoustic duo.

Sunbirds Duo bring enthusiasm, energy and excitement to your special occasion with their own arrangements, offering a unique and innovative take on popular songs.

Formed in 2015, their fast-growing reputation for exceeding the expectations of an acoustic duo has meant they have been selected to perform across the world, at prestigious hotel launches, corporate hospitality events, parties, weddings, festivals and sporting occasions.

View more videos and read verified reviews of Sunbirds Duo ➡️

6. Cover Brothers
Average booking price: £1,763 (as of December 2020)
Location: Kent, UK

Cover Brothers are an explosive acoustic duo who pride themselves on breaking the "norm" when it comes to live acoustic music.

Cover Brothers perform their own unique interpretations of well-known songs and have a large catalogue of popular covers which is continually updated.

View more videos and read verified reviews of Cover Brothers ➡️

7. Magenta Duo
Average booking price: £763 (as of December 2020)
Location: London, UK

Magenta Duo are a young, highly versatile acoustic duo providing the very best covers of popular songs at your wedding, corporate event, party or any other function.

View more videos and read verified reviews of Magenta Duo ➡️

8. The London Acoustic Duo
Average booking price: £826 (as of December 2020)
Location: London, UK

The London Acoustic Duo have a been a duo for only a little over a year.

But with both their extensive experience within the music industry, you would have thought they would have been playing together for years!

Nat has sung backing vocals for artists including Mica Paris, Will Young, Pixie Lott, Katy B, Lapsley and more.

As well as session singing, Nat has performed in prestigious venues including Wembley Arena, The Royal Albert Hall, Shepherds Bush Empire and regularly at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Bar.

View more videos and read verified reviews of The London Acoustic Duo ➡️

9. The Martinis
Average booking price: £904 (as of December 2020)
Location: Leeds, UK

The Martinis are a highly experienced and extremely versatile duo.

They have performed at many prestigious events globally, including Glastonbury Music Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival and many celebrity events.

The Martinis can offer anything from a relaxed background set to a high energy performance. They are available for bookings internationally.

View more videos and read verified reviews of The Martinis ➡️

10. Ignite Duo
Average booking price: £752 (as of December 2020)
Location: Swansea, South Wales

Ignite Duo are a unique and upbeat acoustic duo based in the South Wales area.

Alex plays a wide range of instruments, while singer Gene completes the outfit with her delicate melodies and inimitable style.

View more videos and read verified reviews of Ignite Duo ➡️

Receive quotes from acoustic duos

We hope you've enjoyed reading this list of the best acoustic duos UK has to offer in 2021.

At FixTheMusic, we list top-quality acoustic duos that have been selected by invitation only.

When you submit an enquiry, you'll receive quotes directly from available bands so you can compare them by watching their videos, reading their reviews and by asking them any questions you might have via our secure messaging system.

FixTheMusic is free to use – we're a secure platform for liaising with and booking outstanding musicians worldwide

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about hiring an acoustic duo for your wedding or event...

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the advantages of hiring an acoustic duo for your wedding or event?

As they are just two musicians, the cost for hiring an acoustic duo is usually significantly less than hiring a full band. They require less time to set up and pack down at the end of the night and can perform in a smaller stage area, often less than 2m x 2m.

For what occasions are acoustic duos suitable?

Just about any occasion where live music is required, but they are particularly suitable for wedding receptions with fewer guests in smaller, more intimate wedding venues. These mini bands are suitable at venues with difficult access where it would be problematic to bring all of the equipment required for a full wedding band. The duos are ideal as background music for more low-key events like a drinks reception, small corporate events or even Christmas parties. Acoustic duos are also ideal for wedding venues with strict sound limiters in place. Most wedding venues in the UK now have sound limiters fitted – they can cause the power supply to the band to be cut off if a certain pre-determined decibel limit is exceeded. It’s best to check with your venue if they have a sound limiter installed, and at what level it is set, e.g. 95 decibels (dB), 90dB or sometimes as low as 85dB. Hiring an acoustic wedding duo thus means you don’t have to worry about sound limiter issues as the sound produced by the duo is likely to be far below the limiter’s level. Acoustic duos are also suitable for international events where you require the duo to travel to your event to perform. For example, many UK based acoustic wedding band duos on FixTheMusic perform at weddings in France, Italy and Spain. With just two members, there is less equipment to transport and fewer expenses to pay for – clients are paying for flights and accommodation for only two musicians, rather than four or five. Hence, hiring an acoustic duo for destination weddings is a cost-effective and popular solution.

Are acoustic duos loud enough to get people dancing at a wedding reception or party?

Absolutely. Most acoustic duos have a party set ideal for dancing – some use a self-contained PA system to boost their sound when required.

How much cheaper will an acoustic duo be in comparison to a full band?

Put simply, the main factor that determines the cost of live music is the number of musicians required. Therefore, an acoustic duo is often about half the price of hiring a four-piece band for your event. This is one of the main differences between an acoustic duo and bands.

What sort of music do acoustic duos play?

Acoustic duos can perform any music that a full band would perform, of course with a more stripped-back arrangement. Their set lists often feature many acoustic guitar-based songs but they are highly skilled musicians who perform a wide range of pop and rock covers.

How do I hire an acoustic duo for my event?

On FixTheMusic there are several professional acoustic duos listed. Submit an enquiry to receive quotes directly from local duos. You can compare their quotes, message them on our secure system and when you’re ready to book, you can pay safely online by debit or credit card. It’s that simple!

FixTheMusic is a one-stop shop for booking outstanding professional musicians – and it's completely free for you to use.

Fill in the enquiry form to receive offers directly from hand-picked musicians. Once you've confirmed details with your preferred act, book and pay securely through our secure online checkout.

Last Updated: 5 JANUARY 2020

— Adam is a co-founder of FixTheMusic and works on everything from copywriting and marketing to design and user experience. He studied Music at Cambridge University. Adam is a keen pianist, and also learned cello and trumpet from an early age.

+44 20 7193 0615

hello@fixthemusic.com