How To Hire A Band For New Year's Eve – A Short Guide (2024)

In this blog post, we'll provide advice on how to hire a cover band for a New Year's Eve party as well as highlighting some highly recommended function bands who perform at NYE events every year and average prices you can expect to pay when hiring live music at this time of year.

Since 2016, we at FixTheMusic have provided bands for hundreds of New Year’s Eve events and parties each year. With that special time of year fast approaching, we’ve put together a few frequently asked questions to help guide you when seeking to hire live music entertainment for your own end of year party.

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New Year's Eve is the biggest night of the year for live music. Pubs, clubs and public venues often host a live band or singer for the end of year celebration, as well as private parties with friends and family. Having a band provide the entertainment when the clock strikes midnight is the perfect way to see in the new year!

Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about hiring a cover band for a New Year's Eve party or event...

When should I book the band for our New Year’s Eve party?

You should aim to book your band at least 6 months before the event. Our most in-demand bands will be booked a year or more in advance, but many will still have availability until around July or August. NYE is the busiest night of the year for our live bands and singers so it’s best to book early to avoid disappointment.

How much do cover bands charge for new year’s eve events?

Most function bands charge roughly double their normal fee for a new year’s event. The average price for a covers band from last year’s events was £4,845. Bear in mind that they are working on a night when most people choose to celebrate with friends and family, so the prices they charge will reflect this.

Are there any cheaper options for musical entertainment on NYE?

If hiring a full band for your New Year's party is beyond your budget, you could book a DJ, solo musician or duo for the entertainment for your New Year’s party instead. A singer-guitarist is a popular choice, especially ones who use live looping, as this can create a full sound that is still suitable for encouraging guests to dance.

Who are the most frequently booked bands for New Year’s Eve in the UK?

Our ceilidh bands are in particularly high demand for NYE. Many are booked every year on FixTheMusic for Hogmanay celebrations throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK, as well as in the Middle East. Top tip: Add a couple of highland dancers to your ceilidh band for that extra special touch! We’ve also noticed many enquiries for DJ, sax and percussion groups. They provide an energetic alternative to the usual function band and are guaranteed to keep your guests dancing through the night.

I’m having my wedding on New Year’s Eve. Can I still book a band?

Absolutely! We receive numerous enquiries each year for NYE weddings. It’s an increasingly popular date for weddings and all of our bands have experience of this. You’ll probably want to hire the band until 1am so they cover the big countdown to midnight and then can play a final set before your guests head home. You should expect to pay more to hire your band when compared to booking them for a regular weekend earlier in the year.

I’m having a theme for my New Year’s Eve party. Will the band join in?

Most bands are happy to tailor their clothing and set lists to suit a themed event. You might also want to hire a particular type of band to match your theme. For example, our vintage jazz bands are especially popular at Great Gatsby and 1920s themed events where they also play modern covers in a jazz & swing style. 1990s & old school throwback parties are also popular themes and FixTheMusic has a range of bands that cover artists including Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls and Craig David.

Where in the UK do most bands perform for New Year's Eve?

The majority of the events that our cover bands perform at for New Year's Eve are in London, Essex and the south east of the UK (Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire). We also provide bands for parties in Liverpool, Manchester, Scotland, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Bath, Brighton, Cardiff, Nottingham, Oxford, Cambridge... and many other towns and cities in the UK and beyond!).

New Year's Eve party bands on FixTheMusic have public liability insurance and PAT tested equipment.

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Here are some more outstanding cover bands who regularly perform on NYE every year...

If you're looking to hire a brilliantly fun and charismatic band for your 31st December party, you've come to the right place.

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

On their profiles, you can watch their videos, read their verified reviews from clients on FixTheMusic, view recent event photos and enquire with them directly.

Cover bands on FixTheMusic have public liability insurance and PAT tested equipment.

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