About Swing Bands
Swing-style music is a fantastic way to get your guests on the dance floor and ensure a memorable evening. We offer a range of swing bands that play classic tunes, pop hits and gypsy jazz.
Most Popular Swing & Jive Bands in the UK
How it works
About Our Swing Bands for Hire in the UK
Sensational swing music became popular in the 1930s and 1940s as a big band style of jazz. Many people refer to it as a golden era of music, with its distinctive sound producing legends such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Whether you're looking for entertainment for weddings, corporate events, garden parties, or any other celebration, you can book a range of bands that play swing-style music, including:
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Classic Swing: These bands feature large ensembles and play classic songs from the era. Expect killer harmonies, Rat Pack classics, and the perfect combination of brass instruments.
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Gypsy Swing: Gypsy jazz bands and swing bands tend to have a smaller group of musicians, but they still know how to get the party started. You'll also find Dixieland jazz bands available on our website, with musicians who focus on upbeat songs.
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Postmodern Jukebox: If you'd like a swing band with a modern twist, postmodern groups play a range of popular songs. From modern pop and rock to soul and hip hop, these bands combine traditional swing sounds with contemporary songs.
How much does it cost to hire a swing band in the UK?
Professional bands in the UK have different rates, depending on their popularity and the number of musicians. When you hire relatively new jazz swing bands, you might spend between £600 to £1,500. However, established swing bands can charge anything from £3,000 to over £8,000.
Our website is full of swing musicians for all budgets, so you'll have no problems finding the right band for your needs.
What size swing band should I book for my event?
It depends on your venue, the number of guests, and the atmosphere you'd like to create. Small private parties with up to 50 guests should be fine with a small-piece band with two or three musicians, while larger events with 150 guests can benefit from a quartet/quintet.
However, big band ensembles with multiple musicians and combined male and female vocals are ideal for large events as they'll easily fill the venue with their sound. However, it's important to factor in your venue's size before booking the band, as there may be limitations.
Do swing bands provide their own PA system and lighting?
Yes, professional musicians are prepared for your event, including bringing their own instruments, lighting, and PA systems. Some venues might have noise restrictions, so please let the band know in advance, as they'll need to bring a sound limiter.
Can swing bands travel anywhere in the UK?
It depends on the band's preferences. While some will travel across the UK, others prefer to stay in their local area. If you find the perfect band and aren't sure if they'll travel to your location, it's a good idea to get in touch with them and ask about any restrictions.
Some bands may be willing to travel for an additional fee. However, our website has bands across multiple regions, so you should be able to find excellent local entertainment wherever you are.
Can the band learn a custom song or first dance request?
When planning a wedding, you want to make sure that your chosen band will play your special song. Most bands are willing to play the music, even if they only focus on swing classics.
An excellent thing about swing music is its unique sound, which means that your modern pop song or romantic power ballad can take on a whole new meaning.
How long do swing bands typically perform for at weddings, private parties, and corporate events?
When you book a swing band in the UK, they'll usually perform for two hours - but you can often choose to split this time. For example, a swing wedding band might play background music during the drinks reception, then a 90-minute set during the evening.
Please let the band know your needs in advance so they can accommodate them.
What space and power requirements do swing bands need?
It depends on the band's size and the type of swing music the musicians play. For example, a four-piece band might need a 4m x 3m space, while large ensembles with big band instruments will need a significant performance area.
The band can tell you its power requirements, but it's important to speak with your venue first.
Can swing bands play modern songs in a swing or Gatsby-style arrangement?
Absolutely! While some bands focus on playing traditional jazz and swing music, others will play modern songs in the Gatsby and swing styles. Some will also play timeless classics from the 80s, 90s, and 00s, while others can repurpose rock n roll music and dance floor hits into the swing style.
How far in advance should I book a swing band for my event?
Swing tunes are highly popular in the UK, and the most established musicians are often booked months in advance. We recommend securing the band as soon as you book a venue. If you're planning a last-minute event, our experts will go out of their way to help you find suitable entertainment.
What are the differences between a jazz and swing band?
Jazz is an umbrella term that encompasses a range of musical styles, including classic jazz, improvisation, bebop, and swing/jive bands. So, while swing is a style of jazz, it might not align with classic jazz standards.
For example, sophisticated jazz bands might play mellow songs with a complex mix of instruments, while swing-era music is all about upbeat melodies and big-band style.
Reviews from local events in the UK
“We were absolutely delighted to have The London Orleans Band play our wedding. They brought brilliant musicianship, showmanship, excitement and fun to the day, and their performance will live long in the memory! Thanks again for playing. We loved it so much. Our photographer Murray said it was the best thing he has ever seen at a wedding!”
“They were fantastic. Not only was the performance captivating and created a really wonderful atmosphere, they were also great to deal with, very helpful, responsive and went the extra mile to make sure we had a great event. Very happy to recommend them, and we will definitely engage them again ourselves.”
Booked Nightfly Jazz for a birthday party at Simpson's in the Strand, London, UK
“Thank you for an incredible performance during our cocktail hour reception!”
Booked Nightfly Jazz for a wedding at the Royal Automobile Club, London, UK
“From start to finish the London New Orleans band were a pleasure to deal with, they really cared about getting it right for us - and they so did! We kept the band as a surprise reveal to our guests and they DID NOT disappoint! After visiting New Orleans we wanted to factor the style of music into our wedding day, the bands mix of traditional and pop songs were fantastic, cannot recommend enough! Thanks for the memories guys!!!”
Booked The London Orleans Band for a wedding at Baddow Park House, Chelmsford, UK
“Nova Quartet is far and away the best band playing instrumental Brazilian jazz in the UK. A band you can rely on to make whatever event or show you are planning a success. Nova Quartet has played house concerts at Florence Latin Jazz on several occasions over the last 4 years and we have always been amazed. Whatever there is in this tropical Brazilian vibe we all love it and want more of it.”
“These guys played at my sister's wedding reception and had every single guest up, swinging their hips to their amazing music. I would highly recommend them and will most certainly use them again for future events.”
“"The London Blues Band were on fire! 🎵 Just excellent. The sound, the vocals, and that harmonica were all amazing. If you want a great night out, go see them or book them for your own event ”
“I cannot recommend Misty enough. They played the ceremony music at our wedding and did the most stunning renditions of our requested songs. They then played beautiful soulful jazz for our cocktail reception afterwards - it was just perfect. They were super professional and we felt at complete ease just letting them do their thing - there was little instruction or guidance needed. When you’re putting on a wedding or event, having incredible musicians who you can trust is essential and Misty are just that.”
“Totally brilliant. Amazing comms during planning and on the day seamless. Perfect for the drinks reception and then kept the dance floor full for the evening. Thanks so much. Can't wait to work with you again.”
Booked The Nightjars for a wedding at Chiddingstone Castle, Edenbridge, UK
“Buona Notte Jazz Band surpassed all our expectations they are so unique and had everyone on the dance floor. Wished we had booked them for the whole evening!”
“My son and his fiancée booked Swing State for their wedding. Wow! Just brilliant!! If you like Postmodern Jukebox you will love this band. They were a huge hit with all the guests and I would book them in a heartbeat. Thank you to everyone in the band for adding something special to the event.”
“The Jazz Dukes went down really well with the guests and we received lots of compliments about them after the performance. The quality of the music was just as good live as it is in their videos! They were a pleasure to deal with throughout the booking process and in the lead up to the night. I would absolutely book them again!”
View Some of Our Professional Swing Bands Performing Live...
We have amazing jazz and swing bands available across the UK, ranging from solo singers and jazz duos to gypsy trios and full brass bands.
Musical styles include jazz covers of pop classics, vintage Gatsby-themed songs and traditional background jazz.
We really hope you enjoy using FixTheMusic. If you have any feedback for us, please get in touch. Otherwise, read more about FixTheMusic, browse our FAQs or read our blog to find helpful articles, research, insights, definitive guides and much more!
Check out our Instagram 📸 for videos and photos of our best party bands performing at real weddings, parties and events.
The videos below will give you a flavour of the talent you can expect to see...
About FixTheMusic
FixTheMusic is a secure platform for hiring amazing professional wedding bands and musicians anywhere in the world. And it's completely free to use.
Founded in 2015 by two brothers who share a passion for great live music, FixTheMusic is a new way to find and book hand-picked bands for weddings, private parties, corporate events and charity events.
FixTheMusic is free to use – the price you agree with musicians is the price you pay.
We really hope you enjoy using FixTheMusic. If you have any feedback for us, please get in touch. Otherwise, read more about FixTheMusic, browse our FAQs or read our blog to find helpful articles, research, insights, definitive guides and much more!
As professional musicians, we realised how difficult it can be for event planners to find and book musicians for their event. So we decided to make it easy.
With FixTheMusic, all you need to do is tell us what you’re looking for and our system does the heavy lifting to get you offers from our carefully curated selection of amazing musicians.
We make it simple and secure for you to connect directly with the best musicians across the globe so you can book live music for any event within minutes.
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FixTheMusic's corporate and government clients include Google, Facebook, Amazon, Lamborghini, Samsung, U.S. Department of State, Formula One, The Premier League, The Crown Estate, UNESCO, Playstation, Huawei, Hewlett-Packard, Pepsi, CHANEL, Dior, Bacardi, Unilever, Red Bull, Sky Arts, L'Oréal, House of Fraser, The Ritz, The Savoy, Johnson & Johnson, Aldi, the British Army, Ministry of Defence, Virgin Sport, WPP, W Series, KPMG, Deloitte, The Economist, G4S, Lavazza, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, English Heritage, The Courtauld Institute of Art, The King's Fund and numerous luxury hotels and wedding planners around the world 🌍
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Local professional musicians and function bands throughout the world
Beyond the UK, FixTheMusic has helped clients find amazing local musicians and book UK-based bands for destination weddings and events as far afield as Cyprus, France, Malta, Monaco, Ibiza, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Iceland, Finland, Poland, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Guinea, India, Israel, the Dominican Republic, Singapore and China.
We are the world's leading specialists in providing outstanding bands for weddings in France, Italy, Greece (and the Greek islands, especially Santorini), Spain, Portugal and Croatia.
We have ambitious plans to grow internationally over the coming years — we want FixTheMusic to be the first port of call for discovering and booking outstanding local musicians throughout the world.
View thousands of verified reviews of our wedding bands and book with confidence
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As well as offering only a carefully curated selection of hand-picked bands and musicians, we strive to provide world-class customer service so you can book with complete confidence. See what our clients say in our verified reviews.
FixTheMusic was a finalist in the Parmee Prize for Entrepreneurs at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
We have been an official supplier with Rock My Wedding. They choose only the very best wedding suppliers and we're proud that they invited us to join their hand-picked selection of outstanding suppliers.
We have become the first port-of-call for British couples looking to hire the finest wedding bands UK has to offer.
Having provided the live music entertainment for thousands of weddings and events worldwide, we were often asked by clients if we provided other entertainers aside from bands.
We now offer a full range of entertainment options for weddings and corporate events, from fire dancers and magicians to acrobats and stilt walkers, including other professionals such as wedding photographers.
To minimise our carbon footprint, for every 10 bookings on FixTheMusic, we provide funds to Trees for Cities for one tree to be planted. Trees for Cities is a UK charity which aims to plant urban trees and create greener cities 🏙️ 🌳
You can read more about FixTheMusic and their team of Ed, Adam, Zazie & Paul.