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Summer weddings, parties and functions are back with a bang and we are loving performing for everyone even more so this year, they are rocking! If you’re planning an amazing wedding, party or event of your own, you may need an amazing live band for the ultimate live entertainment! If you do, why not take a look at the 10 most recommended live bands for hire in 2024 and 2025 that are available and eager to perform at your wedding, party or corporate event?
We take pride in maintaining a small, carefully selected roster of award-winning live bands, representing the very best talent in the UK. With thousands of glowing reviews, we believe we’ve curated the top live bands for hire in the country, right here, right now. At Seventh Second, every member of our team is not only a highly trained and professional musician but also deeply passionate about delivering outstanding performances at your event. The countless weddings, parties and corporate events we’ve entertained over the years can attest to this. We’re thrilled that our fantastic female-fronted band, Party Republic, recently won the award for the best wedding band in the South of the UK!
If you’d like more details on our comprehensive COVID cover or our current 15% off special offer, just keep scrolling. But for now, let’s dive into my selection of the 10 most recommended live bands for hire in the UK.
Below is each act I will show you today. Our most consistently recommended and booked live bands over the last 5 years. Click on their name to be taken to their part in my guide and if you click on their name above their promo video you will be shown even more info on them, bonus!
1. DJ Republic – a show like you’ve never seen before
2. Cadence – duo and trio acoustic delights
3. Acoustic Captain – roaming acoustic all-male pros
4. League of Gentlemen – rock and roll gods
5. Paper Boats – our most popular folk band
6. The Usual Suspects – our most popular wedding trio
7. From the Top – big band brilliance
8. Good Fellas – epic all-male wedding performers
9. Party Republic – award-winning party animals
10. Knight Riders – bringing the 80s straight to your door
If you want, you can skip right to our handpicked wedding bands here, otherwise, read on to find out all about our most recommended live bands for hire in the UK.
Not forgetting our 15% off any 2024 or 2025 booking offer, you also get all the below and more for free with any li ve band you hire with us. Enjoy!
There’s always more entertainment and help on offer with our full roster of live bands and popular guides below.
Since we began, we’ve prioritized ensuring that you can book with complete confidence when hiring any of our top live bands. That’s why, if your event is postponed or rescheduled we will never charge additional fees for rebooking. Plus, every booking comes with a comprehensive contract and COVID cover for your peace of mind.
We also offer flexibility with your deposit—it can be rolled over to any new date as many times as needed. If you need to cancel your booking due to COVID-19, you won’t face any extra fees or obligations to the band you hired. We’ll keep your deposit on file, and you, a friend, or a family member can use it whenever you’re ready. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions and as an added bonus, we have a special offer running too.
Year after year, our most recommended UK live bands perform at these amazing venues and many more for weddings, parties and events!
Let me show you my 10 handpicked live UK bands for 2024 and 2025. You will find all types of bands here suitable for all events and below you get all the core information you need including:
Pictures and videos
Act biography
Real reviews
In-demand lineup and songs
If you want your guests partying late into the night with hit after hit expertly performed by a high-energy and truly unique outfit, then you’ve come to the right place. With years of experience performing in all sorts of professional live bands, members of DJ Republic know how to party and perform for you. With a large repertoire covering modern dance classics and popular club music amongst other genres, DJ Republic can take requests and offer a truly flexible and bespoke service. A full dance floor is guaranteed and you will enjoy yourself almost too much with this one-of-a-kind live DJ come live band for hire. DJ Republic are a very unique live spectacle.
“Cannot recommend DJ Republic enough. They played at our wedding performing a fantastic evening set. The dance floor was packed from start to finish in the evening! They get everyone going, we had so many compliments from our guests. Even my grandad was on the dance floor with his tie round his head, can’t think of a better compliment than that. Thank you so much for being amazing guys. Everyone loved you.”
Harry and Sian Williams, London, 2024
“Do not look any further than DJ Republic! Very well organised with great communication pre-wedding and even better on the night. They provided the wedding with the live band/DJ service, which was phenomenal. The whole room was bouncing from the start of the band to the end – including my 90-year old Nan. Thank you guys for adding your flair and talents to an unforgettable weekend! We can not recommend DJ Republic enough.”
Joe Willis, London, 2019
See everything about DJ Republic here!
DJ Republic typically line up with lead male vocals/bass, lead female vocals, trumpet and guitar/DJ. Popular dance floor tunes include Closer, P.Y.T and Red Alert.
See more on Cadence here!
With over 6 years of performance experience together, our Cadence trio offers the kind of understated expert performances that can only be achieved after years of performing. You won’t find an acoustic trio with finer natural chemistry and it’s this musical chemistry that lights up events with energy, variety and a touch of style that only comes from truly excellent live acoustic music. With a carefully developed, extensive and exciting playlist that can be edited to cater to your tastes, you will be hard-pressed finding a more distinctive acoustic trio for hire. Cadence bring a contagious energy to any day they attend.
“Tina and I had the most magical day and Cadence were the icing on the cake for us! We watched their videos and fell in love with the covers they had. They catered for the special song that my wife wanted as she made her way down the aisle – it was very emotional and we’re so glad they were a part of our day.”
Howard and Tina Trow, Buckinghamshire, 2024
“I had Cadence play at my wedding ceremony. They performed a beautiful rendition of our favourite song and we couldn’t have been happier. We searched around for what seemed forever for the right music and once we saw their videos we knew that it was exactly what we wanted. Beautiful acoustic music.”
Christina Pollock, Oxfordshire, 2019
Cadence provide music either as a duo or trio made up of lead female vocals, percussion and acoustic guitar/backing vocals. Top songs include California Girls, Hey Ho and New Rules.
See everything on Acoustic Captain here!
Performing outdoor or indoor is all in days work for Acoustic Captain. A real benefit to an acoustic band such as Acoustic Captain is the minimal amount of equipment they bring to any event. They can set up and pack down in an instant and roam freely entertaining your guests anywhere, any time. However, if you do have a larger venue they can provide professional PA and lighting systems so everyone can join in the fun. If you want even more from this exciting quartet, have a look at their Captain Obvious outfit too. Acoustic Captain are a premium London act that add authentic, up-close musical entertainment to any event and if you want that unique acoustic sound you simply can’t go wrong booking these highly experienced musicians.
“Acoustic Captain were a fantastic acoustic party band. Great mix of songs and so much better than a DJ. Our guests commented on how good they were and want to book them for their weddings. Excellent job guys.”
James O’Neil, Somerset, 2024
“The boys provided a wonderful acoustic set for our wedding this weekend. They set up outside without any fuss and helped create the perfect atmosphere for our friends and family to enjoy the sunshine.”
Adele and Justin Jefferies, Louth, 2019
Acoustic Captain line up at your wedding, party or event as a quartet made up of lead male vocals/acoustic guitar x2, percussion and double bass. Popular songs include Lonely Boy, Use Somebody and I Feel Good.
See all about League of Gentlemen here!
With glowing reviews, thousands of hours of performance experience and dedication to their art, the League of Gentlemen guarantee you a professional, personalised, passionate performance that will really enhance your event. They’ve recorded sessions for top music producers at studios such as Abbey Road and Rock Sound not to mention touring worldwide and performing at Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Shepherd’s Bush Empire, the Roundhouse, SXSW and NXNE amongst 0thers. Music is their life, period. The League of Gentlemen know your party isn’t all about their music, so they hope you’ll enjoy their professional attitude, discreet setup, and sensitivity to your individual needs. Live music with a bit of an edge for an event that wants to rock!
“The boys judged the mood and tone of the room and guests very well. I was really pleased that the dance floor was full up by the second song and stayed that way all night. I had many comments from my guests about how good the band was and offered something a bit different to the usual wedding DJ.”
Elaine Garrett, London, 2024
“The League of Gentlemen were absolutely fantastic at our wedding – everyone was on the dancefloor for both sets and they played brilliantly throughout. They included all of our favourite songs and many jaw-droppingly good guitar solos. Lots of our guests, many of whom are gifted musicians themselves, asked how we had found such a great wedding band. They were incredibly professional throughout and we would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a band for their special event. Seventh Second made organising a wedding band wonderfully simple – it was easily the most hassle-free part of planning the wedding.”
Simon and Helen Hockney, Brighton, 2019
League of Gentlemen are most commonly booked in their 4-piece lineup of lead male vocals, guitar, bass and drums. Popular songs at shows include Basket Case, Forget You and Praise You.
See more on Paper Boats here!
This dynamic 3 to 9-piece acoustic live band for hire travel all over to provide festivals, weddings, parties and functions some fine folk sounds to get you dancing the night away. Members not only have years of experience performing at weddings and events, they are also established folk musicians performing worldwide meaning they can effortlessly deliver that Mumford & Sons, festival-inspired performance you’ve always wanted. In fact, the drummer of Paper Boats has toured with Mumford & Sons and shared a stage at Glastonbury with them!
“PERFECT! Paper Boats were polite and kind, really accommodating. They created a brilliant atmosphere and everyone said how great the band were. SUPER talented, we would HIGHLY recommend them if you want a great acoustic wedding band!”
Lucy Wedd, Wiltshire, 2024
“Truly brilliant band who were a big part in making our wedding day the best day of our lives. So many of the guests commented on how great the band were – among them professional musicians who are not easily pleased. The constantly packed dance floor spoke for itself. Fantastic performance – thank you.”
Charles Barry, Shropshire, 2018
Paper Boats usually perform in a 3 or 5 piece but they can mix and match all sorts of musicians to suit your wedding. Crowds love Riptide, Little Lion Man and Shut Up and Dance with Me.
See everything about The Usual Suspects here!
With years of experience, countless happy clients, the best equipment and the best training a musician can get you can relax and enjoy the music and fun unfold with The Usual Suspects. No matter how big or small your event, their top-of-the-range PA system and excellent light show guarantee you a professional, sleek setup and performance from start to finish that exceeds expectations. It’s why they are one of our most popular live trios for hire. With years of experience entertaining countless happy clients, top-spec equipment and plenty of great booking options and add-ons, what more could you ask for? The Usual Suspects won’t disappoint you or your guests.
“The guys were f****** brilliant!! Everyone really enjoyed everything they played and some pretty manic dancing was done by all! From a logistics point of view they were as slick and professional as can be. They had a note of all the song requests we had sent across and those we wanted at the end and had the first dance song set up perfectly. Please pass on a heartfelt thanks to all of the guys from Louise and I and also a big thanks to you for all your work, input and help. Your name and the work you do will definitely be passed on to anyone who needs a band. Thanks from a very happy couple.”
Peter and Louise Hook, London, 2024
“We did have a great time thanks! The guys were absolutely brilliant and here is our a 5* review. All our guests were wowed and my Dad (a keen guitarist himself) thought the bassist was very, very talented indeed. A great wedding band!”
Catherine Hutchinson, Leeds, 2015
The Usual Suspects are a trio as standard and consist of lead male vocals/guitar, drums/backing vocals and bass/lead vocals. Top songs include All-Star, Adventure Of A Lifetime and Wake Me Up.
See more from From the Top here!
When it comes to the variety of music offered, From the Top don’t disappoint. They masterfully cover tunes from the ’50s right up to modern-day, putting their own big band spin on tunes from Chaka Khan to Bruno Mars. Like all acts at Seventh Second, this fantastic live band bring top-spec instruments, PA and lighting to your event so you enjoy the complete musical experience. They can take requests, tailor sets to you and your guests, offer fantastic background music and now offer lineups from 3 up to 9-piece so all events at all locations and budgets can be catered for. If you truly want some of the finest female-fronted big band music at your wedding, party or event there really is no excuse not to book From the Top. They are the cream of the crop and really can’t be beaten by any band when it comes to professionalism or sheer musical fun!
“Just a belated email to say thanks a lot for performing at our wedding! As you will have gathered from the packed dance floor and fact that none of us wanted you to stop, it was a great evening and everyone enjoyed the music immensely! Thanks again, and please pass our thanks to the rest of the band!”
Carlo and Lizzie Hunt, Surrey, 2024
“We have to thank you so much for everything you did to make our evening wedding reception so wonderful! We were so thrilled with your performance and keep hearing many great things about your music from our guests. Your varied repertoire was exactly why we chose you and the way you learnt our song especially for our first dance was incredible. Thank you!”
Jeff and Beth Brown, Wimbledon, 2018
From the Top provide the fun as a 3 piece and right up to a 9 piece and requested songs include Hound Dog, Thinking Of You and Relight My Fire.
See everything about Good Fellas here!
With a wealth of experience through hundreds of performances, festivals and TV and radio work, live quintet Good Fellas combine passion and unbridled fun through their bombastic band led by one of the most flamboyant frontmen you will ever witness. Brandishing keyboard, trumpet and even bongos he will deliver a master class in vocal and stage performance. Plucking hits from the ‘50s up to the present day including the very best Indie, Rock & Pop classics from diverse artists such as Oasis, The Killers, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Foo Fighters and many more you just can’t go wrong with Brighton’s best live band. Good Fellas can also offer a special Britpop or Garage live show that will take you back to the ‘90s. With a plethora of fantastic reviews throughout the years, Good Fellas are a rocking four or five-piece who love to party.
“It was really important to us to have a great band playing the music we love at our wedding, and Goodfellas did just that! Our first dance was not originally in their repertoire but they were more than happy to learn a new song and played it beautifully, including some unexpected but excellent trumpet work! As soon as the first dance finished the dance floor was packed and remained so until the end of the night. We have such great memories of dancing like crazy with all our friends and family to our favourites songs, played by a really talented band, so thank you for making that happen Goodfellas. We really cannot recommend this band enough, they are really talented, friendly and professional and really made our wedding reception very special.”
Amanda Loft, Dover, 2024
“We just wanted to say a massive thank you to you and the rest of the band for a brilliant performance at our wedding. We have had so many comments from guests about how good you guys were and how much fun they had. I have never seen a dance floor so packed for the whole night!”
Anna Bayne, Kent, 2014
Good Fellas arrive at events in their popular 4-piece made up of lead male vocals/keys, guitar, bass and drums and popular songs at parties include Galway Girl, Treasure and 7 Days.
See all about Party Republic here!
This exceptional, award-winning wedding band give their all at every event they are hired for bringing energy, raw talent and a packed, fun-filled dance floor along for the ride. Party Republic are here to create your ultimate party memories and are happy to tailor their service and performance to your needs. They also offer a bespoke acoustic duo if you want some relaxing background music added to your day. As with all our live UK acts, Party Republic supply top quality musical and lighting gear plus PLI and PAT certificates so they can perform to their max in any venue. Watch their video and read some of their glowing testimonials and you will quickly understand why you can’t not book this award-winning live band.
“After looking for hours on end at various bands, we knew straight away this band was the one for us! They were so informative before the date sending us their long and varied set lists for us to pick some favourite songs to create a wicked evening. They totally exceeded our expectations on our wedding night! The dance floor was buzzing and nobody wanted them to end! I couldn’t recommend them highly enough on vocals, set list, professionalism, price and great fun! Best wedding band around!!! “
Adam and Jo Thompon, London, 2024
“We hired Party Republic for our wedding and they were amazing! Everyone commented on how great they were, they read the dancefloor and kept it full all night, they were all great and so easy to talk to, they made a real effort. Thank you so much for making our evening extra special!”
Lucy Edmans, Whitstable, 2019
Party Republic usually turn up to events as a four-piece made up of lead female vocals, guitar, bass and drums and songs that are asked for time and again include Rather Be, Treat You Better and We Found Love.
View more on Knight Riders here!
Maybe you are hosting a wedding with a twist, a themed party or simply want some entertainment that’s totally, totally different. Knight Riders can bring something to your event that no other live party band can. With many of the members also performing in our world-class act Flair, you are guaranteed a performance and professionalism of the highest order.
Even though Knight Riders are one of the best themed ’80s live bands for hire in the UK with a highly polished and varied ’80s setlist, they are happy to take requests and transform them into ’80s-styled classics. Nothing is too much for a band with the talent that Knight Riders possesses. Get ready for some serious nostalgic fun and silliness with one of the best ’80s-themed wedding bands out there. You’d be bonkers not to book them!
“We had Knight Riders at our wedding in June, and after much stalking we had high expectations….and they did not disappoint…..they were amazing and really helped make our day the best! They are loud, fun, entertaining, get everyone dancing and do what they can to make an event a success so we thank you sooooo much for keeping our guests entertained – everyone gave positive feedback. A big thanks for learning Living on a Prayer and also nailing the garage mix…. so many great memories.”
Kat and John Jones, Birmingham, 2024
“Knight Riders were absolutely incredible and booking them was one of the best decisions we could have made. Despite initial concern that not all of my guests (particularly elderly family members) would enjoy a more 80s themed wedding, they had everyone up on the dance floor and all of our guests, including the oldies, commented on how great they were and how different it was to the usual cheesy wedding music. They really are a lovely group of guys too and amazing to deal with. They were so friendly and helpful in the lead up to the day, learning new songs and accommodating our Israeli dancing set. I highly recommend them to anyone – they were so good that our bar bill came in under budget as no one wanted to leave the dance floor!!”
Victoria Wershof, London, 2019
Knight Riders typically consist of lead male vocals/bass, guitar, drums and keytar and popular wedding songs include Call Me Al, Don’t You Want Me and Easy.
So there you have it! Fun, reliable and professional live bands that are ready to perform as soon as you and your venue are. Our recommended live bands have been around for years honing their craft and becoming some of the best live bands for hire in the UK. They can’t wait to be there performing and celebrating your day with your friends and family and helping create some fantastic memories for you all.
If you have any questions, comments or just want to chat about all things live band, contact us 7 days a week, 10 am to 10 pm via email, phone, live chat, text and all the socials. We spend a lot of time making our guides the best we can for you so if you liked what you read please consider sharing it with others
Thanks,
Matt and the Seventh Second Family
