Cover Bands South East0 amazing local South East Cover Bands to hire for events
0 amazing local South East Cover Bands to hire for events.
These are the perfect Cover Bands for weddings, corporate events & parties in the South East area, locally sourced by our entertainment experts. Find the best South East Cover Bands only at Alive Network, the UK's biggest entertainment agency.
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178,237 Events Made Awesome So Far
5 stars - Motor City Soul are Highly Recommended
“Motor City soul were so great. They performed two sets at our wedding and then a DJ set for us. Saaed was an absolute pleasure to deal with throughout the admin process and helped us select songs we'd like best from the set. On the night itself the band absolutely smashed it, I have a friend who is ...”
Rachel booked Motor City Soul for their Wedding in the South East
5 stars - The Low Down are Highly Recommended
“The Low Down were amazing from start to finish for our wedding. Their set was perfect and got the crowd dancing to the end of the night. The songs were very well played and curated. Would recommend!”
Karen L booked The Low Down for their Wedding in the South East
5 stars - The Dukes are Highly Recommended
“Just brilliant. Look no further. Just book them. The Dukes played our music icon fancy dress themed party on Eel Pie Island and completely and utterly rocked the place! Not only a great set list but a fantastic, talented and professional set of musicians who absolutely smashed it and had every...”
Nik H booked The Dukes for their event in the South East
5 stars - Technicolour are Highly Recommended
“We had Technicolour for our wedding and would 100% recommend for any event / occasion. Their communication was great beforehand, catering for a few of our requests. They performed our first dance live, which was perfect. Overall their set was fantastic, our guests loved them and everyone was up on t...”
Rob P booked Technicolour for their Wedding in the South East
Amazing Venues
Just a few of the amazing venues we've worked with in the South East
- Trinity Buoy Wharf E14 0JY
- Quendon Hall Parklands CB11 3XN
- The Barn at Bury Court GU10 5LZ
- Millbridge Court GU10 3DJ
- The Savoy WC2R 0EZ
- JW Marriott Grosvenor House London W1K 7TN
- The Grosvenor House Hotel W1K 7TN
- Pangdean Old Barn BN45 7FN
- Upwaltham Barns Wedding Venue GU28 0LX
- Pennyhill Park Hotel & The Spa GU19 5EU
- Cissbury Barns BN14 0SR
- Clandon Park GU4 7RQ
- Braxted Park CM8 3EN
- Northbrook Park Wedding Venue GU10 5EU
- Syon House TW8 8JF
- Newick Park Hotel BN8 4SB
- The Ned London EC2R 8AJ
- The Dreys Wedding Venue ME9 7RT
- The Orangery W8 6LU
- De Vere Latimer Estate HP5 1UG
- Rackleys Chiltern Hills HP14 3PP
- DoubleTree by Hilton London - Tower of London EC3N 4AF
- Hawksmoor Guildhall EC2V 5BQ
- The Fennes CM7 5PL
- The Old Kent Barn Weddings CT15 7HF
- Kirtlington Park
- One Great George Street SW1P 3AA
- The Gardens ME18 6EX
- Tythe OX26 4SR
- Barbican Centre EC2Y 8DS
- Grosvenor House Hotel W1K 7TN
- Houchins Wedding Venue CO6 1RT
- Parklands Quendon Hall - Wedding Venue in Essex CB11 3XN
- Balfour St Barts EC1A 9DY
- Merchant Taylors Hall EC2R 8JB
- Stationers Hall EC4M 7DD
- Wasing RG7 4NG
- Chilston Park Hotel ME17 2BE
- Inner Temple EC4Y 7HL
- London Hilton W1K 1BE
- Stock Brook Manor and Country Club CM12 0SP
- Sunborn London E16 1AA
- The Oak Barn, Frame Farm - Eco-Wedding Venue, Kent & East Sussex TN17 4EZ
- The Warren Estate CM9 6RW
- Villiers Barn Wedding & Events Venue CO16 9PT
Booking Guide
Everything you need to know to hire Cover Bands for your event
What is a cover band?
A cover band is a group of musicians that specialise in playing live music covers of popular rock, pop and chart tracks, both classic and contemporary. Typically consisting of a lead singer, guitarist, bass guitarist and drummer, cover bands may also include synths, a brass section or backing singers but generally, when a line up is extended beyond a standard 4-piece, male fronted guitar band, and additional singers are included for example, they are better defined as wedding bands, function bands or party bands.
As cover bands play a repertoire of well-known songs, they are a crowd-pleasing option for private events, weddings and public performances in pubs, clubs & venues. Depending on the event type, most cover bands offer a complete entertainment package, providing sound and lighting equipment, with no need to hire any additional services. Bands performing gigs for public venues, like music bars, clubs or restaurants, may use in-house PA sound systems and lighting.
For private events and wedding entertainment, cover band sets are specifically tailored to parties and may include DJ options.
Often mainstays at their local music venue, professional cover bands are also used to performing internationally and all over the UK, and will often travel large distances.
Cover bands as discussed here are different to their tribute bands counterparts who specialise in the music of one artist, era or genre. To find out more please visit the tribute bands page here.
What music will a cover band play?
From Led Zeppelin to Beyoncé, cover bands do it all! Most cover bands play a huge range of rock, indie and chart music incorporating classic artists like Stevie Wonder to current floor fillers, with some bands preferring guitar-based rock, pop and dance, or funk and soul. A standard set list may include songs from artists such as
- Alicia Keys
- Arctic Monkeys
- Aretha Franklin
- Bruce Springsteen
- Bruno Mars
- Cee Lo Green
- Coldplay
- Daft Punk
- David Bowie
- Ed Sheeran
- Elvis
- Foo Fighters
- Florence and the Machine
- James Brown
- Jimi Hendrix
- Kings of Leon
- Mumford & Sons
- Michael Jackson
- Oasis
- Paul Simon
- Red Hot Chilli Peppers
- Rihanna
- Stevie Wonder
- Take That
- Taylor Swift
- The Beatles
- The Killers
- The Rolling Stones
- The Strokes
The repertoire for each of our cover bands is featured on their profile pages. Usually artists will tailor their set list to your specific event requirements, and this can be discussed with your Alive Network Entertainment Coordinator.
Popular types of cover band
1. Guitar bands
Unsurprisingly these bands specialise in a repertoire based around guitar music – think rock, indie or pop. Often consisting of 3–5 members, guitar bands will cover artists from Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys and Oasis, to The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.
2. Pop/Funk/Soul bands
Comprising of 4–12 members and usually fronted by a female singer, pop, funk and soul bands may feature a brass section or keyboards. Repertoires include modern chart artists such as Jess Glynne, Rihanna and Beyoncé as well as classic soul and Motown artists such as Earth, Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder.
Where in the UK do Alive cover bands perform?
Cover bands are as at home in their local music bar as they are performing a party in Abu Dhabi! The most popular UK locations include:
Most popular counties:
- Surrey
- Kent
- Hampshire
- Essex
- West Sussex
- Hertfordshire
- Gloucestershire
- Cheshire
- Oxfordshire
- Berkshire
- East Sussex
- North Yorkshire
- Devon
- Warwickshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Somerset
- Dorset
- West Midlands
- Cambridgeshire
- Norfolk
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Northamptonshire
- Shropshire
- West Yorkshire
- Derbyshire
- Wiltshire
- Lancashire
- Nottinghamshire
- Bedfordshire
Most popular cities:
- Aberdeen
- Bath
- Birmingham
- Bradford
- Brighton
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Canterbury
- Cardiff
- Chelmsford
- Chester
- Coventry
- Derby
- Durham
- Edinburgh
- Exeter
- Glasgow
- Gloucester
- Hereford
- Hull
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Norwich
- Nottingham
- Oxford
- Peterborough
- Plymouth
- Portsmouth
- Salford
- Sheffield
- Southampton
- Stoke-On-Trent
- Sunderland
- Swansea
- Wakefield
- Westminster
- Wolverhampton
- Worcester
- York
Is a cover band suitable for my event?
A cover band is usually the headline act to your celebrations, featuring towards the end of the evening when guests are ready to dance and enjoy the music! Performances are best scheduled after any food has been served so that guests can dance comfortably, and make the most of a lively and energetic atmosphere.
If you want to party hard after the final set, almost all cover bands offer DJ options in addition to their live performance.
For all-day celebrations, cover bands can offer laid back acoustic sets. These are more chilled out and daytime-friendly, providing a perfect backdrop for drinks receptions and dining.
Booking one band for your entire event is a great option for those looking to simplify their event planning as logistics and price are minimised, compared with hiring several separate performers.
Space considerations at your event
A typical 4-piece band will need around 4m width × 3m depth as a comfortable performance space. For approximate requirements, see ‘How much space will a cover band need?’, below.
Volume - How loud is a cover band?
The line-up, instruments and room acoustics at your venue will all affect the volume of your band. Volume is usually in the region of 95 dB – 110 dB, reflecting the roof-raising, lively performance expected of them. For more laid back daytime entertainment, sound levels will obviously be quieter, especially if you opt for a smaller or acoustic version of the band.
Many cover bands can play with an electronic drum kit to lessen the overall volume. This can be a lifesaver if your venue has volume restrictions or has a sound limiter fitted! Our sound limiter-friendly bands can be found here.
How much does a cover band cost?
Cover band costs can vary, depending on the number of musicians, and the options each band offers.
Tthe average price of a 4-piece cover band is around £1,300.
The table below demonstrates the range of fees for different types of cover bands:
Type of Artist | Cost Range |
---|---|
3-piece bands | £700 - £1,500 |
4-piece bands | £720 - £1,850 |
5-piece bands | £950 - £1,900 |
Larger line-ups | £2,000 - £4,500+ |
Booking a band local to your venue is a great way to reduce cost as travel fees will be minimal. The home town of all Alive Network cover bands is included on their profile pages, and your Entertainment Coordinator can recommend the best bands near your venue. There’s no need to limit your search to just local bands, however! Your perfect cover band may be willing to travel at nominal cost.
Who are the top 10 cover bands in the UK right now?
Our list features the UK’s best cover bands, based on reputation, performance quality and innovation:
How long will a cover band play for?
Cover bands usually perform two 60-minute sets, or occasionally three 40-minute sets.
Bands that are booked for an evening performance might arrive at 6pm, set up and perform the sound check by 7.30pm to 8pm, get changed and ready to start the first performance by around 9pm. After a break of around 30 minutes, the second set might start at 10.30pm, finishing at 11.30pm, before the usual midnight curfew.
Many cover bands offer DJ sets or longer performances including finishing times of 1am and 2am. You can find the booking options on each cover band’s profile page.
Times supplied are an example and cover bands performing at both public and private events will liaise with you, tailoring their performance times to suit your celebration.
How much space will a cover band need?
The table below demonstrates how much space party bands of different sizes might require:
Size of Cover Band | Performance Space Required |
---|---|
3-piece band | 3 x 3 metres |
4-piece band | 4 x 3 metres |
5 and 6-piece band | 5 x 3 metres |
7-piece band and bigger | 5/6 x 4 metres |
Of course, measurements may vary depending on the number of artists and the type of instruments in your chosen cover band. Your Entertainment Coordinator can discuss the options with you.
How long will it take for a cover band to set up?
Depending how close to the performance space a cover band can park, unloading, setting up and performing their sound check will take around 60 – 90 minutes.
Some venues require bands to load in via a supplier’s entrance and/or use a shared staff elevator, which can increase set up times.
It takes a cover band around 45 – 60 minutes to pack down and load out, following their performance.
What equipment will a cover band need?
Most cover bands need:
- parking provision with easy access to the venue
- a secure, lockable changing room
- a dedicated, suitably-sized, safe, dry, flat performance area or stage
- if performing outside – by prior agreement – they will need cover from the elements (either direct sunlight, strong wind or rain!)
- adequate lighting for set up, especially if playing in a marquee, for example
- a minimum of four 13 amp power sockets, depending on the line-up
- refreshments – usually soft drinks and a hot meal, depending on how long you’ve booked them for.
Cover bands usually provide their own microphones, backline amplifiers, PA sound system and stage lighting.
If you are planning a large celebration with 200+ guests, you may need a larger PA system – especially if it is an outdoor event. Your dedicated Entertainment Coordinator will be happy to discuss the requirements for specific cover bands.
Safe, Secure Cover Band Hire Backed By 24/7 Cover!
Aside from finding some of the best Cover Bands in the UK and getting expert advice from our friendly staff, one of the main reasons to hire a Cover Band from Alive Network Entertainment Agency is security. We ensure your booking is covered 24/7 against any eventuality, so that no matter what, you can enjoy your event without worrying about whether your entertainment will turn up. If your Cover Band is ill or unable to perform, our team will be on hand to source a suitable replacement even out of office hours and at short notice. Imagine having to do that yourself!?
- Outstanding five-star customer service
- Emergency cover 24/7, 365 days a year
- Hand-picked Cover Bands for the ultimate in quality and reliability
- Safe, secure booking contracts for your peace of mind
- Easy enquiry and booking process
- Hundreds of Cover Bands to choose from
- Trusted brand with over 110,000 previous clients & high-profile industry partnerships
- Instant online Cover Band prices & availability
Established in 1999, Alive Network has grown to become the UK's largest live entertainment agency and one of the leading online entertainment booking services in the world. We specialise in wedding entertainment, party entertainment and corporate entertainment, trusted by companies like Apple, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Coca-Cola & Nike, and we have helped over 110,000 customers to hire the perfect live entertainment for their events. We are formally partnered with BIMM, the largest and leading provider of contemporary music education in the UK and Europe, ensuring that we are able to bring you the very best new talent exclusively at Alive Network.
In a cover band? Interested in joining a cover band agency?
For info on how to join Alive Network please visit our 'How to join' pages here.
You will need:
- Polished demo recordings and promo photos
- Reliable equipment & transport
- A setlist of music suited to private events
- Smart formal stage clothes, suited to private events
- A PA system & stage lighting suitable for audiences of up to 200 people
- Reliable, professional band mates
Frequently asked questions
For information on the following, see our Frequently Asked Questions:
If you have any other queries, simply visit our FAQ page.
Alternatively, our dedicated expert entertainment coordinators are on-hand to help. Simply call 0845 108 5500 or email enquiries@alivenetwork.com.
Why Choose Alive?
25 years providing you with the very best Cover Bands in the South East
Five-Star Service
Get 1:1 help & ideas quickly from your dedicated entertainment expert
Budget Friendly
Big or small, luxe or less, we get you the best value with transparent pricing
Handpicked By Us
All artists selected by
our expert talent scouts
Safe & Secure
Reliable artists. Secure contracts. 24/7 Emergency Cover. Peace of mind.
The Leading Live Cover Band Agency in the South East
Looking for Cover Bands in the South East? Alive Network will help you hire the best local South East Cover Band, with acts available in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, London, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Sussex.
- Popular Music Bands
- Function Bands
- Wedding Bands
- Tribute Bands
- Soul Bands
- 70's Funk & Disco Bands
- DJ Live Acts
- Acoustic Bands
- Solo, Duo & Trios
- Party Bands
- Cover Bands
- Christmas Bands
- Solo Music Acts
- Singer Guitarists
- Solo Singers With Tracks
- Swing & Rat Pack Bands
- Wedding Singers
- Saxophone Players
- Pianists
- Harpists
- Electric Violinists
- Wedding Guitarists
- Classical Guitarists
- Jazz, Brass & Swing
- Dixieland Jazz Bands
- Jazz Singers
- Jazz Bands
- Rock n Roll Swing Bands
- Big Bands
- Swing & Rat Pack Bands
- Saxophone Players
- Brass Bands
- Classical & Strings
- String Quartets
- Harpists
- Classical Guitarists
- Pianists
- Classical & Opera Singers
- Classical Musicians
- Wedding Ceremony Musicians
- Electric Violinists
- Choirs & Singers
- Gospel Choirs
- Acapella groups
- Classical & Opera Singers
- Carol Singers
- Singing Waiters
- Folk & World Music
- Country Music
- Ceilidh Bands
- Irish / Folk Bands
- Latin, Salsa & Cuban Bands
- Mariachi Bands
- Steel Bands
- Pipers
- Indian & Bollywood Bands
- Medieval Musicians & Minstrels
- Specialist & Unusual
- Unique & Unusual Musicians
- Speakers & Hosts
- Toastmasters
- Guest Speakers
- Entertainers
- Living Tables
- Online Kids Parties
- Magicians
- Caricaturists
- Mix and Mingle Entertainers
- Wedding Entertainers
- Acrobats
- Aerialists
- Balloon Modellers
- Childrens Entertainers
- Christmas Entertainers
- Comedians
- Costume Characters
- Circus Acts
- Dancers
- Face Painters
- Fire Performers
- Jugglers
- Living Statues
- Lookalikes
- Paparazzi Photographers
- Stilt Walkers
- Street Performers
- DJs & Mobile Discos
- Wedding DJs
- Party DJs
- Mobile Discos
- Northern Soul DJs
- DJ Live Acts
- Event Suppliers
- Team Building Activities
- Firework Displays
- Dance Floors
- Jukeboxes
- Photo Booths
- Selfie Mirrors
- Event Decor
- Event Suppliers
- Fairground Rides
- Food & Drink Suppliers
- Funfair Stalls
- Giant and Outdoor Games
- Light Up Letters
- Cocktail Bartenders
- Mobile Bars
- Mobile Casinos
We believe in making events extraordinary
Check out a small selection of the clients we've impressed with our hand-picked rosters of amazing artists!
Alive Network Ltd
Silk Mill Studios, Princess Street
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DD
ENGLAND
Registered offices: Ground Floor Suite, Silk Mill Studios, Princess Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DD, United Kingdom
All content © Copyright Alive Network 1999-2024. All rights reserved. Registered Company Number: 04084200
Some artists may appear with the kind co-operation and consent of their respective management companies.
This service is intended for personal use only and no part of the service may be displayed in public, broadcast or used for any business purpose without the consent of Alive Network. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our services and web content, we accept no responsibility for any use made of the information provided and we shall not be liable for any loss suffered thereby.