Cover Bands For Hire In Canterbury | Book With Alive Network

381 Local Cover Bands To Hire For Events In Canterbury.

Find the best local Cover Bands in Canterbury, perfect for corporate events, weddings and parties, only at Alive Network, the UK's biggest entertainment agency.

174,093 Events Made Awesome So Far

Read over 15,268 Cover Band reviews here

Thrift Shop Cover Band Review Wedding Kent

5 stars - Thrift Shop are Highly Recommended

“Thrift Shop were absolutely excellent; so many of our guests commented on the quality and variety of their performance and we really loved their set list. They were polite, punctual, funny and entertaining and were able to fill the dance floor; gauging the mood of the crowd really well. The vocals w...”

Jennifer P booked Thrift Shop for their Wedding in Kent

5 stars - Alpha are Highly Recommended

“Really great performance for our wedding reception, there were so many people on the dance floor all night! They even learnt our first dance song for us and performed it fantastically! We couldn't have asked for a better band!”

Tom A booked Alpha for their Wedding in Kent

Breakthrough Cover Band Review Wedding Kent

5 stars - Breakthrough are Highly Recommended

“This band are a pleasure to listen to and were punctual, fantastic in the preparation in advance and so smashed it on the night. The enthusiasm and energy they showed was such that no one wanted them to finish. My only regret was that we cannot book them again next weekend! They were loved by all...”

Kerry E booked Breakthrough for their Wedding in Kent

Joyriders Cover Band Review Wedding Kent

5 stars - Joyriders are Highly Recommended

“The band were amazing- they let us perform and use their equipment and helped us set up. They also did great mash ups of songs and engaged with the audience to add something extra!”

Melissa M booked Joyriders for their Wedding in Kent

Amazing Venues

Just a few of the amazing venues we've worked with in Canterbury

Charlton Park CT4 5JA
Abbot Barton Hotel CT1 3DU
Wyevale Garden Centre CT4 7HF
The Penny Theatre CT1 1BL
Heron Court CT3 4EQ
St Thomas' Church CT1 2HJ
The Ambrette CT1 2NY
Chilham Village Hall CT4 8DB
The Old House CT4 6TB
Goss Hall CT3 2AN
Higham Farm House CT3 4AS
Marleybrook House Wedding Venue CT3

Darwin Conference Suite CT2 7NZ
Golden Lion CT2 0QJ
Preston Court Manor House CT3 1DH
Canterbury Rugby Football Club CT4 7BA
The Burrow CT2 9DN
Waltham Court CT4 5SB
The Jackdaw Inn & Wedding Venue CT4 6QZ
Preston Court Wedding & Events Venue With Accommodation CT3 1DH
Canterbury Golf Club and Driving Range CT1 1TW
Ash Village Hall CT3 2BG
Elham Village Hall CT4 6SX
The Red Lion Stodmarsh CT3 4BA

Augustine House Library, Canterbury Christ Church University CT1 2YA
The Spitfire Ground St Lawrence CT1 3NZ
Winters Barns CT4 7AY
Broome Park Hotel CT4 6QX
Anchor Inn CT3 1BJ
Molland Manor House B&B CT3 2JB
The White Horse Inn CT4 5LA
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge Hotel CT1 2EH
Canterbury College CT1 3AJ
St Augustines Abbey CT1 1TF
ABode Canterbury CT1 2RX
Barham Crematorium CT4 6QU

Booking Guide

Everything you need to know to hire Cover Bands for your event

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

Our list features the UK’s best cover bands, based on reputation, performance quality and innovation:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Find more about Alive Network Entertainment Agency here

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

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 Canterbury

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.

Canterbury's Leading Cover Band Agency

Looking for Cover Bands in Canterbury? Alive Network will help you hire the best local Canterbury Cover Band, with acts available in Ashford, Broadstairs, Canterbury, Chatham, Dartford, Deal, Dover, Faversham, Folkestone, Gillingham, Gravesend, Herne Bay, Hythe, Lydd, Maidstone, Margate, New Romney, Northfleet, Ramsgate, Rochester, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Sandwich, Sevenoaks, Sheerness, Sittingbourne, Swanley, Swanscombe, Tenterden, Tonbridge, Whitstable

Photos by: Carrie Lavers Photography, Andrew Billington Photography

Registered offices: Ground Floor Suite, Silk Mill Studios, Princess Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 1DD, United Kingdom

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.

Cover Bands Canterbury381 Local Cover Bands To Hire For Events In Canterbury