Ceilidh Bands for Hire

ACE Music Booking Agency provides a 0% agency fee and 0% commission service to find great ceilidh style live music.

Book barn dance and ceilidh bands, duos, solo musicians and singers with ACE Music Booking Agency. ACE supplies many great ceilidh bands for weddings, private parties and functions.

Set your location below to browse ceilidh bands as well as acts that also have ceilidh style songs in their repertoire. The acts shown are only a small selection recently added to the website. If what you are looking for is not shown, tell us about your event and we'll help you find the perfect act for free!

See below for answers to many of the most common booking questions:

What do I do to book a ceilidh band?

How long do ceilidh bands for hire need to set-up?

I need to cancel or re-arrange a ceilidh band booked, what do I do?

What if the ceilidh band cancels?

Can I see the band perform before booking?

Is it possible to pick the songs the ceilidh bands for hire will perform?

Will the bands for hire learn a first dance song request?

How loud will the ceilidh band be?

Will the band be suitable for sound limiters?

Do I need to provide anything for the ceilidh bands for hire?

What if I have a complaint about the ceilidh band?

How will the ceilidh bands for hire plan my event's performance?

What equipment will the ceilidh band provide?

Will the ceilidh bands need a lot of space?

How long is the ceilidh band's performance?

Can I customise my ceilidh band’s performance?

How much will it cost to hire a ceilidh band?

What happens if a ceilidh band I booked member is ill?

What size of band should I hire?

Do all music bands perform live?

Can ceilidh bands play different styles of music?

What are the minimum power requirements for a ceilidh band?

Are the music bands PAT tested with adequate public liability insurance (PLI)?

How do I make a booking?

What do I do to book a ceilidh band?

It's easy to make a booking. Simply complete the band hire form here and provide some information about the type of booking you are planning and let us do all the work! In order to get started we only need three essential bits of information; your preferred contact details (which can be either a telephone number or an email address), the date of the booking (you can also tell us the time of the performance if you know it, but don't worry if you're not sure) and then let us know where the music is to be performed. With just these we can get to work finding you great bands for hire for your booking.

If you want more control there are some additional pieces of information which can help us find exactly what you are looking for;

• the size of band you prefer or the venue permits, the genre of music you'd like (for example Rock, Pop, 60's),
• the type of event you are planning (if you're planning a wedding reception we can find you expert wedding bands),
• your budget (this will ensure only ceilidh bands for hire within your price range will be found)
• and any other info which you feel may help (for example, if you select birthday party as your event type and tell us it's for a 75th birthday we can find you some great classic bands to get the night swinging!).

Once completed we'll search our network for the right bands for hire area which match your enquiry. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3 or you can take control and get exactly the music you need for your event.

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How long do ceilidh bands for hire need to set-up?

The time it takes for to set-up also varies depending on the amount of musicians involved, a solo violinist can be ready in just a few minutes whereas a 10-piece cover bands, tribute bands, function bands, wedding bands or party bands may need an hour to 90 minutes to position all the musicians on the stage, prepare the equipment and conduct a sound-check. In either case, it is best to agree with the bands regarding the time of arrival which will allow for them to prepare for your event. This should ideally be before your guests or patrons arrive.

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I need to cancel or re-arrange a band I booked, what do I do?

If you need to cancel a band booking this is best done directly with the chosen live music band as soon as possible. Simply contact the band you selected for the event and explain the reason for the cancellation. Simply changing your mind is not usually a good enough reason to cancel and don't be surprised if they want to charge you for the wasted time! Please ensure you provide the ceilidh bands with as much notice as possible as without it, the band will not be able to schedule another performance on the cancellation date leading to a loss of earnings.

When you discuss the terms and conditions of the engagement with your band please discuss what is to happen if a cancellation occurs. Musicians in these bands are human-beings too so likely they will understand if you have a genuine reason for the cancellation. If you need to re-arrange an engagement you should contact the band and let them know why and when you would like them to perform. They may need time to check their calendar (or multiple calendars if there's many musicians in the band!) before they can confirm the re-arrangement.

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What if the ceilidh band cancels?

If a band cancels you will need to find a replacement band as soon as possible. Firstly, you should enter another band hire enquiry form so we can help you as we have many cover bands, tribute bands, pub bands, club bands, rock bands, function bands, wedding bands or party bands available at short notice. Secondly you need to decide the impact of the cancellation and if the cancellation has not allowed sufficient time for a replacement to be found what your losses may be. This should then be cross-referenced with the agreement you discussed with the band prior to the booking in relation to any cancellation. You can download a live music hire Engagement Agreement document to use when you book a band here.

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Can I see the ceilidh bands performing live before booking?

Of course! All of our bands for hire are active musicians and the band selected for your engagement are very likely working in your local area. Many cover bands, tribute bands, pub bands, club bands, rock bands, function bands, wedding bands or party bands have websites which they can direct you to which will usually include a list of the dates they are playing and where. Provided it's a public event simply pop along and have a listen. If you like what you hear don't forget to introduce yourselves and let them know you discovered them via the ACE Music Booking agency website. You can also discuss a pre-booking viewing when you discuss your engagement with the bands. As they are keen to secure the booking they will be very happy to let you know when you can see them play and to discuss your engagement.

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Is it possible to pick the songs the band will perform?

Choosing which songs to perform depends a great deal on the type of band you are booking. Some bands will work very hard on a particular series of songs, sometimes linking a number of songs together into a medley and will have a routine to last the entire evening which they have perfected. In this case it is very difficult for them to change the order of songs to include your choice, however they may still be able to perform a special song for you, a first dance for example. Other bands will happily play any song or number of songs you request providing you give them enough notice to learn them.
Many international cover bands, tribute bands, function bands, wedding bands and party bands to hire travel the world with over 300 songs in their repertoire and will likely know the songs you like already! In both cases, don't be afraid to ask! It is important you get exactly the music you want at your event.

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Will the bands for hire learn a first dance song request?

Yes. Or at least they should! In the many years we have been operating as a professional agency we have never come across a music band that will not happily learn a song for your first dance. However, you may need to bear in mind the type of song you have requested and the style of the covers band, tribute or theme band, genre band, event band, wedding band or party band you have chosen. As some bands may not fit the instrumentation and music style, they simply will not be able to accurately represent the song you chose (for example choosing a hip-hop multi vocal song for a solo cello player!) and you may be better served having the band play the official MP3 version through their PA system instead.

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How loud will the ceilidh band be?

The volume the band performs at will depend in the most part on the type of instruments involved. Particularly un-amplified instrument like drums and brass which have a fairly set volume level at which they are played. Amplified instruments will then be required to set their volume levels appropriately in order to musically blend together. If you have chosen a band that is entirely amplified (a hi-tech band for hire using backing tracks for example) then their volume can be set as quiet as the lowest level at which they can sing without the dry sound (the voice before microphone amplification) being heard.

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Will the ceilidh bands be suitable for sound limiters?

This will depend on the level of the sound limiter and the type of band selected. If your venue has a sound limiter this is something that will need to be discussed when booking the band. If you are unsure then it is best to choose a band which is entirely amplified as the sound produced will be more controllable than a band which has un-amplified instruments, drums for example. Many bands for hire are experienced in working with sound limitations and will be able to advise whether they will have any issue.

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Do I need to provide anything for the band for hire?

You will only need to provide a space in which to perform and payment. The space they require will depend on the size of the band you are booking and can vary from as little as 2 meters to as much as an orchestra pit! The bands for hire themselves will be experienced in the amount of space the band requires and will be able to advise you in more detail. The payment for the engagement should be issued by prior arrangement. This is usually via a BACS transfer in the week leading up to the event, issued in cash at the end of the performance or payment via cheque.

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What if I have a complaint about the band?

If you have a complaint this should be raised as soon as possible with the band themselves. The sooner a band knows there is an issue the quicker they can rectify the problem if it is within their power to do so. A great way to avoid complaints is to use the ACE Music Booking agents’ Engagement Agreement form here as this covers many of the areas which can result in a complaint if not agreed before the performance, for example when the band is to arrive, set-up, play, break, finish as well as agreement regarding cancellations and payments.

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How will the ceilidh bands for hire plan my event's performance?

Exactly what you want them to as agreed! This usually takes the form of their arrival before the event is to start in order to set-up and sound-check. Once done they will likely make themselves scarce or get changed into their performance clothing or costume. Once the music begins the cover band, tribute band, function band, wedding band or party band you have chosen will perform the type of music you heard from the examples they provided and will play for the agreed amount of time, usually taking small break in-between sets. At the end they will pack up their gear and depending on what you agreed with them in the terms and conditions, accept payment and leave.

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What equipment will the ceilidh band provide?

The band will supply all the equipment they need to perform at your venue. If you have any particular equipment requests (laser lights for example!) then please discuss these with the band booked beforehand. Likely the band will provide a lighting system suitable to the venue, a PA system capable of supporting their amplification needs and enough great songs to get everyone in attendance dancing and singing along all night long!

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Will the ceilidh bands need a lot of space?

The amount of space the bands will need to set-up varies greatly depending on whether you're looking for a 4-piece band or larger bands. Smaller bands will only require a couple of square metres and a plug socket in order to perform whereas a 10 piece band will be best suited to a stage area which is usually much larger and elevated, these bands may also require additional plug sockets for the increased amount of musical equipment they will supply to your event. Please discuss the space your ceilidh band requires before the booking engagement.

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How long is the ceilidh band's performance?

As long as you need it to be! Generally bands perform in sections of 45 minutes to an hour with a small break in-between usually lasting around 15 to 20 minutes. So if you require your ceilidh band to perform across a 3 hour time period it is quite likely the band will play for 45 minutes 3 times. Some bands performing across a 2 hour time period like to play for 45 minutes, take a 15 minute break then play for the whole last hour. There's also bands that when asked to perform across 3 hours will do just that without a break! Just remember to discuss and agree exactly how long you want your band to perform, what length their sets of music will be and how long their breaks will be.

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Can I customise my ceilidh band’s performance?

That will depend on how exactly you want to customise the band’s show! Many bands are happy to discuss any ways in which they can perfectly fit your event, for example to wear themed clothing or to perform a particular genre of songs. You may also want particular songs performed at particular times or announcements to be made. Just let the band know exactly what you would like to customise, especially if you plan to have them swinging from the chandeliers!

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How much will it cost to hire a ceilidh band?

This will obviously depend on the bands in the area and what your budget may be. It also matters for how long you want the band to perform at your event and if there are any extra requirements, all of which you can stipulate on your band booking enquiry form. A local solo musician can be available from as little as sixty pounds whereas a world class 10 piece wedding band can command thousands. ACE Music Booking agency will find ceilidh bands for hire which fit your budget if you entered it onto your enquiry form so you can rest assured you will be able to afford the musicians we find.

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What happens if a ceilidh band I booked member is ill?

Illness is something all bands for hire should be prepared for and usually this means another musician (a deputy also known as 'a dep') stepping into the band in order to still perform the engagement. The deputy musician will be well versed in the music that the band performs and you will be unlikely to hear any difference, although they may appear different. If the band hasn't prepared a deputy in case of illness or the deputy is not available then they may have to either cancel the performance or perform without the ill musician. You will need to agree with the band what happens in-case of illness before confirming the booking.

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What size of band should I hire?

Whatever size of band you want! You should bear in mind your event and the space at your venue when booking your band. If you are having a party for friends in a small garden then a smaller band would be a good choice. However if you've hired a large hall with a big stage area then large function bands or party bands would be a better choice to fill the stage and the hall with sound.

Just let us know on the booking form the size of band you prefer and we'll find it for you. If you're not sure or have no preference on the band size then leave the field blank and we'll supply you with the best bands of many different sizes to choose from.

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Do all music bands perform live?

The musicians in the bands will perform live but not all shows are completely live. Although many bands are fully live, some bands will use musical backing tracks in order to perform with a larger sound than the number of band members involved, for example a soloist may use a backing track accompaniment. If you have a preference then please discuss this with the band as they would rather perform to their maximum potential. Even world famous music artists mostly use backing tracks!

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Can ceilidh bands play different styles of music?

Some bands can perform music across multiple genres and decades whereas other prefer to focus their band on a particular genre. To our experience, cover bands, tribute bands, function bands, wedding bands or party bands that can play multiple styles of music are perfect choices at events where there is a mixed age of audience, for example at a birthday party. If you want your band to perform different styles then simply enter 'mixed' in the genre option of the booking enquiry form.

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What are the minimum power requirements for a band?

For some bands no power at all is needed. A string quartet does not need any power and are a great choice for venues where there are not any power outlets. Small bands for hire will usually only need one or two power sockets depending on the type of instruments they play or equipment they use, whereas larger bands can need multiple power options in order to set-up in their correct configuration. When booking please ensure you discuss the power requirements and availability.

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Are the music bands PAT tested with adequate public liability insurance (PLI)?

Yes and yes! Every cover band, tribute band, function band, wedding band or party band for hire on the ACE Music Booking agency network needs to comply with portable appliance testing (also known as PAT testing) requirements and will also need to have public liability insurance (also known as PLI). This ensures that the band you choose to hire will be legally able to perform at your venue without issue. Although the musicians on our network cannot join without confirming both of these points you still need to check with them that their certifications are still valid for the date of performance.

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How do I make a booking?