Brass / Oompah / Marching Bands for hire

Bring the bold sound of brass to your party. Find the best brass and oompah bands for hire in the UK.
Rated Excellent (5/5) from 396 reviews of Brass / Oompah / Marching Bands
4 or 5 piece gypsy swing and jazz band

1 review

Buckfastleigh, Devon

Book from £1239* - get a quote

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3 or 4 piece strolling acoustic traditional and vintage jazz band

0 reviews

Buckfastleigh, Devon

Book from £968* - get a quote

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Up-beat, colourful, five piece Trad-Jazz and Dixieland Jazz band

6 reviews

Barnet, Hertfordshire

Book from £725* - get a quote

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Lively and Professional 10 Piece Mini-Big Band

7 reviews

North London

Book from £1860* - get a quote

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Interweaving infectious grooves with irresistible melodies you know and love!

9 reviews

North London

Book from £1560* - get a quote

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WEDDING CARIBBEAN STEEL : Book a live steel band, On Last Minute Musicians or DJ

3 reviews

North London

New concept London brass band with vocals and drums - a brass function band

0 reviews

North West London

Book from £1510* - get a quote

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New Orleans style brass band

15 reviews

North London

Book from £1180* - get a quote

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Good music plus good entertainment!

14 reviews

North London

Book from £560* - get a quote

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Traditional New Orleans jazz funeral parade band

11 reviews

North London

Book from £700* - get a quote

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Bring the magic of the Middle East to your event with Zaffa Entertainment

0 reviews

West London

Roaming brass band bringing the energy!

21 reviews

East London

Book from £1400* - get a quote

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One of the UK's best brass bands

6 reviews

East London

Party starting, exuberant Brass Band playing your favourite songs with a twist!

26 reviews

East London

Book from £995* - get a quote

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7 piece Funky Brass Band playing covers in funky, jazzy high energy style

10 reviews

East London

Book from £1430* - get a quote

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Showing 16-30 of 44 results
Rated Excellent
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How much does it cost to hire Brass / Oompah / Marching Bands?

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£250
££ Average Price
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£1233
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£2050
The average price for Brass / Oompah / Marching Bands is £1233. Above you will also find a budget price and high end price. Contact the act you like for an accurate quote.

Frequently asked questions


While we’ve got over 40 brilliant brass bands for hire to choose from, we wouldn’t possibly be able to select the best. The best brass band for your event depends on what the event is, the vibe you want and the type of music you love. We have classical brass bands for hire across the UK and Bavarian style Oompah bands too. So have a browse, a listen, check out prices and pick your favourite.

Booking brass / oompah / marching bands as early as possible increases the chance of securing their availability on your event date, particularly during busy times of the year. However, many acts also accept last minute bookings, and we have successfully arranged performances for clients with just a few hours' notice.

Sound limiters are now common at many UK wedding venues, particularly those in residential areas or with noise-sensitive neighbours. They work by cutting the power to amplified equipment if the volume exceeds a set threshold. Most professional bands can work within standard limiter settings without any real impact on the performance. If your venue's limiter is set at 95dB or above, the majority of bands will have no difficulty. Below 95dB it is worth flagging to the band in advance, as they may need to adjust their setup - for example, using an electronic drum kit instead of an acoustic one, or opting for a smaller line-up. Ask your venue for the exact decibel level and pass it on when you make your enquiry, so the band can confirm they can accommodate it.

As a general guide, a 3-piece band needs a performance area of roughly 3m x 3m. Add approximately 1m of width for each additional musician. A 5-piece band would therefore need around 3m x 5m as a minimum. Most bands will also need a small amount of additional space at the sides or rear for equipment cases during the performance. A raised stage is not essential but does help the band make a bigger visual impact, particularly in larger rooms. The performance area needs to be flat, dry and close to a power supply. If you are unsure whether your venue can accommodate a particular band, share the dimensions with them when enquiring and they will be able to advise. Venues with unusual layouts or low ceilings are worth flagging too.

Most professional bands provide a playlist through their PA system during intervals, so there is no gap in the music and no awkward silence while they take a break. This is usually included as standard and the band will typically put together a playlist that fits the mood of the evening. Some acts offer an upgraded DJ service where a member of the band or a dedicated DJ manages the music between sets, takes requests and keeps the energy going. This is usually available as a paid add-on. Check the act's profile or ask when enquiring if this is something you would like.

In most cases, no. The majority of professional bands provide music through their PA system during intervals and after their final set, so your guests will have continuous music throughout the evening without needing a separate DJ. This is usually included in the booking. If you want a more interactive DJ experience - someone to take requests, mix tracks and keep the dancefloor going after the band finishes - many bands offer this as an optional upgrade, or you can book a DJ separately. It is worth deciding early how late you want music to continue, as a band's final set will typically finish by midnight or the venue curfew, and a DJ can be a cost-effective way of extending the night.

Professional bands take their commitments seriously and cancellations are rare, but illness, accidents or unforeseen circumstances can occasionally affect a booking. It is worth checking what provisions are in place when you book. Many acts and agencies have contingency arrangements, such as calling on dep musicians or arranging a suitable replacement act at short notice. When booking, make sure you receive a written contract that sets out the cancellation terms clearly - for both sides. If you are booking through an agency, ask specifically what happens in the event the act cannot perform. Keeping communication open with your band in the weeks before the event also helps flag any potential issues early.

Band size affects both the sound and the budget. A 3-piece can fill a dancefloor just as effectively as a larger act and tends to be better suited to smaller venues or those with sound restrictions. A 4 or 5-piece gives a fuller sound and more stage presence, which works well in larger rooms. Bigger show bands with brass sections, multiple vocalists or additional musicians create a more spectacular impact but cost more and need more space. As a rough guide, match the band size to your guest numbers and venue capacity. For events up to around 100 guests, a 3 or 4-piece is usually ideal. For 150 or more, a 4 or 5-piece tends to work better. For very large events over 300 guests you may also need to consider whether the band's own PA system is sufficient, or whether additional sound equipment will be needed.

The cost of hiring musicians can vary significantly depending on the type of act. The average price is currently £1233. Budget-level acts may be available for as low as £250, while top-tier acts can command prices as high as £2050.

Each event is different but the typical performance time for brass / oompah / marching bands is 2 x 45-minute sets within a 2-hour period, with a 30-minute break in between. Some acts are happy to play longer sets or additional sets. Often, breaks can be negotiated but you should be aware that the price may increase if the musicians need to be onsite for a longer period of time.

You should always check whether or not your act is prepared to play outdoors. Weather conditions such as wind, rain, or extreme temperatures can affect the performance and the instruments. If you are planning an outdoor event you should be prepared to offer a flat surface for performers as well as a cover in case of unexpected rain.

Frequently asked questions about Brass / Oompah / Marching Bands, how to register and how results are ordered are in the help & FAQs.

Hire Brass Bands in the UK

Brass bands are incredibly versatile. And while we may well associate them with shopping centres at Christmas time filling the air with the festive sounds of carols (we LOVE that), they’re great for many other year round events.

Classical brass bands are an excellent outdoor event option given how well the sound carries.

So if you're looking to add a real atmosphere of celebration to your event, then check out the 42 Brass / Oompah / Marching Bands currently on the Last Minute Musicians entertainment directory!

"Thank you so much for making our wedding so jolly with your fantastic music, you really captured the mood of the day. We will certainly be looking to use Silk Street again for future events and will recommend you to all of our friends and family." - Katharine and Conrad's review of Silk Street

Brass Bands are Ideal For…

Oktoberfest - a German festival held annually in October (or late September). This traditional folk festival often includes the drinking of beer and lots of music and dancing. The usual musical accompaniment is Polka / Bierkeller music supplied by a live "Oompah" brass musicians in costume.

Accompanying newly married couples on their walks from churches. Often consisting of trumpets, horns, trombones, tubas and percussion these bands are still very popular for weddings and all sorts of outdoor events. There's nothing quite like the sound of a parade on a summer's day!

When booking these bands:

It may sound obvious, but If you're holding a public event, don't automatically assume it will be okay for you to have a marching band parading around. Consider any noise restrictions and regulations that may be in place, and always obtain the correct permissions if you are hoping to have your band march on the road (even the quietest ones!).

Prices for marching bands can vary hugely- some of them will be happy to send along as few as 5 members. On the other hand, others may add up to closer to 15.

Obviously, this will affect the price. A typical 8 piece marching band will charge around £800 as a minimum.

If you want to cut down on travel cost, use the "advanced search" feature to find marching bands near you.

Brass / Oompah / Marching Bands repertoires

Some marching bands will recite more traditional music, like hymns or carols. Others will will adopt a different style, like oompah bands or samba groups. New Orleans jazz groups will try to create a true Mardi Gras style celebration! Recently, we've also seen a big trend in brass bands re-arranging funk and soul classics, like The Hot 8 Brass Band. Some bands will be able to take a request or two, but remember that it will take a long time to arrange and rehearse any material for a large (or small!) brass band, so make sure you speak to your contact in the group as far in advance as possible, and preferably provide the sheet music.

Hire Brass / Oompah / Marching Bands

The Brass / Oompah / Marching Bands featured on this page are all members of the LastMinuteMusicians.com entertainment directory. Use the refine section at the top of this page to find brass bands close to you. Simply choose a county or enter a post code into the "available in" box to refine the listings to your local area. Click the "visit listing" button to see the full profiles of the individual marching bands. With over 3300 active listings you are sure to find the perfect entertainer, musician, band or entertainment service to make your wedding or event just perfect. Don`t forget you can use our online chat (below) to get instant help with your booking.

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