Drummers & Percussionists for hire in Chigwell, Essex

Browse 58 drummers and percussionists for hire in Chigwell, Essex, rated 5 out of 5 across 699 reviews. From session drummers who dep with local function and party bands to percussionists for weddings, parties and recordings, you can hear audio, watch video and compare prices, with an average of £420. Use the filters below to find a drummer near you.

Rated Excellent (5/5) from 699 reviews of Drummers & Percussionists
A sharp, versatile and enthusiastic professional drummer!

4 reviews

Petersfield, Hampshire

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £315 - get a quote

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Experienced Steel Pannist specialising in exceptional Wedding entertainment

7 reviews

Chichester, West Sussex

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £490 - get a quote

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One of the best known steel bands in the UK

34 reviews

Corby, Northamptonshire

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £375 - get a quote

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Live percussionist for Dj sets, Live bands & Weddings. 30 years experience

0 reviews

Market Harborough, Leicestershire

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £275 - get a quote

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Classic Rock & Blues with the Notorious Skeleton Drummer

4 reviews

Southampton, Hampshire

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £200 - get a quote

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Elevate your event with our talented DJ, Saxophonist and Percussionist services!

0 reviews

Southampton, Hampshire

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £419 - get a quote

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Drummer available for live performances and/or studio work.

6 reviews

Solihull, West Midlands

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

One of the most exciting percussionists in the UK

2 reviews

Birmingham, West Midlands

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £1075 - get a quote

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Steel pan soloist with a very varied repertoire for events of all types

6 reviews

Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £375 - get a quote

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Fantastic Steel Band!

17 reviews

Birmingham, West Midlands

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £490 - get a quote

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Sensational party percussionist to accompany your DJ and ensure the best event!

2 reviews

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £420 - get a quote

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Experienced and versatile professional drummer/percussionist from Brazil!

7 reviews

Smethwick, West Midlands

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £420 - get a quote

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Realiable, Versatile, Professional drummer for hire.

2 reviews

Brierley Hill, West Midlands

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £250 - get a quote

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GrooveWave - Ibiza Sax & Percussion Duo

18 reviews

Bristol, Bristol

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £600 - get a quote

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An elegant and magical alternative sound for reception music!

4 reviews

Cardiff City, Cardiff

Available in Chigwell (Essex)

Book from £685 - get a quote

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Showing 31-45 of 58 results
Rated Excellent
TrustPilot 5 Stars

How much does it cost to hire Drummers & Percussionists available in Chigwell, Essex?

£ Low Price
from
£150
££ Average Price
from
£420
£££ High Price
from
£3,870
The average price for Drummers & Percussionists available in Chigwell, Essex is £420. Above you will also find a budget price and high end price. Contact the act you like for an accurate quote.

Frequently asked questions


The cost of hiring musicians in Chigwell, Essex can vary significantly depending on the type of act. Prices currently range from £150 to £3,870, with an average of £420.

Most drummers and percussionists listed here work as solo performers who join an existing setup, whether that is a DJ, a band, or a backing track. You agree the date, timings and location, then confirm what they will be playing to and what the venue can provide. A drummer will normally arrive an hour or so before the performance to set up and sound check, and will bring their own kit unless you have agreed otherwise. Beyond that the main things to settle are performance length, whether you want them for one set or several across the event, and access at the venue for loading in.

A drummer plays a drum kit, the seated setup of snare, bass drum, toms and cymbals used in most pop, rock and function music. A percussionist plays hand and auxiliary instruments such as congas, bongos, cajon, timbales, shakers and tambourine, usually standing and often moving around the space. The distinction matters when you are booking. A percussionist alongside a DJ tends to suit a party or reception where you want energy without much extra volume, while a full kit suits a live band setup or a stage performance. Many of the acts here do both, so if you are unsure which you need it is worth saying what the event is and letting the act advise.

Yes, in almost all cases. A drummer will supply and transport their own kit, cymbals, hardware and stool as standard, and the price you are quoted normally includes it. There are two exceptions worth asking about. At festivals and multi act events there is often a shared backline kit, in which case the drummer may only bring cymbals, snare and pedals. And where access is difficult, such as an upstairs room with no lift, some acts will ask about it in advance or bring a smaller setup. If you are looking to hire a kit on its own without a player, that is equipment hire rather than a booking made here.

A session drummer is an experienced player who can learn material quickly, read charts or follow a click track, and slot into an unfamiliar setup with little rehearsal. They are usually booked for recording work, depping for an absent band member, or backing a solo artist or function band that does not have a permanent drummer. If you are booking entertainment for a wedding, party or corporate event, you generally want a performing drummer rather than a session player specifically, though many of the acts here work in both roles. Say what the job is when you enquire, because rehearsal time, whether charts are provided and whether the material is original all change what the drummer needs to prepare.

Allow around 2 metres by 2 metres for a standard drum kit, and a little more if you want a riser or a screen around it. A percussion setup with congas and auxiliary instruments takes a similar footprint but is more flexible about shape, and a cajon player needs very little space at all. You will also need a nearby power socket if the act is using any amplification or electronic pads, and a reasonably flat, solid surface. Deep pile carpet and soft grass both cause a kit to creep as it is played, so a board or mat helps. Check load in access as well, since a full kit is several trips.

An acoustic drum kit is the loudest instrument in most line ups, and it is the usual reason a venue with a sound limiter cuts the power. If your venue has a decibel limit, tell the drummer the figure before you book rather than on the day, because there are several ways to work with it. Options include playing with rods or brushes instead of sticks, using a screen or shield around the kit, switching to a cajon or a smaller percussion setup, or moving to an electronic kit that can be dialled to a set level. Percussion generally sits well below a full kit in volume, which is why it is often the better choice for a restaurant, marquee or listed building.

Most work on an acoustic kit, which is what you will hear on the majority of profiles here. A smaller number also own an electronic kit, and a few work exclusively on one. Electronic kits are worth asking about in two situations: a venue with a strict noise limit, where the output can be set precisely and fed to the PA, and a small indoor space where an acoustic kit would overpower the room. The trade off is visual and tonal, as an acoustic kit looks and sounds more like a live performance. If it matters to you either way, ask before booking, since not every drummer carries both.

Yes, and it is one of the most common bookings in this category. A drummer or percussionist playing live over a DJ set adds a live element to a party or reception without the space, cost or volume of a full band, and works particularly well during the busiest part of an evening. Nearly half the acts listed here mention DJ work in their profiles. If you want the DJ and the live player supplied together as a single package rather than booked separately, look at the Sax and DJ / Musician and DJ category, where acts are set up specifically for that combination. Booking the two separately is fine, but agree in advance who is providing the PA and how the drummer will monitor the DJ.

Both are common. A drummer can be booked to join an existing band, either as a permanent addition for the night or as a dep covering for a regular member, and many are used to learning a set from recordings or charts in advance. Playing to a backing track is also straightforward, though it needs slightly more setup. The drummer will usually want a click track in an in ear monitor to stay locked to the recording, so check that the venue or your PA supplier can feed them one. Send the material over well ahead of the date either way, since the amount of preparation is what determines how tight the performance will be.

Weddings and corporate events are the two most common bookings in this category. A percussionist over a DJ suits a drinks reception or evening party, a full kit suits a stage performance or a live band setup, and both work at festivals, product launches, club nights and private parties. For a walkabout or processional element, where you want players moving through a crowd rather than performing from one spot, look at the Strolling / Roaming Bands category instead, which is where acts that move with a crowd are listed. A solo drummer or percussionist is generally booked to perform from a fixed position alongside other music.

A typical booking is two or three sets of 45 minutes across an evening, with breaks in between, which is the same pattern most function bands work to. Where the drummer is playing over a DJ, sets are often shorter and more frequent, perhaps four spots of 20 to 30 minutes placed at the busiest points of the night. What matters more than total playing time is how long the act needs to be on site, since that is what most quotes are based on. A drummer will normally arrive an hour or so ahead for setup and sound check. If you want them across a long day, for example a ceremony, a reception and an evening party, say so when you enquire rather than extending it later.

Yes, provided the kit is protected. Drums and cymbals are more weather tolerant than string or wind instruments, but wooden shells and drum heads do not respond well to rain or damp, and hardware sinks into soft ground. Provide a covered area, a flat and solid surface such as decking, a stage or boards, and a power supply if there is amplification. Wind is the underestimated problem, since cymbal stands and lightweight hardware topple easily, so a sheltered position is worth planning for. Confirm a wet weather alternative when you book, because an outdoor set with no fallback is the most common reason a performance has to be cut short.

Yes. A drummer working over a DJ set or with a band will usually take direction on the styles and the feel you want, and most are comfortable across pop, funk, house, Latin, rock and soul within a single evening. For specific songs, the practical question is what the drummer is playing to. If there is a DJ or a backing track, almost anything is possible as long as the track exists. If the drummer is part of a live band, requests need to go to the band rather than the drummer alone, and a first dance or a particular song for a moment in the evening should be agreed well in advance so it can be rehearsed.

Booking drummers & percussionists 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.

Frequently asked questions about Drummers & Percussionists available in Chigwell, Essex, how to register and how results are ordered are in the help & FAQs.

Hire Drummers and Percussionists in Chigwell, Essex

The drummers and percussionists available in Chigwell, Essex range from solo drum kit players who dep with function bands and party bands to hand percussionists booked for weddings, parties and recordings. Every profile includes audio, video and reviews, so you can judge a player before you make contact.

A drummer for any event near you

A session drummer can read charts and lock in with a band, while a percussionist can add congas and cajon to a wedding reception or bring dhol and tabla to an Indian celebration. Filter the local acts above by style and availability. Most players bring their own kit, and many can play supplied backline at venues with a sound limit.

How much does a drummer cost in Chigwell, Essex?

The cost of hiring a drummer in Chigwell, Essex depends on the set-up you need and how many dates you book. A single session player is cheaper than a full drum and percussion line-up, and rates come down for a tour or a run of gigs. Use the price comparison section on this page to see current figures, which currently range from £150 to £3,870 for players near your venue.

Hire live Drummers & Percussionists available in Chigwell, Essex
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