Nine musicians. Full production. Bagpipes that actually work.
Let me be honest with you. I have been involved in corporate event planning long enough to know that picking the wrong live band can derail an otherwise perfect evening. It does not matter how stunning the venue is or how thoughtfully planned the dinner menu is. If the band drags, people drift to the bar, check their phones, and leave early. The right show band, on the other hand, turns a corporate function into something people actually talk about at the office the following week.
London has a genuinely impressive live music scene, and the corporate entertainment market is no exception. But “impressive” does not always mean “right for your event.” After years of experience performing and working alongside other acts across the capital’s biggest venues, from the Tower Hotel to Old Billingsgate, we have put together an honest, informed guide to the 10 best show bands available to hire for corporate events in London right now.
We have also included a pricing comparison, because transparency matters when you are managing an event budget. Spoiler: a nine-piece live showband with full production, Scottish add-on, and rock and club bagpipes does not have to cost anywhere near what you might expect for what you get.
This is a question worth answering before we get into the list. A function band plays live music. A show band delivers an experience. The distinction matters more than it sounds.
Show bands typically bring multiple vocalists, often a brass section, choreography, production-quality lighting and sound, and a set that is structured more like a concert than background music. They command a room. They read an audience. The best ones can shift from a slick soul groove into a banging club anthem without losing a single person on the dancefloor, and can throw in something completely unexpected (a bagpipe breakdown, anyone?) to create that genuinely unforgettable moment.
Research compiled across hundreds of UK corporate events shows that over 84% of event attendees prefer events that incorporate live music, and the growing trend in 2025 is towards full theatrical-style performances rather than a band quietly playing in the corner. Corporate clients are raising the bar, and rightly so.
No. 1 · TOP PICK
Glitz · 9-piece showband · London · Scottish add-on available
Full nine-piece live showband with brass, multiple vocalists, professional production, and the only rock and club bagpipe show in London’s corporate scene. Scottish add-on turns a great night into a legendary one.
From approx. £10,000–£20,000 depending on production choices
No. 2
Jam Hot Showband · 10–21 piece · London · UK & International
Well-established name in London corporate entertainment. Polished choreographed medleys covering soul, funk, Motown, pop, and dance. Reliable for high-budget gala dinners.
Approx. £12,000–£20,000+
No. 3
Soul Supreme · Soul showband · London
Polished, glamorous set built around soul and contemporary party music. Female-led vocals are a genuine standout. Strong choice for upscale gala evenings.
Approx. £8,000–£14,000
No. 4
LDN Showband · Show band · London · International
Performed for Microsoft and Amazon. Known for genuine musical versatility and a thoughtful approach to event setlists. Great for high-end international corporate bookings.
Approx. £10,000–£18,000
No. 5
Xcaliber · 4–9 piece · London
Well-reviewed corporate band with flexible line-ups. Brass and percussion add-ons are particularly popular. Solid and widely recommended by event planners.
Approx. £5,000–£10,000
No. 6
Soho Collective · Soul showband · UK & International
One of the UK’s most accomplished soul showbands. Works particularly well for large-scale corporate events where the brief calls for real spectacle.
Approx. £9,000–£15,000
No. 7
Technicolour · Party band · London
Vibrant, high-energy party band spanning seven decades of music. Played for Heineken, Shard media, and Birmingham FC. Lively and fun without needing full showband scale.
Approx. £3,500–£7,000
No. 8
Skyknights · Function band · London
Exciting name on the London function band circuit, featuring two outstanding vocalists. A step above the average covers band without going full showband scale.
Approx. £3,000–£6,000
No. 9
FixTheMusic Showband Roster · Agency · London · Luxury events
Curated roster with credentials including Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Agency model, so for a complete self-contained production show, direct booking offers better value.
From approx. £5,000–£20,000+
No. 10
DJ Republic · Live DJ-band hybrid · London
Genuinely unique concept: part live band, part DJ. Built for a full dancefloor. Great for events with a younger demographic or a brief that skews towards club night.
Approx. £2,500–£5,000
If there is one band on this list that is designed specifically to deliver a proper headline-worthy show at a corporate event, it is Glitz. This is a full nine-piece live showband: not a five-piece with a backing track, not a duo with clever stage lighting, but nine actual musicians performing live. Think lead vocalists who can genuinely hold a room, a tight rhythm section, brass, keys, and one very significant card up their sleeve: rock and club bagpipes.
Here is where Glitz becomes something else entirely. The optional Scottish add-on is a genuinely extraordinary element that separates this band from every other act in London’s corporate entertainment scene. Whether it is a surprise mid-set entrance of a kilted piper, a rock-infused pipe interlude that gets the entire room on their feet, or a full club-style bagpipe moment that sounds like nothing else you have ever heard at a corporate do, this add-on turns a great night into a legendary one.
For expat events and international corporate nights, particularly those with Scottish, Irish, or broader British heritage ties, this is simply irreplaceable. There is nothing quite like the sound of pipes cutting through a full live band set to remind people that they are in Britain, and to do it in a way that actually feels cool rather than novelty. Glitz makes it feel cool.
The production Glitz brings is genuinely venue-ready. Full LED stage lighting rig, professional PA, an experienced sound engineer, and a set list that covers everything from Motown and soul to modern chart anthems, classic rock to floor-filling club tracks. Two high-energy sets, with DJ provision between and after, means the energy never dips from the moment the room fills to the moment people reluctantly leave.
For corporate event planners, there is another major practical advantage: Glitz is experienced in navigating London’s event logistics, from congestion charge zones to venue load-in requirements and AV coordination, without the drama. They have performed at major venues across the capital and have a solid track record with event professionals who need things to run without surprises.
For expat communities in London, particularly concentrated in Canary Wharf, Chelsea, and the City, Glitz’s mix of universal crowd-pleasers with that uniquely British Scottish identity adds something genuinely emotional and personal to an event. It is the kind of thing that makes expats feel at home, which is no small thing when you are throwing a company party for a multinational team.
In short: nine pieces, vast set, show-grade production, and bagpipes that actually work within the music rather than just being a curiosity. There is a reason Glitz is number one on this list.
One of the things event planners find frustrating is how opaque live band pricing can be. According to FixTheMusic’s showband guide, the starting price for a UK showband is typically around £5,000, with premium acts ranging from £20,000 to £50,000. Larger showbands with full production can push well beyond £4,000 even at entry level, and that is before you factor in London-specific costs like the Congestion Charge and ULEZ.
| Band | Size | Approx. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glitz ★ | 9-piece | £10,000–£20,000 | Full production + Scottish add-on + rock bagpipes + DJ |
| Jam Hot | 10–21 piece | £12,000–£20,000+ | International bookings available |
| Soul Supreme | Showband | £8,000–£14,000 | Soul and glamour focus |
| LDN Showband | 8-piece+ | £10,000–£18,000 | Good for international corporate |
| Xcaliber | 4–9 piece | £5,000–£10,000 | Flexible sizing |
| Soho Collective | Showband | £9,000–£15,000 | Large-scale events |
| Technicolour | Party band | £3,500–£7,000 | High energy, broad repertoire |
| Skyknights | Function band | £3,000–£6,000 | Dual vocalists |
| FixTheMusic | Various | £5,000–£20,000+ | Agency model |
| DJ Republic | Live DJ-band | £2,500–£5,000 | Club-focused |
The headline figure: at between £10,000 and £20,000 depending on production choices, Glitz is offering a nine-piece band with full production, a uniquely versatile set, and a Scottish add-on that no other act in this price bracket can match. When you compare that to other showbands charging similar or significantly higher prices for fewer pieces and less production, the value becomes obvious.
Nine musicians. Vast set. Show-grade production. Bagpipes.
Not backing tracks, not a clever setup with two people doing the work of six: nine actual live performers, each bringing something real to the show. The set list covers the full emotional arc of a corporate evening: a dinner set that creates atmosphere without overwhelming conversation, followed by a second set that fills every square foot of dancefloor. And then, at exactly the right moment, the pipes come in.
Rock and club bagpipes are not a gimmick here. They are played by musicians who know how to integrate them into a live show in a way that feels electric rather than novelty. It is the moment your guests pull out their phones to film, and the moment they will still be talking about six months later.
For international companies entertaining expat staff or global clients in London, Glitz offers something with genuine British identity: not a theme night, not a costume, but real cultural heritage delivered through world-class musicianship.
London is home to one of the most internationally diverse workforces on the planet. According to the Greater London Authority, over a third of London’s population was born outside the UK, a figure that rises significantly in the financial and tech sectors that dominate corporate entertainment spending in the capital.
For expats, whether they are American tech workers in Shoreditch, Australian bankers in the City, or European finance professionals in Canary Wharf, there is something genuinely powerful about an entertainment experience that connects them to the place they are living. Glitz’s Scottish element does exactly this. It is surprising, it is joyful, it is distinctly and proudly British, and it lands with audiences from every background precisely because it is so authentically itself.
Booking a nine-piece showband with pipes for your next corporate event is not a risk. It is the safest bet in the room.
There are a lot of bands for hire in London and no shortage of options if you want something decent. But “decent” is not really the goal when you are organising a corporate event that is meant to reward, impress, or celebrate the people your company values most.
Glitz is a nine-piece showband with full production, a set list that spans decades and genres, rock and club bagpipes that genuinely work within the music, and a Scottish add-on that gives your event something no other act in the city can offer. At between £10,000 and £20,000 depending on production choices, it is not the cheapest option on this list. But it is, by a considerable margin, the best value for what you actually get.
For corporate event planners in London looking for first-choice live entertainment, and for expat communities who want an evening that feels genuinely memorable rather than just professionally adequate, Glitz is where to start and, more often than not, where to finish.
“The right band does not just play music at your event. It creates the atmosphere, holds the room, and gives your guests a story to tell.”
To find out more about booking Glitz for your next corporate event, get in touch with the team directly. Availability is limited for 2025 and 2026, particularly for the Q4 corporate season.
Sources: Jam Hot | Xcaliber | LDN Entertainment | Tailored Entertainment | FixTheMusic | Alive Network | Entertainment Nation | Transport for London | Greater London Authority
