Odd request - live music help

[OverWyreGrower]

OK, this is a bit of an odd request, but I know that there are quite a few Grapes in the Lancashire area!

It's Mr OWG's 30th birthday this year, and since we've had a pretty crap 12 months in a lot of respects, I'm throwing him a fairly big party.

I've got my heart set on having a live band, but have no idea how to go about finding one! We've no musician friends, and have never been to watch any local music. Since we live pretty much out in the sticks, I can't really ask anyone either.

I'm fairly open to different types of music, it would have to be suitable for varying age groups (covers of songs perfectly acceptable) but don't have a huge budget!

Does anyone a)play/sing in a band; b) know a band etc in the area who do this sort of gig?

[Kristen]

"don't have a huge budget"

I would try local college that has music courses. Likely to be students who do gigs for not-very-much.

Might be worth trying local bands (e.g. Brass band etc.) and singing groups (e.g. chruch) - not to hire them, but because they are likely to know other musicians in the area who play the sort of music you want.

Similarly local music shops.

I would want the band to have a web site with a list of their repertoire and audio samples of them playing / singing.

You could try Google Maps and stick something like

musicians near Over Wyresdale, Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom

into it. "Bands" is not a very useful keyword, unfortunately, but worth trying too.

[Headfry]

Try local hotels etc, they might have some contacts!
Good luck

Shame you are so far away - I work with loads of band people and they cover all sorts of music between them!

[mandyballantyne]

I will ask OH tonight, he plays in a few bands all over the place and his brother is a sound engineer for loads too.

What kind of music are you looking for? Something modern or like a wedding/social club type thing?

Mandy

[OverWyreGrower]

Thanks guys!

I've found a couple of pages who list bands and stuff, and as usual, no one has any prices anywhere. I'm also going to look in the local magazines that are hanging around!

We're after something quite modern, who'll do a range of stuff from the 70's onwards I suppose, right up to modern stuff!

I also found out we've got a "small ads" email list at work, so will try that!

[Pootle]

Or stick a message on your local Freecycle group - we often have that kind of request on ours! Hope you find just the right band