The sun is shining, for the time being at least. Every summer Last Minute Musicians receive hundreds of enquiries for bands, musicians and ensembles who can perform outside.
Either for weddings, parties or another type of celebration, versatile musicians who are able to offer a line up suitable for an outdoors event are more likely to be hired for gigs.
Below we have assembled 5 different styles of bands and musicians who can perform outside without any amplification – ideal for occasions basking in the sunshine.
Acoustic guitarists
Versatile and affordable, whether it’s a solo musician, duo or ensemble performing an acoustic guitar outdoors, as a form of entertainment you can’t go far wrong with acoustic guitarists.
Performing entirely acoustic or with a small battery powered amplifier, acoustic guitarists can either be hired as the main form of entertainment or as background music.
Requiring only a few technical requirements acoustic guitarists often take less than 30 minutes to set up, in comparison to a live band who can take over an hour.
Whilst acoustic guitarists, either solo or ensembles, do not have the same presence as a band they are great for those hiring entertainment on a budget.
Steel pan bands
Entirely acoustic, steel pan bands are commonly associated with the caribbean and 70s pop music. Performing a mixture of different genres including calypso, latin and reggae they play a range of hits from the past 5 decades.
Ideal for ‘green’ eco friendly weddings, a steel pan band is a unique form of entertainment amongst function bands and classical music ensembles. A guaranteed hit for almost every event.
Dixieland bands
Traditionally, Dixieland refers to any jazz style played before the 1940s. Providing a captivating beat for the audience to either dance to or just tap their feet, Dixieland bands can perform entirely without amplification and usually come in trios or quartets.
Dixieland jazz musicians often play wearing striped suits with boater hats or something similar. By performing traditional jazz hits such as ‘When the Saints go Marching In’ and ‘Dream a Little Dream’ Dixieland musicians bring the heart and soul of New Orleans’ jazz to any event.
Medieval musicians
Take a time machine and travel back 500 years – there certainly weren’t any amplifiers then!
Medieval musicians for hire in the 21st century play a variety of different instruments including the lute, hurdy gurdy, harp and pan pipes. Performing traditional folk songs from the British isles, guests will feel as though they are witnessing a piece of history – especially as the musicians regularly dress in traditional clothing from the period.
Traditional Indian
Whether it’s a tabla and a sitar or an ensemble of dhol drummers, traditional indian musicians are ideal entertainment for outdoors events.
Popular for Indian weddings and other similar celebrations traditional indian instruments work especially well at small occasions where the sound of guests talking does not overpower the music.
Musicians will also dress in customary Indian clothing to ensure an authentic atmosphere and some bands also work with dancers turning background music into a show guaranteed to captivate guests.
Have been to a great outdoor event? Let us know in the comments below…
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