Jen Merchant Jazz, swing, motown, rock n roll and pop. Great Gatsby show also available

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Price Guide

Available to book from £170. For an accurate quote please make an enquiry.

About / Biography

People often ask Jen when she started singing…the straight answer is, she can’t remember, but her mum tells her its from when she could talk!

Jen has always been involved with music, singing and performing arts throughout her life. She studied for a degree in Creative and Performing Arts at The University of Portsmouth, graduating in 2010 and has gone on to gig professionally ever since.

Whilst Jen has a very varied music taste, her real passion for singing is jazz/ swing and vintage styles but can also perform a range of soul/ Motown, rock n roll, pop and more. She has a real love for vintage and retro styles but can also perform modern songs too. For the festive season, Jen has plenty of Christmas songs, it's her favourite time of the year! Jen also has a specialist 'Great Gatsby Show' (see below for more details), as well as a 60's show.


Jen can either perform easy listening background music, perfect for wedding breakfasts, cocktail parties and black tie dinners etc. or songs to really get people on the dance floor and get the party going, or of course a mix of both.


Jen’s experience as a singer includes performing at some notable prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall, Guildford Cathedral, New Theatre Royal Portsmouth, Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey), Portsmouth Guildhall and many prestigious hotels amongst many more venues. She has developed a talent for performing which extends beyond her singing and never fails to delight and engage her audiences.


Jen provides a PA system with all her gigs. Jen can also be booked as part of a discount, joint package with her other half, Sean, who is a DJ for the full party package.

Jen can also book booked alongside a pianist and as part of a duo with a male or female vocalist (subject to availability).


Please contact Jen for a full list of songs in her repertoire or let her know in advance if there is a special song that you would like performed at your event as Jen is forever adding to her set list!

Jen also has a specialist 'Great Gatsby' show, which is 2 x 45 mins of themed songs and entertainment (with a 1920' themed costume to match, of course). This includes music by Postmodern Jukebox (who do modern songs in a vintage style), Caro Emerald, Chicago The Musical, Gershwin, Irving Berlin and much more. Jen will even get your audience up and dancing by teaching them a little Charleston dance routine. Jen's 1920's show can also be booked with 2 professional dancers.

Jen is also available to provide a 60's show, with our without professional dancers.

Jen is based on the Surrey/ Hampshire boarder but is happy to travel to all surrounding counties and areas (Berkshire, West Sussex, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Kent, Dorset etc and beyond: Travel expenses may apply for travelling further than 40 miles).

Reviews (22)

There are currently 22 user ratings for Jen Merchant

AVERAGE RATING

10 / 101

Location

Based in Farnham, Surrey

Will travel up to 200 miles
green circle = areas covered (up to 200 miles)
pink circle = free travel (up to 40 miles)
Please note that the circles shown on the map are calculated "as the crow flies". By road distances may vary, so please get in touch for an accurate quote.

Just a small selection of the songs I sing (please contact me for a full list)...

Why don’t you do right- Peggy Lee

Perhaps, Perhaps, perhaps- Doris Day

Fly me To The Moon- Frank Sinatra

Moondance- Michael Buble

Fever- Peggy Lee

Straighten Up and Fly Right- Nat King Cole

Sway- Frank Sinatra

That Man- Caro Emerald

Big, Bad, Handsome Man- Imelda May

Liquid Lunch- Caro Emerald

Superstion- Stevie Wonder

Get Ready- The Temptations

Heard It Through The Grapevine- Marvin Gaye

Come See About Me- The Supremes

Son Of a Preacher Man- Dusty Springfield

Stuck In The Middle With You- Stealers Wheel

My Girl- The Temptations

Higher and Higher- Jackie Wilson

Jailhouse Rock- Elvis Presley

Twist and Shout- The Beatles

Johnny B Goode- Chuck Berry

Tainted Love- Imelda May

Do You love Me- The Contours

Shake a Tail Feather- Blues Brothers

Teenager In Love- Dion and The Belmont’s

Be My Baby- The Ronettes

Don’t Know Why- Nora Jones

Valerie- Amy Winehouse

Forget You- Cee-Lo Green

Call Me Maybe- Postmodern Jukebox version

Technical Info

What are your basic technical requirements?

Unloading outside the venue is necessary and a parking space

Access to a plug socket required

Small table to put mixing desk on required


Do you provide sound and lighting equipment?

Yes, I have a Bose PA system and simple lighting where needed. I also have a small, wireless speaker for smaller events and outdoor events where power is not available.


Can you provide a Spotify/DJ service before and between your sets?

Yes, my husband is a DJ so I can offer this as a joint package or I can play background music on my ipd in between sets (client is also welcome to plug in their own iPad or phone, if they would like to play their own music)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best gig you've ever done and the best venue you've ever played at?

My favourite venue that I have played at a few times is Highclere Castle aka the real Downton Abbey. It feels so grand and the acoustics are amazing!

Performance Info

What are your typical setup and performance times?

30 min set up time (roughly, depending how close the car can be parked to the venue etc)

2 x 45 min sets are my standard set length but I can do more/ less upon request


Are you happy to perform outside?

Yes but would require shelter if the weather is looking iffy.


Do the clients have a say in what you play or is it a set repertoire list only?

I have a list of songs that clients are welcome to pick some favourites from. If they have a particular favourite or meaningful song that isn't in my repertoire, I am also ways happy to see if it's a possibility to learn it, by request in advance.

Recent Clients

Jen Merchant has performed for these clients:

Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey- (Vintage Garden Party)

Silent Pool Gin- (Wolrd Gin Day Event)

Portsmouth Guildhall- (Chancellor's Dinner)

Pennyhill Park- Bagshot (Corporate event for Owen James)

Spitbank Fort- Portsmouth Solent (Corporate Event for Barton Hill)

34, Grosvenor Square, Restaurant- Mayfair (Private birthday party)

North Hampshire Golf Club- Fleet (Ladies golf team social)

Langtry Manor Hotel- Bournemouth (Wedding)

Crown and Anchor- Chichester (Post Goodwood Revival music night)

Alverbank Hotel- Gosport (Wedding)

Chichester Harbour Hotel (Sunday lunchtime jazz)

Edgar Jerome, Aldershot- (95th anniversary of the shop)

Frimley Hall Hotel- Camberley (Wedding)

Great Fosters hotel- Egham (Wedding)

Basingstoke Football Club (Music night)

Pine Ridge Golf Club- Camberley (Wedding)

The Cedar Tree- Bagshot (Private birthday party)

The Mayflower Restaurant- Basingstoke (public event)

The Three Mariners Pub- Bagshot (Public event)

The Bee- Windlesham (Public event)

Windlesham Club and Theatre (Public event)

The Shehnai Rooms- Reading (Black Tie charity Ball)

The Ox Brasserie- Southampton (Public event)

Boutlers Brasserie- Maidenhead (Private party and public events)

And much more

Contact

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