1940s Era Musicians & Bands for Hire in Preston

Discover 265 vintage 1940s era musicians and bands available for hire in Preston, England, United Kingdom, with 1,037 reviews from real clients averaging 5 out of 5 stars. Find swing bands, wartime entertainers and close harmony singers to create authentic 1940s atmosphere.

Of the 265 suppliers listed here, 8 are based within 30 miles of Preston. The other 257 are willing to travel there.

Also covers Blackpool, and suppliers based in Manchester, Bury, Lancashire and Morecambe.

Rated Excellent (5/5) from 1,037 reviews of 1940s Era Musicians & Bands

Based near Preston

Jazz, swing, blues, upbeat,classical, modern. Weddings parties concerts funeral

Lancashire

England

(21) Replies in ~3 hrs

Book from £300 (GBP)

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Sensational vocal tour de force. "Simply must be heard to be believed"

Bury

England · 20 miles away

(5)

Book from £300 (GBP)

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Solo Classical Crossover Singer

Morecambe

England · 22 miles away

No reviews yet Replies in ~3 hrs

Book from POA

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Exceptional quality live dinner jazz for your special occasion!

Manchester

England · 27 miles away

(97) Replies in ~1 hr

Book from £320 (GBP)

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Flexible jazz group, ideal for background music for weddings and events

Manchester

England · 27 miles away

(12)

Book from £230 (GBP)

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Musical Fun & Frolics from the 1920's, 30's & 40's

Manchester

England · 27 miles away

(11)

Book from £1750 (GBP)

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Solo jazz piano, ideal for background music for weddings and events

Manchester

England · 27 miles away

(1)

Book from £160 (GBP)

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Expect big energy, dazzling showmanship, and a night you will never forget

Manchester

England · 27 miles away

(4)

Book from POA

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Willing to travel to Preston

Based more than 30 miles from Preston, nearest first

16-piece Big Band - Ideal for Weddings & Events

Queensbury

England · 32 miles away

(3)

Book from £1350 (GBP)

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strings & flute : unique string quartet & flute or string trio & flute

Stockport

England · 33 miles away

(1)

Book from £420 (GBP)

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Solo Variety Entertainer/Musician-ideal for vintage themed functions

Neston

England · 36 miles away

No reviews yet Replies in ~1 hr

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Duo, piano/vocals ideal for private/corporate events, restaurants

Shipley

England · 39 miles away

(5)

Book from £275 (GBP)

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Lounge Jazz & Gypsy Blues Duo

Chester

England · 40 miles away

(7) Replies in ~2 hrs

Book from £450 (GBP)

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Traditional Vintage Jazz / Postmodern/Swing Covers of Pop Songs

Leeds

England · 47 miles away

No reviews yet

Book from £300 (GBP)

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Jazz Quartet performing Disney Songs, Jazz Standards and Reimagined Pop Covers

Leeds

England · 47 miles away

No reviews yet

Book from £200 (GBP)

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Professional Dixieland Jazz Band

Wakefield

England · 50 miles away

(7)

Book from £650 (GBP)

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8 piece swing band with male vocals performing hot swing and Jive

Harrogate

England · 50 miles away

No reviews yet

Book from POA

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Vintage Vocalist of the Big Band Jazz/Swing Era

Leek

England · 53 miles away

(5)

Book from £300 (GBP)

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Showing 1-18 of 265 results

Need help finding 1940s Era Musicians & Bands available in Preston?

Tell us about your event and we'll suggest suppliers, or talk to our team.

How much does it cost to hire 1940s Era Musicians & Bands in Preston?

£Low price
from£130GBP
££Average price
from£400GBP
£££High price
from£1,700GBP

Rates for 1940s era musicians and bands in Preston currently range from about £130 to £1,700+ depending on group size and performance duration. The average cost of £400 reflects the specialist expertise authentic period entertainment requires. Contact the supplier you like for an accurate quote.

What our enquiries show

Based on 357 enquiries for 1940s Era Musicians & Bands at events in the United Kingdom, made through this site in the last two years. Updated 27 October 2026.

Typical first reply
Within six hours
64% of enquiries get a reply within a day
How early people enquire
About seven weeks
35% enquire less than a month before the event
Busiest months
May to August
58% of events take place in these months
How far suppliers travel
About 20 miles
For the 88% based outside the event's town

Reviews of 1940s Era Musicians & Bands based near Preston

5/5 from 151 reviews
Photo of Wedding/funeral/events singer Wedding/funeral/events singer "I found Sarah, by chance, looking for a soprano to sing at my mother's funeral in 2022. Sadly for me, the funerals of my husband and father happened in succession all to quickly over the next two years. Sarah provided all occasions with such grace. We worked together to create something very special. Nothing is too much trouble for Sarah, she was able to suggest music from repertoire but also took on music she did not know, and sang all beautifully. Her voice and presence was a rock to me and everyone commented on the beauty of her voice. I would highly recommend Sarah for all occasions - happy, sad, fun, solemn and she will deliver a bespoke service. I remain deeply grateful to know Sarah and now call her a friend!" Based in Lancashire, England (10 miles from Preston) 18th June 2026 Jess Davidson MBE - Funeral Photo of Elouise Elouise "It’s hard to imagine any other contemporary singer who could perform these songs in one sitting and make it seems so effortless and engaging." Based in Bury, England (20 miles from Preston) Paul Reynolds - My FizzyPop UK Photo of Dinner Jazz Duo Dinner Jazz Duo "Thanks so so much! The music was lovely and really well received. Sorry we didn’t get to say hello properly - was all a bit frantic." Based in Manchester, England (27 miles from Preston) 13th January 2026 Lili C - Private Wedding Photo of The Not Quite Big Band The Not Quite Big Band "Wow wow wow! These guys were absolutely incredible! Words can’t describe! We hired the NQBB for our wedding back in October and we think it was the best wedding decision we made! Will was super through all stages of the process, from enquiries before booking, through to set list selections and sorting out logistics, he was so friendly, with excellent communication and always had time to answer our queries. On the day itself they arrived in plenty of time to set up and you could tell the guests were getting excited for what was to come. It was what we were most looking forward to about the day and it more than exceeded our expectations! What was wonderful was seeing everyone dancing - all the generations. They are such amazing performers and so engaging getting all on the dance floor involved! Our guests are still raving about ‘THE band’ and rightly so! Thank you so much NQBB, you most certainly made the day!" Based in Manchester, England (27 miles from Preston) Pip J - Wedding Photo of Tri Tones Jazz Tri Tones Jazz "We couldn’t have been happier with Tritones! Excellent communication prior to our big day and on the day they were absolutely fantastic - we had so many compliments from our guests! Would recommend whole heartedly! Many thanks from Dave & Kay 22.05.22" Based in Manchester, England (27 miles from Preston) Dave and Kay - Wedding Photo of The Casablanca Steps The Casablanca Steps "Thank you for the fantastic performance which you gave at our wedding on June 6th. To say that you helped the day to go with a swing would be an understatement. Our guests were very taken with you and the atmosphetre of fun which you created continued throughout the weekend. Children and adults alike enjoyed your music and cabaret and we would have no hesitation recommending you to anyone." Based in Manchester, England (27 miles from Preston) 

Katie & Tim Baxter - Wedding

Want to see more reviews?

There are currently 1,037 reviews of 1940s Era Musicians & Bands in our review centre and the average rating is 5/5.

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Frequently asked questions

The average price for 1940s era musicians & bands on Gig Heaven is currently £400, with prices ranging from £130 to £1,700+. Pricing typically depends on ensemble size, the inclusion of vocalists and whether period costumes or themed staging are part of the performance. Most acts specialise in wartime classics, swing and big band favourites, so listening to profile samples is a good way to compare what each performer offers.

The 1940s era musicians & bands perform music from the 1940s era, including swing, big band, boogie-woogie and wartime classics. Many groups specialise in recreating the sound of dance halls and ballrooms of the period, with songs made popular by the leading artists of the decade.

Popular occasions for hiring 1940s era musicians & bands include wartime-themed events, vintage tea dances, VE Day celebrations, themed weddings and corporate dinners. The nostalgic and upbeat style of 1940s music appeals to a wide range of audiences and works well at both formal and informal occasions.

Many 1940s era musicians & bands offer fully themed shows, including wartime sing-along performances, Andrews Sisters-style vocal harmony acts and period-costumed big band sets. Some also incorporate audience participation and wartime-era props. To get the best results, check each performer's profile for details of themed packages.

Most 1940s era musicians & bands provide their own PA system and any amplification needed for standard event spaces. For larger venues or outdoor events, additional sound equipment may be required. It is advisable to discuss technical requirements with the act before booking.

Yes, either add suppliers to your favourites and contact them all at once, or use the find a supplier wizard.

Booking as early as possible increases the chance of securing your supplier's availability on your event date, particularly during busy times of the year. However, many suppliers also accept last minute bookings, and we have successfully arranged bookings for clients with just a few hours' notice.

Contact the supplier you are interested in booking by clicking "Contact Now" on their listing. Discuss your requirements using our messaging system or join a video meeting (like a Zoom-call) to speak face-to-face. Once you are ready to confirm your booking, simply ask the supplier to send you a contract, which you can agree to online, or request amendments. Once you agree to the contract you will be asked to pay a 10% booking fee to confirm the booking, with the balance payable directly to the supplier by the due date you've agreed on.

Please browse our help and support section, or if you can't find what you need you can get in touch.

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