Book Martin Sean McConnell, Singing guitarist in Bristol

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From£220

1 hour

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Singing guitarist

Bristol

Public liability insurance of £10 million

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A guitarist and singer with a large repertoire of songs and a long list of happy clients. Upbeat or relaxed, create the atmosphere you want.

Hello, I'm Martin and I love playing music for people. Whether you want relaxed music in the background of your drinks or dinner event, or a lively set for your guests to sing and dance to, I have the songs, equipment and experience to match your needs. Over the last ten years I've built up a huge repertoire of material covering pop, rock, jazz, folk, instrumental guitar and soul. I have a wealth of experience in performing at all kinds of functions and events. I've performed at private functions, on boats, outdoor festivals, on the backs of lorries, under the stairs in a castle, on live radio, on the streets for surprise marriage proposals and at large venues in both Britain and Europe. Should you be interested, I also perform as part of an acoustic duo and in a three piece function band. If you'd like to consider adding these options I'm more than happy to discuss them with you. Additionally every client gets to request one song for free, so if you would like to dance your first dance to a live performance of your favourite track I can make that happen. As well as all this I am also able to provide a complimentary laptop DJ service, so that there's always music playing at your event from beginning to end. If you have any questions feel free to get in touch any way you like. I'll always endeavour to respond within 24 hours and do our best to meet your needs. Thank You. Martin.

Performance details

I can perform outdoors

I have a car I can use to travel to gigs

My equipment is PAT tested

I own a PA system

Encore awards

Top 25 booked musician of 2019

Musicianship

Genres:

Covers, Christmas, Wedding music, Film / TV music, 1950s era music, 1960s era music, 1970s era music, 1980s era music, 1990s era music, Folk, Traditional English folk, Jazz, Easy listening, Originals, Light music, Pop, Acoustic, Top 40, Soul, Motown, Rock, Alternative rock, Britpop, Classic rock, Indie, Glam rock, Rock 'n' Roll, Progressive rock, Hard rock, Power rock, Pop rock, Contemporary Christian, Military, Traditional church music, 1920s era music, 1930s era music, 1940s era music, Bluegrass, Ceillidh, Country, Rockabilly, Irish rock, Folk rock, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Blues, Cabaret, Dixieland, Modern jazz, Latin jazz, Jazz fusion, Gypsy jazz, Postmodern jukebox jazz, Swing, Barbershop, Gospel, Avant garde, Experimental, Marching, Ambient pop, Americana, Funk rock, Funk, Disco, Hip Hop, Karaoke, R&B, Vintage, Tribute, Post rock, Synth rock, Punk rock, World music, Noise music, Musical theatre

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Instruments:

Singing guitarist, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, guitar, Singer

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Event types:

Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve

See all event types

Other skills:

Arranger, Composer, Lyricist, Songwriter, Producer, Transcription, Live looping, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Fluent improviser

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Song list

500 Miles – The Proclaimers

All About That Bass

All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix/Bob Dylan

All of Me – John Legend

All the Small Things – Blink 182

Beyond the Sea – Jazz Standard

Buck Rogers - Feeder

Cannon Ball – Damien Rice

Can’t Stop The Feeling – Justin Timberlake

Crazy Little thing Called Love – Queen

Dakota – Stereophonics

Dirty Old Town – The Pogues

Don’t Look Back in Anger – Oasis

Dreaming of You – The Coral

Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash

Five O’ clock somewhere – Alan Jacson

Fly me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra

Galway Girl – Steve Earl

Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac

Half the World Away – Oasis

Hard to Handle – Otis Redding

Heartbeats – Jose Gonzales/The Knife

Hey Jude – The Beatles

Hey Laura – Gregory Porter

Hey Ya - Outkast

Hound Dog – Elvis

I’ll Tell me Ma – Irish Standard

I’m a Believer – The Monkees

Irish Rover - The Pogues

It Ain’t Me Babe – Johnny Cash/Bob Dylan

I Will Wait – Mumford and Sons

Jailhouse Rock – Elvis

King of the Swingers – Jungle Book

Layla – Eric Claptopn

Learn to Fly – Foo Fighters

Lightning Bolt – Jake Bugg

Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett

Mr Brightside – The Killers

My Girl – The Temptations

Naïve – The Kooks

One Day Like This - Elbow

Parklife - Blur

Place Your Hands – Reef

Prickle Eyed Bush - Bellowhead

Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley and the Comets

Rude - Magic

Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles

Sex on Fire – Kings pf Leon

Signed Sealed Delivered – Stevie Wonder

Shut up and Dance – Walk The Moon

Sit Down - James

Some Kind of Wonderful – Grand Funk Railroad

Soul Man – Sam and Dave/ Blues Brothers

Stand By Me – Ben E King

Stuck in the Middle With You – Stealer’s Wheel

Summertime – Jazz Standard

Sunday Morning – Maroon 5

Suspicious Minds – Elvis

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus

Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran

This Love – Maroon 5

Town Called Malice – The Jam

Valerie – Amy Winehouse

What’s Up – 4 Non Blondes

Whiskey in the Jar – Irish Folk Song

Wild Rover – Irish Folk Song

Yesterday – The Beatles

You Got a Friend in Me – Randy Newman

You’ll Never Walk Alone – Rogers and Hammerstein

You Really Got Me – The Kinks

Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

I'm a pretty energetic performer, I love a lively audience and having a good time doing my job. I always put a lot of effort in to learning client requests (first dances) etc and I've had a lot of positive reactions to those. I've had some very nice reviews. I was pretty surprised by how good the reaction has been to my live sets and it's been really nice.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Honestly don't know how to begin answering this one. Some 'well known' ones like The Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth or Colston Hall in Bristol. Loads of weird ones like boats cruising down canals or one on the back of a lorry. Lots of castles, fields, halls etc. A large auditorium in Paris. I once played someone's proposal in the street which was lovely.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

360 characters is a really mean limit guys! The ones that got me started playing music were Queen and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I went through a period of really loving soul singers like Otis Redding and Stevie Wonder, right now I'm enjoying bands like White Denim and The Staves. Sometimes I listen to Frank Zappa and the wife threatens to leave me.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Top three would be The Bristol Jazz Festival A Senegalese festival in Paris The Labour Party Conference (our opening act was Ed Milliband, it was all a bit weird but great fun!)

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

The nature of working on events is that plans change all the time, so this is something I'm usually prepared for. If the changes are worrying you give me a call and we'll find a way to make it work.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Yes I can, and it's free of charge. If you have any requests I recommend asking in advance, but if your venue has a decent wifi connection I can often get most things on the night.

How much time do you need to set up?

In ideal conditions (parking spot right by the door and no stairs) I can set up in about 30 minutes. I usually leave myself a little over an hour just to make absolutely sure everything is done on time though.

Can I pick the songs you play from the set list?

I usually recommend pointing out a few that you like and a few that you don't and letting me do the rest. My set lists are put together with all guests and age ranges in mind and leaving it up to me takes one more element of the weight of planning an event off your shoulders. Having said that, if you know exactly what you want then that's great too!

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes. PA system, lights, instruments and extension leads are all provided. The only things I need from you are electricity, some water (not too close to where the electricity is coming from) and a place to stand.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

Yes. As long as it's possible for one man and an acoustic guitar to play it I'm happy to learn one song for free, with an additional charge of £10 for every song thereafter.

Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Performance duration	Price
Short performance (up to 15 min)	£150
Up to 1 hour	£220
Up to 2 hours	£280
Up to 3 hours	£380

Personalised Music Message

Book me to create a unique music video for you to send to a friend as a gift. This could be a birthday message, first dance song for a wedding anniversary, or just your friend's favourite song to cheer them up.

£15

Secret Busker Proposal

I will wait in a location of your choice and play songs as an ordinary busker (subject to local licencing requirements). When you approach I'll begin playing a song of your choice while you get down on one knee and pop the question.

£250

Corporate event, background music for dinner or drinks

Up to two hours of live jazz, folk, pop and soul music that provides the perfect backing for a dinner or drinks event. Up to six hours on site. All equipment provided. Background playlist in between live sets so that there is always music playing throughout your event. Microphone available for speeches and presentations if requested in advance.

£280

Full day wedding

All your big day's music needs taken care of in one go! Includes... Up to twelve hours on site. All the music for your ceremony. (including music while your guests enter, the bridal entrance, during the signing of the register and as you leave the ceremony venue) A relaxed set of songs for your drinks reception. A livelier set for drinking and dancing in the evening. DJ playlist in between live sets. All equipment provided. Two songs learnt by request. A relaxed set of jazz, folk, instrumental and pop music during a dinner, drinks or a wedding reception. A more lively set of upbeat pop, rock and soul songs for the evening of your event.

£700

Reviews

39 verified reviews

Satisfaction

Professionalism

Communication

Punctuality

Verified

Simon M, 5 months ago

Amazing! Thanks Martin - the team loved you!

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Friedbert M, 6 months ago

Martin is a great musician. He made my birthday party really special.

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Adam B, 7 months ago

Brilliant. Could not have been better. Great music, singing and selection of songs.

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Maggie B, 9 months ago

Brilliant! Variety of music met all of our guests tastes, singing was amazing, he listened to all my wishes, you trulely won’t be disappointed if you choice Martin to perform at your special function, I would book him again in a heartbeat!!

Read all 30 reviews

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Jonathan G, 7 months ago

Hi Martin just wanted to say a massive thankyou for the music at our wedding. It sounded amazing and we have had alot of very positive comments from it. The bryan adams was sung beautifully and really fitted the occasion. Thanks again Jonathan and Emma

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Natasha F, 9 months ago

We booked Martin to sing at our wedding reception wow what can I say he was absolutely so friendly and professional throughout booking him amazing price and travelled a while to get to us which wasn't a problem for him he was happy with all requirements made from us. He was so friendly and chatty with all of my family and guests. His performance was outstanding everyone give me comments on him throughout the night to say how brilliant he was I would definitely recommend Martin thank you again Martin 5 stars from us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read all 11 reviews

31st May 2018

I have performed with Martin at over 400 gigs in the past ten years. He the absolute dictionary definition of 'professional'. Reliable, flexible, dedicated and an awful lot of fun to work with and be around! A born performer and one whose vast knowledge of songs would make him a brilliant choice for your event!

20th February 2018

Sean is a fantastic guitarist and modern professional. Adaptable to any environment or occasion. Comes with years of experience and knowledge, an absolute gent!