Book Finlay Balfour, Singing guitarist in Edinburgh

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From£160

1 hour

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The Best (Tina Turner Cover)

These Days (Jackson Browne Cover) - Finlay Balfour

Waiting for My Real Life to Begin

About Finlay Balfour

Solo performer with over 10 years of professional experience. 200+ satisfied audiences nationwide! #1 Finlay Balfour tribute act in UK!

3 of 10 photos

Singing guitarist

Edinburgh

Public liability insurance of £1 million

With over 10 years of professional performing experience, and a broad repertoire from Pop Punk to '60s Folk and a selection of original music, Finlay is sure to make any occasion unique and entertaining! He has carefully built a reputation for dynamic and exciting sets at a wide range of venues from quiet pubs to city-centre dance clubs and private events, so is confident he can bring something to any space. Starting his training as a musical theatre performer where he gained Grade 8 qualifications in Singing and Music Theatre, he began branching out into ensemble and solo music, before eventually becoming a full time solo performer! He has a particular focus on maximising the crowd experience through targeted setlists and tasteful exchanges, and enjoys taking requests to expand his repertoire and bring a sense of fun to a performance. He has extensive experience playing at events and venues across Scotland and is always keen to add to this. Get in touch for more information or to secure a booking!

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5 gigs

Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore

Musicianship

Genres:

Pop, Christmas, 1990s era music, 1980s era music, 1970s era music, 1960s era music, 1950s era music, Folk, Country, Folk rock, Traditional English folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Easy listening, Light music, Originals, Acoustic, Ambient pop, Americana, Funk rock, Disco, Covers, Hip Hop, Karaoke, R&B, Tribute, Top 40, Soul, Rock, Alternative rock, Britpop, Classic rock, Hard rock, Glam rock, Indie, Pop rock, Rock 'n' Roll, Punk rock, Progressive rock, Scottish music

See all genres

Instruments:

Singing guitarist, Singer, Guitar, Singer (baritone), Singer (tenor), Electric guitar

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Event types:

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

See all event types

Other skills:

Audio engineer, Composer, Lyricist, Sound technician, Songwriter, Producer, Actor, Musical comedy, Fluent improviser, Live looping, Ableton Live, Theory teaching, Singing teaching

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Song list

A Little Respect

Accidentally in Love

Africa

All These Things That I've Done

America

Angels

Baba O'Reilly

Babylon

Belter

Bonzo Goes to Bitburg

Born to Run

Both Sides Now

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Brown Eyed Girl

Bubbles

Build Me Up Buttercup

Caledonia

Californication

Canter

Castle on a Hill

Champagne Supernova

Chelsea Dagger

Chocolate Girl

Come on Eileen

Cracklin' Rosie

Crash Into Me

Dakota

Dancing in the Moonlight

Desperado

Diamonds in the Mud

Dignity

Does Your Mother Know

Domino

Don't Look Back Into the Sun

Don't Stop Believin'

Don't Think Twice It's Alright

Down Under

Drops of Jupiter

Easy

Edge of Seventeen

Elvis Ain't Dead

Every Teardrop is a Waterfall

Fascination

Fields of Gold

Folsom Prison Blues

Forever in Blue Jeans

Forever Young

Free Fallin'

Get Lucky

Gimme Gimme Gimme

Gimme Shelter

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Go Your Own Way

Good 4 U

Grace Kelly

Hand In My Pocket

Here Comes the Sun

Hey Laura

Hey Soul Sister

Highwayman

Holding Out For a Hero

Human

I Don't Feel Like Dadncin'

I Predict a Riot

I Want it That Way

I Will Wait

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

I'm On My Way

I'm Still Standing

I'm Yours

It Must Be Love

Just the Two of Us

Knowing Me Knowing You

Laid

Last Request

Late For the Sky

Layla

Let it Be

Life With You

Little Lion Man

Livin' La Vida Loca

Livin' On A Prayer

Loch Lomond

Lover of the Light

Magic

Many of Horror

Mrs Robinson

Naive

New Shoes

Not Nineteen Forever

On Causewayside

On The Road Again

Only the Good Die Young

Our House

Over and Done With

Pencil Full of Lead

Pompeii

Price Tag

Raise Your Glass

Rich Girl

Rio

Sally Cinnamon

Same Jeans

Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

Send Me On My Way

Seventeen Going Under

Sex on FIre

She's the One

Shine

Shotgun

Sit Down

Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

Somebody Told Me

Song

Suddenly I See

Sultans of Swing

Sweet Caroline

Tainted Love

Take on Me

Take Your Mama

Tears in Heaven

The A Team

The Best

The Joker and the Queen

The Sound of Silence

The Weight

The Whole of the Moon

There is a Life That Never Goes Out

There's a Touch

Thinking out Loud

Tiny Dancer

Town Called Malice

Uptown Girl

Use Somebody

Valerie

Viva La Vida

Wagon Wheel

Wannabe

Waterfall

When You Were Young

Where is the Love

Whiskey In the jar

Wild Horses

Wild Mountain Thyme

Wish You Were Here

Witchita Lineman

Wonderful Tonight

Wonderwall

Year 3000

Yellow

Yesterday

You Can't Always Get What You Want

You're Beautiful

Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

I always love when clients tell me how much I connect with the audience during a performance! I try to tailor my setlist to the vibe of the event so if someone requests a song not on my setlist, or the mood changes, I'm ready!

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

I've had the pleasure of working with a large number of venues, from small independent pubs to large theatres. These include Dakota and Novotel Hotels, the Alhambra Theatre Dunfermline, and The Edinburgh Fringe!

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

My playing style has been influenced by the likes of David Gilmour, Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton and Joni Mitchell, while my singing style leans towards my training in musical theatre. I hugely admire artists such as Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and Carole King, and I try to capture their stage presence, authenticity, and sense of fun in my performances.

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

Probably the Edinburgh Fringe.

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

I try to be as flexible as possible with clients, so don't worry if things change after you've booked! Be sure to let me know as soon as you can and I will try my best to accommodate!

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

Absolutely! All prices include supplementary music between my sets. If you'd like a DJ service after the final set, this can be purchased for an additional fee.

How much time do you need to set up?

I usually expect to be ready to play after a 30 minute set up, but this varies by event type and location.

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

Absolutely! You and your guests are very welcome to ask me to play anything from my song list, and I try my best to accommodate requests outside of this also!

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes! I tailor the equipment I bring to the event's requirements, so no additional equipment is required!

Can you learn song requests before the event?

I'm always very happy to learn new songs for clients, but if a song isn't on my song list there's a good chance I already know it! If there's a particularly special song you'd like me to perform that I don't already know, then there is a small rehearsal fee depending on time required.

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)	£100
Up to 1 hour	£160
Up to 2 hours	£250
Up to 3 hours	£325

Custom Message

A unique gift for someone on a special day e.g. birthday, anniversary, engagement, retirement etc. Price includes a 5 minute recorded video of: - A song of your choice performed by me especially for the occasion - A short message for the recipient which you can help write!

£30

Birthday Party

All you need for the best birthday party ever! Price includes: - 2x 45 minute sets - All Equipment, PA for up to 100 guests - Set up and tear down at venue - A happy birthday rendition!

£300

Wedding ceremony + Drinks reception + Dinner

- Recorded Music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave. Playlist can be customised. Total time = 1 hour - 2 x 45 min performances at the drinks reception. - 2 x 45 min performances as dinner is being served.

£400

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

Finlay Balfour

5 out of 5

3 verified reviews

Reviews

5 out of 5

Finlay recently played at an event we hosted for 100 dinner guests. He played a mixture of songs and really worked with the room to get everyone tapping along. He is friendly, polite and arrived prompt to ensure he was ready to begin. I would highly recommend him!

5 out of 5

Finlay is a fantastic musician and an absolutely must have at any party/event! Recently had him play at a surprise birthday party and everyone loved him! Great range of songs to suit any audience and guaranteed to get the room going! His cover of Pencil Full of Lead is absolutely brilliant!

Read all 3 reviews