Live music for funerals and memorials.
A small, careful service — often just one or two songs at the ceremony, the eulogy moment, the committal, or the wake. Learned properly, delivered sensitively, never imposing on the day. Short-notice bookings welcome. UK-wide from Wigan.
Music across the day.
The ceremony
Live vocals during the ceremony — entering the chapel, the eulogy moment, leaving. Often a song from the deceased's favourites, or a piece the family has chosen for its meaning. Quietly delivered, never theatrical.
Best with: Acoustic with guitar or SoloThe eulogy interlude
A single song between readings or after the eulogy. Gives the family a moment to gather themselves, or honours someone's memory with a song they loved. Often the most meaningful moment of the day.
Best with: Acoustic or A-cappellaThe committal
A song at the committal — graveside or at the crematorium goodbye. The hardest moment of the day for many families. Performed simply, with as much silence as song.
Best with: A-cappella or AcousticThe celebration of life
A wake or celebration of life that wants gentle live music rather than a playlist. Songs the deceased loved, songs the family chose. Quiet and present, never imposing on the gathering.
Best with: Acoustic with guitarThree ways to fit the service.
A-cappella · voice alone
The most stripped-back option. One voice, no instrumentation. For the committal moment, for hymns at a graveside, for songs where the family wants nothing else competing with the voice. Sometimes the most powerful choice.
Acoustic with guitar
Voice and a single guitar. Warm, intimate, present without being theatrical. The most-booked setup for chapel ceremonies, celebrations of life, and wakes. Suits almost any song the family might choose.
Solo with backing tracks
Voice with subtle production behind — for modern memorial services and celebrations of life where the family wants something fuller. A complete sound for songs that benefit from it. Still tasteful, never overproduced.
How I work.
The things that matter for this kind of booking — sensitivity, short notice, working with the funeral director, leaving silence where silence belongs.
- 01
Sensitivity to the family's wishes
The brief is the brief. No upselling, no pushing for "more than one song" if one song is what you want. The day belongs to the family — my job is to fit into it as you've planned it.
- 02
Specific songs, learned properly
A favourite song, an unusual choice, a piece with meaning to your family. Learned with care — rehearsal clip sent before the day if there's time, so you know exactly how it will sound. Modern songs, traditional hymns, anything in between.
- 03
Discreet venue liaison
I work directly with funeral directors, celebrants, vicars, and chapel staff — sound check times, where to stand, when to come in. No fuss for the family to manage on a day that's already heavy.
- 04
Short-notice bookings welcome
Funerals are often arranged in days, not weeks. The diary is opened to accommodate where possible. Even bookings made just a few days out can usually be arranged — get in touch and we'll see what's possible.
- 05
PA where needed, unplugged when not
Some chapels and small ceremonies prefer unplugged voice — no microphones, no speakers, just the voice in the room. Larger venues sometimes need a small PA. I bring what's needed, or use the venue's system if there is one.
How this usually works.
You get in touch.
By the form below, email, or phone — whichever is easiest. Tell me what you can about the service: date, venue, and the song(s) you\'re considering. No pressure on details — even a date and a venue is enough to start.
A short call, if helpful.
A 10-minute conversation if you\'d like to talk it through. Some families want to discuss song choices; others want to keep contact brief and written. Both are fine.
The booking confirmed.
A simple written confirmation — date, location, song(s), fee. Deposit terms relaxed for short-notice bookings. The contract is written to accommodate plan changes without penalty.
The day itself.
I arrive in good time, set up quietly, work with the funeral director or celebrant on timing. The song is performed as agreed. After the moment passes, I\'m gone — no lingering, no fuss.
Where I sing.
From small chapel ceremonies to crematorium services, churches to woodland burials, family homes to function rooms. Wherever the service is held, I can almost certainly be there.
Things people ask.
Honest answers to the questions families ask most often — pricing, short notice, song choices, religious vs secular ceremonies, how it all works.
How much does a funeral or memorial singer cost?
Pricing reflects that these are usually short, focused bookings rather than full-evening performances. A-cappella from £350. Acoustic with guitar from £450. Solo with backing tracks from £550. These cover the ceremony and the song(s) you've chosen. Longer wakes or full-day coverage gets quoted alongside the booking — no hidden costs.
Can you do short-notice bookings?
Yes — funerals are often arranged on tight timescales. Bookings made within a week of the date are sometimes possible if the diary allows. Get in touch as soon as you know the date, even if details are still being finalised, and I'll let you know straight away if I can be there.
What songs can you sing? Will you learn ours?
Yes — I'll learn the song you've chosen. Modern songs, traditional hymns, jazz standards, anything in between. If there's time before the day, I'll send a rehearsal clip so you know exactly how it'll sound. If it's a song I haven't sung before, I'll be honest about that — sometimes a different singer is the right call, and I'll say so.
What if our chosen song isn't a typical "funeral song"?
That's often the most meaningful choice. Pop songs, rock songs, songs from films, songs from a specific era — whatever meant something to the person being remembered. Families increasingly choose songs that reflect who someone was, not what the form-book says a funeral song should be. I'll sing it as it was meant to be sung.
Religious vs secular ceremonies — does it matter?
No — both work. Church services, Catholic mass with hymns, humanist celebrations, secular committals at the crematorium. I work to whatever shape the day takes. For specific religious requirements (Catholic mass settings, Jewish traditions, etc), tell me what's needed and I'll work with your clergy or celebrant directly.
Do we need to provide a PA?
Most chapels and crematoria have small in-house systems that work fine for voice and guitar. Some are unplugged-only — that also works, especially for a-cappella. For larger venues or family homes, I can bring a small PA. Just tell me where the service is and I'll know what's needed.
How long do you stay? Just the ceremony, or the wake too?
Either. Many families book me just for the ceremony — one or two songs at the most meaningful moments. Others want continuous live music at the wake afterwards. Either is fine; the fee adjusts to the length of the booking. Tell me what would help and I'll quote accordingly.
What if we change our minds about something?
Plans change at this kind of time, and that's understood. Song changes, timing adjustments, switching from one part of the day to another — all manageable up to the day itself. The contract is written to accommodate this without penalty. Just keep me informed.
How do we go ahead?
Get in touch by the form below, email, or phone — whichever is easiest. Tell me the date, the venue, and the song you're thinking of (if you know yet). I'll come back to you the same day where possible. From there, it's a short call if you'd like, a written confirmation, and the day itself. No pressure on details.
Other ways to book Lauren.
Looking for a different kind of booking? Browse the other event types — same approach, different rooms.
If you\'d like to talk.
By the form, by email, or by phone — whichever is easiest. Tell me what you can; I\'ll come back to you the same day where possible. No pressure on details, no long forms, no sales calls.