# Finn Barnaby

> Finn Barnaby is a full-time wedding and events pianist based near York, North Yorkshire, playing nationwide across the UK. Known as "Pianist of The People", he plays popular hits from the 1920s to the 2020s and, between sets, mingles with guests to collect 50 to 60 song requests, then plays them in the next set.

## Pages

- [Home](https://finnbarnaby.co.uk/): the request run, a decade-by-decade song sampler, showreel video, reviews, venues and prices
- [About](https://finnbarnaby.co.uk/about): Finn's story, what to expect on the day, recognition and frequently asked questions
- [Contact](https://finnbarnaby.co.uk/contact): enquiry form to check availability for a date

## Key facts

- Location: Based near York, playing nationwide. Travel priced by distance.
- Events: weddings (ceremony, drinks reception, wedding breakfast), corporate events, conference dinners, Christmas parties, birthdays, anniversaries, garden parties, tea dances.
- Repertoire: popular hits from the past 100 years plus blues and cocktail jazz, adapted to the mood of the room. Artists range from Louis Armstrong to Lewis Capaldi and Etta James to Ed Sheeran.
- Signature: the request run. Finn gets up from the piano on the interval, chats to guests, collects their requests and plays them in the following set.
- Sets: up to 2 hours without a break. Bookings from 30 minutes to 6 hours.
- Venues: up to 50 a year.
- Equipment: own compact electric piano with stand and cover, PA system, PAT tested. Needs a 2m x 1m space and one power socket. Can play a venue piano if in good condition and tuned.
- Outdoors: yes, including garden and woodland ceremonies.
- Quotes: a date and postcode are enough. Finn checks timings and logistics with every venue.
- Insurance: £1 million public liability.
- Weddings: video consultation at the piano to choose and arrange music for the aisle walk, signing and exit.
- Recognition: Hitched Wedding Awards 2025 Winner; Top 10 booked musician of 2023 (Encore Musicians); Customer Choice Award and top 10% of highest rated pianists (Alive Network).

## Prices (starting prices, from the Encore Musicians listing)

- Wedding ceremony: £245
- Drinks reception: £350
- Ceremony and drinks reception: £500 (most popular)
- Up to 1 hour: £245
- Up to 2 hours: £350
- Up to 3 hours: £475

## Ratings

- Encore Musicians: 5.0 out of 5 (141 reviews)
- Alive Network: 5.0 out of 5 (88 reviews)
- Hitched: 5.0 out of 5 (100% recommend)

## Venues played

Allerton Castle, Howsham Hall, Carlton Towers, Newby Hall, Sledmere House, Birdsall House, Duncombe Park, Hazlewood Castle, Goldsborough Hall, Ravenswick Hall, The Priest’s House, Danby Castle, Rossington Hall, Norwood Park, Cave Castle, Rise Hall, Riseborough Hall, Merchant Taylors’ Hall, Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, The Grand Lodge at Oaklands, Thirsk Lodge Barns, National Centre for Early Music, Holmfirth Vineyard, The Normans, Lazaat Hotel, Bosun’s, York, Hackness Grange, The Farrier, Cayton, Gosford House, Bowcliffe Hall, The Grand at Trafalgar Square, Burtonfields Hall, Wynyard Hall, Rushpool Hall, Easby Hall, Sandburn Hall, Hidden River Barn, The Oakwood at Ryther, Ellingham Hall, Le Petit Château, Hodsock Priory, Roundthorn Country House, The Beverley Barn, Whitworth Locke, The Tithe Barn, The Castlefield Rooms, Branston Golf and Country Club, 315 Bar and Restaurant, Rudding Park, Sneaton Castle, Bunny Hill Weddings, Sandhole Oak Barn, Riverlands, Dine, St Julians Club, Cripps and Co

## Selected reviews (all 5 out of 5)

- "You will not find a better pianist." Dave H., Wedding, Goldsborough Hall, Knaresborough
- "He responded to spontaneous requests with a Yes every time." Nick S., Wedding, Soho, London
- "My Grandma was your biggest fan." G. and M., Wedding, Howsham Hall, Malton
- "An absolute endless talent that had the entire room singing along." V. and Z., Wedding breakfast, The Grand Lodge at Oaklands, Driffield
- "I have no idea how he flawlessly plays so many requests, but he does!" E. and G., Wedding, Allerton Castle, Knaresborough
- "I was in tears from the moment I heard you start to play our aisle song." Alicia W., Wedding, Goldsborough Hall, Knaresborough
- "After listening to it for 30 seconds in our consultation he immediately started playing an amazing wedding version of the song." K. and K., Wedding, The Coniston Hotel, Skipton
- "All our guests loved that you came round and asked for requests, it made them feel like they were adding to our day!" Jay and Pippa, Wedding, Danby Castle, Whitby
- "The atmosphere created by Finn’s performance was nothing short of magical." Nick Z., International conference dinner, Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, York
- "He has an eye for detail which makes you feel completely at ease and he absolutely nailed it on the day." Z. and K., Wedding, Gosford House, East Lothian
- "Finn is our go-to man for piano playing here at Birdsall House." The Birdsall House team, Venue review, Birdsall House, Malton
- "What sets Finn apart, is his approachability and genuine kindness." I. and J., Wedding, Carlton Towers, Selby
- "The visitors really enjoyed his performance and loved that they were able to request their favourite songs also." Beth B., Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, Newby Hall, Ripon
- "The range of music he could play was more than we could’ve imagined, from Disney songs to Green Day." Abbie G., Wedding, National Centre for Early Music, York
- "Wish we could get married again so he could play for us twice!" Steph H., Wedding, North Yorkshire
- "His music created a wonderful ambience during the evening and his talents were greatly appreciated by our guests." Sum and Substance, Corporate event, Northumberland Avenue, London
- "The best decision ever was booking Finn Barnaby." Eleanor H., Wedding reception, Allerton Castle, Knaresborough
- "After being let down quite late he stepped in and did a fabulous job!" K. and J., Wedding, Hazlewood Castle, Tadcaster
- "Has a calming nature (which helps those flustered couples!)" Letty, owner, Venue review, Thirsk Lodge Barns, Thirsk
- "Finn also went above and beyond and played his own piano version of an Arctic Monkeys song we had requested for our exit music." Victoria H., Wedding, Birdsall House, Malton
- "Thank you Finn for an amazing two evenings of entertainment, it really made the event." Matt M., Birthday party, Easby Hall, Richmond
- "Everyone complimented how perfect the ceremony was which was credit to your wonderful skills." S. and D., Wedding ceremony, Bowcliffe Hall, Leeds
- "Whether he likes it or not, he is family to everyone that was there that day." Nicholas A., Wedding, flying in from Texas, The Priest’s House, Bolton Abbey

## Popular requests by decade

- 1920s: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Fats Waller); Puttin’ On the Ritz (Harry Richman); Sweet Georgia Brown (Ben Bernie); Makin’ Whoopee (Eddie Cantor)
- 1930s: Cheek to Cheek (Fred Astaire); The Way You Look Tonight (Fred Astaire); Over the Rainbow (Judy Garland); Sing, Sing, Sing (Benny Goodman)
- 1940s: La Vie en Rose (Édith Piaf); Sentimental Journey (Doris Day); Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (The Andrews Sisters); Chattanooga Choo Choo (Glenn Miller)
- 1950s: That’s Amore (Dean Martin); Unchained Melody (Al Hibbler); Blue Suede Shoes (Elvis Presley); Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry)
- 1960s: Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley); At Last (Etta James); Moon River (Audrey Hepburn); What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
- 1970s: Dancing Queen (ABBA); Isn’t She Lovely (Stevie Wonder); Your Song (Elton John); September (Earth, Wind and Fire)
- 1980s: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Whitney Houston); Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey); Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen); Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears)
- 1990s: I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Aerosmith); Wonderwall (Oasis); Basket Case (Green Day); Kiss Me (Sixpence None the Richer)
- 2000s: Mardy Bum (Arctic Monkeys); Mr. Brightside (The Killers); Nuvole Bianche (Ludovico Einaudi); Party in the U.S.A. (Miley Cyrus)
- 2010s: A Thousand Years (Christina Perri); Perfect (Ed Sheeran); All of Me (John Legend); Shallow (Lady Gaga)
- 2020s: Forget Me (Lewis Capaldi); As It Was (Harry Styles); Flowers (Miley Cyrus); Espresso (Sabrina Carpenter)

## FAQ

### Does Finn bring his own piano?

Absolutely. A smart, compact electric piano with a built-in stand and a felt cover, plus an amplifier suitable for any occasion, large or small. All he needs is a two-metre by one-metre spot and a single plug for electricity.

### Can Finn play outside?

Yes, happily. Garden ceremonies, lawns, terraces and woodland clearings are all fair game, and Finn can move from indoors to outdoors between sets. All he needs is a single plug for electricity.

### What does Finn need to know about the venue?

Just a postcode for an initial quote. After that Finn always touches base with your venue to cross-check timings and logistics, so you don’t have to.

### Can Finn play the venue’s piano instead?

As long as it is in good condition and in tune, of course. There are few things nicer than a proper grand in a big old hall.

### Can we choose the songs?

Choose as many or as few as you like. For ceremonies we pick the aisle walk, the signing and the exit together on a video call while Finn sits at the piano. Everything else, you can leave to him and your guests.

### What if our song isn’t in his repertoire?

If it is a popular hit from the last hundred years, the chances are Finn already plays it. If not, send it over and he will learn it. Couples have had Aerosmith down the aisle and Arctic Monkeys on the way out.

### How long can Finn play for?

Anything from thirty minutes to six hours. Each set runs up to two hours without a break, so there is never an awkward silence.

### How long does set-up take?

About fifteen minutes. Twenty-five if you catch him for a chat.

### Does Finn travel?

Finn is based near York and plays nationwide, from Kent to East Lothian. Travel is priced by distance.

### How far in advance should we book?

Anywhere from a year to a day. Finn has stepped in the day before a wedding more than once, but popular summer Saturdays go early.

## Booking

Check availability at https://finnbarnaby.co.uk/contact with the date, occasion, venue and any must-play songs.