How do you find a band in 2025?

[crippsy42]

Hey all,

I'm returning to my bass after a while away trying to organise my life...I'm 60+ and looking to play covers etc - no aspirations for fame and fortune!! How do you all find bands/musicians to play with? I'm on BandMate and BandFriend but nothing seems to be resonating at the mo. Any recommendations or thoughts ?

[Wombat]

I've used joinmyband successfully. Err and unsuccessfully. But if you take the rough with the smooth mostly a happy experience.

[Len_derby]

My advice is to get out there in the real world. Open-mics, jam nights, local gigs. Talk to strangers. Offer your services to solo performers. Let people know that you’re looking for a band opportunity. Good luck! 

[Franticsmurf]

In my area (S. Wales) there are a few Facebook groups along the lines of 'Seeking band members' and that's how I found my last two side projects.

[BigRedX]

2 hours ago, Len_derby said:

My advice is to get out there in the real world. Open-mics, jam nights, local gigs. Talk to strangers. Offer your services to solo performers. Let people know that you’re looking for a band opportunity. Good luck! 

 

This.

[Supernaut]

Open mic has always been a miss for me. Just full of acoustic singer songwriters looking for a backing band. Bandmix and JMB have been helpful. 

[Geek99]

Playing along with them can be fun, and a learning experience 

[Lozz196]

Local gigs, chat with the bands and make yourself known as a bassist available for work. 

[Dan Dare]

13 hours ago, Wombat said:

I've used joinmyband successfully. Err and unsuccessfully. But if you take the rough with the smooth mostly a happy experience.

 

This. Before anyone says it, I know you'll probably have to kiss a few frogs before meeting a handsome prince, but that's just life. Perseverance brings reward. You might try Bandmix, too. It costs, but isn't expensive.

 

Attending jam nights, etc, as others suggest, can be helpful, too.

[Guest]

When I previously lost a band I found the following poster helped:

 

Edited May 7, 2025 by chriswareham

[Marvin]

I've recently got into a new band. Had a couple of false starts getting to this band. 

 

It's all been a mix of word of mouth, social media and sites like JoinMyBand.

 

Use them all. They all have mixed results.

 

The only route that has never been successful for me have been jam and open mic nights.

[Woodinblack]

My last two proper bands were JoinMyBand, another one due to people who knew me for the first band, and a band I have just joined looked me up on bandmix (but I can't reply on that so I did a search for them and saw them advertising on my local facebook music scene group)

[Geek99]

1 hour ago, Marvin said:

I've recently got into a new band. Had a couple of false starts getting to this band. 

 

It's all been a mix of word of mouth, social media and sites like JoinMyBand.

 

Use them all. They all have mixed results.

 

The only route that has never been successful for me have been jam and open mic nights.

I’ve had lots of conversations about it at OM and jams specifically because guitards and drummers noted my bass. 
lady who runs my local night found herself a band out of people who’d got up to play, so it can work 

[tauzero]

The current covers band was through Joinmyband, the current originals band was through Facebook when someone I'd met on a couple of open mics was looking, and the previous covers band was through open mic nights. I'm also doing a dep in June which I got through an open mic.

[Russ]

JMB seems to be the go-to these days. Gumtree used to be reasonably good too, but I think people have gone off it in recent years. 

 

I do kinda miss the days when the one and only place you ever needed to look was Loot.   

[chris_b]

16 minutes ago, Russ said:

I do kinda miss the days when the one and only place you ever needed to look was Loot. . . .

 

. . . . and before that Melody Maker was the place to go.

[chris_b]

I have managed to be a member of at least one band since 1986, when I answered my final bass wanted ad. All those bands came through word of mouth and personal recommendation.

 

You have to meet people and cultivate contacts.

 

Jam nights would be a good place to start. We see people attending our jam night and, after awhile, getting together to form bands.

Edited May 8, 2025 by chris_b

[Stub Mandrel]

Once upon a time, long, long ago, you could put your phone number on a piece of paper and pin it to a noticeboard in your local music shop!

[Wombat]

Now that’s only reserved for banjo lessons 😂

[Stub Mandrel]

4 hours ago, Wombat said:

Now that’s only reserved for banjo lessons 😂

 

I am within a week or so of completing my banjo restoration project.

 

It seems that I only need to learn four 'rolls' (that are easy enough on guitar) and a handful of chord shapes and I will be a fully qualified bluegrass musician.

[dmccombe7]

I'm on the Join my Band and Bandmix mix. Had success with both.

Also looked at local Facebook groups. There's generally one or two groups in your area. I just searched FB for musicians wanted in my area. 

Once you get a foot in the door and you're reliable and friendly enough you will find offers coming in from bands you meet looking for a bass player. I'm 65 and up until recently was in 3 completely different band styles. Glam Rock, punk rock  and classic rock but was all a bit much and cut it back to the Glam band which is more successful.

Don't be afraid to take on a band that's not what you listen to. It's a foot in the door 

All the very best with it. 

Dave

[tauzero]

16 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Once upon a time, long, long ago, you could put your phone number on a piece of paper and pin it to a noticeboard in your local music shop!

 

That's still a thing, as is the noticeboard at the local rehearsal studio.

[jazzyvee]

I'm gonna try that then.