Jonathan Quigley
Valerie (Live at Clyde's)
Overview
I've always been that guy at the party with the guitar--the one who can't resist picking up and playing and getting people singing along. That passion evolved into decades of experience performing at venues ranging from neighborhood bars to larger establishments and private events. My setlists are built for connection-- songs people know, love, and can't help but sing along with. Whether I'm playing for a packed crowd or a cozy room, my goal is simple: create a great vibe and keep the energy alive through music that resonates.
If you're looking for live music that feels personal, familiar, and fun, I'm your guy. Here's to a great party.
Schedule
Reviews
6 reviews
Cristina P.
September 27, 2026Played so beautifully
Hes very professional. He walked in, set up and never asked us for anything. He just knew what to do. His music choices were perfect for a foundation event. Upbeat, lowkey, right in the middle. Everyone was saying they wanted to hire him for their next event. Absolutely hire Jonathan Quigley. He will take the stress out of the music part when planning a party.
Hired as: Guitarist, Singing Guitarist
Jonathan Quigley
Thank you so much for this kind review! It was a pleasure playing your foundation event, and I'm glad the music struck the right balance: upbeat without getting in the way of conversation. My goal is always to make the music one less thing for the host to think about, so hearing that it felt effortless means a lot.
I really appreciate the recommendation, and I'd be happy to play for you or your guests' future events. Thanks again for having me!
Molly R.
September 24, 2026Talented & Accommodating Musician
We had the pleasure of hiring John for a corporate rooftop reception, and he did a great job providing music that fit with our event theme! The music created the perfect atmosphere for the evening—professional, polished, and engaging without overpowering conversation. Our guests really enjoyed the performance, and John was wonderful to work with from start to finish. I would highly recommend him for corporate events or any occasion!
Hired as: Guitarist, Singing Guitarist
Jonathan Quigley
Thank you so much for the kind words! It was a pleasure playing your rooftop reception, and I'm glad the music matched your event theme and kept the right atmosphere without competing with conversation. Working with a team that communicates clearly makes all the difference, and I appreciate you having me.
Thanks again for the recommendation. I'd love to play for you and your guests at a future event!
Dan L.
August 11, 2026All Around Talent and Great Guy - Highly Recommend
We hired Jonathan to perform as a solo acoustic guitarist/singer at our wedding welcome party and he was fantastic. We have seen him play many times at Clyde's in Georgetown where he plays a regular show on Thursday nights. Can't say enough good things about Jonathan. For starters, he is very reliable and such a nice guy. He brings all the equipment and knows how to make it sound great. His song selection is incredible -- he knows it all. Old, new, fast, slow, anything you want to hear, Jonathan knows it. He showed me one of his many set lists and I was blown away by the magnitude and range of music. And if a song is not on there, he will pull it up on his iPad and play it live and make it sound like the album. He is a fantastic guitarist and has an amazing voice. To top it off, he's a performer as well. I would hire Jonathan for any type of gig you could possibly want, and he would go above and beyond. Highly recommend.
Hired as: Guitarist, Singer/Songwriter, Singing Guitarist
Jonathan Quigley
Thank you so much for such a generous review! It was an honor to be part of your wedding welcome party, and it means a lot that you've been coming out to see me at Clyde's on Thursday nights too. Regulars like you make those shows something I look forward to all week.
I'm glad the setlist range came through. I love being able to say yes to a request, and it's always a fun challenge to make a song sound right on the spot. Congratulations again on your wedding, and thank you for trusting me to help kick off the celebration. I'd be happy to play for you and your guests again anytime!
The S. P. P.
November 12, 2026In Perfect Harmony!
Jonathan Quigley's performance took our event from just another fundraiser, to a night that people will be talking about for months! This guy knows how to read a room and play the songs people want to hear and even some they didn't know they needed to hear. I highly recommend Mr. Quigley for any event that needs an injection of heart and soul by a talented professional.
Hired as: Cover Band, Guitarist, Singing Guitarist
Milo &.
October 13, 2026Amazing Performer!
Jonathan never disappoints, he is timely, friendly and very talented - I have hired him on two occasions and would do so again.
Hired as: Singing Guitarist
Jonathan Quigley
Thanks for the wonderful review! It means a lot that you've booked me twice. Performing for such a friendly crowd, especially the tail-wagging ones, is always a treat. Can't wait for the next show!
Booking information
Price range: $400 – $750 per event
Languages: English
Gig length: 120 - 600 minutes
Insurance: $2,000,000 - Commercial General Liability, Products - Completed Ops, Property Damage, Medical
What to expect
If you hired Jonathan for your event, you'd get a solo acoustic guitarist and vocalist who reads the room and adjusts in real time, not a fixed setlist played the same way at every gig. He arrives early, sets up quietly, and never needs anything from you or your staff: no stage plot demands, no power requirements (his gear runs on battery), and no hand-holding. You give him a sense of the event, and he takes it from there.
Musically, expect an extensive range spanning decades and genres: classic rock, indie, singer-songwriter staples, R&B, and modern hits, all delivered live on acoustic guitar with vocals. If there's a song that's not already in his rotation, he can often pull it up and perform it live so it still sounds true to the original. That flexibility means he can shift the energy throughout the event: warm and unobtrusive during a cocktail hour or dinner, then more upbeat and engaging if the moment calls for it, all without ever overpowering conversation.
For event planners, that translates into one less variable to manage. Jonathan has spent years performing everything from weddings and corporate receptions to community fundraisers and a Presidential Inaugural Ball, so he knows how to calibrate for the room: keeping a rooftop reception polished and professional, keeping a crowd at an annual crab feast entertained for hours, or setting a warm, celebratory tone for a wedding welcome party. Clients consistently describe him as reliable, low-maintenance, and easy to work with from booking through the final song.
In short: hire Jonathan, and the music becomes the part of the event you don't have to think about.
About
Jonathan Quigley — Solo Acoustic Guitarist & Vocalist
Jonathan Quigley brings over two decades of stage experience to every event, from intimate wedding welcome parties to corporate rooftop receptions to a Presidential Inaugural Ball. Whether performing solo with acoustic guitar and voice, or pulling from a catalog that spans decades and genres, Jonathan has one goal: take the stress out of the music so you can enjoy your event.
Jonathan's musical journey started young. As a teenager, he won multiple regional singing competitions, performed at the historic Eastman Theatre in Rochester, NY, and played a conga solo at Carnegie Hall. From there, he spent years fronting and playing in alternative and indie rock bands across the New York and DC music scenes, cutting his teeth at legendary clubs like DC9, Rock and Roll Hotel, and the late Velvet Lounge in DC, and the Lion's Den and the iconic (now-closed) CBGB in New York. That circuit built the range and stage instincts that still define his performances today.
One of the highlights of his career came as a singer and keyboardist with WMD and the Bad Ass Brass Band, a large funk and R&B orchestra that played some of DC's most iconic stages, including the Black Cat, and performed at an Official Obama Inaugural Ball. That experience sharpened his ability to read a room and keep a crowd engaged, no matter the size of the event.
Today, Jonathan is a fixture of the DC music scene as the regular Thursday night acoustic performer at Clyde's in Georgetown, where audiences return week after week for his mix of old and new, fast and slow. His song selection is famous among his clients: with an ever-growing setlist spanning decades of music, if he doesn't already know a request, he'll pull it up live and make it sound like the record.
Jonathan is also a practicing attorney, and he brings that same reliability and professionalism to every gig. He's performed in Law Rocks charity concerts with fellow lawyer-musicians at the 9:30 Club, and he's the go-to acoustic act for organizations like the ARA MD, who bring him back year after year for their Annual Crab Feast at the Crab Deck on Kent Island.
Corporate clients trust Jonathan to set the right tone for their events, whether that means low-key background music for a reception or high-energy crowd engagement for a company celebration. He's self-sufficient, professional, and low-maintenance: he arrives, sets up, and never needs anything from the host. He runs entirely on battery power, so venues don't need to worry about power access either.
From weddings to corporate parties to community fundraisers, Jonathan Quigley delivers a polished, versatile performance backed by a lifetime of musical experience. If you want music that fits the moment, every time, Jonathan is ready to make your event unforgettable.
Additional booking notes
Technical Requirements
Jonathan is fully self-sufficient and brings everything needed to perform: guitar, amplification, and a complete PA system suitable for most event spaces. His entire rig runs on battery power, so no access to electrical outlets is required, making him a flexible option for outdoor events, rooftops, gardens, and other non-traditional performance spaces.
Space: A modest performance area is sufficient — no stage is required, though one is welcome if available.
Power: None required. All equipment is battery-powered.
Sound: Jonathan provides his own PA system and microphone. For larger venues or events with a DJ or house sound system already in place, he can run directly into existing sound equipment if preferred.
Lighting: No special lighting is required. Ambient or existing event lighting is sufficient.
Setup/breakdown: Setup is quick and unobtrusive, and typically doesn't require a formal sound check.
Breaks: For multi-hour events, Jonathan plays in sets, typically around 45 minutes on and 15 minutes off, and can provide background music during breaks if requested.
Other: No greenroom, changing area, or catering is required, though both are always appreciated for longer events.
Services offered
Set list
60s Classics
Twist and Shout - The Beatles
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
My Girl - The Temptations
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
Louie Louie - The Kingsmen
House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
Runaround Sue - Dion
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
Gimme Some Lovin' - Spencer Davis Group
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel
The Weight - The Band
Groovin' - The Rascals
Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival
70s Rock & Soul
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Piano Man - Billy Joel
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - Billy Joel
Hotel California - Eagles
Take It Easy - Eagles
Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon
American Pie - Don McLean
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
Night Moves - Bob Seger
Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
Jumpin' Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones
Dead Flowers - The Rolling Stones
Little Help From my Friends - Joe Cocker
Feelin' Alright - Joe Cocker
The Joker - Steve Miller Band
Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band
Listen to the Music - The Doobie Brothers
Africa - Toto
Ramblin' Man - The Allman Brothers Band
I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick
Surrender - Cheap Trick
Dancing Queen - ABBA
More Than a Woman - Bee Gees
September - Earth, Wind & Fire
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Just The Two of Us - Bill Withers
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Use Me - Bill Withers
I Shot The Sheriff - Bob Marley
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
80s Rock & Pop
Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Sweet Child o' Mine - Guns N' Roses
Every Breath You Take - The Police
Message in a Bottle - The Police
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Human Nature - Michael Jackson
Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson
Kiss - Prince
Little Red Corvette - Prince
Purple Rain - Prince
Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
The Final Countdown - Europe
Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard
Photograph - Def Leppard
Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
Jack and Diane - John Mellencamp
Small Town - John Mellencamp
Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen
Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen
867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
We Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me - Billy Joel
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Take On Me - a-ha
Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
## 90s Rock, Pop & Alternative
Wonderwall - Oasis
Champagne Supernova - Oasis
Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
Losing My Religion - R.E.M.
Man on the Moon - R.E.M.
Better Man - Pearl Jam
Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
Plush - Stone Temple Pilots
Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Give It Away - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
No Rain - Blind Melon
Basket Case - Green Day
When I Come Around - Green Day
Welcome To Paradise - Green Day
What's Up? - 4 Non Blondes
Zombie - The Cranberries
Linger - The Cranberries
Dreams - The Cranberries
Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
How's It Going to Be - Third Eye Blind
Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
Name - Goo Goo Dolls
Slide - Goo Goo Dolls
Buddy Holly - Weezer
Say It Ain't So - Weezer
Santeria - Sublime
What I Got - Sublime
No Diggity - Blackstreet
Waterfalls - TLC
No Scrubs - TLC
I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
Bye Bye Bye - NSYNC
Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
MMMBop - Hanson
Ironic - Alanis Morissette
Hand in My Pocket - Alanis Morissette
Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer
Genie in a Bottle - Christina Aguilera
Creep - Radiohead
High And Dry - Radiohead
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega
The Sign - Ace of Base
All Star - Smash Mouth
Return of the Mack - Mark Morrison
Like a Prayer - Madonna
Freedom - George Michael
Faith - George Michael
Everybody (Backstreet's Back) - Backstreet Boys
Classic Country
Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks
Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band
Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash
Jolene - Dolly Parton
9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
Islands in the Stream - Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers
The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
On the Road Again - Willie Nelson
Strawberry Wine - Deana Carter
Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) - Big & Rich
Today's Country
Fast Car - Luke Combs
Body Like a Back Road - Sam Hunt
I Remember Everything - Zach Bryan
Something in the Orange - Zach Bryan
Revival - Zach Bryan
Feathered Indians - Tyler Childers
Whitehouse Road - Tyler Childers
R&B, Soul & Motown
At Last - Etta James
A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Easy - Commodores
Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
Ain't Too Proud to Beg - The Temptations
Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin
Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars
Just the Way You Are - Bruno Mars
Locked Out of Heaven - Bruno Mars
Marry You - Bruno Mars
Treasure - Bruno Mars
Pop, Dance & Party Anthems
I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
Party in the U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus
Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
Shallow - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Someone Like You - Adele
Firework - Katy Perry
Roar - Katy Perry
Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
California Gurls - Katy Perry
I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas
Shut Up and Dance - Walk the Moon
Blinding Lights - The Weeknd
Can't Stop the Feeling! - Justin Timberlake
Sunday Morning - Maroon 5
This Love - Maroon 5
Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Style - Taylor Swift
22 - Taylor Swift
Blank Space - Taylor Swift
Shape of You - Ed Sheeran
Perfect - Ed Sheeran
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
Castle On a Hill - Ed Sheeran
Flowers - Miley Cyrus
As It Was - Harry Styles
Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles
Good 4 U - Olivia Rodrigo
Happy - Pharrell Williams
Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams
Cheap Thrills - Sia
Chandelier - Sia
Bar Sing-Along Staples & One-Hit Wonders
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Steal My Sunshine - Len
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
Ho Hey - The Lumineers
Ophelia - The Lumineers
Home - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Riptide - Vance Joy
Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People
Some Nights - fun.
We Are Young - fun.
With or Without You - U2
Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
One - U2
Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
Save Tonight - Eagle-Eye Cherry
Two Princes - Spin Doctors
What I Like About You - The Romantics
Shout - The Isley Brothers
American Girl - Tom Petty
Free Fallin' - Tom Petty
Learning to Fly - Tom Petty
Runnin' Down a Dream - Tom Petty
Mary Jane's Last Dance - Tom Petty
I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty
Influences and inspiration
Here's the updated version with your real influences worked in:
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**Influences**
Ask Jonathan about influences and you'll get a list that refuses to sit still. Classic rock and roots icons like Tom Petty, the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, and Procol Harum shaped his ear for melody and songcraft. The alternative and indie rock world (Radiohead, Wilco, The Strokes, Pavement, Death Cab for Cutie, Saves the Day, Arcade Fire, At the Drive In, and The Band) shaped his years fronting bands across the NY and DC underground.
Then there's the funk and soul side: James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly and the Family Stone, Sam and Dave, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Alabama Shakes, and the Afrobeat fire of Antibalas, the DNA behind his run as a singer and keyboardist in a full-on funk/R&B orchestra that played the Black Cat and an Obama Inaugural Ball.
Add a childhood steeped in vocal competition and classical performance (his conga solo at Carnegie Hall says as much about Latin percussion as it does about discipline), a deep well of jazz reverence for John Coltrane, and a taste for the genuinely unexpected (Sigur Rós, Daft Punk, Galactic, Dispatch, Noah Kahan), and you get a musician who's equally at home with a Springsteen singalong, a horn-driven groove, or a moody atmospheric build.
The result is a setlist and a sound that doesn't stay in one lane: part singer-songwriter, part soul revue, part bar-band lifer, part jazz head, shaped by everything from CBGB's grit to Carnegie Hall's polish. If you can name a decade or a genre, there's a good chance Jonathan's already played it, sung it, or snuck it into a set.
Setup requirements
None, can bring own gear
Report Jonathan Quigley
Singing Guitarist