How to find a wedding band

[burray]

Hi all,

A bit overwhelmed and in the dark, I thought I'd come here to get some advice.

I'm on the search for a wedding band for next year, but don't want the fees of an agency and would much rather have [i]some[/i] kind of connection with a band rather than just taking a stab in the dark.

The problem is, searching through the endless ads, I don't know much about anything to do with booking wedding bands. I'm not sure on what's a good price, can't tell who's overcharging, etc. Short of seeing every band play, I don't really know what to do.

The wedding reception is in Surrey, and I'm looking for a something with a rockabilly or '50s twist to songs from that era and modern tracks as well. We want a 'modern' covers band (guitar, drums, vocal), but possibly with a double bass. Just something fun and special for our day.

Any advice on any of the above would be very, very much appreciated.

Thanks all.
--
Ben

[waynepunkdude]

I saw a band very similar to that at a wedding a few weeks back in Kent, I'll see if I can find out what they are called.

[chaypup]

My swing project are pretty much exactly this - swing covers of modern stuff as well as a selection from the 30's 40's & 50's. - I'll get some video done at our gig next Thursday and send it over

[burray]

Thank you both. I love this place!

[M@23]

I would say try see as many bands as you can if they also play the local circuit. Then send out a few emails or try chat to them about what you want. If someone approached me with specifics like you have listed I would be honest and say sorry, we can't do that, but could make a few recommendations for bands that could. With regards to price, weddings are a premium. I think my functions band is pretty cheap and we would charge at least £700.

[waynepunkdude]

http://www.goosebumpsmusic.co.uk/ found them

[cameltoe]

I'm in a similar situation- getting married in May, and definitely do not want to play my own wedding! Trouble is, I don't want anything toooo slick, as in complete function band material, but I want a band that will get people interested and dancing.

In response to the OP, I can recommend Company B from Cornwall- Rock n Roll with a WW2 twist! Great band.

[icastle]

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1409426229' post='2539649']
I'm in a similar situation- getting married in May, and definitely do not want to play my own wedding!
[/quote]

It's become a bit of a tradition for me...

[molan]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1409426827' post='2539657']


It's become a bit of a tradition for me...
[/quote]

I haven't played at my own wedding but I did get to play a couple of songs with the band I booked for my daughter's wedding this year. They were stupidly good :

http://www.swaytheband.com/

[pierreganseman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfKXA9fWCuU

[The Admiral]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WWjacjYZLfQ

[phil.c60]

Try: www.thestuntmen.co.uk

Edited September 1, 2014 by phil.c60

[JTUK]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1409418180' post='2539573']
[url="http://www.goosebumpsmusic.co.uk/"]http://www.goosebumpsmusic.co.uk/[/url] found them
[/quote]

This band is very good at what they do which is swing jive, IMO.
You wont get anything else from them...and I doubt you'll get them for less than £1k
not that I know their pricing policy but they tend to ape another band of that ilk and
they'd be a min of £1200, I'd guess.
[url="http://hullabaloo-uk.com/"]http://hullabaloo-uk.com/[/url]

Neither of these bands are set up to do modern altho they could just about pass off a modern track
but sound-wise, they are in the style and era or swing, jive. croon. IME

[spacey]

The worst thing is when someone books a band in the genre they like.
You turn up to 200 people expecting band of Gold and one hour of cheeeeeeeeeese music and lead balloon.

[davehux]

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1409426229' post='2539649']
I'm in a similar situation- getting married in May, and definitely do not want to play my own wedding! Trouble is, I don't want anything toooo slick, as in complete function band material, but I want a band that will get people interested and dancing.

In response to the OP, I can recommend Company B from Cornwall- Rock n Roll with a WW2 twist! Great band.
[/quote]

Hi Will

Complete and total Cornwall based 13 amper for your wedding

https://www.facebook.com/Connect5Cornwall?fref=photo&ref=hl

http://www.lemonrock.com/connectfivetruro

We do the not very slick, dancing thing

Cheers

Dave

[Bassman Sam]

I'm getting married in March. I wanted my old Que tribute band to play but the OH wants a harpist. I would live to hear Mystery Song played on a harp.

[JTUK]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1409429735' post='2539691']
I haven't played at my own wedding but I did get to play a couple of songs with the band I booked for my daughter's wedding this year. They were stupidly good :

[url="http://www.swaytheband.com/"]http://www.swaytheband.com/[/url]
[/quote]

My Av didn't like that link, Barrie, Deffo doesn't like it

[toneknob]

I put together my own wedding band for er, my own wedding. I paid for rehearsals and equipment hire, and got got my pals in on guitars and drums. Setlist was minimal, six songs + encore, but the novelty of me plus live band doing rockabilly/r&r versions of well-known wedding-appropriate themed songs was enough, and the DJ took over for the rest of the evening. Setlist included Be-Bop A Lula, All Shook Up, And Then I Kissed Her, Three Steps To Heaven, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, a cover of an original by one of the guitarists' band, and a couple of others.

Even with the bonus beer and curry night I treated the band to post-honeymoon, it worked out at least a grand cheaper than any wedding band.

[molan]

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1409586148' post='2541195']
My Av didn't like that link, Barrie, Deffo doesn't like it
[/quote]

That's happened before - it works fine on my iMac, Macbook, ipad & iPhone!

Maybe it's optimised for Apple devices, lol.

[JTUK]

And to get a band to travel for a wedding, you are going to be looking at big money, IMO.

[JTUK]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1409586268' post='2541198']
That's happened before - it works fine on my iMac, Macbook, ipad & iPhone!

Maybe it's optimised for Apple devices, lol.
[/quote]

I've tried IE8 and Chrome from XP... but fine from Android..

Edited September 1, 2014 by JTUK