Banjo Embargo

They feature five-string banjo, chunky acoustic guitar, double bass, stripped down drums (sometimes even a suitcase) and brilliant four-part harmonies.

They do funky bluegrass banjo-led versions of everything from old-school hip hop to New Order - bangers and mashups throughout! 🙂 They can either be background or more centre-stage depending on your requirements.

View our list of Scotland's best wedding bands ➡️

This tweed-clad Edinburgh quintet have been entertaining crowds across Europe with their brilliantly imaginative take on some of pop’s most memorable tunes. Whatever your flavour they’ve got it covered!

Since their inception in 2007, their shows have included many gigs up and down the country and beyond including festivals, awards ceremonies, the 2014 Ryder Cup end party, Edinburgh Film Festival wrap parties, Edinburgh Book Festival launch parties, gigs for Visit Scotland, Fynefest, List Magazine's annual Festival Party, Club Vegas and The World Famous Spiegeltent along with over 400 other shows.

Other notables are gigs at the old Marquee Club in Soho, London, a cocktail boat on Loch Lomond, an awards ceremony in Malta and a pool party in Ibiza.

They've also played many private parties too including one for the cast of BBC's Eastenders and another for fashion designer Jenny Packham.

With 5 string banjo, acoustic guitar, double bass, stripped-down drum kit and 4 vocalists, some really do say that their bluegrass-funk interpretations are better than the originals.

Their eclectic and diverse blend of mash-ups include tunes by Louis Prima, Radiohead, Daft Punk, The Prodigy, Metalica, Panjabi MC’s Knightrider remix of ‘Mundian To Bach Ke’, a bluegrass souped version of Dizzy Rascal’s ‘Dance Wiv Me’, New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’ and ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain.

Our set list also includes Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love', a high-octane version of Duran Duran’s ‘Girls on Film’, a stylophone-powered version of 'The Final Countdown', The Beastie Boys’ ‘Intergalactic’, Beyonce’s ‘Crazy in Love’, and Nelly’s bluegrass-ed ‘Hot In Herre’.

Here are just some of the locations where we have been booked by clients on FixTheMusic for weddings and events...

• Toftcombs Mansion House
• Cottiers Theatre, Glasgow
• Cray House & Estate, Blairgowrie
• Balbirnie House, Glenrothes
• The Caves, Edinburgh
• Oswald House, Kirkcaldy
• Bo'ness Town Hall
• Morroch Bay, Stranraer

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So if you're looking to hire the finest modern bluegrass pop covers band UK has to offer, get in touch with us.

Barney (Guitar & Vocals)

Barney has recorded albums and played and toured in USA, Holland and extensively in the U.K. Won the MTV ‘In The City’ Unsigned Band of the Year award in 1997 and subsequently signed a two-single deal with Boy George before securing a large album deal with New York-based label ‘Roadrunner Records’.

He has an honours degree in Sonic Art, DJs and also does music and sound design for adverts, theatre and dance.

Richard (Drums & Vocals)

Richard graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a 1st class honours degree in music, and now plays regularly across the UK and further afield.

Recent artists he has worked with include number 1 boyband The Wanted, The Sugababes, Grammy nominee Muhsinah, African Jazz Singer 'Somi' (number 2 world music artist works with John Legend, Paul Simon, Dave Gilmore), number one selling artists The Noisettes, Scottish rising star Carrie Mac, electronic act Homework and critically acclaimed Jazz/Fusion group The Discordian Trio.

He has performed on BBC1, 2, ITV and Channel 4 and as well as radio stations across Europe and played in the multiple award-winning show 'Hamlet! The Musical'.

Pat (Banjo & Vocals)

Pat was born in Belfast and has lived all over the UK. As well as playing the 5 string in Banjo Embargo he plays in and manages Edinburgh based independent folk/bluegrass band Southern Tenant Folk Union and London-based soundtrack maestros The Incredibly Strange Film Band.

An experienced touring and recording musician, Pat has won many awards, performed on national radio (Radio 4's 'Loose Ends') TV (Saturday Night Live) and in theatres and venues all over Europe and the USA.

Craig (Double Bass)

Craig has a degree in music from Napier University in Edinburgh and has spent time in New York City performing and studying at The New School while also studying privately with bass masters such as John Patitucci and Felix Pastorius.

An experienced and versatile musician, he has shared the stage with modern jazz/fusion group The Discordian Trio, contemporary folk singer Jake Cogan, 60's French pop revivalists Jack And The, African jazz singer Somi, and New York based improvised comedy group The Vigilante among others.

He has performed live on national radio shows and toured the UK on a number of occasions as well appearing at major events including the Cheltenham Jazz festival.