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Wedding Bands for Hire in the UK

Get quotes from UK wedding bands for hire on FixTheMusic – it's free to use

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Hire Wedding Bands in the UK

The wedding receptions that stand out, the ones people still talk about years later, all had one thing in common: an amazing live party band that kept everyone on the dance floor all night.

But finding the best wedding music bands requires the right assistance. 

Live Wedding Bands Amplify Your Celebrations

There’s something magical that happens when you have talented live musicians playing at a wedding–the energy in the room completely changes.

With professional live wedding bands, you can create a unique and personalised experience for your wedding guests. And at FixTheMusic, we cover every wedding music genre and style imaginable, including:

  • R&B
  • Old school and modern rock
  • Hip-hop
  • Party classics
  • Soul
  • Jazz
  • Reggae
  • Electronic music
  • Pop covers
  • Indie music

Our professional live wedding bands have setlists covering the most popular wedding music. However, they can help you curate your own playlist, or include special songs that make your wedding ceremony intimate and unforgettable.

Browse UK Wedding Bands

Find Your Ideal Wedding Band & Music

There are thousands of bands out there, and sorting through them all is overwhelming. It's not easy to know the ones that are good, reliable, and that won't flake out at the last minute.

Here are a few things to consider when whittling down the best live wedding bands:

Your Budget

The cost of hiring a local wedding band in the UK depends on many aspects. The best wedding bands might cost more because they have more experience, have higher demand, and sing more professionally.

Additionally, the size of the wedding band, the presence of male and female vocals, and the amount of time you need the live band at your wedding party also affect the cost.

Your Wedding Specifics

The size of your wedding and wedding venue determine your ideal wedding band choice. If you want a vintage-themed wedding, you might want to have a jazz wedding band play to align with your theme.

The Wedding Band's Profile

When looking at live bands for hire, you want to pick the best wedding band to play at your wedding. You want a professional wedding band with the right equipment--lights, a PA system, and a whole range of instruments.

The band should also display professionalism in how they present themselves. You can browse through the bands' video profiles posted on our platform to get an idea of what to expect.

You should also ask about certain logistics on the wedding day, like when the wedding band arrives and their setup process. Most bands arrive early evening, about an hour or two before the party. Note that bands charge extra if you need them to arrive earlier.

The heart of the matter, however, is the band's performance. Typically, wedding bands play two-hour performances. The sets are split into two 60-minute sets or three 40-minute sets. The best live bands can read the room to know when to drop pop classics or classic hits to get guests dancing.

Some bands might also include a DJ service to provide background music during their set breaks.

Browse UK Wedding Bands

Choosing the Right Wedding Band Style

Whether you're into the latest wedding trends or you have had your perfect wedding theme planned out since you were 9, you should have a wedding band that fits your wedding theme.

Our hand-picked professional wedding music bands provide a selection of soul & Motown bands, oompah bands, jazz bands, and more genres to fit your preference.

For nearly a decade, we have been helping couples find professional bands for hire in the UK and have made our platform easy for you to find your preferred wedding bands.

Looking For Wedding Bands For Hire in the UK?

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, you deserve to be certain that the live wedding band you choose will not let you down. At FixTheMusic, we have a list of professional wedding bands for hire that we're certain will give you a memorable experience.

Here's why you should let us help you find wedding bands.

Pick the Best Wedding Bands

We only recommend the best live wedding bands with talented professional musicians. Many bands we represent have musicians who can easily adapt to your music preferences. Plus, we guarantee customer support throughout the process.

Find Local Wedding Bands for Hire

Choosing a local wedding band can help you save money by eliminating travel costs. Local bands also know the local wedding venues and the logistics involved, which eliminates unfamiliarity chaos during your event.

Ready to Book a Wedding Band?

Contact us with the details of your wedding, and we'll provide you with a free quote and confirm the band's availability. We'll put you in contact with your preferred wedding band.

Once you've settled on a particular band, we handle the booking contract and facilitate payment via card or bank transfer.

View the UK's Most Popular Wedding Bands for Hire...

The UK is home to some of the finest wedding bands in Europe: bands that perform regularly at high-end corporate events and celebrity weddings.

Check out our Instagram 📸 for videos and photos of our best UK wedding bands performing at real weddings and events.

View our list of the 30 Best Wedding Bands in the UK (2024) ➡️

ROAMEO
ROAMEO
Roaming Party Band
£2,500 - £4,500
London, Barcelona & Dubai
62 reviews
Preview
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Scintillate
Scintillate
Luxury Showband
£5,000 - £7,500
London, UK
73 reviews
Preview
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Mashup Kings
Mashup Kings
Luxury Wedding Band
£5,000 - £10,000
Bristol & London
46 reviews
Preview
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MOJO
MOJO
Luxury Wedding Band
£5,000 - £10,000
London
51 reviews
Preview
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Aptitude
Aptitude
Luxury Party Band
£2,500 - £5,000
London
18 reviews
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The Tourists
The Tourists
Wedding & Party Band
£1,500 - £2,000
London, UK
17 reviews
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The Beat Chiefs
The Beat Chiefs
Wedding & Party Band
€2,500 - €5,000
Nice & London
6 reviews
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The Nauticals
The Nauticals
Wedding Band & Party Band
£2,758 (avg. price)
London
36 reviews
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Fusion Girls
Fusion Girls
All Female DJ, Sax & Percussion Trio
£2,778 (avg. price)
London & Worldwide
52 reviews
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Groove Addiction
Groove Addiction
Wedding & Party Band
£2,195 (avg. price)
London, UK
25 reviews
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Party Academics
Party Academics
Wedding & Party Duo
£2,500 - £3,000
London, UK
10 reviews
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Big Soul Beats
Big Soul Beats
Luxury Wedding & Party Band
£5,000 - £10,000
London, UK
16 reviews
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The Scottish Soul Collective
The Scottish Soul Collective
Wedding Band & Party Band
£1,500 - £2,500
Glasgow, Scotland
35 reviews
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Wandering Three
Wandering Three
Acoustic Roaming Band
£1,989 (avg. price)
London
36 reviews
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Beats & Beyond
Beats & Beyond
Wedding Band & Party Band
£2,293 (avg. price)
London
16 reviews
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The Upshots
The Upshots
Wedding Band & Party Band
£5,000 - £7,500
London & Los Angeles
32 reviews
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Trapstars
Trapstars
Female Vocal & Sax Group
£3,614 (avg. price)
London
18 reviews
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The Old School 90s Band
The Old School 90s Band
90s Covers Band
£2,632 (avg. price)
London
14 reviews
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Roaming Beats
Roaming Beats
Acoustic Roaming Band
£2,500 - £3,500
London
27 reviews
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Bring The Club
Bring The Club
Live DJ & Band
£4,101 (avg. price)
London, UK
6 reviews
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The Manhattans
The Manhattans
Wedding Band & Party Band
£2,956 (avg. price)
Watford, Hertfordshire
106 reviews
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The London Soul Band
The London Soul Band
Wedding Band & Party Band
£2,896 (avg. price)
London
9 reviews
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Roaming All Stars
Roaming All Stars
Wedding Band & Party Band
£3,115 (avg. price)
London, UK
6 reviews
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Jupiter Funk
Jupiter Funk
Wedding Band & Party Band
£5,000 - £10,000
London, UK
7 reviews
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Night Magic
Night Magic
Wedding & Party Band
£5,000 - £10,000
London, UK
3 reviews
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The Legends Collective
The Legends Collective
Wedding & Party Band
£5,000 - £10,000
London
17 reviews
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Luna Showband
Luna Showband
Wedding & Party Band
£5,000 - £9,500
London, UK
16 reviews
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The London Roaming Band
The London Roaming Band
Acoustic Roaming Band
£1,500 - £2,500
London
13 reviews
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The Millionaire Showband
The Millionaire Showband
Luxury Party Band
£5,000 - £10,000
London, UK
13 reviews
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Pop Republic
Pop Republic
Wedding Band & Party Band
£1,500 - £1,750
Cardiff, South Wales
12 reviews
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Soul Central
Soul Central
Wedding & Party Band
£2,500 - £3,500
Bristol, UK
6 reviews
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Soul Destiny
Soul Destiny
Wedding Band & Party Band
£1,500 - £2,000
London, UK
11 reviews
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The Moon Walkers
The Moon Walkers
Acoustic Roaming Band
£2,756 (avg. price)
Malaga, Spain & Manchester, UK
10 reviews
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MOJO Club Live
MOJO Club Live
DJ & Live Band
£2,500 - £5,000
London, UK
6 reviews
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The Beatbox Band
The Beatbox Band
Beatbox Band
£3,650 (avg. price)
Cheltenham & Bristol
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The Incognitos
The Incognitos
Wedding Band & Party Band
£3,000 - £8,000
London, UK
20 reviews
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Disciples of Soul
Disciples of Soul
Funk & Soul Band
£3,256 (avg. price)
Manchester
15 reviews
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Acoustic Royale
Acoustic Royale
Wedding & Party Duo/Trio
£1,127 (avg. price)
Bristol
18 reviews
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Supersoul
Supersoul
Soul & Funk Wedding Band
£2,500 - £4,000
London
67 reviews
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The Sidekicks
The Sidekicks
Wedding Band & Party Band
£1,250 - £1,675
Taunton, Somerset
26 reviews
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The Moonlighters
The Moonlighters
Wedding Band & Party Band
£1,500 - £2,500
London
9 reviews
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The Inside Groove
The Inside Groove
Wedding Band & Party Band
£2,500 - £5,000
London
9 reviews
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The Score
The Score
Pop & Rock Covers Band
£750 - £1,000
Birmingham, West Midlands
23 reviews
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Powerhouse
Powerhouse
Wedding & Party Band
£1,500 - £3,000
Durham & Newcastle
6 reviews
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Brooklyn Funk
Brooklyn Funk
Funk Covers Band
£1,949 (avg. price)
Bristol
16 reviews
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The Charmers
The Charmers
Wedding Band & Party Band
£1,500 - £2,500
London
24 reviews
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The Power
The Power
Wedding Band & Party Band
£2,500 - £5,000
London
13 reviews
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Spektra Showband
Spektra Showband
Luxury Showband & Orchestra
£7,000 - £11,000
Manchester, UK
3 reviews
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Solid Gold
Solid Gold
Wedding Band & Party Band
£2,500 - £5,000
London & Cardiff
7 reviews
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The Scene
The Scene
Wedding Band & Party Band
£1,500 - £2,500
London
8 reviews
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Shortlist

About Our Carefully Curated Selection of Wedding Bands for Hire in the UK

Our wedding bands have performed at notable wedding venues, clubs, bars and hotels in the UK, including...

  • Hotel 41 (London)
  • Bishop's Gate Hotel (Derry)
  • Hotel La Place, Jersey
  • Lawton & Lauriston Hotel
  • The Milestone Hotel, London
  • The Green Park Hotel (Pitlochry)
  • The Stafford London (London)
  • The Montcalm London
  • Dakota Glasgow (Glasgow)
  • The Chesterfield Mayfair
  • Tara Lodge (Belfast)
  • The Goring (London)
  • The Montague on The Gardens
  • Old Town Chambers (Edinburgh)
  • The Prince Akatoki London
  • The Chambers Park Place, Leeds
  • Rudding Park Hotel (Follifoot)
  • Belmond Manoir Quat'Saisons
  • Brown's Hotel (London)
  • The Connaught (London)
  • Staybridge Suites Newcastle
  • The Hari (London)
  • The Beaumont (London)
  • Park Grand London Lancaster Gate
  • Longueville Manor, Jersey

As they are in such high demand, many of our live wedding bands already have bookings up to two years in advance at some of the UK venues above.

Wedding bands on FixTheMusic have public liability insurance and PAT tested equipment.

Our bands can be booked for corporate events, weddings, private parties, charity events and any other occasion where live music or entertainment is required.

FixTheMusic's wedding bands perform in a variety of styles, from funk, blues, soul & Motown, acoustic, vintage and rock 'n' roll to R&B, Britpop, electro-swing and indie rock and pop covers. We also have a range of outstanding acoustic roaming or strolling bands, a particularly popular genre to add another dimension to your event.

The UK is home to some of the world's greatest musicians, singers and DJs, many of whom have trained in prestigious music colleges and universities across Europe.

And yet it isn't always easy to find wedding bands in the UK available for hire. FixTheMusic has spent years curating the UK's very best musicians – and made it easy for you to hire them for your special day.

Aside from British & American pop, rock, soul and funk, many of our UK bands can perform ceilidh dances and folk music.

Browse UK Wedding Bands

Why people love FixTheMusic

About FixTheMusic

FixTheMusic is a secure platform for hiring amazing professional wedding bands and musicians anywhere in the world. And it's completely free for event planners to use.

Founded in 2015 by two brothers who share a passion for great live music, FixTheMusic is a new way to find and book hand-picked bands and musicians for weddings, private parties, corporate events and charity events.

FixTheMusic is free to use – the price you agree with musicians is the price you pay.

We really hope you enjoy using FixTheMusic. If you have any feedback for us, please get in touch. Otherwise, read more about FixTheMusic, browse our FAQs or read our blog to find helpful articles, research, insights, definitive guides and much more!

As professional musicians, we realised how difficult it can be for event planners to find and book musicians for their event. So we decided to make it easy.

With FixTheMusic, all you need to do is tell us what you’re looking for and our system does the heavy lifting to get you offers from our carefully curated selection of amazing musicians.

We make it simple and secure for you to connect directly with the best musicians across the globe so you can book live music for any event within minutes.

Have a read of our highly curated list of The Top 30 Best Wedding Bands in the UK For 2024 ➡️

We're regularly mentioned in forums and wedding industry blogs and were recently featured in Vogue. Take a look at FixTheMusic in the press.

Check out our Instagram, YouTube and TikTok ♪ for videos and photos of our bands performing at real weddings, parties and events.

FixTheMusic is trusted by the world's most prestigious brands, universities, charities, wedding planners and events companies

FixTheMusic's corporate and government clients include Google, Facebook, Amazon, Lamborghini, Samsung, U.S. Department of State, Formula One, The Premier League, The Crown Estate, UNESCO, Playstation, Huawei, Hewlett-Packard, Pepsi, CHANEL, Dior, Bacardi, Unilever, Red Bull, Sky Arts, L'Oréal, House of Fraser, The Ritz, The Savoy, Johnson & Johnson, Aldi, the British Army, Ministry of Defence, Virgin Sport, WPP, W Series, KPMG, Deloitte, The Economist, G4S, Lavazza, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, English Heritage, The Courtauld Institute of Art, The King's Fund and numerous luxury hotels and wedding planners around the world 🌍

FixTheMusic is proud to have provided live music for numerous charity fundraising events, including for London's Air Ambulance, WWF UK, The Zoological Society of London, Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, The Royal British Legion, Shelter, The Genesis Research Trust and The Pituitary Foundation.

Local professional musicians and function bands throughout the world

Beyond the UK, FixTheMusic has helped clients find amazing local musicians and book UK-based bands for destination weddings and events as far afield as Cyprus, France, Malta, Monaco, Ibiza, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Iceland, Finland, Poland, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Guinea, India, Israel, the Dominican Republic, Singapore and China.

We are the world's leading specialists in providing outstanding bands for weddings in France, Italy, Greece (and the Greek islands, especially Santorini), Spain, Portugal and Croatia.

We have ambitious plans to grow internationally over the coming years — we want FixTheMusic to be the first port of call for discovering and booking outstanding local musicians throughout the world.

View thousands of verified reviews of our wedding bands and book with confidence

We're proud that we have received consistent 5-star reviews on Facebook, Google and Trustpilot.

As well as offering only a carefully curated selection of hand-picked bands and musicians, we strive to provide world-class customer service so you can book with complete confidence. See what our clients say in our verified reviews.

FixTheMusic was a finalist in the Parmee Prize for Entrepreneurs at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

We have been an official supplier with Rock My Wedding. They choose only the very best wedding suppliers and we're proud that they invited us to join their hand-picked selection of outstanding suppliers.

We have become the first port-of-call for British couples looking to hire the finest wedding bands UK has to offer.

Having provided the live music entertainment for thousands of weddings and events worldwide, we were often asked by clients if we provided other entertainers aside from bands.

We now offer a full range of entertainment options for weddings and corporate events, from fire dancers and magicians to acrobats and stilt walkers, including other professionals such as wedding photographers.

To minimise our carbon footprint, for every 10 bookings on FixTheMusic, we provide funds to Trees for Cities for one tree to be planted. Trees for Cities is a UK charity which aims to plant urban trees and create greener cities 🏙️ 🌳

We're a website operated by FTM Technologies Limited. Registered office address: 12 Worcester Road, London, E17 5QR, United Kingdom. Company number 11913892.

You can read more about FixTheMusic and their team of Ed, Adam, Zazie & Paul here.

Some Selected Reviews of Our UK Wedding Bands...

Review of Scintillate by Paul Magee

"Well well well, what can we say about Scintillate. These guys were without question the easiest part of the wedding to organise. Since booking the band the communication was second to none, whenever I had a query or needed to discuss any logistics/requests/equipment. They would always respond right away and were absolutely worth every penny. On arrival these guys were personable and friendly and blended in with our guests so well. Then we come to the music and the opening number. We had asked them to re-arrange a song to make it suitable for our slow dance starting soft and then transitioned into an up tempo track for our guests to join the floor. Well, they absolutely smashed it! We couldn’t have been happier. We hadn’t really given any idea of a playlist for the whole weekend but had asked them to read the crowd and make the party happen! Again they delivered on every front here. We went from a civilised dance to a full on party without any noticeable transition, of course the lead singers’ voice hitting every note. We also had a couple of musicians in our party and the band got them up on stage to perform songs of their choosing without hassle. We couldn’t have been happier with the whole performance. A huge thank you to Sintilate and Fix the music our wedding wouldn’t of been the same without you!"


Review of The Manhattans by Patrick Macaleenan

"These guys are the real deal. I knew they'd be good but they exceeded my/our expectations (and I book plenty of music acts for events). Communication was prompt and easy right from the off. They showed up on time, were super nice guys, so professional, friendly and incredibly talented. Our guests loved every second of the performance and no one sat down throughout (we danced and sang along to every track). Slick, charismatic, tight and musically so on point. Lead singer has a great voice too. We wanted them to go on and on. I'd recommend them wholeheartedly and would book them again in a heartbeat. You won't be disappointed."


Review of The Scottish Soul Collective by Nic & Liam Turner

"It’s hard to put into words how happy we were to find The Scottish Soul Collective. We booked both the jazz duo and the full 9-piece band, and we couldn’t have been happier. From the first enquiry right through to the last song, Tom and the band were professional, timely, and cared so much about our day."


Review of Solid Gold by Claire & James Eastman

"Solid Gold...we can not thank you enough for getting the party well and truly started at our wedding, the dance floor was packed from the start to finish… to the point that people were concerned they could not even get on there!!! Everyone has said what an amazing band you were, Suz your vocals wowed them all and your perfect song choices meant that all ages were up dancing the night away. One of the most important things to us, for our wedding day, was to have a full dance floor and you guys ensured that we didn’t just have a full dance floor we had a PARTY, it was absolutely rocking!!! Although I am pretty sure you haven’t had to many brides air guitar for you!! We can’t thank you enough for completing our perfect day and making sure it was a wedding that would not be forgotten! Thank you again guys and can’t wait to hit the dance floor with you again soon. Big love Claire and James xxx"


Review of Aptitude by Debbie Macron

"Craig, we all can't thank you enough for the truly incredible performance Saturday. From the elegantly performed music at the villa to the energy you created at Paolino with great performances and music that kept our guests on the dance floor we couldn't have asked for more. I can't tell you how many of our friends from New York said they had ever heard anything better. And our Capresse friends told us that you were the best band the island has ever seen. Since I found and selected you I'm sure you can imagine the relief I felt 15 seconds into your first song. Finally I also want to thank you for your responsiveness in the time leading up the wedding as we discussed song selection and the complex logistics of Capri. From me and Susan and Melissa and Mack, grazie mille."


Review of Mashup Kings by Isabelle Andresen

"Mashup Kings played at our wedding and they were absolutely INCREDIBLE! To give you a sense of our wedding, we’re in our early 30s .. we had tipis in a campsite.. and loads of people there were really into music. We therefore spent ages looking for a band which would get all generations on the dance floor, who wouldn’t be cheesy and who would play a variety of styles of music. And we definitely made the right choice. Everyone danced all night long and had the best time ever! What we loved most about them (which made them unique) is their incredible mash ups… from a garage mash up to Stevie Wonder to pop and rock… just such a mix of amazing tunes and having them as mash ups means you get to hear about 3 times as many amazing tunes as normal! The band were all so lovely and super high energy. Benji was also extremely helpful in the run up and set up, as we borrowed some of his gear for the music after the band and during a song my husband did during the speeches. Thank you so much for everything Benji and the rest of the Mashup Kings crew!"


Review of The London Roaming Band by Fran Slager

"Where do I start, you guys were AMAZING!! Not only did Ben and I love every second, the amount of comments we got from our guests on how good you were was insane. Everyone was commenting on how different it was, how good it was that your roamed around and how great the mash ups were. We’ve even had a few ask for your details for upcoming weddings and birthdays so fingers crossed they’ll be a few bookings coming your way. Thank you also for learning our first dance song, we LOVED it! And for doing the extra set, everyone was loving the entertainment so much we just didn’t want it to end."


Review of Groove Addiction by Jade & Rob Ingham

"Groove Addiction stepped in last minute after our previous wedding band cancelled 2 months before our wedding. Phil was incredibly friendly, laid back and made the whole thing feel far less stressful! The band are incredible musicians and are all talented in their own right. They played our first dance 'Do I love you? Indeed I do' followed by 'Higher and Higher' and were able to make these up-tempo songs fit perfectly for our first dance. Throughout the night, they played classic tunes and kept the dance floor alive! I will be on the lookout for this band playing other gigs just so we can both go and see them again. I would recommend them for any event, for all generations as all of our wedding guests loved the band! Thank you again for making our first dance and evening of music so special."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hiring a Party Band or Wedding Band...

FixTheMusic provides bands for thousands of weddings and private events each year across Europe and worldwide. We've put together some Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about hiring a wedding band, a few of which are listed below:

How early should I book a wedding band?

You should aim to book your band as soon as possible. Most of our best wedding bands have bookings at least two years in advance. If your wedding is on a Saturday in May, June, July, August or September, you should really be looking to book at least a year in advance of your date. This is because most weddings fall on a Saturday during summer so our bands receive the most enquiries for these days. That said, there are more and more weddings taking place on Sundays and mid-week (especially on Thursdays and Fridays) so it’s best not to wait too long before locking down your band.

Can I see wedding bands perform live before I book?

Usually it’s not possible to see the band live. Most professional bands perform at private events only, such as weddings and corporate events. It’s not usually possible for the bands to allow potential clients into these venues to watch them perform. It is occasionally possible so there’s no harm in asking. And sometimes wedding bands will do the odd gig at a pub or festival that’s open to the public.

How long do most wedding bands perform for?

Most bands play 2 x 45 minute or 2 x 1 hour live sets at weddings. Some bands will play for longer than this. The bands will usually tell you how long their sets are when they provide you with their quote.

What happens between and after the wedding band's live sets?

Most bands provide a “laptop DJ” service. This isn’t the same as providing the service of a professional DJ who reads the room and adapts to the feel on the night. Instead, they will have a playlist (usually on something like Spotify or iTunes) that they play out of their PA system. It's worth checking the details of this with the band, as some wedding bands only provide the live music and prefer to leave the rest of the evening's music to the couple or a professional DJ.

Can I choose the music that the wedding band plays in between and after their live sets?

Yes, usually you can send the band a list of requests before the wedding and the band will download them onto their laptop or device, ready to play on the night. Alternatively, you can compile a playlist and bring your own device to plug into the band’s PA system. You should check this with the band first, as not all bands are comfortable with others using their own equipment.

What songs will wedding bands play?

Most bands have a repertoire of songs that they perform regularly at weddings. This will be a tried-and-tested playlist that they know works well at weddings: it appeals to guests of all ages and keeps people on the dance floor. The set list will change throughout the year, as the band adds and removes songs.

Will the wedding band learn my first dance song?

Yes! Most bands will be delighted to learn your first dance song and perform it live for you on your wedding night. If it doesn’t fit the band’s style, then they might suggest you use the recorded version of the song and the band will play this out of their PA system.

Can I give a list of songs to the band to play at my wedding?

Most bands will usually learn one song for your wedding that isn’t already in their setlist. Some bands will offer to learn 2 or 3 new songs, but in our experience they are rarely able to learn more than this. It can be very time consuming for the band to learn and rehearse new songs, and especially so for singers to learn all the new lyrics.

Can I indicate my song preferences to the wedding band?

Yes. Most bands will be happy for you to indicate which songs from their set list you dislike and don’t want them to play, and songs that you like and absolutely want them to play on the night. The band will usually then build their setlist around these preferences.

What time will the wedding band arrive?

Most bands aim to arrive at around 5pm to be ready to play by 7pm. During this time they will set up their equipment and carry out a sound check, essential to making sure the volume of the band is appropriate to your venue and that any sound / noise limiters are taken into account.

Can the wedding band turn up earlier than that?

Yes, most bands will be happy to turn up earlier than 5pm, but you should expect to pay them for the extra time. A lot of wedding couples worry about the band setting up while guests are at the venue. Bands with lots of experience of weddings should be able to set up discreetly and without making too much noise and mess. The noisiest part is when they have to carry out the sound check, but this should only last about 15 - 30 minutes.

What time will the wedding band finish?

Most bands expect to finish by midnight. This suits most weddings as the majority of venues require live music to stop by this time.

Can the wedding band stay later than midnight?

Usually, yes, the band can finish after midnight. But bands will normally charge a slightly higher fee for this later finish, and this should be arranged with the band in advance.

Can I use the wedding band’s PA system after midnight?

Usually, yes. Though this will also attract a slightly higher fee, as it means that at least one band member has to wait until the end of the party to pack up the PA system and head home. Some band members might be a couple of hours’ drive away from your venue, so finishing at 1am means they won’t arrive home until 3am or 4am.

Will the wedding band bring their own equipment?

Yes. Professional wedding bands will bring their own equipment. This includes a PA system, mixing desk, some basic lighting for the dance floor and their own instruments. If you are planning a particularly large wedding with hundreds of guests, you might consider hiring in a larger PA system and more lighting. Not all bands in Europe provide their own equipment (e.g. they might not bring lighting), so you may wish to check this before booking.

Do wedding bands need a stage?

No. Most bands are happy to perform without a stage, though it can look special if you can offer them a stage to perform on.

If I do provide a stage, how much space will the wedding band need?

This will depend on the size of the band of course, but to give you a rough idea, a 4-piece band would usually need at least 5m x 4m. This is to provide room for not only the band members themselves, but also their instruments (keyboards and drum kits take up quite a bit of space) and other things like speakers and a mixing desk.

Can I or my guests perform or sing with the wedding band?

If you ask the band in advance, most will be happy to allow you or one of your guests to sing or play along with them for one or two songs. We always advise checking this with your band first.

Do I need to hire a DJ as well as a wedding band?

Most bands will provide pre-recorded playlists between and after their live sets, so your entire evening will be covered. However, if you want a professional DJ who will adapt his music choices on the night and interact with guests, then it’s better to hire a DJ as well.

If I do hire a separate DJ, can the wedding band and DJ share equipment?

Bands and DJs will often share the same PA system, as it can look cluttered to have two sets of speakers around the dance floor. However, you’ll need to discuss this with both the DJ and band before the event to check the equipment suits everyone’s requirements and that everyone is happy to share. One problem can arise when the DJ is booked to provide music into the small hours, but the band is to finish at 11pm. In this case, it would make more sense for the band to use the DJ’s equipment to save the band having to wait until the DJ had finished his set.

Do I need to provide anything for the wedding band?

Professional wedding bands will normally bring all their own technical equipment and instruments. However, most will expect to be provided with a hot meal each and soft drinks. The musicians will probably have left their homes around lunchtime to arrive at your venue in good time to set up and soundcheck. It can be a long day for them and they will be much more energetic on stage if they’ve had a good meal and refreshments before performing for you. The bands won’t expect to be given the same meal as you provide for your guests. Most wedding venues have an option you can purchase in advance for your suppliers or you can give the musicians access to your buffet if you’re having one.

Will the wedding band members be the same as the ones I’ve seen in their videos?

Not always. Most professional bands will have a core group that plays at the majority of weddings they are booked for. However, they will also have a group of deputies (or “deps” as they are known in the industry) that they call upon frequently to cover for band members. This is a standard and essential practice in the music industry. Most musicians work as freelancers, meaning they might work for different function bands or tour with famous pop groups for example. Being able to draw upon a deputy musician to cover a band member who is unavailable (or ill) means the rest of the band can still work.

What do wedding bands wear?

You should get a good idea of what the band wears from their videos online. Most will opt for a smart shirt, but if you have a particular theme or any requests, let them know well in advance. For example, if you’re having an 80s style wedding, you might want to check if the band could wear appropriate clothing to match!

Will the wedding band need parking spaces?

Most bands will arrive by car as it’s the easiest way for them to bring their equipment and instruments. Having 1 or 2 parking spaces available for them to use that are close to the venue will be appreciated by the musicians. In certain cities such as London, you might also need to cover the costs of parking.

Can wedding bands play outside?

If you’re getting married in Europe, it’s a good idea to make the most of the summer months and have as much of your wedding outside if possible. That said, the weather isn’t always the most reliable – so whilst many bands will be happy to play outside in principle, they will always require access to a shelter from the elements, whether that’s strong sunlight or rain. Musicians’ instruments can be worth thousands of pounds and a small amount of water damage or sun can have a devastating impact on the instrument.

Do I need a contract with my wedding band?

The most secure way to book a band is to do so via FixTheMusic. All bookings are governed by the agreement on our website, which is based on the Musicians Union standard contract and amended by the particular details that you agree with your band by email (date, venue etc.). The contract provides protection to both parties.