Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Our exclusive Essex wedding bands will entertain guests of all ages with the best rock, pop, soul & Motown songs through the eras.
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After starting out as a tribute to 90s dance classics the band now play high-octane club floor-fillers from the 70s to the present day. Using mash-ups, medleys and segues, songs are blended into one seamless night of entertainment.
Lively and entertaining New Orleans style street band featuring brass, sousaphone and drums. A broad repertoire to suit any occasion from garden reception, to street parade, to spirited parties with dancing! Also available with two female lead vocalists.
Stylish and soulful acoustic guitar and vocal duo combining high calibre musicianship with an uplifting set spanning James Brown to Beyonce. Incredible value and guaranteed to appeal to all ages! DJ service available.
Fun, lively 4-piece playing classic and modern rock & pop with a jazzy, boho twist! The band's winning combination of infectious energy and dancefloor cool is winning over audiences at weddings and parties up and down the UK.
Energetic and talented, this all-female brass ensemble blends pop, jazz, funk, and soul into an electrifying musical experience that captivates audiences worldwide.
Award-winning klezmer band performing Eastern European Jewish, Israeli and Balkan music, ideal for listening and dancing.
TV Cowboys are a father and son led group with a lifetime's experience on the road, recording and touring with artists such as Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, Dwight Yoakam, Glen Campbell, Lonnie Donegan and more.
Fun and stylish, this international jazz ensemble brings a fresh twist to classic swing, bossa nova, and pop for an exhilarating, one-of-a-kind show.
Highly sought-after unplugged trio with virtuoso saxophone and acoustic guitars, delivering harmonious three-part melodies and a lively, interactive repertoire spanning from the 1950s to today's hits.
Enchanting rhythms and beautiful melodies are brought to life by this sensational female-fronted Brazilian band. Perfect as either background music during receptions or for dancing the night away.
Explosive brass band delivering a funky blend of soul and pop songs for dancing. The band can also offer costumed oompah sets for Oktoberfest or New Orleans roaming sets if required.
Bringing an unrivalled electricity and energy to their performances, Sierra DJ Band have performed for the likes of the Melbourne Grand Prix, the Australian Open and travelled the world for P&O Cruises.
Contemporary & stylish ‘live-lounge’ covers duo with eight years of experience; performing at UK Festivals including, Hyde Park for the London 2012 Olympics and The Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone. Party duo with backing tracks also available.
With a song list of sizzling samba and salsa, groovy cha cha and infectious Latin pop, Ritmo Latino are an all-star band who have entertained celebrities like Anthony Joshua and Tony Hadley.
Performing globally since 2010, an energetic and experienced act, creating musical performances for you to treasure, always!
Lively dance routines, dazzling costumes, and plenty of audience participation – this compact 80s tribute band will have your guests singing along to Whitney, Madonna, Tiffany, and more!
This versatile band brings the swinging 60s to life with their authentic tunes, covering everything from rock & roll to pop, and Motown to funk & soul, perfect for any event!
Acoustic Sunset Trio blends harmonies, acoustic guitar, and cajon to deliver live pop, folk, jazz, and dance music to any event. French and Italian songs also available on request.
Mumford & Sons inspired acoustic band with a wide-ranging song list from classic rock to the latest pop. The band can also offer roaming sets in the afternoon.
If you're hoping for the ultimate party experience then look no further! This collective of London's West End's best singers and musicians are set to take your event to another level!
Since 2008 we've provided bands and musicians for thousands of wedding receptions throughout Essex, from Colchester to Chelmsford.
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Our Essex wedding bands typically perform upbeat, mainstream rock, pop and soul music, from 50s rock’n’roll through to the latest chart-toppers, via Merseybeat and 80s synth-pop.
Our bands range from compact 3-piece guitar bands to 10-piece show-bands with brass section and backing vocalists.
All bands are fronted by a male or female lead vocalist and are experts in bringing guests of all ages together on the dancefloor!
The quote we send you for your Essex wedding band doesn't just cover the performance. Typically included in the band's fee are:
Our wedding bands have been hired to perform in all corners of Essex, from Colchester to Canvey Island.
In addition to larger centres such as Chelmsford, Basildon and Harlow, we've sent our bands to quaint Walton-On-The-Naze, timber-framed Coggeshall, medieval Maldon and the beautiful market town of Saffron Walden.
Some of our bands' favourite wedding venues in Essex include: Crondon Park, Parklands, Gosfield Hall, Leez Priory, Prested Hall, Braxted Park, Fennes and Botleys Mansion.
Of course! If pop music isn’t your thing, we have Essex function bands playing soul, ceilidh music or jazz to get your party started.
We can also provide musicians for your ceremony, drinks reception and wedding feast.
Our wedding bands in Essex perform two 60 minute sets as standard, which can also be divided into three 40 minute sets.
A typical schedule would see the band kicking off their first set at 9pm, then playing through until 11pm or midnight with a break in between sets.
Please note that late fees might apply if the band is required later than midnight.
All of our Essex wedding bands will require a soundcheck ahead of the show. Between 5pm and 6pm is an advisable window for arrival and 60-90 minutes is usually sufficient for the soundcheck.
It's best if the venue is free of guests at this point, both for the band’s convenience and your guests’ comfort.
If the space cannot be free of guests, some of our wedding bands can arrange a ‘noiseless’ line-check in order to set up the equipment without disturbing proceedings.
All our Essex wedding bands are self-contained and will arrive fully equipped to perform at your event.
You'll only need to give them access to a power source, as well as a flat, sheltered space to perform in.
The performance area should be around 3 x 3 metres for a three-piece band, adding a metre in width per band member, as appropriate. A raised stage isn't required.
All our Essex wedding bands who are booked for an evening performance will request a basic meal at the event. This is a standard requirement in the events industry.
If you want your Essex wedding band to play your first dance, this can usually be arranged.
Check the band’s profile to see if they offer this option and try to give plenty of notice for them to learn your request.
Alternatively, all of our bands can play your first dance on an mp3 or iPod through their PA system.
Before you book more musicians for afternoon background music, check whether members of your wedding band can provide this – it'll save you additional costs, such as travel.
If you haven't yet set a date, consider booking a midweek or winter celebration to take advantage of the most competitive rates.
Consider hiring a local wedding band in Essex, to save on travel and accommodation costs.
Yes! You can find jazz bands in Essex and the wider area on our jazz and swing bands page.
Pianists and guitarists are useful for breaking the ice during your wedding banquet. We also have Rat Pack style wedding singers – ideal as a warm-up to the main act later on.
Whatever type of band or musical genre you’re after, we've probably got it!
Not necessarily. During any intervals, our bands will play recorded music via an mp3 player, so you're never in silence. You could also hand the band a pre-prepared playlist to put on, if you prefer.
Some bands are able to provide their own "in-house" DJ service for before and/or after the performance but check out their individual profiles for more details.
There are a couple of instances where it might be worth hiring an Essex DJ as well as the band:
Don't panic! First, find out the limiter's threshold in decibels. If it's set to a threshold below 95 decibels, let us know immediately, as some bands will struggle to keep within this range. We can then find out if the band is able to substitute live drums for electronic drums, which will bring down the overall level of the band.
If the threshold is in the range of 80-85dB, things become more difficult. We might need to recommend a duo, or acoustic band.
If by any chance any member of your Essex wedding band falls ill on the day, the band will be able to arrange a replacement for this band member.
In the unlikely event of all band members bring unable to attend (for example due to breaking down on the way to your event), we'll be able to offer replacement band options, often at very short notice, in a similar genre and for a similar price, from our collection of hundreds of exceptional bands in the area.
All our Essex wedding bands are fully equipped with everything they need to put on an amazing show, so you don’t have to worry about speakers or sound engineers.
Some bands will also bring lighting, just check out each band’s individual profile to find out more.
All Essex wedding bands can play pre-recorded music from a device (theirs or yours) during intervals. Many bands can also upgrade to a more advanced service using virtual DJ software so that they can mix songs and take requests – check each band’s profile page for details.
Most wedding bands booked for evening parties are reserved between 6 and 12 months in advance of an event, but the top bands can get snapped up a full 18 months in advance.
We recommend starting your search as soon as possible. This is especially crucial if you're planning a Saturday wedding during the peak wedding season of April to September.
If you're planning an off-season wedding between October and March, there will likely still be good options available at around the six-month mark.
If you’re having trouble deciding on a band, call us on 0333 242 0560 or send us a message to tell us what part of your day you need music for, and your musical preferences, and we’ll be more than happy to suggest suitable acts.
You can also read this handy guide on how to choose a wedding band.
We totally get that you want your wedding entertainment to be as unique as your day and you’re than welcome to send any preferred song choices from the band’s song list over to us in advance. In most cases on-the-night requests won’t be accepted, this is so the band can ensure all songs have been properly arranged and rehearsed in advance, giving you the best experience possible.
In most cases, yes. You’ll need to give us a heads up when booking, so we can make sure the band can perform at their best at your outdoor wedding. The band will need cover – such as a marquee or tipi – to protect themselves and their equipment, and access to a power supply.
Our Essex brides and grooms tell us why they chose their wedding musicians and how live music made their day. Read more local wedding stories on our blog.
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Function Central offers the very best wedding bands, DJs and entertainers in Essex. We are the leading local wedding music booking agency and offer 5 star customer service, competitive rates and a 24/7 emergency support line.
Browse live bands in almost every town and county in the UK using the menu below.
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