Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Hire the very best live wedding bands in Kent. The county that gave us The Stones, Bowie and Kate Bush is a wellspring of musical talent.
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Boogie on down to 70s classics to one of the funkiest 70s tribute bands in town. This high-end showband are all flares, platforms and hippie chic, and their sound is as bold as their attire. Additional musicians and DJ service also available.
London-based wedding and party band with a vast repertoire covering all genres, including a specialist Britpop/90s set, covering indie bands such as Oasis, Blur and Supergrass, as well as classic British rock acts.
Show-stopping party band playing a wide variety of hits by artists including Chic, Diana Ross and Bruno Mars that guarantee a night to remember! Additional musicians available.
Award-winning party & events band delivering a tantalizing blend of R&B, Funk, Pop and 90’s Dance
Say yes to cheese, high energy & a totally rad repertoire! Totally Rad are an 80s tribute band like no other. Each member is wireless and will be in the crowd as much as they're on the stage.
Stereo Sonic bring a fresh new energy to the party band scene along with an eclectic mix of floor fillers, from Stevie Wonder to Harry Styles.
Dynamic four-piece band, delivering feel-good music with energetic sets spanning decades of must-have hits, including tunes from The Beatles, Elvis, Robbie Williams, Kings of Leon and many more!
Outstanding brass band who can adapt to a range of scenarios, whether playing pop songs with vocals for dancing at weddings, oompah in lederhosen at Oktoberfest or as a mobile marching band for promotions and processions.
A traditional gypsy jazz and acoustic swing band, these folks masterfully play Django Reinhardt classics, along with swing-style covers of modern artists. Available as an instrumental line-up or with female vocals.
Be a rock star for an evening! Instead of singing to karaoke recorded tracks, your guests get to sing with the backing of a full live band.
Combining smooth vocal harmonies, toe-tapping rhythms, and infectious melodies, The Swing Tigers play classic swing for dancing, breathing new life into timeless classics.
Add a sprinkle of Americana country to your event with the feel-good repertoire and inexhaustible talent of The Kickin' Country Band. Soloist up to 7-piece band options available.
The ultimate 80s party band playing number one smashes from one of the most eclectic eras of all time, the 1980s.
Versatile and polished acoustic roaming band, offering a fusion of soul/Motown, rock 'n' roll, and modern pop tunes to sing along to, for either intimate or lively settings.
An intoxicating blend of swing, jazz and contemporary pop performed by experienced, world-class musicians. Additional musicians and afternoon sets also available.
Vintage Jukebox, with highly talented jazz and blues musicians, sets an unmatched musical standard. From jazz standards to the latest pop hits, Vintage Jukebox are capable of catering to events and weddings, offering tailor-made entertainment for any occasion.
Exciting new brass and drums band playing danceable pop songs as well as some Latin music. With Brazilian musicians in their ranks, the band will bring the spirit of Rio and Carnival to your event!
High Wire cover an electrifying mix of timeless classics and current chart-toppers from Amy Winehouse to the Spice Girls to the Jackson 5, for an unforgettable night of dancing.
When The Shots aren't sharing the stage with the likes of Sting and Jamiroquai, they can be found playing soul, pop and R&B covers at some of the coolest parties in the country. Fronted by an alumnus of The Voice UK 2019.
A guitar, violin and vocal harmony duo with a repertoire that covers everything from Ray Charles to Oasis, The Beatles to Beyoncé and Frank Sinatra to Britney Spears.
Since weddings are cross-generational events, our Kent wedding bands usually perform a wide range of music through the decades.
A typical wedding set-list will likely include a mixture of mainstream, uptempo rock, pop,
soul, Motown and R&B – music to appeal to all tastes and ages.
If pop music isn't your thing, fear not. Brass and drums bands for a popular alternative to the classic function band format. We also have festival folk bands in Kent, ideal for barn-based knees-ups and postmodern Jukebox style bands for a jazzy twist on pop covers.
For retro weddings, our decade-themed bands pay tribute to the 50s, 60s or 80s.
After we receive your enquiry, we'll send you a quote, inclusive of VAT and covering the following services:
Yes – all our function bands in Kent are fully self-contained with their own PA sound system, microphones, backline amplifiers and instruments. Most bands will also bring lighting for both the stage and dancefloor.
The band's PA system should be loud enough for most marquee or indoor weddings, but let us know if you're expecting more than 250 guests, so we can check this.
Check the act's individual profile for more details and optional add-ons to enhance the show!
Most of our Kent wedding bands are happy to learn and perform your first dance request free of charge – provided they think they can arrange it for their line-up and do it justice.
Check the act’s profile to see what they can offer and if they can’t do it live, they could just play it through their PA system using Spotify or an mp3 player.
Our Kent wedding bands will aim to arrive between 5pm and 6pm, and will need a setup and sound-check window of 60 to 90 minutes.
Since the band will need to make a bit of noise to test their sound levels, it's advisable to close off the room to guests during this time.
Although sound-checks are recommended, it's not always practical for weddings which take place in the same room. Let us know if you'd prefer a silent set-up (line-check only) instead, and we can arrange this.
Our Kent function bands usually play either two sets of 60 minutes each or three sets of 40 minutes each, with a brief break in between.
Our standard booking contracts specify a finish time no later than midnight, though this can be extended for an extra charge, if preferred.
No – interval music is provided free of charge with every booking, to ensure there's never silence. The band will put on appropriate music through their PA using a laptop or device.
You're welcome to hand the band a device containing a pre-prepared playlist of your favourite songs, if you prefer.
Many of our bands also offer their own DJ service, for a nominal charge. Usually this will be a laptop equipped with DJ software and manned by a band member all night.
If you're after more sophisticated lighting, or want to continue the wedding party beyond midnight, we recommend booking a separate DJ.
The aptly named Garden of England is the perfect base to celebrate your wedding. From its undulating hills and watery edges, to its magical cities and seaside towns, Kent has an enviably diverse character.
Our bands have performed in all major centres of the county, including Maidstone, Gillingham, Dartford, Chatham, Ashford, Sevenoaks and Dover.
A few Kent venues our bands have played at and which we'd recommend are: Sprivers Mansion, Bradbourne House, Eastwell Manor and The Hop Farm to Leeds Castle, Winters Barns and Hever Castle.
They've performed at venues within a stones throw of Rochester and Canterbury cathedrals as well as shabby-chic seaside venues in Margate, Folkestone, Herne Bay, Whitstable and Deal.
Our Kent wedding bands start as low as £850 for a 3-piece band, running into several thousand pounds for a world-class, 10-piece show band.
In 2022, the median (typical) price paid for a 4-piece wedding band was £1350.
The bands featured here are best suited as the headline act for dancing, later on in the evening.
However, we can also offer soloists, duos, jazz and other background musicians in Kent, for your ceremony or drinks party.
Our selection of string quartets, harpists, pianists, and classical guitarists can serenade you whilst you walk down the aisle, entertain guests whilst you sign the register and pose for photographs.
They're also a great ice-breaker at your drinks reception or wedding meal. Just browse the menus at the top of this page to find what you're looking for.
Our experts take the stress out of hiring a Kent wedding band and will recommend a fantastic choice of wedding music in every genre.
If
you're looking for entertainment to satisfy even the most discerning of
guests, rest assured in the knowledge that we only use the most
professional, outstanding acts, all of whom have been fully vetted by
our team.
Cancellations are rare. This is because each musician in the band will have several well-trained, deputy musicians who can replace them in the event of accident or illness.
In the unlikely event that your Kent wedding band is forced to cancel the booking, Function Central will offer suitable replacement bands of similar standard and style, at no extra cost.
If you're not happy with any replacements offered, Function will refund you all payments made to date to Function Central or the band.
Yes! We get that choosing a band can be overwhelming and we’re more than happy to help you out. Drop us a line message or give us a call on 0333 242 0560 and we’ll go from there.
You can also read this handy guide on how to choose a wedding band
In most instances, a sound limiter won’t stand in the way of you booking the band you want. If the sound limiter is set to a threshold below 95 decibels, let us know, as some bands will struggle to keep within this range and may need to make adjustments. For example, some bands may be able to substitute live drums for electronic drums, which will bring down the overall level of the band.
If the threshold is 80-85dB, things can get trickier. In this case, you may need to choose a duo or acoustic band.
On each band’s profile you’ll find a song list, you’re welcome to flag up any preferred songs from the list and ask that any you don’t like are left out. While your Kent wedding band will do their best to play as many of your requests as possible, they may need to change things up according to audience response. The best bands work with their audience and gauge the mood on the night. Trust us (we’ve been doing this for a long time!), this is the best way to keep feet on the dance floor all night long.
Booking time depends on when your wedding is taking place. For a Saturday wedding in the summer, some of the most popular bands will need to be booked 18 months in advance. Other bands can be booked 12 months before the day.
For low-season or weekday weddings, you can probably get away with booking six months in advance.
Whenever your wedding, we always recommend booking as soon as you can if you have your heart set on a particular band.
In most cases, bands are happy to play in the great outdoors. You will need shelter to protect them and their equipment and access to a power supply to make it happen. Give us a call if you’re unsure if your venue will fit the bill and we’ll be more than happy to advise.
Since 2008 we've provided bands and musicians for thousands of wedding receptions throughout Kent, from Dartford to Deal.
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Our Kent brides and grooms tell us why they chose their wedding band and how live music made their evening party. Read more local wedding stories on our blog.
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Function Central provide the best DJs. entertainers and bands for weddings in Kent and throughout the UK. We're the nation's leading wedding music booking agency, with 5-star rated customer service, unbeatable prices, secure contracts and outstanding quality.
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