Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Inject serious style into your wedding or party with our Motown, R&B and soul bands. Covering everyone from Marvin Gaye to Lizzo.
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Looking for a stylish band to lead your party through the greatest R&B, pop and soul of all time? Chronicle are guaranteed to have your guests on the dancefloor in record time! Solo and duo options, additional female vocals and brass section available.
These folks are masters in dishing out a sensational mix of Motown magic, pop pizzazz, and a sprinkle of Postmodern Jukebox vibes, customisable from a 5-piece to a vibrant 6-piece ensemble with saxophone flair.
Comprised of top-flight touring musicians that have backed artists such as Rita Ora and George Ezra, Spotlight are an explosive premium party band covering the biggest soul & pop hits of all time.
Dynamic 5-piece band, featuring both male and female vocals, brings the house down with electrifying pop & rock hits spanning from Queen to Kings of Leon and Amy Winehouse.
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.
The Mayfields dive deep into the heart and soul of music, blending timeless Motown classics with the sassy beats of today's R&B and pop anthems.
Flipping the script on traditional tunes, these dynamic brass wizards serve up everything from The Beatles to Beyonce.
Offering a versatile range of line-ups from their acoustic duo to the full party package 8-piece, The Get Ups offer a modern repertoire delivered with bags of professionalism and charisma.
From pop favourites and feel-good funk to afrobeats and updated jazz classics, The DBs turn the traditional brass band format on its head and drag it kicking and screaming into the 21st century!
Young and animated brass band who never fail to get the party jumping with their funky take on the traditional brass format. Aside from their larger line-ups for dancing, the band also offer a 4-piece acoustic line-up, ideal for roaming at garden parties or parades.
Professional and versatile rock, pop and soul function band serving the North West and beyond, covering the very best of rock, pop, funk, soul and jazz across the decades. Highly recommended!
The Pop Ups will play you through the decades! Born from a mutual love of classic pop, these phenomenal musicians deliver a night to remember.
Incredible versatile band with a song list ranging from 70s classics to the present day that includes current charts as well as all your favourite soul and Motown throwbacks!
With strong female vocals supported by guitar, backing vocals and drums, this small trio has the same sound and live impact as a ten-piece band.
Luxury function band made up of outstanding musicians from London that deliver an engaging, energetic and unforgettable show, guaranteed to get the audience dancing all night.
Hugely experienced wedding and function band featuring both male and female vocals, playing a great mixture of party classics and contemporary tunes. Extra musicians, photo booth and DJ service also available.
This in-demand Midlands wedding band have played at the NEC and O2 Arena and feature male and female vocals and 5-part harmonies. Expect pop, rock, indie, soul, funk and disco party anthems.
Exciting pop, soul and funk party band with female vocals, who also play a super cool blend of R&B and disco classics. Additional musicians also available.
A professional collective with a live band and DJ that offer more fun, energy and talent than you can handle and are guaranteed to create an unforgettable evening of performances.
Young, fresh 4 or 5-piece party band with a choice of male vocalist/trumpet player, female vocalist/sax player, or both! DJ and acoustic sets also available. Discounts for midweek or off-season events.
Our soul, funk and Motown bands perform the best soul classics by legends such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and James Brown as well as 70s and 80s funk by the likes of Kool & The Gang, Prince and Chaka Khan.
Most bands will also play soul-infused pop, R&B, hip hop by artists such as Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, John Legend, Bruno Mars and Lizzo.
Several bands can incorporate UK garage or dance sets on request.
All our soul, funk and Motown bands will bring their own PA sound system and backline amplifiers as well as microphones and instruments – so nothing to worry about there!
Let us know if you're expecting more than 250 guests and we’ll double check that the band’s sound system is large enough.
Most bands will also bring lighting for both the stage and dancefloor.
Yes (usually)! If you're booking a soul or Motown band for your wedding, you may want them to play your first dance, and most are more than happy to do this. Just let us know your song so that the band have time to prepare.
If the band don't feel they can easily replicate the song and do it justice, they will be more than happy to play your first dance via mp3 through their PA system.
Line-ups of the bands vary from solo soul singers performing to backing tracks all the way up to large soul extravaganzas complete with brass, backing vocals and percussion for that authentic Motown sound. Check out each band’s profile for specifics and options for expanding with add-ons and extras!
If you want a bit more from the era, it's worth checking out our 70s-themed bands. For a broader range of genres including guitar-based rock and indie, see our wedding bands or party bands.
Our soul, funk and Motown band performances are two hours and usually split over 2 x 1-hour or 3 x 40-minute sets with short intervals – but the band can play for less time, or longer (for an additional cost) if it suits your event better.
All our soul, funk and Motown bands provide mp3 music during the breaks in their live performances and many are able to offer virtual DJ software so that they can mix songs seamlessly and even take some of your guests’ requests.
All you need to provide is access to a power source (a couple of standard domestic sockets is fine) and a flat, sheltered performance space where the band can set up and play.
As a guide, it’s best to allow for 4m wide x 4m deep for a 4-piece band – then add an additional square metre for each extra band member.
A raised stage always helps give the band more presence but isn’t essential as long as the band’s area is flat and dry. If you’re unsure, check the ‘performance information’ on the band’s page.
Yes! Make the most of your soul or Motown wedding band by using the musicians to perform background music earlier in the day as well.
Whether it’s a jazz set during your drinks reception, cocktail piano during your wedding breakfast or a DJ set until last orders, see what else your chosen band can offer. This avoids the additional hassle and cost of booking separate musicians.
Performing can be tiring work! So please make sure that your band have the food and refreshments that they need during your event.
Most of our soul, funk and Motown bands will require a hot meal and depending on the venue, some bands will also need reserved parking or a secure changing room so do check their profile for details if you can’t see it detailed on your booking contract.
Bands can provide recorded music between sets via a device (yours or theirs), free of charge.
Many are also able to upgrade to a more advanced service using virtual DJ software. This means that they can mix songs and take guest requests. To find out if your chosen band can do this, check the band’s profile page.
We love nothing more than talking about our bands and would be more than happy to help you select the right soul, funk and Motown 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 suggest suitable acts.
In the meantime, you can read this handy guide on how to choose a wedding band.
Firstly, 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, this may limit your choice of bands to duos or acoustic set-ups.
If you’re planning a wedding on a Saturday between the months of April and September, you should think about booking around 12 months in advance. Some more popular bands may even need to be booked 18 months before the day.
If you’re planning a wedding during the low season of October to March, you may be able to book just six months in advance.
Hiring a soul, funk and Motown band locally will save you money on travel and accommodation costs. Use the filter menus at the top of this page to narrow down the acts to ones based in your region.
You’re more than welcome to choose your favourite songs from the band’s song list on their profile page. We cannot guarantee any other requests will be played as they may not work with the band’s arrangement. For example, the song may require a particular instrument that the band doesn’t offer.
The songs on the band’s profile list are tried and tested crowd pleasers and are thoroughly rehearsed, ensuring the best possible performance on your day.
In most cases, yes. You will need to ensure you have proper cover for your band and their equipment (a marquee or a tipi) and a power supply they can easily access. If you’re considering an outdoor reception, let us know and we can discuss any specific requirements your band may have.
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