Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Hire a swing band for your wedding or party, to play the best danceable jazz, swing and jump jive across the decades: from Ellington, Louis Prima and Sinatra through to swinging versions of the latest pop music.
Excellent
933 reviews on
To check availability, please add your event date to the menu above.
A highly accomplished male tribute vocalist singing in the Rat Pack style, who has worked and sung alongside artists such as Paul McCartney and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. DJ service available.
A gathering of the UK's top burlesque and variety performers, presented by renowned figures reminiscent of The Rat Pack.
Exceptional jazz and swing trio with an extensive repertoire of classic jazz tunes by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and George Gershwin, plus an optional pop repertoire. Suitable for elegant background music.
First class singer who can turn himself to almost any style – choose between tributes to Michael Buble, the Rat Pack, Robbie Williams, 60s/70s/80s party songs, or mix it up with a DJ service.
Focusing on the vibrant music of the roaring twenties and capturing the era's glitz and glamour, Scotch & Soda stand out as the premier 1920s jazz band on the boardwalk.
Classy Rat Pack style vocalist singing jazz and swing alongside more modern rock, pop and soul hits. Laptop DJ service, sax set and afternoon jazz/easy listening set also available.
A sassy, swingin' jazz band from Cardiff to get your party jumping, playing the best tunes from the last 100 years in a vintage style with a contemporary sound.
Talented gypsy jazz trio playing their own arrangements of tunes ranging from swing & jazz classics to modern pop anthems.
A vibrant Anglo-Italian swing ensemble and renowned globetrotting YouTube sensations, performing a delightful repertoire that includes classic Italian tunes, gypsy jazz, swing, and timeless jazz standards.
Energetic swing band comprised of graduates of the Royal Welsh College of Music, offering customisable performances ranging from a duo to an energetic 8-piece, ready to bring the swing to your event!
Upbeat, Dixieland jazz band playing songs in the classic New Orleans style. Great for toe-tapping background music. Also available as a marching band line-up is available for parades and funerals.
A delightful gypsy swing band that captures the lively sounds of 1930s Paris, guaranteed to have people nodding their heads, tapping their toes, and getting the party into full swing!
Crowd-rousing function band playing classic danceable pop hits as well as rock and jazz. Additional brass players and afternoon duo performances also available.
Slick lounge band, featuring a female vocalist, playing swing and chilled jazz arrangements of pop and soul songs which are steeped in their own original style for dancing. Quintet ensemble available.
Super smooth jazz and swing band fronted by a very talented male vocalist. Additional musicians, smaller line-ups and acoustic sets also available.
Stylish vintage swing act from featuring three sassy female vocalists. 3 to 8-piece line-ups including horn section available, additional options include sax and afternoon sets.
Enjoy swing, jazz and Rat Pack hits from one of the finest crooners in the UK! Available as a solo singer with backing tracks, he also performs as a duo or trio, quartet or a knock-out full-size swing band.
A skilled and experienced male singer, specializing in swinging renditions of songs by Michael Bublé and classics from The Rat Pack. Offers discounts for low season and midweek bookings.
A swinging and sophisticated Rat Pack tribute singer, Fly Me to the Moon will bring all the style and excitement of lounge cabaret to your event!
A finalist on Britain's Got Talent, The Swing King is a hugely popular singer of Rat Pack, jazz & swing standards as well as modern pop hits. Live 6-piece band option available.
Swing music was popularised by bandleaders such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller, and became a staple of dance halls and nightclubs during the 1930s and 1940s.
Swing music is energetic and upbeat, so if you're looking to create a lively atmosphere and encourage people to dance, hiring a swing band is the perfect option!
Not always. Most swing bands play a varied selection of swing and related genres:
Classic swing and big band music
Classic songs from the swing band era (1930s and 1940s). Popular tunes include: Sing, Sing, Sing, In the Mood, Take the A Train, Chattanooga Choo Choo and Minnie the Moocher by Cab Calloway
Rat Pack and crooner standards
Songs from the late 1940s through to the 1960s, popularised by artists such as Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Songs include: Come Fly with Me, Fly Me To The Moon and L.O.VE
Pop songs performed in a vintage style
Often referred to as "postmodern jazz", this style became hugely popular thanks to bands such as Postmodern Jukebox and Nouvelle Vague. These bands re-imagine and perform popular songs in vintage musical styles, from swing and jazz to ragtime and bossa nova.
Other genres
Some of our bands will include uptempo songs in closely related genres, such as jump jive, soul, blues and gospel. Some examples are: Hallelujah I Love Her, Hey Bartender, Hit The Road Jack, Jump, Jive, and Wail and Straighten Up And Fly Right.
Yes! But this depends on the line-up. Make sure your swing band includes a drummer – providing an essential rhythmic element for dancing.
A vocalist/frontman/frontwoman is also recommended for dancing. This provides a focal point for your guests and makes the performance more interactive.
This depends on the line-up. For small swing band consisting of 5 members you'll need a performance area (or stage if you can provide one) measuring 5 metres across by 3 metres deep.
Before researching bands, consider the size and layout of your event space, as well as the number of guests you are expecting. A swing band can take up a significant amount of space and may be too loud for a small or intimate gathering. It's also important to consider your budget and the cost of hiring a band.
Lastly, don't forget to have a dance floor set up and encourage your guests to join in the fun!
Yes! Jive music evolved from swing music, but incorporates elements of jump blues, boogie woogie, and early rock'n'roll. It typically features a driving rhythm section, with a strong emphasis on the drums and bass, as well as a brass section with trumpets and trombones.
Jive music is often associated with dance, particularly the jitterbug and the swing dances of the 1930s and 1940s. The fast tempo and upbeat rhythm make it ideal for lively, energetic dancing, with dancers performing a range of kicks, flicks, and other fast-paced movements.
Some well-known examples of jive music include "Jump, Jive, and Wail" by Louis Prima, "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets, "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley, and "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" by Louis Jordan.
Our swing bands typically perform for 2 hours. This can usually be divided into two sets of sixty minutes each, or three sets of forty minutes each.
Most bands will be able to play recorded music via their sound systems in the intervals, to ensure you're never in silence.
There are several reasons why we'd recommend booking a swing band for your wedding or event:
In summary, booking a wedding swing band will add a touch of class, energy, and fun, and create a memorable experience for you and your guests.
Most of our swing bands can perform within the limits of sound limiters with no problems, though always check the noise restrictions at your venue and let us know the decibel limit, so we can suggest appropriate bands.
In many cases, levels can be reduced by asking the drummer to use brushes or “hot rods” instead of wooden sticks.
Our swing wedding bands will be happy to learn and perform your first dance request – provided they think they can arrange it for their line-up and do it justice.
Firstly, check the band's profile page on our website, to see if the song is already featured on their song list.
If it's not, let us know your request and we'll run it past the band and let you know if they'd be happy to learn and rehearse it for you.
If they're not, don't worry, they'll make sure they play the recorded version through their PA system instead, at the right time.
Assuming you've booked a swing band to perform in the evening, they'll aim to arrive from 5pm or 6pm.
Their set up and sound-check will then take between 60-90 minutes (depending on the size of the band), so please make sure they have a closed off room for this period. If you can't close the room off, don't panic, we can arrange a silent "line-check" instead, so as not to disturb your guests.
Aside from sufficient space, you'll just need to allow the band access to at least two standard domestic plug sockets.
Loading...
Back to top
