Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Hire an exceptional live wedding band in Manchester to play upbeat rock, pop and soul covers to fill your dancefloor. We've handpicked the best bands from the city that gave us Oasis, The Smiths and Take That.
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Exceptional party and wedding band playing everything from vintage 1950s rock’n’roll to cutting edge pop, indie and R&B. High profile clients include BT, Mini Cooper and Microsoft.
World-class pop, funk and soul function band, refreshing and recreating the classic soul sounds of the 60s, 70s and 80s, alongside soul-infused contemporary pop and R&B.
With joint female and male lead vocals and a backing band of unrivalled funkmeisters, Century put on a fun, rip-roaring show that your guests will never forget.
With a repertoire spanning six decades, this dynamic party band sings everything from Fleetwood Mac to Daft Punk, promising a hassle-free, all-inclusive celebration with top-notch PA and lighting.
Dynamic Motown, pop and soul band with stunning female and male lead vocals, impressive industry credentials and a playlist of soulful floor-fillers by artists such as Marvin Gaye, Justin Timberlake and Rihanna.
Powerful party and wedding band, ready to get your party rocking! The band have a diverse songlist which will surprise, delight and keep your guests dancing and singing along.
Outstanding wedding band playing chart, indie, rock anthems and Britpop and featuring guitars, keyboards and vocal harmonies for a big, versatile sound!
Exciting female-fronted wedding band playing the biggest party hits, from modern pop, 80s and 90s, disco/funk to rock, Motown and soul. The band have performed at Glastonbury and Edinburgh festival.
One of our leading wedding bands in the North West, Hudson are a powerful trio playing everything from uptempo 50s rock'n'roll to last week's number 1.
Experienced East Midlands wedding and party band with a massive playlist of rock, pop, reggae and soul, from Bob Marley to Bruno Mars. Afternoon acoustic sets and DJ service also available.
Danceable, piano-led pop and soul band from the West Midlands, with both female and male lead vocals and a song list of danceable rock, soul and pop anthems from Chuck Berry to Adele.
Comprising eight seasoned musicians with a wealth of experience behind them, Soul Motion deliver a knockout show for your special event, whether it is a wedding, corporate function, birthday party or festival. Weekday discounts available.
Guitar-led wedding and party band playing infectious renditions of all your favourite party hits, The Alternatives will have you singing along until closing time!
Energetic and experienced five-piece covering pop, rock, soul, and Motown hits from the 60s to today to keep the dance floor packed all night long.
The Flavours energise any event with chart-topping hits, soulful classics, and good time vibes, offering acoustic sets, DJ services, and a personalised playlist to keep the party going!
Fresh-faced, high-energy 4-piece band featuring both male and female vocals and playing all of the nation's favourite dance floor fillers – from The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Blondie to George Michael, Dua Lipa, and The Arctic Monkeys.
A fully live, big-sounding 3-piece band playing only the best sing-a-long indie, rock and pop hits by artists such as The Killers, Oasis, The Beatles and many more.
Energetic party band playing crowd-rousing anthems by Huey Lewis, The Killers, Oasis, Lady Gaga, The Weekend and more!
Performing hi-octane brass arrangements of floor-fillers by Daft Punk, Queen, Beyonce and more, Drum 'n' Brass are a fresh alternative to traditional cover bands. Male vocals optional.
Phenomenally popular party & wedding band in the North West, featuring outstanding male vocals, guitar synth and a large set list of danceable rock, soul, reggae and pop music, from The Beatles to The Weeknd.
Our Manchester wedding bands typically perform a varied mix of upbeat pop music from across the decades. We find this approach works well at weddings, where the ages and tastes of guests can vary dramatically.
So you can expect to hear songs by The Beatles, Oasis, Stevie Wonder as well as songs by modern artists such as Lizzo, Dua Lipa and The Weeknd.
Saying that, if you favour one genre over the other, we would recommend doing the following:
If pop music isn’t your thing, don't worry – we have a range of alternative genres, from festival folk to Latin, ceilidh, and swing. Browse the menus above to find the perfect genre for your day.
Once you've found a band you love, add it to your basket and submit your enquiry. We'll then send you an all-inclusive quote. Typically, this will include:
Many of our Manchester wedding bands will learn one new song (eg. for your first dance), completely free of charge, although this depends on the song choice and whether it can be easily reproduced by the band's specific instrumentation.
Let us know if you have a request, and we'll run it past the band. Since the band may need to schedule extra rehearsal time to learn it, we recommend sending us your request as soon as you can.
If the band don't think they can easily reproduce your first dance or do it justice, they’ll be more than happy to play it via an mp3 or Spotify through their own PA system.
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 the 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.
Our Manchester wedding bands come fully equipped for your event, though it’s worth getting in touch if you are expecting your event to exceed 250 guests, as extra equipment might be necessary.
For the performance itself, you will need to provide your performers with a flat, level performance area or stage, measuring at least 4m wide x 3 meters deep for a 4-piece band – add an extra meter per band member as applicable.
The band will also require a power source for their equipment and a raised stage is preferable.
Assuming you want the band for after-dinner dancing, two 60-minute sets starting any time from 8.30pm is a fairly normal timetable to work to.
A start time any earlier than this is not recommended as it may still be light outside, and guests may be less in the mood for dancing.
No – the band will make sure to play upbeat, recorded music in a similar style to their own, through their PA system in all the gaps, ensuring your guests don't have to stop dancing.
They'll likely take one 15-20 minute interval between their sets (or two intervals if performing 3 x 40 minute sets).
Some bands also offer their own in-house DJ service. This is recommended if you'd like to make specific requests for songs to be played in the intervals, or if you'd like mixed songs.
For a larger lighting rig, and late night finishes, we'd recommend booking a separate Manchester DJ.
All our Manchester wedding bands will require a soundcheck on arrival, typically 60 or 90 minutes.
It’s generally best if the performance space is free of guests at this point, but most bands can arrange a "silent" line-check to keep the volume down, if you prefer.
Our Manchester wedding bands have played at events throughout the city, including Bolton, Sale, Rochdale, Stockport, Salford, Wigan, Oldham, Bury, Atherton, Altrincham, Trafford, Piccadilly, Hulme Rochdale, Glossop, Cheadle and Eccles.
Whether your hosting your reception at Worsley Park, King Street Townhouse, Great John Street, The Castlefield Rooms, The Lowry, Albert's Restaurant & Bar or Didsbury House Hotel, our wedding bands are set to help you dance the night away.
You can also hire a Manchester band to perform anywhere in the UK and internationally.
In 2023 so far, the average price our customers have paid for wedding band in Manchester is £1650 – however most of our customers pay closer to the £1200 mark.
Note that the "from" price listed on our band's profile pages is reflective of an event in the band's locality, in the off-season. You can expect a higher quote depending on the distance of your venue from the band's home location. and your event date.
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.
All bands listed above are suitable for dancing at evening receptions.
But if you're after music earlier on in the day as well as the evening, our selection of Manchester wedding musicians is second to none.
Hire classical musicians to serenade you down the aisle, or book a wedding singer to break the ice during the wedding banquet.
Hire a harpist or string quartet for your bridal procession and photos, as well as acoustic musicians for your wedding drinks or banquet.
In
fact, from your bridal entrance through to the last limo of the night,
we’ve got your entertainment covered!
Yes. We've listed a few swing bands suitable for late night wedding parties on this page, but for our full selection, including our background jazz duos, trios and quartets, see our Manchester jazz bands.
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 your date, consider booking a midweek or winter celebration to take advantage of the most competitive rates.
Always consider hiring a band from your local area, to save on travel and accommodation costs.
We have acts based in most major towns and cities across the UK.
If a band member falls ill before the event date, it is the responsibility of the band to organise a substitute musician for that member. Each band member has at least one well-rehearsed "deputy" musician who knows the songs and has performed with the band before.
In the very unlikely event that all members of the band are unable to attend and the band is forced to cancel, Function Central will make every possible effort to find a replacement band in a similar genre, line-up, and price range, from our extensive collection of Manchester wedding bands, musicians, and DJs.
Of course! We love nothing more than chatting about our bands (apart from seeing them play, of course!) and helping couples find the right one for them.
If you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for, tell us what part of your day you need music for, and your musical preferences, using our quick contact form, and we’ll suggest suitable acts.
You can also read this handy guide on how to choose a wedding band
Since 2008, we've provided wedding bands for thousands of evening functions throughout Manchester, from Bolton to Bury.
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Function Central is Manchester's leading wedding music and band booking agency, offering 5 star customer service, competitive rates, secure contracts and a 24/7 emergency support line. We can provide exceptional live bands in almost every town and county in the UK.
Use the menu below to find the best act near you.
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