Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Hosting a party? Whether it’s an anniversary, birthday, corporate or engagement party, our live party bands will kick the celebrations off in style.
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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.
A turbo-charged versatile 3 piece wedding and party band with great energy and sound, covering a wide range of genres (50s- present day), expertly reading their audiences. Optional "heavy set" also available for die-hard rock fans!
Party down with Party Up, the slickest soul, funk and R&B band in the South East! Featuring sax and up to three stunning vocalists, the band count Sky, Cadburys and Emma Thompson among their regular clients. Discounted rates available on remaining 2024 dates.
Fun and totally unique wedding and party band with male and female vocals, playing retro swing, vintage jive and rock'n'roll through to 80s funk, 90s R&B and quirky takes on modern chart.
Mojo Brass are a funky, punchy brass powerhouse made up of the UK's best up-and-coming sax players, trumpeters and drummer. Their track list blends rarer grooves with mainstream crowd-pleasers.
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.
Youthful, charismatic new 4-piece, channelling rock, dance, hip-hop and soul influences. The band have caught the attention of a major label – catch them now while rates are low!
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.
Amp up your party with Rockit: a sensational party band with a huge catalogue of rock, indie and pop floor-fillers from Chuck Berry and The Beatles to Billie Eilish and Ed Sheeran.
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.
Infectiously energetic and spirited pop, soul and Motown band featuring sax and two extraordinary vocal talents – guaranteed to get your guests dancing. Chose between male or female vocals or both.
With no less than three vocalists in the band, The Crossfades serve up the best vintage and modern rock, pop and indie covers with a side of crowd-pleasing charm.
Max out on soul and sophistication with Soul Club, a high energy show band comprising musicians who have toured with Stormzy and Dua Lipa. Expect stunning vocals and unparalleled musicianship.
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.
Knock-out party band featuring members who have recorded and performed at Abbey Road and Glastonbury and playing some of the biggest soul and pop floor-fillers of all time.
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.
Think style, glitz and confidence - and every special request met - Seren have the thing that makes dance floors jump and feet frantically tap (even the feet of the tough-to-impress guests)
Live DJ band featuring soulful female vocals and soaring sax solos, and playing all your favourite tunes from 80s anthems through to this year's bangers.
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.
Expect outstanding musicianship from players at the very top of their game, performing the best of old skool and newest anthems from R&B, club classics, garage, pop, soul and motown. Highly recommended for all types of event!
Almost everything! Whether you’re commemorating a milestone or staging a one-off celebration, our party bands have got you covered.
Our bands have provided the soundtrack to Bar Mitzvahs, birthdays and retirement dos. They’ve helped surprise employees at annual office parties and brought in New Year in style.
Whatever the occasion, our bands will give your guests something to remember long after the music has stopped.
A complete list of songs is available on each band’s profile page but, typically, our party bands perform well-known pop music covers across all the eras, for dancing.
A typical band set-list might include: 1950s rock'n'roll music, 1960s Merseybeat, 1970s funk and disco, 1980s pop anthems, 1990s Britpop and R&B, 2000s garage rock and the latest chart-toppers.
So you can expect to hear songs by artists as diverse as Chuck Berry, Oasis, Stevie Wonder, The Killers and Dua Lipa. We find that this sort of mix is ideal for events with a wide cross-section of ages.
If you’d prefer your party band to stick to one genre, browse our dedicated rock and indie bands, soul and funk bands or swing and big bands, or 80s tribute bands.
Our party bands range from a 3-piece guitar bands (ideal for pint-raising rock and indie), right up to 12-piece bands with horn section, percussion and backing vocalists (recommended for bigger spaces and bigger budgets).
If you're into soul, Motown, contemporary pop or dance music, we recommend as large a line-up as possible, since the addition of keyboards, synths and brass will allow them to reproduce these genres with greater authenticity.
Feel free to check out the band’s song list on their profile page and send over any preferred song choices in advance. Party bands are unlikely to accept “on the fly” requests as they may not be part of their repertoire and the band may not have the appropriate musical or vocal arrangements to do them justice. Sticking to their song list and giving them chance to rehearse in advance will ensure your party band can give you their very best performance.
The bands on this page specialise in after-dinner and evening entertainment for events when the lights have dimmed, the dancefloor is lit up, and guests are in the mood for making some shapes!
But if you're looking for music for an afternoon cocktail hour, garden party or similar occasion, check out our roster of background musicians in the "browse acts" menu at the top of this page. You might also find what you need on our wedding bands page.
Yes! All our party bands bring their own PA sound system, microphones, amplifiers and instruments.
Do let us know if you're expecting more than 200 guests though, just so we can check that the band’s system is big enough.
Most bands also bring stage lighting to ensure they're not playing in darkness. Check the band's profile page for more details.
All you need to provide is access to a power source and a flat, level performance area. Shelter is essential if the band is to perform outdoors.
As a guide, it’s best to allow for 4m wide x 3m deep for a 4-piece band – then add an additional square metre for each extra band member.
A raised stage always helps a band make a bigger impact but isn’t essential.
Some acts require a changing room, where they can prepare for the performance. Others may ask for a basic meal as part of their "rider", depending on how long they're required to be at your venue. This is a standard industry requirement.
Party bands ask for a 60-90 minute window from 5pm or 6pm at the earliest in order to set up and soundcheck their equipment.
It’s ideal if your venue is free of guests at this point, although some bands are happy to do a noiseless ‘line check’ to test instruments and equipment instead of a full, front-of-house soundcheck, if you need them to keep the volume down.
Most of our party bands are booked for after-dinner dancing, and typically would perform 2 x 60 minute sets from 9.30pm through to midnight, with a half hour interval.
For performances later than midnight (whether band or DJ service), a later fee usually applies.
Yes! It's worth considering any of the following options:
Most of these bands also include popular songs in their repertoire, but arranged and performed in the style of their genre. (For example, a swing arrangement of Smell's Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana, or an Afro-cuban arrangement of Living On A Prayer by Bon Jovi).
For a vintage themed party, or just to avoid modern pop music altogether, you could also check out:
Before you book more musicians for afternoon background music, check whether members of your party band can provide this – it'll save you additional costs, such as travel.
If you haven't yet set the date for your party, consider booking a midweek or winter event to take advantage of the most competitive rates.
Always consider hiring a party band from your local area, to save on travel and accommodation costs. We have bands based in most major towns and cities across the UK.
Not necessarily – all our party bands will play recorded music during their interval, through their PA, free of charge. This means they'll be able to keep the music going until closing time.
Many bands are able to upgrade to a more advanced service using virtual DJ software so that they can mix songs and take your guests’ requests.
If you have specialised music requests, require extra lighting, or you're planning a very late finish, we'd recommend booking a professional party DJ.
As long as you have cover to protect the band and their equipment from the elements and a good power supply, your band should be able to play outdoors. Let us know when booking if you’re planning an outdoor event and we’ll be happy to provide you with a checklist of all you’ll need.
Having handpicked each and every band ourselves, we know them pretty well and so we’re perfectly placed to help you choose the right one for you.
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
Function Central is one of the leading providers of party bands in the UK. Find and book a local party band near you to save on travel and accommodation costs.
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