Name: Downtown Underground
Brand: Downtown Underground
SKU: downtown-underground
Rating: 5.0 (115 reviews)

Do you want to relive the magic of the golden era of soul era? Or dance the night away to the coolest contemporary chart-toppers? Whatever your musical preferences, Downtown Underground will tailor your dream set-list and ensure guests leave with their smiles high!

The band recreate 60s, 70s and 80s classics by the likes of James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Wilson Pickett, with stunning authenticity. For younger guests, they can perform a knock-out set of soul-infused pop and R&B hits by Outkast, Ed Sheeran and Rudimental, if required.

The group has been playing together for several years now and every member is a world-class professional musician with a wealth of experience.

DTU is fronted by a bona fide American soul star with 25 years experience performing around the world, including session work for the legendary Philadelphia International record label. The band's guitarist is famous for producing platinum selling albums by artists including Bjork, Jamiroquai and The Stereo MC’s as well as winning "Busker Of The Year".

Downtown Underground have perfected the art of filling the dance floor with their seriously infectious feel-good covers. This is as good as it gets! Rob D, Producer for Lisa Stansfield, London

Downtown Underground's standard show is made up of two 60-minute or three 40-minute minute sets, and these can contain any combination of the material mentioned to suit your needs.

Downtown Underground's standard line-up includes vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums. For the biggest funk and soul sound possible, they can add saxophone and trumpet, for a 2-piece brass section.

Shows of shorter or longer duration are also possible, and thanks to the wealth of talent within the band, other “extras” are available. These include an acoustic soloist or duo, a jazz trio for background music or a funk/party DJ to continue the music into the early hours.

Off-stage the band are friendly, polite and discreet. On-stage they are, in our opinion, the funkiest soul and pop band for hire in Manchester and one of our favourite North West wedding bands. We can't recommend them enough!

Whether you're planning a corporate function, wedding, engagement party, birthday bash, school reunion or anniversary, we guarantee that you and your guests will pile onto the dancefloor, get on the good foot and have a funky good time!

Performance info

Starting line-up	Male vocals; guitar; bass; sax; keyboards; drums
Performance duration	2 x 60 minute sets
Interval music	Yes (included in price)
Lighting	Yes (included in price)

Booking options

Add trumpet From £275	Upgrade to a 2-piece brass section for extra impact
Acoustic background soloist From £380.00 for 2 x 45 min or 3 x 30 min sets	Live lounge style sets by the band's solo guitar vocalist, ideal for drinks receptions or meals
DJ service From £250	Upbeat, mainstream pop music from all eras, run from a laptop equipped with virtual DJ software. Requests taken and mic available for announcements
Recording of the gig From £70	A CD recording of the gig (quality of recording subject to acoustics of venue)

Up-Tempo Downtown

Ain't No Stopping Us Now – Mcfadden & Whitehead
All This Love That I'm Giving – Gwen McCrae
Beggin’ – Måneskin / Madcon / Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Call Me Al – Paul Simon
Cheerleader – OMI
Closer – Neyo
Dancing on the Ceiling – Lionel Ritchie
Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
Feel The Love – Rudimental
Fly Away – Lennie Kravitz
For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder
Forget You – Cee Lo Green
Get Lucky – Daft Punk Feat. Pharell
Get Up Offa That Thing – James Brown
Giant – Calvin Harris (Feat. Rag 'n' Bone Man)
Got Your Money – Kelis & ODB
Green Onions – Booker T & The MG’s
Happy – Pharrell
Hard to Handle – Otis Redding
Hey Ya – Outkast
Higher & Higher – Jackie Wilson
Higher Love – Kygo, Whitney Huston / Steve Winwood
Hold On I’m Coming – Sam And Dave
I Feel Good – James Brown
Ignition (Remix) – R Kelly
I Want You Back – Jackson Five
I Wish – Stevie Wonder
Is This Love – Bob Marley
Jump Around – House of Pain
Kiss – Prince
Killing Me Softly – Fugees / Flack
Land of 1000 Dances – Wilson Picket
Liquid Spirit – Gergory Porter
Le Freak – Chic
Lovely Day – Bill Withers
Feeling Good – Nina Simone (Buble Big Band Version)
For Once In My life – Stevie Wonder
Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5
Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett
My First, My Last, My Everything – Barry White
Never Too Much – Luther Vandross
No Diggerty – Blackstreet
Nobody To Love – Sigma
One Dance – Drake
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag – James Brown
Pass The Peas – The JBs
Pick Up The Pieces – Average White Band
Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
Rappers Delight – Sugar Hill Gang
Reach Out (I'll Be There) – Four Tops
Relight My Fire – Take That / Dan Hartman
Return of the Mac - Mark Morrison
September – Earth, Wind & Fire
Sex Machine – James Brown
Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
Signed Sealed Delivered – Stevie Wonder
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
The Power of Love – Huey Lewis & the News
The Snake – Al Wilson
This is How We Do It – Montell Jordan
Treasure – Bruno Mars
Try A Little Tenderness – Otis Redding
Uptight – Stevie Wonder
Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
Use Me – Bill Withers
We Will Rock You – Queen
Word Up – Cameo
Work – Rihanna
World Hold On – Bob Sinclair
You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates

Lovers Downtown (Romantic songs for First Dances)

All My Life - K-Ci and Jojo
Bring It On Home To Me – Sam Cooke
Girl From Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto Girl
Hallelujah (I Love Her So) – Ray Charles
Happier Than The Morning Sun – Stevie Wonder
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You – Van Morrison
I Can't Help Falling In Love – Elvis
Just The Way You Are – Barry White
L.O.V.E. – Nat King Cole
Latch – Sam Smith (Acoustic Version)
Let There Be Love – Nat King Cole
Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
Let’s Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Love On The Weekend – Jon Mayer
Moondance – Van Morrison
My Girl – Temptations
Never Too Much – Luther Vandross (Ballad Version)
Secret – Seal
Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
Son Of A Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield**
Stand By Me – Ben E King
That's Where It's At – Sam Cooke
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
You Are My Destiny – Lionel Ritchie
(You) Got What I Need – Freddie Scott
You Make Me Feel Brand New – The Stylistics

Instrumental Jewish set

Please ask for more details

Book with confidence! After events, we ask our clients what they thought of our acts. We publish what they say here, so you can read genuine, unbiased feedback before booking.

“Downtown unground were amazing from start to finish, from the music to the singing the performance was flawless and everyone loved them at the wedding.”

Christopher, Wedding, Peckforton Castle, Cheshire, December 2023

“Oh what a night ! Wow just wow honestly the bands showreel is fantastic but the real thing is another level, we just had a ball, the dance floor was full . The band incorporated our special request of the bride for her cousins to sing her first dance with the fabulous acoustic guitarist (they are professional singers but we know it was a risk for the band ) and also for our daughter Phoebe, the bride to sing her groom a song, with the band accompanying her . Everyone was blown away by the experience and we would recommend to anyone we will certainly book them again in the future! They were friendly, professional, organised , fabulous musicians and oh my what vocals !! They didn’t complain about anything and there were plenty of children running around and dancing . Thank you so much and Downtown Underground definitely did funk up our night 😊thank you so much.”

Jo and Malc, Wedding, Tankersley Manor, Sheffield, November 2023

“We were so grateful to have Downtown Underground playing at our wedding. My partner and I both love R n B music and it can be a little more difficult to accommodate that as opposed to some of the other classical wedding music. The minute we found them on function central we knew they were the band for us and they did not disappoint. From start to finish their set was fantastic. Brilliant song choices, that had the dance floor busy all evening. Great sound system for our final playlist and they tolerated some of very drunk friends in great fashion. They also went well out of their way to give us a little extra time at the end of the night. Thanks guys!”

Holly, Wedding, Middleton Lodge Estate, Richmond, October 2023

“Downtown Underground were absolutely amazing. So professional and yet very approachable. All our guests raved about them. Hope to get some more bookings for them!”

Gwenn, Private Party, Foxfields Country Hotel, Clitheroe, September 2023

“Downtown Underground were everything we wanted and more. Great comms with us leading up to our wedding and they had all of our guests up and dancing during their sets.”

Edward, Wedding, Stockdale, Longsleddale, July 2023

Downtown Underground

Performance info

Booking options

Hold On I'm Coming / Call Me Al / One Dance

Higher & Higher – Jackie Wilson

Up-Tempo Downtown

Lovers Downtown (Romantic songs for First Dances)

Instrumental Jewish set

Events featuring Downtown Underground

Similar acts

Related articles