Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Hire an award-winning wedding band in London. From rock, pop and soul to ceilidh and jazz, we have function bands for every taste and budget.
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Fronted by a world-class female vocalist, Masterblaster perform wide-ranging sets of rock, pop, funk and soul floor-fillers through the eras, with optional jazz, country, Israeli and Arabic sets.
Authentically recreated indie rock covers by The Killers, Blur and The Kinks sit alongside funkier pop by Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift and Pharrell Williams. For value and impact, wedding bands don't come better than this.
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.
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.
Turbo-charged wedding party band performing danceable rock 'n’ roll, indie, 80s pop and RnB. Optional "heavy set" for die-hard rock fans, featuring artists such as Guns n' Roses and Rage Against The Machine!
Supereight combine outrageously talented vocalists, session-standard instrumentalists, a punchy brass section, and a dancefloor-friendly song list of soul, garage, funk and hip-hop.
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.
Traditional gypsy jazz and acoustic swing band playing standards by Django Reinhardt as well as swinging renditions of modern artists. Available as an instrumental line-up or with female vocals.
Fun and totally unique 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.
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.
Sensational all-male rock and pop trio who never fail to get their audiences jumping and singing along to the biggest tunes of the last 60 years. Elvis, The Stones, Bowie, Oasis: they’re all there!
High-energy corporate and wedding band, playing crowd-rousing pop, rock, dance, funk and soul music from the 1960s to the present day. Client list includes Audi and Nintendo.
Incredible soul, R&B and pop function band featuring joint male and female lead vocals, sax and keyboards, and performing five decades of floor-fillers.
Authentic postmodern style swing band who play swing classics as well as pop songs in a swing style. Extra musicians available.
Max out on all your party favourites with this stunning live DJ band featuring sax, vocals and percussion. Expect high energy show-stopping performances.
Fun, high energy party and wedding band with a frontman skilled at working a crowd and around eight hours' worth of danceable party anthems from all eras at their disposal.
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!
Internationally acclaimed Cuban band with incredible female lead vocals, a driving intensity and irresistible rhythms guaranteed to turn any event into a fiesta!
When The Shots aren't sharing the stage with the likes of Sting and Jamiroquai, they can be found playing soul, pop and R&B covers at some of the coolest parties in the country. Fronted by an alumnus of The Voice UK 2019.
Hugely popular all-male party and wedding covers band playing feel-good sing-along classics with an emphasis on vintage rock and pop music. Fantastic value! Hire the band’s DJ service and afternoon acoustic sets for non-stop music through the day. Discounts available on midweek dates.
Our London wedding function bands typically perform a broad variety of rock, pop, soul and Motown music from all eras – ideal for bringing guests of all ages together on the dancefloor.
Other genres covered include: UK garage, dance, R&B, festival folk, and various vintage styles, from rock'n'roll to 70s funk and disco, 80s new wave and 90s Britpop.
If popular music isn't your bag, consider a wedding ceilidh band, a jazz band or a brass and drums fusion band.
From Bowie in Brixton and The Clash in Camden, to the Beatles in Abbey Road – London's popular music legacy is felt across the world and the obvious place to source a fantastic wedding band!
Once we've received your enquiry, we'll email you a quote. Typically this will be inclusive of VAT and include the following:
Many of our wedding bands are happy to learn and rehearse a first dance request, though it depends on the song and whether it's easily arrangeable for their line-up.
Check the act’s profile to see if they offer this option and try to give plenty of notice for them to learn your request.
Alternatively, all of our bands can play your first dance on an mp3 or iPod through their PA system.
Most London function bands will perform for two hours – divided into two one-hour sets with interval music in between – though some bands can perform three 40-minute sets if preferred.
All of our bands can provide recorded interval music free of charge between their sets so the dancing never needs to stop.
It also means if your favourite song isn’t in the band’s repertoire you can still hear it.
For more info, see our complete guide on finding, choosing and booking a band.
Our function bands in London typically arrive at your venue from 5pm or 6pm and take 60 - 90 minutes to unload, set up and soundcheck their equipment.
It’s ideal if a room can be cleared whilst they do this, but it’s not essential – they can perform a silent “line-check” to test their levels if not.
The band will then get dressed, eat and return at approximately 9pm to get your party started!
No – all our London wedding bands all 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 could be necessary.
You just need to make sure that the band has a power source to plug in to and a space to perform! We recommend a flat and sheltered stage area of at least 3x3 meters for a 3-piece band – then add an extra metre squared per band member that you have booked.
A raised stage is preferable for maximum impact but our bands are flexible to all kinds of spaces!
Here are just a few of our favourite venues. All these venues can host live bands, music and DJs, and we work with them several times a year.
In Central London: The Bloomsbury Ballroom, the Barbican, Stationer's Hall, Claridges, Devonshire Terrace, The Lansdowne Club, RAC Club, The Yacht at Temple Pier and Westminster Hall.
In East London: Trinity Buoy Wharf, Excel Centre, Ironmonger's Hall, London Fields Brewery, Shoreditch Studios, Skinner's Hall and the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green.
In South London: Battersea Arts Centre, Dulwich College, Eltham Palace, Hampton Court, The Hurlingham Club, The Star and Garter Richmond, The Old Royal Naval College and the Trafalgar Tavern.
In North London: Burgh House, Cecil Sharp House, Loft Studios, Finsbury Town Hall, The Landmark Hotel, St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London Zoo and The British Library.
In West London: Beach Blanket Babylon, The Kensington Roof Gardens, The Lansdown Club, The Olympia Hammersmith, Pembroke Lodge and Syon Park.
Our line-ups start at a 3-piece – typically these contain a vocalist/guitarist, bassist, drummer and lean towards guitar-based rock, pop and indie.
As more instruments are added, so too will the variety of genres the band can cover – larger line-ups adding keyboards and brass instruments can authentically reproduce soul, Motown and R&B covers, as well as rock and pop music.
Larger bands featuring both male and female vocalists will mean a larger vocal range and therefore increase the number of songs available to the band.
London wedding bands range in price from around £900 for a 3-piece band, to almost £10,000 for a 9-piece show band with several vocalists, brass and percussion.
That said, the typical price paid for a band in 2023 was around the £1350 mark, and the most popular line-up was a 4-piece.
Bear in mind that your quote may be higher than the band's starting price listed on the website. The key factors affecting price are: the distance of your venue from the band's home location and demand (summer Saturdays are more expensive).
Whilst most brides and grooms book their London wedding band 9 months in advance, on average, the best bands book up much earlier than this.
For this reason we advise you to start your search as early as 18 months in advance, especially if you're planning a wedding on a summer Saturday.
If you're planning an off-season wedding (between October and March) or a weekday wedding, it should be fine to book your band 9 months in advance.
Yes - we've listed a few London swing bands suitable for after-dinner dancing to this page, but check out our jazz bands in London for our complete roster, which includes background jazz bands.
Here you'll find gypsy jazz and trad jazz bands – perfect for garden wedding receptions – as well as upbeat modern jazz trios and quartets for indoor drinks receptions and meals.
1. Before you book another act for your afternoon background music, check whether your wedding band can provide musicians earlier on in the day. This might be an acoustic guitarist or cocktail pianist. It'll save you additional costs and hassle.
2. If you haven't yet set your date, consider booking a midweek or winter celebration to take advantage of the most competitive rates.
3. Always consider hiring a function band from your local area, to save on travel and accommodation costs. We have musicians and bands based in most major towns and cities across the UK.
No - all our London wedding bands offer complimentary recorded music during their break. This ensures uninterrupted music until the end of the event.
Many bands are also able to upgrade to a more advanced service using virtual DJ software so that they can mix songs and take your guests’ requests.
As a general rule, if you need DJ music for more than 2 hours before, between or after the band's performance, we'd recommend booking a separate DJ.
If by any chance a member of the band falls ill or is unable to attend on the day, the band are obliged to arrange a substitute musician for this band member.
If all band members are unable to attend, Function Central will make every effort to secure a replacement with a similar style and within the same price range, from our broad selection of first-rate bands, musicians, and DJs.
Since 2008 we've provided bands and musicians for thousands of wedding receptions throughout London, from Brixton to Bloomsbury.
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Our London brides and grooms tell us why they chose their wedding band and how live music made their evening party. Read more local wedding stories on our blog.
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Function Central is the leading London wedding music booking agency, with 5-star rated customer service, low rates, secure contracts and unbeatable quality.
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