Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Hire a live party band for dancing, singing and celebrating at birthdays, corporate parties, anniversaries and other special occasions.
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High-impact party band specialising in classic indie rock hits by The Killers, Blur and The Kinks as well as brand new pop hits by Bruno Mars, DNCE and Pharrell Williams.
Party down with Party Up, the slickest pop, soul and funk band in the South East! The band count Sky, Cadburys and the actress Emma Thompson among their regular clients. Available with DJ service, acoustic duo, backing vocalists and horn section.
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! Background acoustic duo sets, DJ service & winter discounts available.
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. DJ service and jazz/acoustic afternoon music available.
Fun and totally unique party and wedding band with both female and male lead vocals. S&L play everything from retro swing, vintage jive and rock'n'roll through to 80s funk, 90s R&B and modern chart with a twist. Afternoon acoustic sets and DJ service also available. Low season and midweek discounts.
High-energy wedding and corporate party band in the South East, playing crowd-rousing pop, rock, dance, funk and soul music from the 1960s to the present day. The band have played Glastonbury and the Roundhouse and count Audi and Nintendo amongst their regular clients. DJ service and acoustic sets available.
Stylish wedding and corporate function band featuring outstanding male and female vocalists who have performed with Adele and Leona Lewis! Available with DJ service and/or afternoon cocktail piano, jazz or acoustic sets.
Outstanding party band playing chart, indie, rock anthems and Britpop and featuring guitars, keyboards and vocal harmonies for a big, versatile sound! Laptop DJ service available, as well as acoustic guitar or solo cocktail piano sets for your afternoon reception.
Outrageously good fun brass band complete with Lederhosen for a riotous and authentic oompah experience. Ideal for Oktoberfest, apres ski and beer festivals! Available acoustic, roaming or with PA system.
Thrilling samba drumming group who play pounding Brazilian samba rhythms that resonate with excitement. Various line-ups of either 3, 6 or 12 fantastic drummers are available, as well as additional brass and vocals.
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 The Killers and Ed Sheeran! Larger line-ups, acoustic background sets and DJ service available. Midweek discounts available.
Incredible pop, R&B and soul band performing floor-fillers from Stevie Wonder and Bruno Mars all the way to Artful Dodger, Sean Paul and more. Book their acoustic/jazz sets and DJ service for non-stop music through the day. More videos available on profile page.
Phenomenally talented and charismatic new party band channelling rock, dance, hip-hop and soul influences. The band have already caught the attention of a major record label – catch them now while rates are still low!
From pop favourites and feel-good funk to afrobeats and updated jazz classics, The DBs are an in-demand brass band like no other that have taken the UK festival scene by storm! Available with vocalist or rapper.
Superstrut bring style, good vibes and a party-starting collection of R&B, pop, hip hop, classic soul and funk to every gig - their aim is to serve only the music and you, the audience!
Dynamic and trendy Motown, pop and soul band with impressive industry credentials and a vast playlist of soulful floor-fillers by artists such as Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Justin Timberlake, Usher and Rihanna. Acoustic set and singer waiter option available.
One of our most talked-about wedding bands this year, The Crossfades serve up energetic, fun sets of vintage and modern rock, pop and indie music. Keyboardist, DJ service and solo acoustic set available.
Max out on soul and sophistication with this stunning corporate and wedding entertainment band, offering slick vocals and high energy performances for both UK and international events.
The hottest new brass fusion band in town, Big Easy will bring a raucous, New Orleans party vibe to your event! The band can perform in one place or roaming around your venue and guests whilst they play. Available as an instrumental only band, or with male or female vocalist.
Charismatic new wedding band, taking the London circuit by storm. The Wandering Lights perform upbeat, folksy acoustic covers by Avicci, Blackstreet and R Kelly. Also available as an unplugged roaming band (free to wander around your venue).
Our bands provide live, party entertainment for any and every occasion! Whether you’re commemorating a milestone or staging a one-off celebration, we’ve 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 a New Year in style. Whatever the occasion, our bands will give your guests something to remember long after the music has stopped!
The bands on this page specialise in after-dinner and evening entertainment for events when the lights have dimmed, the dancefloor’s lit up, and guests are in the mood for making some shapes!
If your event is in the afternoon and early evening or you need a different style of music, check out our acoustic background acts, or our collection of roving musicians– perfect for garden parties. You might also find what you need on our wedding bands page.
A complete list of songs is available on each band’s profile page but, typically, our party bands perform well-known rock, pop and soul covers from throughout the decades – from Chuck Berry and Aretha Franklin to modern anthems by Taylor Swift, The Killers and Calvin Harris.
Don’t forget that if you’d prefer your party band to stick to one genre, you can have a look at our soul and funk bands, swing bands or, if you want to focus on a particular era, our tribute acts from the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Remember, larger line-ups are more likely to feature keyboards and brass, which lets the band play a broader range of soul, pop and dance classics as well as pint-raising rock and indie favourites.
All our party bands bring their own PA sound system, microphones, backline amplifiers and instruments so have everything they need.
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 lighting to bring the party look to the stage and the dancefloor – but check their individual profile for extra details in case there are add-ons you would like to include to make it even more epic!
Pressure off - all you need to provide is access to a power source and a flat, sheltered performance space for the band to set up and perform from!
As a guide, it’s best to allow for 3m wide x 3m deep for a 3-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 – the performance space mainly just needs to be flat and dry!
If you’re unsure, check the ‘performance information’ on the band’s page.
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.
The members of your party band are going to need to keep their energy going all night so please make sure that they have the food and refreshments that they need at the venue.
If access is tricky, some of the band may well need reserved parking too or a secure changing room to be able to leave items during the event.
Do check the band’s profile if you can’t see it detailed in your booking contract.
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 your party date, consider booking a midweek or winter party 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 party bands based in most major towns and cities across the UK.
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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