Function bands
Background musicians
Function bands
Background musicians
Our exclusive Essex wedding bands will entertain guests of all ages with the best rock, pop, soul & Motown songs through the eras.
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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.
Unique boho party band featuring acoustic bass and violin, playing well-known covers with a festival folk-inspired makeover, from Ray Charles to Britney Spears.
Breathtaking vocals, lush harmonies and an explosive rhythm section – this West Midlands wedding party band play a wide selection of soul, disco, rock’n’roll and the latest indie to keep you dancing until the wee hours! DJ service available.
This authentic postmodern style swing band masterfully plays classic swing tunes, as well as pop songs reimagined in a swing style. They also offer the option to include additional musicians in their lineup.
Offering a versatile range of line-ups from their acoustic duo to the full party package 8-piece, The Get Ups offer a modern repertoire delivered with bags of professionalism and charisma.
Believe everything you hear about these guys! The Rumours are a vibrant 4-piece band that come with boundless energy and an infectious love for mixing the latest hits from Bruno Mars and George Ezra with timeless classics from Chic, Earth Wind & Fire and The Beatles.
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.
One of the best funk and disco bands in London, The Natural Highs will bring floor-filling songs, wow-factor and raw soul energy to your party.
London’s newest indie pop party group with a huge repertoire spanning decades of classics and a harmony-packed, polished live show to back them up.
Fantastic all-female soul, Motown and pop band with a wide-ranging repertoire, who have performed with artists as diverse as Lady Gaga, The Noisettes, Corinne Bailey Rae and Fatboy Slim! DJ service also available.
Inventive and unique festival style party band specialising in feel-good dance anthems, UK garage and club classics - all recreated on live instruments.
Ultimate live music experience featuring a centre-stage light up drum kit that delivers a feast for the eyes and ears. This slick outfit brings you supreme talent and a large repertoire of chart hits. Additional musicians, jazz sets and DJ service available.
This versatile jazz and swing ensemble really is a cut above the rest! Their plethora of material spans the contemporary chart hits from the last 80 years. Larger line-ups, lead male vocals, acoustic afternoon sets and DJ service are available.
A sassy, classy, badass party band with 10 years experience playing the live music scene in the South West. The band features both male and female lead vocals, with DJ services and acoustic sets also available.
Party Club International featuring world-class musicians who have shared stage with Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and George Ezra, Party Club International offers a meticulously curated and expertly performed selection of the finest pop, soul and Motown.
Max out on all your party favourites with this stunning live DJ band featuring sax, vocals and percussion. Expect high energy show-stopping performances.
Powerful seven-piece led by internationally touring vocalists, mixing Motown, jazz, funk, and reggae.
Exhilarating 6-14 piece party band featuring stunning male and female vocals and offering optional horns, playing accurate renditions of modern and classic hits.
London-based wedding and party band with a vast repertoire covering all genres, including a specialist Britpop/90s set, covering indie bands such as Oasis, Blur and Supergrass, as well as classic British rock acts.
Top-flight rock and pop party band delivering exceptional value for money, female lead vocals and optional brass, rapper and string section.
Since 2008 we've provided bands and musicians for thousands of wedding receptions throughout Essex, from Colchester to Chelmsford.
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Essex wedding bands can cover a wide range of live music genres to suit your wedding reception and party. Our bands typically perform energetic rock, pop, soul and Motown classics, modern chart hits, and party favourites that keep guests of all ages dancing and singing along.
Our bands range from compact 3-piece guitar bands to 10-piece show-bands with brass section and backing vocalists.
All bands are fronted by a male or female lead vocalist and are experts in bringing guests of all ages together on the dancefloor!
Most Essex wedding bands can learn and perform your chosen first dance song live on your wedding day, as long as you let them know in plenty of time. Many live bands are happy to rehearse special requests that aren’t already in their repertoire, or can discuss whether your song fits their style and line-up before confirming.
Alternatively, all of our bands can play your first dance song on an mp3 or iPod through their PA system.
Yes, you can choose the style of music you want from your Essex wedding band, including genres like rock, jazz, soul, pop and more. Whether you’re after high‑energy party music or something more elegant and refined, many live bands in Essex specialise in a range of musical styles to suit your wedding vibe, from upbeat rock and soul to jazz ensembles for drinks receptions.
We can also provide acoustic duos and other musicians for your ceremony, drinks reception and wedding feast.
Most Essex wedding bands perform live music in clearly defined sets on your wedding day, typically totalling around 2–3 hours of performance. It’s common for bands to split this into two 60‑minute sets (or three 40‑minute sets) that fit around your evening schedule, starting in the early evening and finishing around your venue’s curfew.
Please note that late fees might apply if the band is required later than midnight.
You should aim to book your Essex wedding band as early as possible — most couples secure their preferred live band between 9–18 months before their wedding, especially for popular summer Saturday dates when bands are in high demand.
We recommend starting your search as soon as possible. This is especially crucial if you're planning a Saturday wedding during the peak wedding season of April to September.
If you're planning an off-season wedding between October and March, there will likely still be good options available at around the six-month mark.
Many Essex wedding bands welcome song requests and can tailor their live performance to include your favourite tracks, as long as you let them know in advance.
In most cases on-the-night requests won’t be accepted, this is so the band can ensure all songs have been properly arranged and rehearsed in advance, giving you the best experience possible.
Check out our favourite wedding party floor fillers for your playlist.
Professional Essex wedding bands come fully self-contained with all the sound, lighting and instruments they need to perform at your event, so you won’t have to provide technical equipment yourself.
You'll only need to give them access to a power source, as well as a flat, sheltered space to perform in.
The performance area should be around 3 x 3 metres for a three-piece band, adding a metre in width per band member, as appropriate. A raised stage isn't required.
All our Essex wedding bands who are booked for an evening performance will request a basic meal at the event. This is a standard requirement in the events industry.
Make sure you read through our other 20 essential questions for your wedding band before booking.
Essex wedding bands perform live throughout the county — from popular towns and cities like Colchester, Chelmsford, Basildon and Harlow to coastal locations such as Southend-on-Sea, Canvey Island and Clacton-on-Sea.
Some of our bands' favourite wedding venues in Essex include: Crondon Park, Parklands, Gosfield Hall, Leez Priory, Prested Hall, Braxted Park, Fennes and Botleys Mansion.
Many Essex wedding bands are able to perform outdoors at your wedding, provided there is suitable shelter and access to power so the musicians and their equipment are protected and can play safely.
If your Essex wedding venue has a sound limiter, your live wedding band can usually adapt their performance to work within those noise limits — but it’s important to tell us the limiter’s decibel level early so we can plan accordingly.
First, find out the limiter's threshold in decibels. If it's set to a threshold below 95 decibels, let us know immediately, as some bands will struggle to keep within this range. We can then find out if the band is able to substitute live drums for electronic drums, which will bring down the overall level of the band.
If the threshold is in the range of 80-85dB, things become more difficult. We might need to recommend a duo, or acoustic band.
Many Essex wedding bands provide recorded music between their live sets and can even offer a basic DJ-style service through their PA system, so you don’t necessarily need to hire a separate DJ unless you want extended music coverage or specialist mixing.
Some bands are able to provide their own "in-house" DJ service for before and/or after the performance but check out their individual profiles for more details.
There are a couple of instances where it might be worth hiring an Essex DJ as well as the band:
The quote we send you for your Essex wedding band doesn't just cover the performance. Typically included in the band's fee are:
We can help you choose the right Essex wedding band for you by matching your musical taste, event style and budget with bands that fit your vision and vibe.
Call us on 0333 242 0560 or send us a message to tell us what part of your day you need music for, and your musical preferences, and we’ll be more than happy to suggest suitable acts.
You can also read this handy guide on how to choose a wedding band.
There are several ways to save money on an Essex wedding band without compromising on the live music experience — from booking early and choosing smaller line-ups to taking advantage of a band’s DJ service instead of hiring extra acts.
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 a date, consider booking a midweek or winter celebration to take advantage of the most competitive rates.
Consider hiring a local wedding band in Essex, to save on travel and accommodation costs.
Read our top ways to save money on a wedding band for more ideas.
If a member of your Essex wedding band falls ill or is unable to perform on the day, most professional wedding bands will arrange a suitable replacement musician so your live music can still go ahead as planned.
In the unlikely event of all band members are unable to attend (for example due to breaking down on the way to your event), we'll be able to offer replacement band options, often at very short notice, in a similar genre and for a similar price, from our collection of hundreds of exceptional wedding bands in the area.
Our Essex brides and grooms tell us why they chose their wedding musicians and how live music made their day. Read more local wedding stories on our blog.
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Function Central offers the very best wedding bands, DJs and entertainers in Essex. We are the leading local wedding music booking agency and offer 5 star customer service, competitive rates and a 24/7 emergency support line.
Browse live bands in almost every town and county in the UK using the menu below.
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