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.
Excellent
1022 reviews on
To check availability, please add your event date to the menu above.
Explosive and energetic Cuban band fronted by a fantastic female vocalist. One of the finest bands representatives of Cuban son, Latin and salsa music in the UK today!
Exceptional all-male London 3-piece band, who've supported The Kooks, delivering hits from the 80s, 90s, 00s and beyond! DJ service and afternoon acoustic sets available.
This electrifying duo mixes DJ sets, live sax, and explosive percussion, with slick visuals and an Ibiza-inspired vibe, delivering the energy of a full band with just two performers.
Energetic party band playing crowd-rousing anthems by Huey Lewis, The Killers, Oasis, Lady Gaga, The Weekend and more!
Authentic and high-energy indie rock 3-piece, playing a selection of the coolest tunes from the last few decades, from classic rock to Britpop bangers and the latest indie pop.
Versatile and vibrant, this band packs a punch with a feel-good mix of pop, rock, indie, funk, R&B, disco and soul.
Delivering nothing but the best on every aspect of the band, New Power Groove boast the highest quality vocals, rhythm section and horns in the business. This could just be the peak of party music! DJ service also available on request.
High-energy with a truly authentic sound, Detroit City Soul play classics from the Motown era through to the latest pop floor-fillers. They can also play jazz, rock'n'roll, disco, funk and Jewish hora!
Electrifying live DJ band featuring sax and percussion, with a mastery of the dancefloor! Elevate's song list ranges from Ibiza classics and hip-hop & garage beats to indulgent guilty pleasures and timeless 90s classics!
Energetic party band with fantastic harmonies, a huge live sound and an impressive list of pop, rock and soul hits from the 50s to the present day. Previous clients include Easyjet, DHL, and The British Army. Keyboards, saxophone and male vocalist, acoustic duo and DJ set available!
Delivering a full stage sound with an energetic, experienced 4-piece band, The Funky Struts know how to get your dancefloor packed and partying!
Electric, high-energy trio delivering non-stop disco, pop, dance, and garage anthems from the 70s to now.
With a diverse setlist featuring artists like Queen, Coldplay, and The Kinks, this pop and rock party band brings the perfect mix of energy and entertainment to any event.
Luxury show band including male and female vocals and specialising in pop, R&B, hip hop, drum'n'bass, garage, funk, Motown, soul and dance.
Featuring rich three-part harmonies and the silky tones of the sax, Third Light acoustic band play covers of all your favourite feel-good tunes, from Lionel Richie and Whitney Houston to Taylor Swift and Bastille.
Midlands-based 3-piece rock and pop band offering a jam-packed blend of styles spanning multiple decades and genres. Acoustic sets and DJ service also available.
Utilising ground-breaking LED light show technology, MisLED Brass perform covers and mashups of music ranging from drum’n’bass to 80s classics, with fully synchronised light shows and choreographed routines.
Exciting male-fronted wedding and party band, playing music from all decades but specialising in the swinging 60s! Stunningly authentic performances using incredible vintage equipment. Extra performances, low-season rates and DJ service available.
Able to roam amongst your guests completely unplugged, this lively and charismatic 3-piece deliver modern twists on classic hits, seamless harmonies, and an unbeatable live music experience.
Innovative entertainers who have appeared on Britain’s Got Talent and collaborated with famous artists, crafting their own exceptional medleys that electrify every party.
Since 2008 we've provided bands and musicians for thousands of wedding receptions throughout Essex, from Colchester to Chelmsford.
Loading...
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.
Loading...
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.
Back to top
