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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Whether it's the latest pop/club hits you're into or classic Motown or indie rock, you'll find something for everyone in Affinity's eclectic set list.
Versatile 4-piece band covering everything from 60s rock 'n' roll to 70s disco, 90s anthems, and modern pop, guaranteeing a dance floor filled with infectious energy and pure happiness!
With bold sounds and frantic Latin beats, Soneando perform Cuban Son reminiscent of The Buena Vista Social Club as well as hot salsa with a serious groove! The band features top musicians from South America.
A high-energy live band that transforms iconic Ministry of Sound and Ibiza anthems into an electrifying, hands-in-the-air dance party experience.
Drawing inspiration from the Golden Age of Jazz, The Velvet Tones pay tribute to the iconic Ladies of Jazz by performing classics from the Great American Songbook and songs popularized by legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone.
Originally an apres-ski party favourite in the French Alps as well as a go-to cruise ship band for P&O and DFDS Ferries, The Deeze are now making waves on the UK wedding scene.
Innovative, improvised and modern covers of your favourite tracks to dance to from some of the best, young brass players of their generation. This collaboration is electric!
Lively ceilidh band specialising in Irish and Scottish songs, dances and tunes and featuring both male and female vocals. With the option of an experienced caller as well as additional musicians, they will ensure you are dancing all night!
Offering the most authentic - and raucous - Oompah experience around! Whether its Oktoberfest, beer exhibitions or recreating the energy of apres ski, this is Lederhosen-fuelled fun and games at its finest! Available acoustic, roaming or with PA system.
Energetic 4-piece party band guaranteeing a night of non-stop dancing, covering your golden oldies from The Beatles and to modern classics by Mumford & Songs, Dua Lipa and Sam Fender.
One of the UK's premier Latin Pop bands, brimming with charisma and vitality! Covering a wide range of music from Ed Sheeran to Carlos Santana, this sensational band is sure to exceed your expectations.
Sundown Duo are a high-energy pairing specialising in medleys, mash-ups and a hugely diverse set list – great value for evening parties.
High-energy and vibrant, this band keeps the dance floor alive with a thrilling mix of hits—from Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire to Lizzo and Adele—guaranteeing an unforgettable celebration.
Blending brass beats from Brazil, New Orleans, the Balkans, and Mexico, The Brass Party electrifies any event with spontaneous energy and crowd-pleasing tunes. Available as an instrumental line-up or with vocalists.
With instruments and lighting covered in crystals, The Rough Diamonds are innovating live entertainment and raising the bar for luxury events! This is a showband with stage presence and wow factor like its never been seen before!
Exciting party band playing upbeat, danceable rock & pop hits by artists ranging from Prince and Elvis to Coldplay and The Weekend.
Crowd-rousing function band playing classic danceable pop hits as well as rock and jazz. Additional brass players and afternoon duo performances also available.
Mixing oompah versions of your pop favourites with traditional Bavarian music, this German-themed band promise heaps of fun and a lot of Lederhosen!
Impressive and electrifying, this band features one of the largest function band line-ups in the business, ranging from 11 to an epic 18-piece ensemble, and guarantees a high-energy show packed with soul, funk, and pop classics.
Energetic ceilidh, folk and barn dance band, playing everything from Irish, English and Scottish classics through to old-time American and classical piano. The band also come with the option of adding a caller to your booking. Only available within 100 miles of Cambridge.
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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