Gold Diggers Brass Band

The Musicquarium was already working with Hackney Colliery Band due to Dave Odams (Musicquarium Partner and founder) playing trombone and sousaphone for them. It was therefore decided to form a scaled down version of Hackney Colliery Band for the sole purpose of performing at private and corporate events. This gave our clients the option to book a smaller band – Gold Diggers Brass Band – for their events whilst letting Hackney Colliery Band concentrate on their busy recording and public performance schedule.

Gold Diggers uses many of the HCB core members for their performances but now also has its own group of exceptional performers.The smallest line-up for GDBB was decided to be trumpet, sax, sousaphone and drums to cover all bases. The most common choice is the 5-piece band with the addition of trombone, and the band has options upto a 9-piece (which is essentially the same line-up as HCB).

The most common request for repertoire on an event with the Gold Diggers Brass Band was for “lively, fun, uptempo pop/soul/funk covers” so we racked our brains and came up with an amazing (and very unique!) repertoire list for the band to perform. All of the repertoire was arranged in-house by our musical arrangers specifically for Gold Diggers to perform. This gives the band a very unique sound and enables the musicians to adapt to all types of events from a garden party to a full stage performance. As you can see, this sample set has quite a cross-section of styles:

• Bounce (Calvin Harris feat. Kelis)
• Bourbon Street Parade (Traditional)
• Chameleon (Herbie Hancock/Rebirth Brass)
• Do Whatcha Wanna (Rebirth Brass Band)
• Feel Like Funkin’ It Up (Rebirth Brass)
• Ghost Town (The Specials)
• Gonna Fly Now (Rocky Theme)
• Human Nature (Michael Jackson/Youngblood Brass)
• I’m Walkin’ (Traditional)
• Jump (Van Halen)
• Mardi Grass In New Orleans (Traditional)
• Message In A Bottle (The Police)
• No Diggity (Blackstreet/HCB)
• Passtime Paradise (Stevie Wonder/Youngblood Brass)
• Rock Your Body (Justin Timberlake/HCB)
• Sex On Fire (Kings of Leon/HCB)
• Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
• Superfreak (Rick James)
• The Lazy Song (Bruno Mars)
• Thriller (Michael Jackson)

You can view the whole list of repertoire for the band on their profile page.

We managed to get some video footage of the band at a recent charity event (”Vertical Rush” at Tower 42 in aid of Shelter), the result of which you can see here:

[ Gold Diggers Brass Band - LIVE VIDEO ]

Due to the high quality of musicianship, the original arrangements and the sheer entertainment value from the band, we have taken almost 20 bookings for the band in only 4 months! This is the highest volume of bookings we have ever received for a new band and looks set to continue with the large number of enquiries we have for the band to perform at events in the London 2012 Olympic period.

If you are interested in finding out more information about how to book the Gold Diggers Brass Band, or maybe you just want to come along to see them perform, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

We hope to hear from you soon

The Musicquarium Team

Consider as many wedding bands as possible

The more wedding function bands that you consider, the more obvious it will become that some are more suitable for your wedding than others. Many bands cater to a specific style of music (only funk & soul for example), a specific length of performance (2 x 45 minutes for example) or a specific area of the country (London, Essex, Surrey for example). Ultimately you can usually trust your gut instinct provided that the package covers everything you need. If it sounds like a good wedding band, looks like a good wedding band and has the information on offer to demonstrate it is a good wedding band…it probably is a good wedding band!

Always check the details of the whole wedding package on offer before making a decision though! Some bands may be a little sneaky with their pricing policies! It is also worth setting yourself a time limit to find your band (say, 2 weeks) as there are so many out there that you could be looking forever if you don’t!

What is included in the wedding booking package?

Some wedding bands may give you a very cheap quote but does this include all factors necessary to perform at your function or event? Items such as PA system & lighting should be included if the wedding band requires these items to perform. Travel expenses to your wedding function venue should be included, as this can significantly increase the cost if your event is a long way from the band’s base location. For example, the band may advertise as “Wedding Band London” but they may be based in Manchester! Will the band take requests from their song list, or perform a first dance if they are booked as a wedding band? Is a full contract included to safeguard you from all eventualities? We receive many enquiries from clients only weeks or even DAYS before their wedding after their band (booked via a friend of a friend!) has pulled out on them.

Please see our wedding band bookings page for more information on exactly what is included with wedding band bookings through The Musicquarium. EVERYTHING that you need will be included in the quotation provided and there are NO HIDDEN EXTRAS. All of our wedding bookings come with a full contract for your peace of mind.

How much should you pay for a wedding band?

Prices for booking live music for weddings can vary considerably. Some bands will have a ‘one price fits all’ policy and others may tailor each quote specifically to the exact event details. The overall cost will usually depend on the following factors:

• Number of musicians required
• Distance travelled from the band’s location to your event
• Total amount of music required for the event
• Total time spent at the venue
• Notice period from booking to event date
• Time of year (Xmas can sometimes be more expensive, for example)
• Amount of equipment required to amplify the band (if required)
• How busy the band is (i.e. are they in demand elsewhere)
• Are the band amateur, semi-professional or professional

Some amateur and semi-professional bands may offer lower rates than professional bands but you may get a lower quality of service with a smaller repertoire on offer and no backup plans should something go wrong (gutiarist cuts his finger off (!) the day before your event, for example). A busier band (usually the professional ones) will usually have a lot more experience to call upon when compared to less busy bands, and hence the more experienced bands are likely to be able to cope with changing demands at the event much easier than a less experienced band.

Basically, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR in most situations but if your band is priced at less than £200 per member or over £350 per member (including equipment hire and travel expenses, based on 3 x 40 minute sets within a 5 hour period) then you should probably question why the fee is so low/high. Are they offering all the services you need or are they including some services you don’t need!

As each event is unique we cannot quote an exact price on this website but we are more than happy to give you a specific no-obligation quote, a FREE audio CD, DVD and a comprehensive brochure if you contact us with your event details and requirements for your live music booking. We guarantee that our prices will be extremely competitive and only include the elements you need!

Is the wedding band suitable for your event or function?

As every wedding function band has a different image, repertoire, line-up and reputation, there may be some party bands that simply are not “suitable” for your event. For example, a band may sound great in your local pub but will they have the right mix of wedding repertoire or the professionalism and experience to make your event run smoothly? Most professional wedding function bands have a mix of repertoire that they can tailor for individual events and functions. Any live bands that you consider for your wedding should also have a list of past client testimonials and UK function venues that they have performed at to demonstrate their calibre and experience.

The Musicquarium has provided live bands and musicians for HUNDREDS of weddings since its conception in 2001. We have a huge list of past clients and UK function venues and our list of testimonials from very happy clients is almost endless. We have the musicians and repertoire to cater for ANY event, and over the past few years we have provided live music for every type of wedding imaginable. Please see our pages on Wedding Bands and Jewish Wedding Bands for further information.

What demo material do the wedding bands have?

Most wedding bands these days have a website and at least audio samples. With the prevalence of home recording equipment you can even record a demo CD using a laptop and a couple of microphones! Ideally a full time professional wedding band will also have video clips, plenty of photos from past events, client testimonials and even live recordings from previous weddings. The quality and amount of demo material is very often proportional to a band’s quality and professionalism so as a rule of thumb you can judge the ‘quality’ of a band quite easily from the demo material available. If you can’t find any video clips, there are only a small number of photos and the audio tracks are a little ‘iffy’ then there is almost certainly a reason! Either the band hasn’t been in existence for very long (and hence lacks experience) or they simply don’t have the musicianship and repertoire to demonstrate. Also, there is sometimes a mismatch with the demo material. For example they might have great audio tracks but hardly any photos or client testimonials. The last thing you want to do is book a live wedding band that has a great demo CD and website but they only formed 2 months ago and your wedding is their first live performance!

The Musicquarium has been providing live wedding bands for hire at the highest standard for the last 10 years (formed in 2001). We have hundreds of photos, studio recordings, live audio recordings, live video clips and huge repertoire lists all available on our bands page. We have a full colour brochure, a 60-track demo CD and a live DVD. We have written client testimonials from a huge array of wedding clients and a huge list of wedding venues that we have previously performed at. If this isn’t enough then we can also put you in touch with some of our past wedding clients to speak to them for yourself! Please contact us for a quote or simply to request our demo material.

Is the wedding band suitable for your venue?

Most UK function venues that allow live music for weddings have certain requirements specified that any live band must adhere to. This usually includes things like electrical equipment being professionally ‘PAT’ tested, public liability insurance and noise limitations. It would be a tricky situation if you booked a band for your wedding and then later found out that they do not have the correct documentation and hence cannot perform. Noise limitations can also be difficult if the venue has a power cut off at a certain level and the band you book is not used to working within these limits. The result would be no power, and hence no wedding music! Most professional wedding bands should have the correct documentation and experience but it is always worth checking.

The Musicquarium is covered by public liability from the Musicians Union up to the value of £10million. All electrical equipment is PAT tested, and we have many years of experience at performing at events with noise limitations.

Is the wedding band professional, semi-professional or amateur?

This can often make a big difference to the price, but more importantly can significantly affect the quality of live music and performance at your wedding. You probably wouldn’t pay a part time mechanic to service your car, so why take the risk of paying a part time band to provide the live music at your wedding? The answer is usually cost-based as most part time bands charge lower prices due to most of their members having ‘regular’ (i.e. non-music) day jobs and the band probable only performs a couple of times each month. The saying of “you get what you pay for” is usually correct when it comes to live wedding music though, so please consider all prices carefully. Having said that, you should also consider any exceptionally HIGH quotes carefully too, as some wedding bands may include optional extras that you really don’t need. Always ask what live music services are included in the wedding package, and if the price would be any cheaper if some of these services were not included.

All members of The Musicquarium are full-time professional musicians. We provide live music to hundreds of weddings each year and have the ability and experience to deal with ANY eventuality. Our live wedding packages are very flexible and you will only ever pay for the services that you require. If you have any questions about our services or prices please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Most people tend to choose the more ‘traditional’ first dance that either has significance in the song lyrics (”Let There Be Love” for example) and others may choose something a little more contemporary that might have meaning in the location where the song was heard or other factors. Some people even choose not have a traditional first dance at all and instead opt for something more upbeat to get the guests dancing straight away (”Play That Funky Music” for example).

Over the last 10 years our musicians have built up a great selection of first dances for weddings and the list below shows most of them. You could choose any of these songs for your wedding day and there would be no problem to have it performed live by the wedding band. If you don’t see your preferred choice of song on this list please feel free to ask as we may be able to arrange and learn it for you.

• A Groovy Kind Of Love (Phil Collins)
• Call Off The Search (Katie Melua)
• Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (Andy Williams)
• Cheek To Cheek (Irving Berlin)
• Dream A Little Dream (The Mamas & The Papas)
• Everything (Michael Buble)
• Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac)
• Feeling Good (Nina Simone)
• Fly Me To The Moon (Frank Sinatra)
• For Once In My Life (Stevie Wonder)
• Georgia On My Mind (Ray Charles)
• Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)
• I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis Presley)
• It Had To Be You (Harry Connick Jr)
• Kiss Of Life (Sade)
• Let There Be Love (Nat King Cole)
• Let’s Stay Together (Al Green)
• Moondance (Van Morrison)
• My Baby Just Cares For Me (Nina Simone)
• Nightingale (Norah Jones)
• Nobody Does It Better (Carly Simon)
• Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
• Sunshine (Gabrielle)
• The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)
• The Way You Look Tonight (Frank Sinatra)
• When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge)
• You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (Stevie Wonder)
• You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody (Dean Martin)
• You’ve Got A Friend (Carole King)
• Your Song (Elton John)

Please note that there may be a small surchange to arrange and learn a new song for an event with less than 2 months notice. Please double check if you are unsure.

Traditional Israeli ‘Hora’ dancing

The Hora is a popular dance form which is performed at practically every Jewish wedding for which we provide a wedding band. It is a very lively and joyous part of the wedding day! During this dance the bride and the groom are lifted above the shoulders of guests, and whilst sitting on chairs the bride and groom may wave a handkerchief or napkin to each other, or even hold the ends of a single handkerchief if they are feeling brave. A wide circle of guests is formed around the couple, dancing clockwise and anticlockwise. This dance is also often referred to as the ‘chair dance’ for obvious reasons. Any band that you book for your Jewish wedding should not only be experienced in performing for the Hora dancing but they should also have enough repertoire to keep the dancing going for a significant amount of time until the guests start to get tired. This can vary from 5 to 20 minutes! The music would ideally be played in medley form so that the dancing is constant without breaks between songs. For example, a ’standard’ Hora medley performed by one of our bands would consist of a number of traditional tunes, played either instrumentally, with vocals (in Hebrew) or a mixture of both.

Jewish Wedding Repertoire

Upon careful consideration of repertoire options it was decided that the following list of well known Jewish/Israeli songs would demonstrate just what our musicians can do to make the ‘Hora’ go with a bang!

• Hava Nagila
• Shalom Aleichem
• Siman Tov U Mazel Tov
• (Chosen Kale) Mazel Tov
• Moshiach Moshiach Moshiach
• Ose Shalom
• Tzena Tzena
• Mayim Mayim
• Odessa Bulgarish

**UPDATE** The audio has now been uploaded to our website. You can listen to them on SoundCloud or you can visit our Jewish wedding bands page, which also has much more information that may be of interest to you when planning your wedding.

We look forward to working with you soon!

Regards

Dave Odams

Partner
The Musicquarium :: Exclusive Live Music
www.themusicquarium.co.uk
0845 838 8726

Dave Odams
Partner
The Musicquarium

Please forgive me for taking so long to write to thank you for the wonderful music you played at our wedding. [..]

Your band was fantastic as I knew it would be and so many people said so. BOTH my parents danced and that NEVER happens! My Cambridge friends led by Graham didn’t stop dancing (and one of them was 4 months pregnant!) so you certainly got people on the dance floor. [..] I had my wish of a fantastic live band and it finished off a perfect day so well.

Many thanks and when’s your next gig?!!

Love,

Laura & Nick”

Laura & Nick chose FUNKification as their wedding band

Wedding venue: Clandon Park, Guildford, Surrey

Please view our website for more information on wedding band hire in Guildford Surrey

We know this is very belated, but thank you so much for providing such wonderful music at our wedding in March, at the Burford Bridge Hotel. The band was everything we’d hoped it would be and our guests thoroughly enjoyed dancing to the live music. The band played brilliantly and we really enjoyed the set they performed.

We hope that you are enjoying the summer and what must be a very busy period for you. Please pass on our thanks to all the members of the band. We were, and remain, utterly delighted at how the whole event came together.

Best regards,

Niki & Sean”

Niki & Sean chose FUNKification as their wedding band

Wedding venue: Burford Bridge Hotel

Please view our website for more information on wedding band hire in Surrey

Please pass on my thanks to everyone in the band, they really did help the party come together. I have had nothing but praise for their performance and shall be putting your information on our noticeboard at work – lots of people have been asking about where I found you – so you never know – more work may be coming your way!!

Thanks so much!

Melissa”

Henson Creature Workshop chose FUNKification as their corporate event band

Event Venue: Jim Henson’s Creature Shop

Please view our website for more information on hiring a band for a corporate event

Thank you so much for the brilliant boogying music you provided for our wedding on 21st August at Titchfield Abbey – as you could tell everyone absolutely loved it! Thanks particularly for carrying on through all the interruptions and people falling over on to the stage – I think everyone enjoyed the Polish vodka!!

You guys were excellent, we can’t thank you enough – let the recommendations continue!

Best wishes,

Jo & Jim Bliss”

Jo & Jim had FUNKification as their wedding band at Titchfield Abbey

Wedding venue: Titchfield Abbey

Please view our website for more information on wedding band hire

This was the fourth consecutive year that this event company had hired the services of The Musicquarium to provide corporate entertainment, and it was also the most complicated production so far. The event started with a simultaneous performance from our string quartet for the arrival of the guests, and Swing Connection (4-piece band) on the outdoor ‘festival style’ stage. Shortly after this FUNKification performed as a 5-piece in the ‘big top’ marquee playing chilled soul and funk classics from the likes of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Swing Connection performed their second set on the outdoor stage as the full 8-piece ‘mini big band‘ covering all of the Ratpack and swing classics from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. The string quartet finished things off on the outdoor stage by performing a chilled set to those people still outside on the wonderful summer’s evening, followed by Swing Connection performing their third and final set in the big top. Audiobox was next up in the big top and performed a set of classic rock, pop and indie tunes as an 8-piece band (including 2 keyboard players and 2 guitarists!). The evening was finished off with FUNKification performing as a 12-piece band (2 singers, 2 keys, 2 guitars, bass, drums, 4 brass) to the packed out dance floor.

As you can see, this was no mean feat getting all of the musicians to the right place at the right time and also making sure that the repertoire chosen for each section perfectly matched the type of audience in that location. Many hours of planning from both The Musicquarium and the event company ensured that it all ran perfectly. The client was over the moon, the guests (1500 of them!) had a great night and the weather was perfect. Fingers crossed for our 5th consecutive booking in 2011!!

Here are a selection of photos from the event (all taken by Chantal Richards – www.chantalphotography.com):

The excellent feedback from the event company was as follows:

“Thank you for all your hard work in helping to make the party in the park a great success. Again, the musicians and performers that you supplied were of the highest quality and we have received very positive feedback from our client about the entertainment. Please pass on our thanks to all of the musicians that performed on the night.”

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on hiring a live band for a corporate event.