Recommend a good wedding band, that can play in Waterford City?

SeanF

Hi all,

I'm looking for a wedding band (for my own wedding) that can play Waterford city. I'd admit to be fairly snobby about quality music, but I do understand that a wedding band has to cater for all tastes (I might like them to play that 10 minute Sonic Youth B-Side from 1996, but I know that's not gonna fly on the day).

However:
Country n' Irish
One guy with a keyboard
...need not apply.

But anything else I'll consider.

If you can recommend anyone I would truly appreciate it. Note that most wedding bands aren't afraid to travel afaik.

Thanks!

AdMMM

The two most popular wedding bands in Waterford are probably Brass & Co. and Avalon. They've been doing the rounds for a long time though so definitely wouldn't be playing anything you haven't heard before. They're both well rehearsed in getting the crowd out though and that's probably why they've not had to reinvent themselves over the years!

south

Avalon gets my vote

SeanF

Yeah, I liked the look of them on their Facebook video, but they're taken for the night I wanted. But he did give me some recommendations:
Anyone ever see: IQ or Brand New Cadillac play?

abouttobebanned

Try Monroe...but they're probably booked out too.

ziedth

I'm getting married myself in october op.

The band i wanted are called "never heard em" and were class he time i saw them. But alas them and avalon (also very good) were booked out.

Mrs Ziedth and I began to panic at this stage but went with san fran fiasco in the end, they came reccomended and the lad i was talking to seemed sound.

I've said it before but I was not blown away by brass an co. They were at my brothers wedding and I couldn't belive what they paid for them. No better then anyone else imo.

baronflyguy

I went to a wedding last year in Dromoland Castle and The Soul Masters (http://www.thesoulmasters.net/) played at it. I thought they were great. They have a promo video on their website.

I have no idea how much it would cost to hire them, I was just the guest. But they played good crowd pleasing songs whereby the floor was busy the whole night.

seanybiker

try get the bottle brothers. The lads are legends.

ziedth

i'd second bottle brothers too, we were going to go with them if we didn't like the look of san fran fiasco. I think bottle brothers are only 1250 for band and dj and they are a good laugh.

seanybiker

Ziedth. wrote: »

i'd second bottle brothers too, we were going to go with them if we didn't like the look of san fran fiasco. I think bottle brothers are only 1250 for band and dj and they are a good laugh.

is that a good price? i wouldnt have a clue.

abouttobebanned

To be honest, i think that's a crazy price. Although they quoted my neighbours 1500 for the same service.

Avalon charge 1500 I think, but there's 5 of them,

I personally think the days of bands getting ridiculous money for weddings should come to an end.

The band could do the same set in a bar and charge half...how do they justify that?

Surley Daz

The Shakes are excellent. Played my wedding which was held in Wicklow, think they'll travel anywhere within reason but mainly stick to Dublin or thereabouts.

The problem with Avalon is that everyman and his dog has had them as a wedding band in Waterford.

michellie

I was at a wedding where IQ were playing, they were really good! Its a pity avalon arent available, there brilliant!

chelloveks

SeanF wrote: »

Yeah, I liked the look of them on their Facebook video, but they're taken for the night I wanted. But he did give me some recommendations:
Anyone ever see: IQ or Brand New Cadillac play?

Saw Brand New Cadillac play 2 weeks ago at a wedding in Slaney Manor in Wexford and they were really, really good. They are from Tramore so will certainly play in the city. They were excellent and really got thngs hopping.

tom thum

right. ive read all the posts so far and i dont think anyone has recommended the jam tarts. best band in waterford by a country mile.

abouttobebanned

tom thum wrote: »

right. ive read all the posts so far and i dont think anyone has recommended the jam tarts. best band in waterford by a country mile.

Maybe if they changed their set a little. They've been playing the same one over and over for the past 5 years. Everyone has seen it too many times.

ziedth

And of course you have to consider are they any good for weddings? Like blue moose and j-90 are my two fav pub bands but i wouldn't but them forward for a wedding to anyone.

woody33

Give Keith MacDonald a ring on 086 8980767.

If you are looking for a photographer, take a look around my website:

http://www.ciaranconneely.com/

SeanF

Woody33: I've passed your link onto my girlfriend.

I'm looking for contact details for The Jam Tarts, but I can't find it anywhere. If anyone has a number, would you mind PMing it to me? Thanks.

abouttobebanned

Sent

SeanF

Thanks for your help everyone.

I've heard some good reports about The Butterfly Band, who I believe are based in Waterford. If anyone has seen them play, or has contact details for them, can you PM me? Thanks!

south

SeanF wrote: »

Thanks for your help everyone.

I've heard some good reports about The Butterfly Band, who I believe are based in Waterford. If anyone has seen them play, or has contact details for them, can you PM me? Thanks!

great band. playing sunday in masons at 6.

200motels

seanybiker wrote: »

try get the bottle brothers. The lads are legends.

I had them for my wedding in 2001 and they were funny and they got everyone out on the floor. I presume they are still the same now.

Eamo87

I'd recommend the Remedies. Great band, often play in Masons and Rubys Lounge. Not sure how much they charge though.

ziedth

We went with San fran fiasco in the end,

I also like the remedies! I heard them out a couple of times.

snuggles09

anyone have a price for the remedies?

abouttobebanned

Ziedth. wrote: »

We went with San fran fiasco in the end,

I also like the remedies! I heard them out a couple of times.

Good choice.

snuggles09

What are Soul Reason like? leaflet in waterford today for them and himself said they are fantastic but ive never heard them..is it all blues brothers songs or do they play a mix?

jonnyfingers

snuggles09 wrote: »

What are Soul Reason like? leaflet in waterford today for them and himself said they are fantastic but ive never heard them..is it all blues brothers songs or do they play a mix?

They're very good and have been around for years so really know what they're doing. They do a mix of a lot of songs, not just Blues Brothers stuff, mostly old stuff, I wouldn't say you'd find many new chart hits in their setlist!

They're often play in town so you could easily go and see them for yourself.

nkay1985

Yeah someone in work told me today that they're apparently going to be playing in Harvey's every Sunday during the summer so plenty of chances to catch them.

dermo909

The jam tarts were good the first time I saw them but they are just living off reputation now. Nowhere near as good as they were a few years ago.

Tom Thumb: You know theres a better band in waterford!

tombliboo83

San Fran Fiasco played at our wedding2yrs ago, absolutly excellent, especially if you have a younger crowd. Wouldnt be in to avalon, Dick n Dave etc. Id say check out the bottle brothers, we couldnt get them..booked out 8 months in advance.

musicman100

abouttobebanned wrote: »

To be honest, i think that's a crazy price. Although they quoted my neighbours 1500 for the same service.

Avalon charge 1500 I think, but there's 5 of them,

I personally think the days of bands getting ridiculous money for weddings should come to an end.

The band could do the same set in a bar and charge half...how do they justify that?

Just to put my cards on the table, I play in a wedding band in Waterford myself. I think it's very unfair to quote prices here as you don't know if the quote is for the same thing (disco included/longer set / travel etc.). Wedding bands charge their fee based on the fact that they are reliable, good, and no matter what they will turn up on the night. I have no problem with the fees charged as you are paying for professional musicians to put aside a Fri or Sat night months or even years in advance. I have missed family parties, weddings, and other nights that people take for granted because I have a booking in on the night. I ( and most musicians ) have spent thousands on quality gear and instuments and years learning my trade, longer than a solicitor trains for his/her profession. I have to keep a van on the road for the band, a web site, wedding fairs, and a hundred other expences that have to come out of the fee. It's not just.. turn up...play.... go home....thank you very much! Each wedding starts at about 7:00 when I change strings (another expence), load the gear, drive to the venue, load in, set up, play and sing for 2- 2 1/2 hours, take down the gear, load up drive home and empty the van. That's usually 8hours hard work ! AT NIGHT!
As for the bar price HA... good wedding bands are booked far in advance and don't usually play in bars, it's a completely different type of gig and is not subject to the same pressures to keep people dancing etc

dermo909

Musicman1000 hit the nail on the head there. People dont realise how much work is involved with being in a band and in particular a band that plays weddings/parties.
I'm in one of those bands as well and tonight for example I have to drive to thurles from waterford, load in the gear, set up all the gear, soundcheck, wait around until we can start, play our asses off for 2-1/2hrs, take down the gear, load up the vans and then drive home. I'll leave my house in waterford at 8pm and I'll get home at 4am. Thats 8hrs of my saturday gone and because its such a late finish thats the first half of sunday gone for me too.

I'm a pro musician and because of that I have pro level gear which costs alot of money to buy and to maintain. At a conservative estimate I'll be leaving the house tonight with 4k worth of equipment. And thats only me, in total our band gear is worth 15k. You may think its alot but you would'nt exactly have faith in a band that turned up with gear they bought in argos!

I have'nt even mentioned anything about insurance/petrol/diesel/van maintenance etc.

I know I'm biased but when you have a cracking band for your wedding/party you wont care about how much they cost because the dancefloor will be packed and everybody will have a great time.

nkay1985

But if you're talking two grand between four lads, that's €500 apiece. If it's 5 hours' work, that's €100 an hour each. If it was 10 hours (which it wouldn't be) that would still be €50 an hour. Spin it whatever way you like but those prices are charged because it's what people can get away with.

Obviously bands that regularly play weddings wouldn't play that many pub gigs but they do play them. And that involves the same work but costs about a quarter of the price. If you want to factor in the pressure of keeping people dancing as you say, I don't think that would be worth €1500!

We had Opus Pocus for our wedding and they were class. Won't say exactly how much it cost but, as there were 13 of them, it was a very fair price. And you can't say that they're not a quality band with a superb reputation either so all other things are equal.

It's my opinion that anyone who pays €2,000 for a four- or five-piece band is being taken for a ride.

dermo909

I agree, 2k for a 4-piece band is pushing it but you do have to pay for quality. 2k paid for a ****e band would be money down the drain but 2k paid to a great band(4-piece or 13-piece) would be money very well spent. Everybody would enjoy themselves, talk about it for ages and your wedding will be remembered as a great day/night out.

Edit: I've spent 10hrs going to a gig/playing/going home before. Its not that unusual in the world of bands. Nkay1985: You obviously dont play in a band!

Nolanger

Wasn't there a wedding band here called Local hero?

nkay1985

dermo909 wrote: »

I agree, 2k for a 4-piece band is pushing it but you do have to pay for quality. 2k paid for a ****e band would be money down the drain but 2k paid to a great band(4-piece or 13-piece) would be money very well spent. Everybody would enjoy themselves, talk about it for ages and your wedding will be remembered as a great day/night out.

Edit: I've spent 10hrs going to a gig/playing/going home before. Its not that unusual in the world of bands. Nkay1985: You obviously dont play in a band!

Yeah but what I was saying is that 10 hours would be very much the exception rather than the rule. No I don't play in a band but have quite a few friends who play but sure that's neither here nor there.

And on the point of having everyone talking about how good the night was, that's where the problem is: weddings in Ireland are such a big thing that people will spend lots of money to ensure it goes as well as possible. Bands, venues and everything else associated with weddings take advantage of it by charging extortionate prices because they know people will pay it.

Boooourns

nkay1985 wrote: »

But if you're talking two grand between four lads, that's €500 apiece. If it's 5 hours' work, that's €100 an hour each. If it was 10 hours (which it wouldn't be) that would still be €50 an hour. Spin it whatever way you like but those prices are charged because it's what people can get away with.

Obviously bands that regularly play weddings wouldn't play that many pub gigs but they do play them. And that involves the same work but costs about a quarter of the price. If you want to factor in the pressure of keeping people dancing as you say, I don't think that would be worth €1500!

We had Opus Pocus for our wedding and they were class. Won't say exactly how much it cost but, as there were 13 of them, it was a very fair price. And you can't say that they're not a quality band with a superb reputation either so all other things are equal.

It's my opinion that anyone who pays €2,000 for a four- or five-piece band is being taken for a ride.

They let down my mate for a Wedding a few years ago, he got told about 6 weeks prior.

ziedth

Think I paid €1,600 for San Franfiasco for mine and I must say they were worth every cent.

Without getting into it they learned off a particular song for me that we had played for a friend who passed away and it was top notch.

I agree that 2k is allot of money but in their defence some bands can be 7/10 years getting their name high on the list I'm sure working for nothing.

I'd more say that it's the industry is overcharging as against the actual bands.

seanybiker

I know what I be saying if I was quoted some of them prices. Plenty of people need a car/van for work so thats not really a reason to ask for huge amounts of money.

STIG83

Bottle Brothers have been mentioned already but i would definitlely recommend them, they played at my 2 sister's weddings and at another wedding i was at too

Luckycharms_74

ziedth wrote: »

Think I paid €1,600 for San Franfiasco for mine and I must say they were worth every cent.

I think you were overcharged tbh. That prices seems excessive for a four piece band. I play in a band and have been for over 10 years. With the recession it has ment that everybody in the entertainment industry has to cut their prices as well. The average price for a 4 piece band for a standard 2.5 hour gig with out travelling should come in around €1000-€1250.

Check out our Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Broadstreet-Band/182695371748348?v=wall

Mongarra

Bottle Bros played at my niece's wedding in Wexford area and were excellent. I know nothing of cost but no matter who you get it will be exhorbitant. Like hotels, dressmakers, taxis, flower arrangers and suppliers just mention the "w" word and the price goes through the roof.

A friend asked a hotel for a price for a menu for a retirement party. When given a quote he then said it was actually for a wedding and immediately the price changed (upwards). Anyway, I am gone off thread, though not the first culprit. Bottle Bros.

ziedth

Luckycharms_74 wrote: »

I think you were overcharged tbh. That prices seems excessive for a four piece band. I play in a band and have been for over 10 years. With the recession it has ment that everybody in the entertainment industry has to cut their prices as well. The average price for a 4 piece band for a standard 2.5 hour gig with out travelling should come in around €1000-€1250.

Check out our Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Broadstreet-Band/182695371748348?v=wall

Oh I'm well aware that we paid a bit over the odds but I have been to two weddings where the band was very poor and to be honest it killed the entire day and we said we would make sure to get the best we could. I wouldn't know to many of the players for wedding outside of the well known ones and out first and second choice (Never heard of em & Avalon) weren't available on the night so we has seen the lads a number of times we knew we didn't need to worry.

IMHO if you get 10 bands that cost 500-750 and 10 that cost 1250-1500 the latter are going to be better the vast majority of the time.

Yes, I agree that prices are to high but then again nearly every part of a wedding I thing is more expensive then it should be.

Luckycharms_74

ziedth wrote: »

Oh I'm well aware that we paid a bit over the odds but I have been to two weddings where the band was very poor and to be honest it killed the entire day and we said we would make sure to get the best we could. I wouldn't know to many of the players for wedding outside of the well known ones and out first and second choice (Never heard of em & Avalon) weren't available on the night so we has seen the lads a number of times we knew we didn't need to worry.

IMHO if you get 10 bands that cost 500-750 and 10 that cost 1250-1500 the latter are going to be better the vast majority of the time.

Yes, I agree that prices are to high but then again nearly every part of a wedding I thing is more expensive then it should be.

I couldnt agree more regarding the point "you get what you pay for". As you said nothing worse that one part of the wedding being a let down i.e. band, disco, photographer, etc. Its gonna be the couples special day and they don't want to chance something going wrong.

And yes when someone rings for a price for band, disco, photographer they will in general get a figure thrown at them just because its a wedding. I guess its up to people to just be a bit more savvy

tom thum

Luckycharms_74 wrote: »

I think you were overcharged tbh. That prices seems excessive for a four piece band. I play in a band and have been for over 10 years. With the recession it has ment that everybody in the entertainment industry has to cut their prices as well. The average price for a 4 piece band for a standard 2.5 hour gig with out travelling should come in around €1000-€1250.

Check out our Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Broadstreet-Band/182695371748348?v=wall

ive seen you guys play for a wedding of a freind of mine.

tom thum

IMO i dont think couples take enough time to choose the band they want for their wedding. They usually go to see a band at a normal pub gig and see the bladdered teenagers going mental to the sound of a "fart" and its on this basis that they think they have found their dream wedding band. Rubbish!!!! On the day, the band know they will need something to suit EVERYONE , so they will need their couple of waltzs , quicksteps, country etc. ( no ,matter how much they hate playing them )
As a matter of interest, those of you who are not in any bands, tell me what you think would be a fair price to pay a 4 piece band for a 2 hour set at your wedding?

seanybiker

2 hours. 4 members. Hmm less than 1000 anyways.
Even at 800 that's 100 an hour each.
Yeah they play songs they don't actually like but everyone in a job does stuff they don't like.
Majority of songs I ever seen played at a wedding are simple on the guitar. I don't play any other instrument so I can't say how easy they are on drums etc.

kryogen

When were you married Ziedth??

Thought San Fran were done? Although I have seen Paul floating around lately, lovely chap, have great time for him, but he told me he was packing it in, be delighted if he starts something up again

ziedth

We got married in October,

I have a feeling we were their last wedding or there abouts cause when we got back from Honeymoon I heard that they had split up.

I think I heard that a few of them had started a new band (beach combers I think) but I'm not sure is Paul involved.