We know, it’s tough. The problem with having so many epic bands is that you actually have to choose. Add in family and friends giving their two cents, and it’s easy to feel lost.
Don’t stress, we’re here to help. If you’re unsure, just ask. We’ll recommend bands that fit your vibe, and if your first choice isn’t available, we’ll suggest the best alternatives. Be aware that peak dates go fast, so the sooner you ask, the better.
First up, start by watching the band’s videos to get a feel for their energy. Then check out their profile page, song list, and reviews. If they’re active on socials, have a scroll and see what their gigs are really like. Finally, chat with us. We know all our bands personally and can tell you exactly what their show feels like.
It’s easy. On your personal quote, just select your band, fill out your details, and hit submit. We’ll confirm everything with the band, send over the paperwork, and once you’ve signed and paid the deposit, BOOM. You’re booked. Sit back, relax, and start counting down to one hell of a night.
We are really aware that it’s hard to choose a band based on a video, some reviews, and clips on social media. Live bands are at their best when they’re playing in a sweaty room full of drunk guests having the time of their lives. The reality is, our bands are busy playing weddings and private events, so we can’t sneak you in to see them perform.
That said, we do run a couple of showcase events each year, and they’re absolutely worth it if you can make it. Otherwise, head to the band’s social media for gig stories, clips, and crowd reactions. You’ll get a real feel for the energy.
Next, just ask us. Some bands do occasional public gigs, and we’ll always be able to let you know, but if not, we’ll let you know what we think as we’ve experienced our bands live and we hear what people say about them all the time.
Truth is, 95% of couples book without seeing their band live first, which is why we put so much effort into high-quality videos, reviews, and socials. Watch, stalk, ask… we’ve got you covered.
Most definitely! We want you and the band to have a good chat about what you want, your vibe, and your music taste. However, it is important to wait until nearer the time. The bands do 50–100 weddings a year, so they work on the weddings that are coming up, rather than those a year away.
We’ll send out a questionnaire 3 months before the day and ask for your music taste, timings, and any specifics. Then, 6–8 weeks before the day, the band will reach out to have a further discussion with you directly.
The big one: what if something goes wrong? All of our bands are selected for their musical ability and professionalism, so it’s extremely rare for a band to cancel at short notice (when we say rare, it doesn’t happen). However, people can get ill or injured.
If it’s an individual band member, they’ll already have someone to step in who knows the band and the set.
If the worst-case scenario happens and the band is completely taken out on your wedding day, we would step in and save the day. We’ll do our best to find one of our other bands and get them to your wedding—the show must go on.
It’s important to be aware that on peak dates, all of our bands may be booked; in this case, we’ll look to arrange for something, even if it’s a DJ replacement. To be clear, this is rare, but we’re prepared for it in any case.
The prices on the website are purely guide prices to give you an idea. For every enquiry we receive, we’ll check the band’s availability and work out a price based on the date, location, and time of year. There are a lot of variables considered in a band’s cost; for example, a band will always be cheaper for a Wednesday in November compared to a Saturday in Summer.
Travel is a big thing too; if your wedding is in the deep North but you’ve enquired about a band based in Bristol, they’ll need to cover that travel cost and may even need overnight accommodation.
If the quote is above budget, tell us. We’ll either suggest alternatives or see if we can make something work. Always worth asking.
We ask that you pay the band directly, no later than 2 weeks before the day. When they make contact with you, they’ll provide an invoice so you can do a bank transfer.
If you prefer to pay via Dirtbag Entertainment, we can accommodate this, but we would need to add 20% VAT, so it makes sense to pay the band directly.
Absolutely. No two weddings are the same, and our bands always tailor the night to you and your crowd. Beforehand, we’ll ask for details on your vibe: what you love, what you don’t, and what’s guaranteed to fill the floor. From there, the band will plan a set that hits every note right, with a few surprises thrown in (think Spice Girls meets Limp Bizkit, Shakira into Slipknot… but let’s not give away all our secrets).
On the night, the band will read the room. If they need to switch things up to get everyone moving, they will. The best thing you can do is trust your band. They know what works and will make it unforgettable. In short, when you book a Dirtbag band, you’re getting a full-throttle, all-inclusive show that’ll keep your dance floor bouncing all night.
In short, no, but your input matters. The band are the professionals; they know what works, what they do well, and how to make a set that flows. But it’s your day, so they will want your input.
In advance of the day, the band will ask for your must-plays, must-not-plays, and general music taste. If there are any special songs you want, let the band know, and they’ll make a point of it. But it really is best to leave the band to do their thing. They’ll read the room and decide what is going to keep people dancing. We also like our couples to enjoy the night; a big part of that enjoyment comes from curveballs and surprises, so trust your band and go with the flow.
YES YES YES… within reason. Over the years, our bands have had some weird and wonderful first dance requests, and if it’s possible, they’ll always be happy to try it. However, if it’s something that really isn’t going to work due to vocal range or instrumentation, they’ll let you know. The last thing you want is a bad version of your special song.
If the band can’t perform your first dance, then a recording works really well, and the band would kick in straight afterwards into the live sets. It’s also worth noting that if you’re planning a choreographed dance routine, the recording may be better.
Our bands are fun, lively, and interactive; there are loads of sing-along moments that get everyone involved. However, we’ve found in the past that if you let one person up, everyone wants a go, and it’s carnage. Not in a good way. Cousin Kate may have done Karaoke a few times, but she isn’t that good and could totally kill the vibe.
If you or some guests want to have a go, do a few songs in the break or guest on something, feel free to discuss it with the band in advance. If it’s workable, they’ll gladly accommodate it, but they’ll also advise if it isn’t going to work.
The days of velvet suits, white shirts, waistcoats, and cheesy outfits are thankfully long gone. You’ve come to Dirtbag for a reason: you want a real band, so your band will dress like a real band. You want your guests to know that “those guys are the band,” and the band needs to be comfortable to rock out for you.
That said, they’re professionals. They’ll look the part, keep it wedding-appropriate, and fit your vibe. If you’ve got a specific dress code, just let them know.
In short, they’ll take care of everything for your evening music. As standard, our bands offer a free DJ service and 2 hours of live music, plus a first dance request. They come with a professional PA system and top-quality lighting. All you need to worry about is making sure you’ve got a room full of people up for a good time, and the band will do the rest.
In short, you do not need a separate DJ. Our bands are full-on and will provide 2 hours of high-energy live performance that’ll leave your guests gasping for air and full of party vibes.
However, the hardcore may want to continue, and you’ll want music before, between, and after the band. We offer 3 options for the DJ side of things.
The FREE DJ service is a tailored playlist. We’ll ask you for a playlist in advance, and the band will use that to put together a DJ playlist for whenever they’re not playing. They’ll order it to suit and keep the bangers till later on. If on the night they need to switch the vibe, they will. They can also take some requests, but they don’t have an unlimited library and won’t be standing over the laptop all night.
The Manned/Live DJ service offered by some bands is when a member of the band uses DJ software to cue up tracks, take requests, and take on the DJ role. They’ll read the vibe of the room and adapt to suit, dropping the relevant bangers at the right point.
A Pro DJ add-on is great if you want professional mixing, lots of requests, and an extra person who can really keep the party going. A Pro DJ will also bring a booth, extra lighting, and a microphone for announcements.
We find that the FREE DJ service is perfect for the majority of weddings and is generally what people go for, but if you want that bit extra, we’ve got you covered.
Hell yeah! All of our bands come with awesome lighting to light up the stage and dance floor, making it really feel like a gig.
Our bands do more than just stick up flashing lights; most of them have controllable lighting, which means the lights are part of the show. Think blackouts, strobes, and colour-coded moments, just like you’d get at a proper gig.
If allowed, some bands can often use a smoke machine, too. This really helps make the lights and atmosphere pop.
As standard, our bands carry a PA system that is enough for 200–250 people; however, if you’re having a larger gathering, we can help. We work closely with a PA company that can provide larger systems, sound engineers, and lighting.
If you’re having a small wedding party, don’t worry, our bands will play for 2 people or 2000 people. Essentially, the party size is irrelevant; a Dirtbag band will make it a night to remember either way.
The short answer is yes, but this depends on the limitations set.
It can often be a surprise or confusing when you find the perfect venue, but they have a sound limiter installed that the band must comply with. Whilst this isn’t ideal, it’s not a problem. Most of our bands have set-ups that use in-ear monitoring, an electric drum kit, and a silent stage. This means that the band can perfectly control the volume out front and ensure that the sound limit is not breached.
That said, we do find that some venues’ limiters are just too extreme, or a venue’s in-house system just doesn’t sound good enough for bands to use. Always ask your venue prior to booking if there’s a limiter in place. Ask what type and if it has a decibel limit, then let us know.
We’ll always be 100% transparent about what the effect of the sound limit will have on the band and your celebration, so let us know what you’ve been told, and we’ll help.
You’re booking a live band, and not just any band, an alternative rock band. So yes, they’re loud enough to feel like a gig, but not so loud your nan can’t handle it.
If your venue has a sound limit or any restrictions, chances are we can work with it. There are some venues out there that have ridiculous restrictions that can hinder the band’s performance. Just let us know early so we can match you with the right setup.
Generally speaking, if your venue has hosted a band before, you’re good. As a guide, 3.5m x 4.5m suits a 3-piece, and a little more for a 4-piece. This is just a guideline, and the band can make most situations work, but the more space they have, the more they can move and perform.
As standard, our bands don’t provide (or even need) a stage; they’re happy being toe-to-toe with your guests and getting stuck in the chaos. However, if you’ve got a large guest list or want something extra special, then a stage can work really well. We do advise going bigger with a stage if hiring one, because if a stage is too small, it actually gets in the way as the band is trapped in the space. We can also help with stage hire if required.
Our bands are happy to play anywhere, but playing outside does come with a couple of caveats. The main one being, the area needs to be covered, and the power supply must be safe.
That said, daytime acoustic sets are often outside, and due to the compact nature of an acoustic set, this can usually be outside, weather permitting.
All of our bands use modern, professional equipment which runs off standard 13amp plug sockets. So don’t worry, the band will be able to plug into the venue’s normal plug sockets.
If you’re having a marquee wedding and need to sort a generator, please let us know and we’ll be able to advise what the band’s power requirements are.
Abso-bloomin-lutely! All of our bands are professionals and carry full PAT and PLI, which is required to work in all venues. They can send this to you and your venue nearer to the day, but if you need it sooner, just ask.
This is entirely up to you, but we’re always happy to advise.
It’s common to want the band to start ASAP to get the party going, but this isn’t always the best move. If you’ve got evening guests arriving at 7 pm, they won’t be ready to dance at 7:30 pm, especially if you’ve just had a big meal. It’s best to let it settle before you bounce around like it’s 2001. If it’s summertime and the sun is still out, guests will want to soak up the evening rays outside before partying. So our advice is to relax, enjoy the calm before the storm, and wait until people are ready to party hard.
We suggest the first dance to be no earlier than 8 pm, and later if possible. After the first dance, the band will play their first hour-long set, then it’s the perfect time to break for food. After that, the band will read the room and see when people are ready to party again—usually 45–60 minutes after food has been served. This also ensures that the last set is towards the end of the night, such as 10–11 pm, and the evening ends with the DJ playlist.
Be warned… timings will ALWAYS slip on the night. We are used to it, and the band will adapt and wait until you and everyone are ready, so don’t stress if things overrun! It’s normal.
Don’t stress the timings yet. Book your band first, and we’ll sort the details later.
Ultimately, our bands are flexible and will work with you to make things flow on the night. Typically, the band will set up after your wedding breakfast during the room turnaround. They’ll need around an hour to load in and soundcheck. By the time you return, the space will be transformed from wedding breakfast to full-on gig venue.
If you need an early set-up, that’s fine. There may be a small additional charge, but just let us know and we’ll help plan it. We’ve experienced hundreds of weddings, so we can help.
In our experience, 2 hours of high-energy live music is the sweet spot. The band will play nothing but the best tunes at 110%. Much more than this really isn’t necessary; you want a bit of time to chat and drink, so leave space in your evening for that too.
It’s tempting to go for 3 x 40-minute sets, but 2 x 60-minute sets keeps the night flowing better. Too many breaks can kill the momentum, so trust us on this one.
Absolutely! If you want the band to get there early and set up ahead of guests arriving, this can be done, but the band will charge an early arrival fee and ideally need somewhere to hang out whilst waiting.
Alternatively, you could book the band for a daytime acoustic set, which includes an early arrival.
As for staying later, this is also no problem at all, but the bands charge a fee per hour after midnight. It’s important to discuss a late finish with the band in advance, rather than surprising them at 11:55 pm on the night.
We do ask that bands be provided with some food and drink. No mad riders to worry about, just point them at the buffet and sort a small bar tab.
Our bands are professionals and aren’t getting smashed on your wedding day, but a beer definitely helps loosen them up.
Top tip: Look after your band with food, drink, snacks, treats, and you’ll find they’re more inclined to keep playing when you’re shouting “ONE MORE SONG!”.
Yes, the band will travel in a van or 2–3 cars, so they’ll need somewhere to park, ideally close to the venue so they can get their gear loaded in quickly and safely.
If your venue is a city centre or doesn’t have parking and the band needs to pay to park, this cost does need to be covered in addition to their quoted performance fee.
Whilst it is nice, it’s not essential. Lots of venues simply don’t have a space that the band can use, but if they do, please ask your venue if they can make use of it. It’s a handy space for the band to leave bags, get changed, hang out, and warm up.
Again, don’t worry if there’s no space though, the band are used to getting changed in car parks and hanging out at the party—it’s all fine and they’ll go with the flow.
Got more questions? Get in touch.
