8pm till midnight

Of course, we’re happy to move thinks around a little for early starts or later finishes, or to suit the venue in serving food for your evening guests.

Yes, we have a top-of-the-line Yamaha digital PA system and portable LED lights for your dancefloor – we’ve got you covered. 

Nothing really. We have played in the majority of venues. Noise limiters have never been a problem. Ideally venues will give us enough room to set up properly - some are very small which can cause sound issues on stage but we are professionals and never let things like that stop us putting on our best show.

We rarely have to deal with venues or coordinators prior to arriving at the event. It has happened. My contact details can be shared where required and we are happy to liaise with anyone; if it will help make sure of a smooth running show.

This is an unfortunate reality of the business but we have taken every precaution to avoid this. Each band member has an equally skilled and experienced/ like for like understudy.

Generally we take about an hour to load in our equipment and set it up. Usually the room will be empty when we do this (not always). We just need to plug everything in and play a little bit to tune the sound to the specific room we’re in, as they are all slightly different. We usually play some music while we set up and while we pack up (where the venue allows this).

We would normally arrive around 6.30pm. Load in tends to be 7.00-8.00pm. This can all be discussed or tailored to suit each event/venue.

I have an HND in sound production. While we want it to feel like a live band situation, it’s never been an issue to do that within noise limitations. It’s more important to have a balanced sound for the room than it is to be loud. We’ve played in many venues with limiters and been warned many times but we’ve never triggered one yet. At the end of the day if it’s too loud it’s not enjoyable for anyone, never mind the neighbours!

We take 30 minutes for our break. We play a mix of popular songs for you through our PA system, but you can send us your own playlist if you’d like to pick the songs yourself. 

We generally wear suits or all black clothes. We are happy to dress down, in a more bandy/ just off a tour bus kind of style. However we’d need to be asked to do this otherwise we would be aiming for a smart casual attire.

This is a dark art. Luckily we are very well practised. Our sets are very flexible and varied. We don’t tend to play too many similar songs (tempo/genre/artists) back to back.

Yes it’s peaks and troths, we will start will some familiar high impact songs. And keep the energy there for a few songs. We like to keep the dancefloor full all night, this means we need to be able to read the pace of the crowd and slow it down now and again. I don’t want to give away our secrets but by the end of the night it’s usually pretty clear we know how to manage a crowd.

We prefer requests in advance. We use in ear monitors, so when crowd members come up to request songs it creates space in the set which can lead to people sitting down. So we’d prefer to avoid that. That said, it happens and we like to go with the flow. If we can play any requests, then we are always happy to oblige.

I am very comfortable talking on a mic but I worry about talking too much (especially in certain areas, where my accent could be an issue, lol!). I like to set up certain songs but I try not to make it too much about me/the band. We are there to play music and get people up singing and dancing. That’s my main priority. We usually have a bit of a laugh throughout as well but I don’t like to script it. David (bass/backing vocals) on the other hand has a much more MC friendly voice. So he often does, what I call “hype man” duties/important announcements. Myself, David and Darko (lead guitar) all have microphones, so we like to have our inputs and we like to have a bit of a banter on stage but it’s never scripted and the music always comes first. There is never any boring monologues. We like to try and keep any silences between songs to an absolute minimum.

In our time we’ve likely experienced all those things. Nothing particularly sticks out. We take every precaution to make sure we turn up with all the tools (and spares) to do our best in any circumstance. Things run late, anything can happen. We are all easy going and happy to go with the flow.

Generally it’s full most of the night. At the beginning of the set, expect everyone up. Then some will want to get drinks/toilet/need a breather. This will build up and up until the end of set 1.

By start of set two, without saying too much we get a lot of couples up then second song is always one we want to dedicate to the bride, which gets a lot more up. From there it's very hard for most to sit down, as it’s banger after banger. The second set is usually full or near full, for the whole 2 hours. And the last 40 mins never fails to get everyone up.

Yes. We have a specific way to end that always works great. We are happy to change any of the songs when requested but I’d always suggest trusting us with this section of the night. Again, without saying too much this section can go from emotional, arm in arm sing-alongs to high intensity chaos. It is highly inclusive and usually leaves everyone buzzing.

If the crowd is up for it we like to do a 1 or 2 song encore but I also like to do a short DJ set as the band pack up and load out so usually this is the best of both worlds (where the venues allows it).

We pride ourselves in being able to tailor our set to suit your guests, years of experience allows us to read the room as we go along, but that said we’re always happy to take a few requests if you give us a few weeks to learn them!

Yes, that’s all part of the service! We ask for 4 weeks’ notice to allow us to fit it into our rehearsal schedule and make sure it’s spot on for you. 

Definitely! If it’s something we know we’ll be more than happy to play it - and we’ll always try our best even if we don’t know it but think we can have a go!

Generally if I can sing the song there’s no problem. Occasionally I may need to change the key of the song. It’s very rare, but in that event I would discuss this with the couples. Recently we were asked to play a drill/trap song, which as a 4 piece indie band that wasn’t exactly achievable. I discussed this with the couple, as it was the words that they were particularly connected too, they gave us artists license to create a version of the song. Which was a very enjoyable experience. It also gave the couple their very own special version of their family song.

We can generally play most songs. We can use backing tracks where certain elements are prominent. Providing the song is in English and I can sing it, we are more than happy to try anything.

You are fully in control. During our discussions you can set out any ideas or expectations. I will do everything possible to meet and exceed them. If you would like to finish on a certain song or if you want to sing a song with us or anything - your wildest ideas are welcome.

This can be tailored to suit, as there can be a variety of preferences. It’s common for us to announce the new couple into the room to cut their cake before we do the first dance. We usually agree before hand how long the couple want to dance alone, and who specifically will be asked up during the first dance (kids/bridal party/wedding party/everyone). We like to have as many people on the floor by the end of the first dance as possible. So when we jump into the first song of the set, the dancefloor is full and the photographer can get lots of great shots.

Absolutely, we can play for an extra hour or we can provide a DJ set!

We do! We can provide a daytime acoustic set for your drinks reception, either as solo singer or as a duo – brilliant options to keep your guests entertained while you’re getting your photos taken. 

There is certainly a distinction, as the band will say thanks/bye. The music is seamless though. I had the first song queued up ready to go and it tends to be as the crowd chants “one more song” I’ll go straight into the first song of the DJ set. Which is then continuous until the end.

It might sound a bit strange, but they love that we don’t sound like a wedding band! They often say that they felt like they had hired a band that they would normally see at a concert to play for them.

We like a bit of everything from The Beatles to Sam Fender, but our favourites tend to be indie bands!

This is something I’m very attuned to these days. I like to notice the change in the vibes from when we arrive to when we leave. If everyone is sweaty, half of them with their ties round their heads, on each other shoulders, lifting bride and groom, chanting at us, chanting the last song we played long after we’ve finished etc - we know it's been a great night!

There’s may more tells but much like when you walk out of the Barrowlands after seeing your favourite band, you can feel the buzz in the air and the people around you. That’s what it’s all about for us and that’s how I personally measure a successful night.

The will often say we should be playing bigger stages. They say every single song was a great choice. Lots of people have said we’re surprised by how well we read the room on the fly. They expect a great setlist, but they maybe didn’t expect how seamlessly we can transition from one to the next while keeping both their 80-year-old grandparents and their friends dancing at the same time.

There really is so many. I am very lucky to get to do this. We once coordinated with a best man to learn one of the grooms old band’s songs and we played it to his surprise. That was cool. We had a bride who surprised everyone by singing a song with us. Just last weekend we had a young Beatles fanatic who we played his favourite track, “Hey Jude” for… we got all the guests involved and the ending especially was really special with everyone singing. I could go on and on with little moments I’ve loved but I’ll leave it there. I’ve enjoyed reflecting on this question though!

For most clients who just want a few dances for a bit of fun, we use playback of a live ceilidh band with us calling the dance instructions. For those who take their ceilidh a bit more seriously, we have fantastic accordionist who can be hired for one hour for a small additional fee (availability pending). 

Our David is a ceilidh expert, and one of the nicest most easy going people you can meet. He used to play in a full time ceilidh band, so he’s seen it all and worn out the tshirt. He also plays the fiddle to a very high standard. I used to call the songs and it was always a good laugh but I can’t deny it was a lot more chaotic! David is much more aware of the nuances.

We also have Paul and Euan on standby, who are extremely experienced accordionists and can be booked for an additional fee. I have had the opportunity to play with lots and lots of really great trad musicians and they are the cream of the crop. Absolute professionals and never fail to get a full dancefloor. I am always on hand, tweaking the sound and making sure it’s as good as it can be.

Once we have made contact, we will either chat back and forward on emails or arrange a call. This is a chance to discuss the running order of the night. To discuss first dance and any musical requests for the night. We can talk about any ideas you may have or anything you’d like to highlight throughout the night. I can send examples lists or playlists for DJ sets. The whole night can be tailored to suit your requirements, so these conversations are the best time to do this.

It varies, some couples are happy to leave it entirely in our hands. In which case we take into account any information we have been given and use our experience to create a memorable night for guests of all ages.

Sometimes it’s the complete opposite and there is a lot of back and forth and discussions with the couple. The important thing is that couples feel comfortable to share any thoughts/ideas they have and can clearly set out any expectations. That way we can exceed them.

We are often in touch right up to the day itself and shortly after. I often like to send a final message just to reassure all is in order, first dance sounds great etc. We will often send some final messages after the event, sharing content from the night and general well wishes etc

I would say from our point of view, it is our top priority to hold ourselves to the highest standards. We really love to make people happy and create lasting memories with the couples and their guests. We are happy to put time in to get to know you and your vision for the night.

Perhaps more relevant to the question, I have worked closely with Coast Entertainments for the best part of a decade and I really can’t speak highly enough of them, not only of Andy and Leigh but the full team behind the scenes. We are in constant communication and their attention to detail and professionalism has always been evident.