Business Details
21 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Wedding & Event Band Booking Agency in London
Function Central, established in 2005, is the UK's leading live music booking agency, managing over 3,000 events annually. Our rigorous vetting process ensures only the most professional and talented acts join our roster, delivering exceptional performances for weddings, corporate events, and private parties. With a dedicated support team available 24/7, we provide secure bookings, competitive pricing, and emergency replacement guarantees. Our founders, Ali Lion and Mike Ausden, leverage decades of musical expertise to maintain industry-leading standards. Official partners of the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance and sponsors of the Abram Wilson Foundation, we champion emerging talent while maintaining a 5-star TrustScore from 990 reviews.
Services
Wedding bands
Party bands
Corporate entertainment
DJs
Background musicians
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We maintain strict quality standards, vetting all acts for professionalism and performance excellence.
- Our 24/7 support team assists with bookings, contracts, and emergency replacements.
- Competitive pricing matched to direct bookings, with no hidden fees.
- We offer a live music guarantee covering last-minute cancellations.
- Official partners with music institutions supporting emerging talent development.
Associations and certifications
- Institute of Contemporary Music Performance
- Abram Wilson Foundation
What people say
Exceptional performers
Secure bookings
24/7 support
Competitive pricing
Live music guarantee
Services
Wedding Bands
Our wedding bands specialise in cross-generational dancefloor hits, from Elvis to Dua Lipa. Each act undergoes rigorous quality checks to ensure professional performance standards. Bands include 3-10 musicians with full sound and lighting equipment, available for ceremonies, receptions, and evening celebrations across the UK.
Party Bands
Covering rock, pop, soul and Latin genres, our party bands deliver high-energy performances for birthdays and corporate events. Acts include professional musicians with self-contained equipment, offering flexible set durations and repertoire customisation to match client preferences.
DJs
Professional DJs provide self-contained entertainment with modern sound systems and lighting rigs. Services include curated playlists, live mixing, and optional saxophone accompaniment. Equipment setup requires minimal space and power access for optimal venue flexibility.
Background Musicians
Acoustic duos, string quartets, and jazz ensembles provide sophisticated background music for wedding ceremonies and drinks receptions. These acts specialise in subtle performance styles that complement conversations while maintaining musical excellence across classical and contemporary genres.
Corporate Entertainment
Tailored entertainment solutions for conferences, Christmas parties, and trade shows. Our corporate acts combine professional performance with adaptable scheduling to meet business event requirements, including branded music arrangements and interactive audience engagement elements.
People
Ali Lion
Co-founder
Co-founder with 20+ years in music performance and talent scouting. Drum graduate from music college, previously performing in award-winning cover bands. Established Function Central in 2005 to raise industry standards for live event entertainment.
Mike Ausden
Co-founder
Co-founder and trumpet graduate with extensive experience in live performance and music education. Jointly developed Function Central's quality assurance framework, maintaining industry partnerships while expanding the agency's national coverage since 2005.
Questions
What types of events do you cater for?
We provide live music for weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, anniversaries, Christmas parties, and festivals across the UK.
How do I book a band?
Browse our website by genre or location, add preferred acts to your enquiry list, and submit your event details. We'll provide quotes and handle all booking arrangements.
Can bands learn special requests?
Most bands can learn first-dance songs or specific requests, though complex arrangements with orchestral elements may require playback through their sound system.
What equipment do I need to provide?
Bands require access to power and adequate performance space. 3-4 square metres is recommended for 3-4 piece bands, with additional space for larger acts.
What happens if a band cancels?
Our live music guarantee ensures emergency replacement options at short notice, with our team coordinating alternative arrangements at no extra cost.
How much do bands cost?
Prices range from £810 for 3-piece bands to £9,250 for 10-piece showbands, with average costs around £1,375 for 4-piece acts.
Reviews (8)
Peter Baldwin
Jul 15, 2020
Report
Very easy website to use. I was kept informed about all the details of my booking and everything was dealt with very quickly.
Gary Hearfield
Jul 15, 2020
Report
Excellent service, very professional, guided us through the booking process at every stage. Highly Recommend.
Beth
Jul 15, 2020
Report
Brilliant customer service matched by a brilliant selection of bands. Quick to respond to email enquiries and very helpful staff.
Josh Turner
Jul 15, 2020
Report
Top quality company, clear website and lots of advice. Thanks
Great service, would highly recommend. Took me a while to finally pick who to go for because they had so many good options. I can't thank the team enough for the advice. Once I had picked it was a very easy process for payment and contacting the band. Will certainly use in the future.
Great service, would highly recommend. Took me a while to finally pick who to go for because they had so many good options. I can't thank the team enough for the advice. Once I had picked it was a very easy process for payment and contacting the band. Will certainly use in the future.
Simon Head
Jul 15, 2020
Report
Good bands and a quick quotation provided with an extremely competative price.
Answered all questions patiently. Contract received promptly. Straight forward process. Can't wait for the performance!
Answered all questions patiently. Contract received promptly. Straight forward process. Can't wait for the performance!
Charlotte
Jul 15, 2020
Report
Fantastic company, really reliable and would recommend to anyone for any event! Will definitely use them again in the future.
Belinda Walmsley
Jul 15, 2020
Report
I was extremely impressed with the speed and ease of using Function Central. I always felt that any queries I had during the booking and run-up to my event were answered quickly and that I was a valued client. A very personable and personal service.
Louise Playford
Jul 15, 2020
Report
Function Central did a great job - we arranged both our wedding band and our wedding DJ through them. Both were great!