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Harlem Shuffle

From £1,700

Price is based on standard fee without any travel or extras

From £1,700

Price is based on standard fee without any travel or extras

Overview

Harlem Shuffle are an exceptionally talented and very flexible band, who can perform music from the classic era of Jazz to current Pop hits... all cunningly put into vintage style!

Having re-arranged lots of music from internet sensation, Postmodern Jukebox, this fabulous band have also created many of their own stomping swing twists on pop tunes from the 70s, 80s and 90s up to the present day! 

The band have a huge repertoire and can tailor any performance to an individual clients needs.  They have a large selection of laid back tunes when something more low key is required, as well as their hip up-beat swing tunes that will make you want to put on your spats and tassels and learn to Charleston like it’s 1929. 

These outstanding musicians can tailor their performances to the exact needs of any client, performing in a specific style, or creating a varied programme of music through an evening. If you want all the sophistication of Swing music at your event, but want everybody to get down and boogie afterwards, the band can also perform a Soul/Funk set later in the evening (see repertoire).   

Booking options

Standard 5 piece band is Male Vocals, Sax, Keyboards, Bass, Drums

Options:

  • Swap male for female vocalist (no charge)
  • 2 lead vocals (male and female)
  • 3 lead vocals (male and 2 female)
  • 2 piece brass section
  • Guitar

Full band 9 piece lineup is:  Male + 2 Female lead singers, 2 horns (e.g. sax + trumpet), Keyboards, Guitar, Bass, Drums.

Their charismatic singers deliver superb performances from mellow jazz through to the most energetic and soulful funk.  You can choose to have either male or female singers performing for you or even better... have both!  They also feature the funkiest horn section imaginable who will add a massive wow to any event. 

Harlem Shuffle feature a flexible line up, normally performing as a 5 piece,  but with additional members up to a full 8 piece band (please see booking options). They come with a male singer as standard but you can request one of their female singers as lead vocalist instead (please see booking options).  

DJ music or background music can be played in between their sets, with the option to link your own ipod to their system and put your own playlist on. 

The band use the highest quality 2000W PA system (with sub) plus lighting rig, but also have smaller set ups for more intimate venues.    

Previous Clients Include:

Gary Rhodes

Fern Britton

Gordon Ramsay

Paul Coelho

The National Liberal Club

London Zoo

The Royal Society of Arts

The Savoy Hotel

Listen

Set list

Postmodern (Jazzed Up Pop)

The Lovecats – The Cure

Wonderwall – Oasis

Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson

Reet Petite – Jackie Wilson 

Locked Out Of Heaven – Bruno Mars

Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi

Toxic – Britney Spears

Mercy - Duffy

Let’s Dance – David Bowie

Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor

Superstitious – Stevie Wonder

I Wish – Stevie Wonder

Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

Forget You – Cee Lo Green

Tainted Love – Soft Cell

Creep - Radiohead

You Swing Me Round- Dead Or Alive

My Iron Lung – Radio Head

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

Happy – Pharell Williams

Wake me up before I Gogo - Wham

YMCA – Village People

Moondance – Van Morrison

Black Hole Sun – Sound Garden

Sledgehammer – Peter Gabriel

I Want It That Way – Back Street Boys

Say You’ll Be There – Spice Girls

Have I told you lately – Rod Stewart

Travis 182 - All The Small Things

Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel

Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars

I’ve Had The Time Of My Life - Dirty Dancing

Don’t Stop Movin - S Club 7

Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus

 

Classic Swing

Fly me to the moon – Frank Sinatra

It Had To Be You – Frank Sinatra

Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra

Alright OK – Frank Sinatra

New York New York  - Frank Sinatra

Bad Boy Leroy Brown – Frank Sinatra

Have You Met Miss Jones – Frank Sinatra

Don’t get Around Much Anymore – Frank Sinatra

Lady is a Tramp – Frank Sinatra

Pennies / I Wanna / Smiling – Louis Prima

Jump Jive and Wail – Louis Prima

Mambo Italiano – Louis Prima

Buena Sera – Louis Prima

Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off – Louis Prima

Banana Split For My Baby – Louis Prima

Just a gigolo / Ain’t got nobody – Louis Prima 

Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby – Louis Prima

Lazy River – Louis Prima

Angelina-Zooma Zooma – Louis Prima

Embraceable You / I Got It Bad – Louis Prima

I’ve Got the World on a String – Louis Prima

That Old Black Magic – Louis Prima

You Rascal You – Louis Prima

Everybody wants to be a cat – The Aristocats

Pencil full of lead – Paolo Nutini

Minnie The Mooche – Cab Calloway

Feeling Good - Michael Bublé

Sway - Michael Bublé

Mack the Knife – Bobby Darrin

La Mer – Bobby Darrin

Taking a chance on love – Ella Fitzgerald

Take the A Train – Ella Fitzgerald

It Don’t Mean A Thing – Ella Fitzgerald

Makin Whoppee – Ella Fitzgerald

All of me – Billie Holiday

Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens – Louis Jordan

Frim Fram Sauce – Diana Krall

They can’t Take That Away From Me – Louis Armstrong

My Baby Just Cares – Nina Simone

That’s Amore – Dean Martin

Halleluiah I Love her So – Ray Charles

Let There Be Love – Nat King Cole

L O V E:  Nat King Cole

Girl From Ipanema – Astrud Gilberto

Tu Vuo Fa L’americano – Renato Carosone

Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps – Doris Day

What a Difference a Day Makes – Jamie Cullum

 

20’s Charleston

The Charleston – Enoch Light

Black Bottom – Ma Rainey

Happy Feet – Milton Ager

Is You Is – Louis Jordan

Puttin On The Ritz – Irving Berlin

Sing, Sing, Sing – Benny Goodman

Fat Sam’s Grand Slam – Bugsy Malone

Yes Sir That’s My Baby – Walter Donaldson

Ol’ Man River - Showboat

 

Soul, pop and funk

Dua Lipa - Dance The Night Away

Brown eyed Girl – Van Morrison

Gimme Some Lovin’ – Spencer Davis

I Wish – Stevie Wonder

Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder

Signed Sealed Delivered – Stevie Wonder

Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson

Mercy - Duffy

Valerie – Amy Winehouse

Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen

Blame It On The Boogie – The Jacksons

I feel Good – James Brown

I'm a Believer – The Monkees

Forget You – Cee Lo Green

Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry

I will survive- Gloria Gaynor

Can't Take My Eyes Off You – Andy Williams

Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett

Knock On Wood – Wilson Pickett

Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett

Ain’t No Stopping Us Now – McFadden and Whitehead

Dancing In The Moonlight - Toploader

La Bamba – Ritchie Valens

Twist and Shout – The Beatles

I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles

Car Wash – Rose Roycee

Happy – Pharrell Wiliams

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough :  Marvin Gaye, Gammi Terrell

Lady Marmalade:  LaBelle

Uptown Funk:  Mark Ronson

Disco Inferno: The Tramps

Proud Mary: Tina Turner

 

Reviews (13)

Harlem Shuffle

We cannot thank Harlem Shuffle enough for performing at our wedding last week. You picked up on the tone of the event perfectly. Your swing and post-modern renditions were inspired and you had all ages on the dance floor; we really felt it was the music that brought everyone together last week. Phil dancing with his 95-year-old grandmother to ‘Fly Me to The Moon’ was a particularly special moment. Absolutely everything we had wished for!

The music in the afternoon was the BEST surprise!! I loved it and had no idea until I walked into the garden party that Phil had arranged it. We had been listening to a Parisian Cafe-style playlist for a while with the intention of having that as background music in the afternoon so I was over the moon when I heard a few numbers from that playlist being performed live. They were brilliant and created a really relaxed, cool vibe for the Drinks Reception. I know Pangdean (venue) have mentioned to my parents how much they loved the trio too. Thank you so much for suggesting them and for helping Phil to organise such a great surprise; he said you were so quick and happy to help with something so last minute and it made all the difference! Having live musicians at what was already a musical feast of a day, really made it for us! Please pass on our huge thanks to them.

Thank you too for performing Let There Be Love for our first dance. Again, to have it performed live by such talented performers meant so much more than dancing to the recording. We spoke to many guests during the evening who thought you were brilliant and some who were just happy watching you all make music together!! You were the perfect entertainment for the evening, thank you!

We’re very happy listening to your music on Spotify but I hope we get the opportunity to hear the band play live again one day.

Harlem Shuffle

Harlem Shuffle are just amazing. All night our guests were telling us how great they thought the band were and everyone was dancing and having a fantastic time. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with in the lead up to our day, and helped with lots of requests we had to make our day more special, including a flawless performance for our first dance. Their performance was full of energy and fun, and they put together two great sets of music for us. Cannot recommend highly enough!

Harlem Shuffle

Thank you so much for joining us at Ellenor’s Midsummer Night’s Ball on Saturday 9 June in the grounds of St Clere, Sevenoaks. Harlem Shuffle performance was fantastic, it was great seeing so many guests getting up and dancing the night away. We have had so much wonderful feedback from both our guests and staff about your performance, so thank you for your hard work!

Harlem Shuffle

We were so impressed with Harlem shuffle and would recommend them in a heartbeat. They really made our evening special by performing our requested song for the first dance. They were really professional both in the run up to, and on the night. The sound awesome and the dance floor was packed.

Harlem Shuffle

Wow! What a band and what a night. You were all fabulous! Nobody wanted you to stop and thank you for keeping going as long as you did. Please send all my all love and thanks to everybody.

Harlem Shuffle

Just a quick note to thank you and the band for the brilliant performance at our wedding on the 27th May. Everyone really enjoyed the music and commented on how great a voice your singer had and how well the band played. Although I didn't get to hear the entire set as a result of having to rush around saying hello to all our guests, the mix of songs was just what we had anticipated and fitted perfectly with the balmy evening we were so lucky to enjoy

Harlem Shuffle

The 6th of May seems a little while ago now, but we had the most fabulous day and the crowning glory was your band in the evening. Our aim was to find a band whose repertoire would transcend the cultures and ages of the guests, which yours achieved effortlessly. The musical arrangement for the night was perfect. We have received wonderful compliments from many guests who enjoyed the energy of the performance through to those who were enjoying the exceptional musical quality. The italians wer thrilled and very impressed with your performance of 'Tu vuo fa l'americano'. Two aspiring bass players very much enjoyed 'The chicken'. We were of course delighted with your flawless performance of 'Beyond the sea' for our first dance.Finally I wanted to say a big thank you for playing 'Happy Birthday' for my father at the end of the evening. It was a wonderful touch and very kind of you.
In short, you made our evening into a perfect reception. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Harlem Shuffle

I'm just writing to you and the rest of the band on behalf of all my family and friends to say a massive thank you for the most amazing night we've had in a long while! People had travelled from quite a distance to come to the party and they were not let down - the atmosphere was electric and that's all thanks to you guys! It will not be forgotten in a hurry! We couldn't have asked for a more perfect night! Thanks again!

Harlem Shuffle

I think there are two things that make the band a must see: the repertoire and the quality of the players. Journeying through guitar and vocal ballads, historic jazz standards, quintet blues and finishing up at Oasis is what I call getting my moneys worth. And the fact that every member of the band can deliver a first class solo is unbelievable. Frankly, I think you're pretty unique as an ensemble.
All in all, damn good reasons to see you all having a lot of fun!

Harlem Shuffle

I would just like to say again thank you very much for a fantastic performance. You were all fantastic and so many people loved you. So many compliments I couldn’t keep up. You really made the evening and again THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Harlem Shuffle

Hi there, Just wanted to say a big thank you to the guys who played at our wedding. Russ and I were very excited about having a live band at our wedding as it was kind of our gift to each other. And despite these high expectations we weren't disappointed!
We weren't actually sure if our guests would be excited about the kind of band we'd booked, but as I mentioned, our original motivation was a selfish one as we loved the idea of having an amazing band play during our wedding meal. But everyone raved about you!
You guys turned out to be the "wow factor" at our wedding and we are so pleased we splashed out on you!
Thank you so much for making a perfect day even more special. You were a very classy addition to our wedding day.

Harlem Shuffle

I just wanted to say thanks for the great music your band provided at the wedding. It was precisely what I'd wanted for the occasion and I've had many positive comments about your music from people who were at the evening bash. I particularly wanted to thank you for playing the song "Almost like being in love". You played a great version which defied the fact that I'd only asked if you knew it a week before hand! Thanks once again, and I hope you and your band enjoyed playing for us"

Harlem Shuffle

Absolutely amazing band! Could not have been more perfect for our wedding. Will be booking them again for our next event if we can! Highly recommend them for any occasion.

FAQs

How far in advance should we book?

As soon as you know your date, really. Popular dates (weekends, especially in summer) can book up 12+ months ahead, but we've also pulled off cracking gigs with just a few weeks' notice if we're free. The earlier you lock it in, the more choice you'll have.

How much do you charge?

You can use the instant quote button on this page to get a price straight away — your fee will appear on screen, and you'll also get a follow-up email confirming it. If we're available and you're happy with the price, get back in touch with the Hireaband team to secure the date. It's very much first come, first served, so if we're available, don't hesitate.

What's your payment and cancellation policy?

Hireaband will ask for a reservation fee to secure your date, with the remaining balance due before the event (your booking confirmation will have exact dates and amounts). If you need to cancel or postpone, get in touch as early as possible — the closer to the date, the harder it is for Hireaband to fill the slot, so the cancellation terms reflect that. Full details are in your booking agreement, but the Hireaband team are always happy to talk through the specifics.

What if any timings change after booking you?

No problem at all. We know that timings and details aren't always set in stone at the booking stage, and plans have a habit of evolving as your big day gets closer. We're happy to be flexible around changes to your schedule, and if you decide further down the line that you'd like to add on any extra services, just get in touch with the Hireaband team and they'll sort it out for you.

What should we expect if we've never booked a live band before?

Totally understandable if this all feels a bit new! Booking a band is a big part of your day, so we're here to make it as straightforward as possible. We've performed at countless weddings and events, and the Hireaband team will guide you through every step, from your initial enquiry right through to the big day itself. If you're ever unsure about anything, just ask — that's what we're here for.

Can we see you perform live before booking?

We don't always have public gigs to invite you to (weddings tend to be private!), but we're always happy to jump on a call and talk you through what to expect. A public performance will often be posted on this page too, so it's worth checking back — and if we do have one coming up, we'll gladly send details your way.

How much contact will we have with the band before the wedding?

Hireaband will put you in direct touch with us around 3 months before your date, so you can go through all the finer details together — song choices, timings, any special requests and so on. In the meantime, the Hireaband team are always on hand to answer any questions you have, so you're never left waiting.

How many songs will the band learn especially for me?

We're happy to learn your first dance or a special request. Other songs depend on the time frame given and what the songs are. We're always keen to learn new things, so do let us know and we'll try to accommodate as best we can for you.

Can we choose our own setlist?

Yes, within reason. We have a core set of crowd-pleasers that we know works brilliantly, and we're experts at reading a room and picking the right songs on the night to keep everyone dancing. We're also always happy to tweak the setlist based on your taste — send us a few "must plays" and a few "please avoids" and we'll build the night around them. Just bear in mind that learning brand new songs from scratch (aside from your first dance) depends on notice — see above!

Will you be able to do my first dance?

Given enough notice, yes. It takes a while for us to rehearse a song to the high standards that we set ourselves. If you can give us at least 8 weeks' notice, that should be fine. The song also has to be suitable for a band. If we can't do it justice, then we can put it on an iPod and go seamlessly into our set at the end of it.

How much space does the band need?

This will vary depending on the size of the band and the setup on the night, but we've performed at a huge variety of venues and can comfortably fit into most spaces that have hosted a live band before. If your venue has anything a little unusual about it, we can usually find a way to make it work, so just get in touch if you're not sure and we'll be happy to advise.

What kind of music do you play?

We specialise in taking current pop and rock hits and reworking them in a vintage swing, jazz and Postmodern Jukebox style, alongside classic Sinatra-era swing, soul, funk and Louis Prima-style numbers. It's a genuinely huge repertoire that lets us move from laid-back dinner jazz to full-on dancefloor soul and funk within the same set.

What line-up options do you offer?

Our standard set-up is a 5-piece with male vocals, sax, keys, bass and drums, and this can be expanded up to a full 9-piece with a second lead vocalist, a horn section and guitar added on. You can also swap in a female lead vocalist at no extra charge, or book both a male and female singer for the night.

Are you experienced with corporate events?

Very much so - we've performed for high-profile private and corporate clients including Gary Rhodes, Fern Britton and Gordon Ramsay, as well as venues such as The Savoy Hotel and The Royal Society of Arts. We're used to reading a room of mixed ages and tailoring the set accordingly, whether that's a relaxed drinks reception or a full dancefloor finale.

How long do you take to set up?

We ask for around an hour to set up and check everything is working, but if it needs to be shorter, just let us know and we'll always accommodate as best we can.

How far will you travel?

We regularly perform all over the country, so distance really is no object, but we will require an additional fee for travel and may need bed and breakfast arranged for us. Any price you receive already includes travel costs, so there won't be any surprise extras on top.

Will we need to feed you?

It depends on timings, but generally some hot food would be hugely appreciated. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Normally a catering company will provide a 'crew meal' as part of their package, or we're happy to have evening food that's already available.

What do you wear?

We tend to be 'smart casual' as in our pictures and video. However, we can be smarter or more casual depending on your event and requirements.

How long do you perform for?

As standard, we provide 2 x 1hr or 3 x 40 minute sets as required on the night, up until midnight. We can play past midnight, but it can incur an additional fee. We are flexible though and will always try to accommodate your requirements. We can also add an additional 1hr set for a small fee!

Do you take breaks, and what happens to the music then?

Yes, we'll take short breaks between sets to grab a drink and catch our breath! During these breaks we'll have background music playing through our own PA system, so there's never a dead moment on the dancefloor. Just let us know if you have a particular playlist or Spotify account you'd like us to use.

Will the band provide a DJ service?

Yes, as standard we provide a playlist DJ service whenever we're not performing — so between sets and after our last set, right up until midnight (or your curfew if earlier). These are tried-and-tested playlists that we've refined over countless events, but you're also welcome to send us your own playlist to play instead. If you'd like a bit more than that, we offer an upgrade to a manned DJ service, where a band member stays on hand throughout to look after the music and take requests on the night.

Can you arrive earlier and finish later?

Our standard on-site time runs from 6pm to midnight, but we're happy to be flexible around your schedule. Whether you need us there earlier for an afternoon slot or performing later into the night, just let us know your requirements and we'll do our best to accommodate — additional fees may apply for extended hours.

Do you offer any optional extras?

Yes! On top of our standard package, we can offer a range of optional extras for an additional fee — things like extra performance sets, a manned DJ service, acoustic sets for your ceremony or drinks reception, and more. Just let us know what you have in mind and we'll see what we can put together for your day.

Do you provide all your own equipment?

Yes, all we need is a clear area in which to set up and a power supply.

Are you insured and PAT tested?

Yes to both. We carry full public liability insurance, and all our equipment is PAT tested annually. Hireaband will send your venue any certification that's required.

Can you work with sound limiters?

Yes. We don't 'love' them, but we absolutely can work within them.

What happens if one of the band is ill on the day of my event?

We have a network of fellow musicians that we can call on to stand in on the rare occasion one of the band is ill. On top of that, Hireaband is the UK's biggest entertainment agency and has access to dozens of wedding bands in your area even at the very last minute. However, we've never missed a gig yet.

Further Info

Line-Up

  • Default Line Up
  • Female Vocals
  • Male Vocals
  • Sax
  • Keys
  • Double Bass
  • Drums
  • Additional Line Up Options
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Guitar
  • Additional Vocals

Performance Times

Booking Add-ons

  • Manned DJ Service
  • Late Finish (After Midnight)
  • Additional Male Vocals
  • Horn Section
  • Early Arrival
  • Additional 1hr Set
  • Additional Female Vocals
  • Daytime Acoustic Duo

Provided by the Act

  • PA System
  • Complimentary Unmanned DJ Service (when not performing)
  • Able To Work With Sound Limiters
  • Stage Lighting
  • Public Liability Insurance & PAT Tested Equipment

Check availability and price for Harlem Shuffle

To find out if this act is available and what it would cost to hire them, please fill out the form.

To ensure the quote is as accurate as possible, remember to tell us the postcode or nearest town to your venue. Good Luck!