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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2025

Last update: March 2026

The Pretty Ugly – Live Wedding Band with a Big 80s Sound

Looking for a wedding band that brings unforgettable energy, timeless hits, and serious musical talent? Meet The Pretty Ugly — a Yorkshire-based 3-piece band specialising in 80s-inspired pop and indie rock covers, guaranteed to get your guests dancing and singing along.

With years of experience performing across the UK, The Pretty Ugly deliver high-quality live music that’s both nostalgic and fresh. Their setlist features beloved 80s anthems, indie favourites, and crowd-pleasing pop tunes — all performed with precision, passion, and a massive sound that fills the room.

From intimate receptions to full-scale party atmospheres, The Pretty Ugly tailor their performance to suit your vibe. They love connecting with couples and guests, and pride themselves on creating a memorable experience at every event.

Whether you're after a throwback soundtrack, a high-energy dance floor, or a mix of classics and modern hits, The Pretty Ugly are ready to make your wedding truly unforgettable.

The band offers a versatile range of entertainment packages tailored to suit your special day — from professional DJ services and elegant ceremony piano performances to intimate solo acoustic sets and much more. For a personalised quote or to explore the full list of options, feel free to get in touch.

The Pretty Ugly - Pop-Rock & 80s Wedding Trio is a wedding and event band based in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Frequently asked questions

What services do you offer?

Ceremony music
Cocktail/banquet music
Dance music
Entertainment
DJ
Other (Solo Acoustic Set)

What is included in the wedding package?

This includes 2 hours of playing time (2x60 min sets or 3x40 min sets), Hire of all our PA and sound equipment and a basic stage lighting set. We also offer unmanned DJ service free of charge

How far in advance should I contact you?

Preferably 12 months prior to your event however we do have the occasional free space sooner on our calendar so please feel free to be in touch anytime

What style of music do you offer?

Rock
Latest hits
Pop
Other (Specialise in 80s hits)

Type of musical group:

DJ
Band
Trio
Solo

Size of group:

Small (2 - 3 musicians)

Repertoire:

Please enquire for our full list - we specialise in indie hits and 80s classics

Is it possible to request something that's not in the repertoire?

Yes guarantee minimum 1 free request (but can try up to 3)

What's your experience?

We have been playing together since we were 12 years old! Doing purely just weddings and events together as a trio for the last 3 years. We absolutely love it!

Do you have your own equipment?

Yes

Do you need specific materials or conditions to offer your service?

Yes, 4x4m of space minimum Access to electricity A room full of guests ready to party!

Can you travel?

Yes, all UK - Enquire if your event is further a field and we can supply you with a quote

Is there a charge for travelling?

Yes, we charge for our mileage and past certain points we also charge for hotel/accommodation costs

Do you cover more than one wedding a day?

Yes

Do you work alone or do you have a team of professionals?

With a team

What is the length of time of the act?

A normal event for us is 6/7 hours of our time on average. Standard play time is 2 hours but we can do less or more. We can tailor our quote so that its specific to your needs and budget requirements

How much time do you need to prepare for an act?

1 hour minimum

Do you do open-air acts?

Yes

Do you charge per hour or per event?

Per hour

If needed, would you be able to work extra hours?

Yes

How do you charge extra time?

If time required is more than our standard time we work on £50 per additional hour (in some cases more depending on how far the event is from us)

What are the forms of payment?

Bank transfer is our standard (10% holding deposit required) but we can take cash on the night if preferred

Served in

Cheshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire

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Do you have any questions?

Reviews for The Pretty Ugly - Pop-Rock & 80s Wedding Trio

Sam
Sam Sent on 21/11/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The pretty brilliant

This band were unbelievable. They’ve got such a brilliant sound , i can’t tell you how many comments i got from people complimenting how amazing they were. Dance floor was filled all night, was just gutted when it was over!
The bloody bee’s knees out of ten these lads, would 110% recommend.
Thank you Joe and the boys for making our wedding day top notch, we can’t begin to explain how much we loved having you
Cheers
A
Amy Sent on 05/06/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing band, great vibes

The band were amazing! Such good vibes which matched our energy so well. Communication with Joe was amazing as well and nothing seemed like too much hassle.
Great value for money.
Would 100% recommend. They brought the energy!
Kia
Kia Sent on 31/05/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible and worth every penny!

The pretty ugly were absolutely amazing. They played the best music ever with us being massive 80s fans. Everyone was up and dancing and still talking about them now. The lads were so nice and so friendly. We had a pre call with them before the day and ironed everything out deciding on songs etc. they were so professional. Could have listened to them all night. Thank you so much again. You really were worth every penny if not more!
Attached photos below from the photographer @rosestelfoxphotography
Emma
Emma Sent on 27/05/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible!!

We hired The Pretty Ugly for our evening reception and they did not disappoint!! All our evening guests have raved about them ever since and we are so happy we made the decision to hire them. They learnt a song for our first dance which was just perfect, played constant bangers and helped with our setlist. Cannot recommend the guys enough!
Josh
Josh Sent on 27/05/2026
5 out of 5 rating

The Best Wedding Band I’ve Seen, They Went Above and Beyond With the Best Surprise for Us

We can’t thank them enough, they made our day super special. The acoustic set as guests arrived was so lovely and really helped create the perfect atmosphere, and the pop-rock disco in the evening was one of the highlights of the day.

During our consultation, we mentioned that we weren’t sure which track to use for our first dance. As a surprise, after our first dance they had learned our second song for us, which was such a special moment. Lots of guests commented on how lovely it was.

The biggest compliment I can give is that we had a few guests attending who were musicians themselves, and several of them commented on how technically talented the band were, on top of bringing great vibes and professionalism. They were completely set up before any guests arrived and even helped with the audio for speeches too, which really felt like them going above and beyond.
Megan
Megan Sent on 25/04/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Trio Band

We can’t thank The Pretty Ugly band enough for making our wedding reception an absolute party. From the beginning communication was easy and we had the booking, songs and information organised quickly and smoothly. An especially key moment was the trio learning by favourite song to finish the night off.

We managed to create a vibe a calmer atmosphere after our meal & then a party to finish the night.

I can’t recommend them enough. THANK YOU ✨
D
Daniel Sent on 23/04/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Wedding Band

We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding band! They absolutely nailed the vibe and kept the energy up all night, our dance floor was full from start to finish. So many of our guests commented on how great they were.

In the lead-up to the wedding, they were super responsive and really easy to work with, which made everything feel stress-free.
Sameena
Sameena Sent on 23/04/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Talented and Fun! The best band.

What a band. What a night. The Pretty Ugly were absolutely fantastic!! I can't recommend them enough. They learned our first dance song and it was everything we wanted and more. They got the whole crowd dancing, everyone loved them. They were so patient with some over zealous bridesmaids and I cant thank you guys enough for making our wedding so fun! Wish we could dc it all again. Thank you thank you thank you!
Jamie
Jamie Sent on 14/04/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely Phenomenal

Pretty Ugly were absolutely sensational! Turned up to the venue promptly, set up so swiftly! James, Joe & Dan were so genuine and polite! Unbelievably talented! Guests and staffed raved about how good they were, Kept the dancefloor bouncing all night long. Highley recommend booking them!
James, Joe & Dan the men you are, just wow!!!!!!
M
Melanie Sent on 04/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Top entertainment!

Booked these lot for our wedding & have to say they truly made the night incredible, all the guests loved them & everyone kept telling us they had so much fun! Truly top lads, kept us up to date with everything and played all the songs we requested. Overall incredible experience and really made the day special, can’t recommend them enough!
S
Shelley Sent on 01/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The Pretty Ugly were even better than we hoped they would be!

The Pretty Ugly were even better than we had hoped they would be. We had been to watch them perform at a venue in Sheffield where they were easily the best band on the night so we knew that we liked their sound and energy.
They very kindly learned a few songs that we liked (Tom Walker and some songs by The Script) and encouraged us to send them a list of songs that we would like to hear on the night. They also came over to our venue to meet us and check out the logistics and their communication was always very prompt and professional. They really got the crowd up and dancing and so many people commented on what a professional sounding band they were. We also had a number of excellent musicians and music teachers amongst our guests so it wasn’t an easy crowd to impress! We will definitely follow their progress on social media and go to more of their gigs as they are definitely a band with a great sound and who have the potential to go far! Thank you again for making our wedding/party such a huge success!
L
Lily Sent on 01/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible!

The Pretty Ugly were incredible on our wedding day, everything was perfect from the minute we booked them until the moment they left, great guys and would highly recommend to anyone looking to book a band for their wedding, they played everything we asked for and more, kept everyone up and dancing all night.
J
Joe Sent on 30/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely Fantastic

Joe and the guys were absolutely fantastic to work with from the initial enquiry to the event. Always available, they went out of there way to tailor the set list and playlist to my partners taste (it was his surprise 40th party) and even learnt one of his favourite Foals songs. I would highly recommend them for any event. Thank you so much guys.
L
Lizzie Sent on 27/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing band

The band was absolutely brilliant! they brought so much energy, nailed every song, and had everyone dancing all night. They made our wedding feel magical. Couldn’t have asked for better.
Emma
Emma Sent on 26/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing! Cool!

Amazing band. Cool and collected. The lead singer had a cracking voice. All the guests raved about the 80s style this band gave. Which was just what we wanted. All songs played were chosen by us from their set lists. The order of songs was brilliant also. Would highly recommend! Well with the money!
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Meet the team

James Swift
James Swift
Frontman

I’m James — a husband, dad, and football addict who somehow ended up fronting The Pretty Ugly. When I’m not with my family, I’m usually with the band, trying to keep things on track (and usually laughing at my own jokes). I’ve got a soft spot for all things 80s music, and that sneaks its way into what I write and play. For me, music’s all about connection, honesty, and having a good time along the way.

Joe Cottam
Joe Cottam
Drummer

I’m Joe — easygoing by nature and happiest when I’m playing music with the band. Outside of The Pretty Ugly, I love spending time with my wife, Lily, as well as a round of golf or watching the football. At home, we’ve got two cats and a tortoise who keep life interesting. Being part of the band is all about enjoying the music and creating great memories, and that’s something I’m really proud to be part of.

Dan Cottam
Dan Cottam
Keys & Guitar

I’m Dan — the band’s resident musical all-rounder. I love picking up just about any instrument, but my real focus is on keys and guitar. I’m a bit more on the quiet and thoughtful side, but I still like to keep things light with a good laugh. Away from the band, I’m married and soon to be a dad, which is something I’m really excited about. For me, playing in The Pretty Ugly is all about creating music that people can truly enjoy and remember.

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Heckmondwike WF16 0NL Leeds (West Yorkshire)

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