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About
On Hitched.co.uk since 2022
Last update: July 2026
Wedding Bands for Hire is a musician-led wedding entertainment service, personally run by professional DJ, drummer and band leader James Malcolm. Three-time back-to-back Hitched award winner and North of England Wedding awards winner.
James works directly with every couple from first enquiry through to the final song, providing a seamless combination of live band and DJ entertainment that feels relaxed, well-organised and completely tailored to the wedding. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, each celebration is planned around the couple, their guests and the atmosphere they want to create.
The live band offering is centred around The Crescendos — an high-energy function band known for packed dancefloors and a natural, feel-good performance style. This can be paired with a professional DJ service, allowing couples to enjoy live music and a full evening party without the stress of booking multiple suppliers.
What couples value most is the personal approach. James is present, involved and accountable, ensuring timings run smoothly, transitions feel natural and the evening builds perfectly from the first dance through to the final track. With years of experience performing at weddings across Yorkshire and the North, Wedding Bands for Hire is trusted for creating evenings that feel effortless, enjoyable and genuinely memorable.
Frequently asked questions
What services do you offer?
Dance music
Entertainment
Karaoke
DJ
Other (Musician-led band & DJ service, personally run by James Malcolm. One supplier providing live band performance and a professionally managed DJ set for a seamless evening celebration)
What is included in the wedding package?
Personal planning with James Malcolm, a high-energy live band, professionally managed DJ music, full sound & lighting, setup and pack-down — all handled by one experienced supplier
How far in advance should I contact you?
Most couples get in touch 9–18 months before their wedding, especially for peak dates. That said, availability can sometimes change, so it’s always worth checking even if your date is sooner
What style of music do you offer?
Disco
Rock
Latest hits
Pop
Other (Pop-rock, indie and feel-good party anthems — from modern hits to soul, Motown and disco — tailored to the couple and mixed seamlessly between live band and DJ sets)
Type of musical group:
DJ
Band
Choir
Size of group:
Medium (4 - 6 musicians)
Large (7 or more musicians)
Repertoire:
A broad, party-focused repertoire covering pop, rock and indie anthems alongside soul, Motown and disco classics. Music is chosen to suit the couple and their guests, with the flexibility to adapt
Is it possible to request something that's not in the repertoire?
Couples can request songs in advance for DJ music and key moments. Live band sets are carefully curated for the best atmosphere, with all details planned together during the lead-up to the wedding
What's your experience?
Over 12 years’ experience performing at weddings across Yorkshire and the North. James Malcolm is a professional drummer, band leader and DJ, trusted to deliver well-run, memorable wedding evenings
Do you have your own equipment?
Yes
Do you need specific materials or conditions to offer your service?
Yes, just a suitable, dry performance space and access to standard power
Can you travel?
Yes, wedding Bands for Hire regularly travels across Yorkshire and the North of England, with travel discussed clearly in advance so everything is agreed upfront
Is there a charge for travelling?
Yes, travel within the local area is usually included. For weddings further afield, any travel costs are discussed clearly in advance so there are no surprises
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?
Performance lengths vary depending on the package, with live band sets and DJ music planned to cover the full evening celebration. Timings are agreed in advance and managed on the night
How much time do you need to prepare for an act?
Very little is required on the day. All planning is done in advance, with setup completed efficiently before guests arrive so everything runs smoothly
Do you do open-air acts?
Yes
Do you charge per hour or per event?
Per event
If needed, would you be able to work extra hours?
Yes
How do you charge extra time?
Any additional time is agreed in advance where possible and charged at a clear, fixed rate. This is discussed upfront so couples can plan the evening without any pressure or surprises
What are the forms of payment?
Bank transfer is the usual form of payment, with a booking deposit and the balance due closer to the wedding date. All details are confirmed clearly in advance
Served in
Greater Manchester, Lancashire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire
Do you have any questions?
Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!Reviews for Wedding Bands for Hire
Janet Sent on 02/09/2026
5 out of 5 rating
Absolutely amazing
Wedding bands for hire. VELORA - sax and vocal.
Wedding bands for hire gave us a fantastic evening with our choice of singer, sax and electric drums at a fantastic price to meet our budget.
We booked via hitched as we had read the great reviews on the site.
Our band was Velora and oh my word this band is absolutely incredible, Jess has the most amazing voice, her vocals are out of this world. While Ben was phenomenal on saxophone and James played electric drums and was also our DJ in between sets and communicated with us the whole time with music choices and all evening planning timelines etc. He was also incredible and played a big part in organising the evening.
They played all our music choices with band and DJ and were completely professional, friendly, helpful, thoughtful and I can’t put into words how incredible they were. They were calm and experienced and made us feel completely confident in their expertise the whole time.
You must book them for your wedding or special occasion if you want a fantastic event that all your guests will be taking about for years to come.
They truly helped to take our special day to another level that we will always look back on and cherish for a lifetime.
Thank you so very much to Jess, James and Ben. You are all amazing ❤️
Wedding bands for hire gave us a fantastic evening with our choice of singer, sax and electric drums at a fantastic price to meet our budget.
We booked via hitched as we had read the great reviews on the site.
Our band was Velora and oh my word this band is absolutely incredible, Jess has the most amazing voice, her vocals are out of this world. While Ben was phenomenal on saxophone and James played electric drums and was also our DJ in between sets and communicated with us the whole time with music choices and all evening planning timelines etc. He was also incredible and played a big part in organising the evening.
They played all our music choices with band and DJ and were completely professional, friendly, helpful, thoughtful and I can’t put into words how incredible they were. They were calm and experienced and made us feel completely confident in their expertise the whole time.
You must book them for your wedding or special occasion if you want a fantastic event that all your guests will be taking about for years to come.
They truly helped to take our special day to another level that we will always look back on and cherish for a lifetime.
Thank you so very much to Jess, James and Ben. You are all amazing ❤️
Emily Sent on 26/08/2026
5 out of 5 rating
Best wedding band ever!!
We hired big day revolution for our wedding day and they were absolutely incredible! One of the band members also played guitar during our ceremony and for our drinks reception. The guitarist created the most perfect vibe during our ceremony and then provided a fantastic soundtrack to our outdoor drinks reception. Throughout the planning they always responded within 24 hours, learnt the songs we requested and made sure we had the best day. They provided us with videos leading up to the day - although good - this did not do them justice as they were absolutely incredible live! The whole package was very affordable and they tailored the package to exactly what we wanted. I couldn’t recommend this band more, they were fantastic, thank you so much!
Ben Sent on 16/08/2026
5 out of 5 rating
Stoop Farm 2026
What an amazing band! Having seen them twice before at previous weddings, we knew exactly who we wanted when we were planning on our own!
We had so much fun on the dancefloor all night, which was full from the first dance to the last - the band couldn't do enough for us before the day, during and afterwards. They were flexible, easy going, and most importantly, brilliant musicians!!
We had so many compliments about how brilliant they were - here's hoping one of our guests uses them in the future too!
We had so much fun on the dancefloor all night, which was full from the first dance to the last - the band couldn't do enough for us before the day, during and afterwards. They were flexible, easy going, and most importantly, brilliant musicians!!
We had so many compliments about how brilliant they were - here's hoping one of our guests uses them in the future too!
Katie Sent on 01/08/2026
5 out of 5 rating
Amazing band and super friendly, made our night!!
From the minute I spoke to James I knew we were in good hands. He understood exactly what we were looking for and was really transparent and helpful immediately. The band were excellent. Everyone at the wedding has since commented on how good they were, how amazing the songs sounded, and how good the energy was that they brought. If you are considering a band gor your wedding, I definitley recommend you go for it, and especially with these guys. Very professional, so talented and overall a pleasure to watch!
Ashleigh Sent on 29/07/2026
5 out of 5 rating
Incredible wedding DJ and Sax player
We booked for a wedding DJ and Sax player to perform at our wedding and they were incredible!
The DJ (John) not only played the songs requested but had clearly taken time beforehand to create a playlist which included remixes of our favourite songs - he wasn't just hitting play but did a "proper" DJ set. He even sourced additional songs that were requested and made announcements for the first dance, last song, encouraging guests to get up and dance etc.
The dance floor was full all through the wedding and everyone got up for a song and dance at some point.
At the end of the DJ set, our guests were even asking him to stay and continue performing as they were having such a brillaint time!
The Sax player (Lola) was an amazing addition. She and the DJ worked together to perform songs and add an extra fun element to the evening.
All our guests commented on how great they were both individually and together.
Communication was brilliant throughout and on the day, everyone got set up and packed away without any problems or hassle.
I would highly recommend booking a DJ and Sax set for your wedding, they were brilliant.
The DJ (John) not only played the songs requested but had clearly taken time beforehand to create a playlist which included remixes of our favourite songs - he wasn't just hitting play but did a "proper" DJ set. He even sourced additional songs that were requested and made announcements for the first dance, last song, encouraging guests to get up and dance etc.
The dance floor was full all through the wedding and everyone got up for a song and dance at some point.
At the end of the DJ set, our guests were even asking him to stay and continue performing as they were having such a brillaint time!
The Sax player (Lola) was an amazing addition. She and the DJ worked together to perform songs and add an extra fun element to the evening.
All our guests commented on how great they were both individually and together.
Communication was brilliant throughout and on the day, everyone got set up and packed away without any problems or hassle.
I would highly recommend booking a DJ and Sax set for your wedding, they were brilliant.
Oliver Sent on 27/07/2026
5 out of 5 rating
Mr & Mrs Wilson - Solberge Wedding
The team were brilliant throughout. They arrived and performed as described with no issues.
All guest’s and ourselves loved the team being part of our celebration.
We would highly recommend them to anyone debating the choice of a band.
They even allowed the new Mrs Wilson to join them for a song on stage, which our guests loved.
All guest’s and ourselves loved the team being part of our celebration.
We would highly recommend them to anyone debating the choice of a band.
They even allowed the new Mrs Wilson to join them for a song on stage, which our guests loved.
Nicole Sent on 23/07/2026
5 out of 5 rating
Best band on the circuit!
James and the band stepped in and saved our big day!
Having been let down very last minute (6 weeks away from big day) James and the band not only stepped in, they were also really competitively priced for the service they offer, they mixed a first dance song for us, took care of playlists etc and were so flexible on the day itself, they got everyone up and the dancefloor was never empty! Can’t thank the guys enough they really made the day special.
Having been let down very last minute (6 weeks away from big day) James and the band not only stepped in, they were also really competitively priced for the service they offer, they mixed a first dance song for us, took care of playlists etc and were so flexible on the day itself, they got everyone up and the dancefloor was never empty! Can’t thank the guys enough they really made the day special.
Caroline Sent on 23/06/2026
5 out of 5 rating
The best band you could wish for!
From start to finish, communication, information and ideas flowed between us and we were able to create the bandioke and full music experience for our special event that we wanted. They guys are really friendly, immensely talented, zero egos and all our guests said how great they were. The songs played by the band were real crowd pleasers, totally appropriate to the guest profile and the venue. We could simply relax and enjoy. I couldn’t reccomend highly enough!
Dan Sent on 02/06/2026
5 out of 5 rating
The Best Wedding Band We Could Have Asked For!
We would 100% recommend The Crescendos to anyone planning a wedding or event. They were absolutely incredible from start to finish and created such an amazing atmosphere on the night. All of our guests have been talking about the band ever since the wedding — the dance floor was full all night! Professional, talented, and a huge part of making our day so memorable.
Nathan Sent on 17/05/2026
5 out of 5 rating
The best DJ 🎉
We had the privilege of using Wedding Bands For Hire at our wedding, specifically James the DJ. When booking a DJ the choice is endless yet hard to know exactly what you are getting. With James he was so helpful, sent photos of his set up and explained how he operates. We had a pre wedding call to finalise everything and James handled the rest which really took the pressure off. It was the best night of our lives, so much happiness and good vibes which in large part was down to James and the music he chose. The quality of his equipment is tip top! We recommend him to anyone who needs a DJ no matter the occasion. Thank you so much for making our big day so special!
Beth Sent on 22/02/2026
5 out of 5 rating
WOW! 11/10 service!!
Where to start. James was recommended to us by our photographer and we can see why, he is a super warm and friendly guy and brilliant at his job. From the get go, James was open to anything we wanted and he played every song on our list with great additions. The dancefloor wasn't empty once!! Our unique request for a metal/punk hour went down a storm with our guests, but James was sure to check in with us on the night that this was still definitely what we wanted to do! He was also flexible with a last minute song change in the last 20 minutes of the evening. Finally, James blew us away with some beautiful, very professional photos and videos of us dancing together and with our loved ones, a huge bonus and not expected at all! Thank you so much, we will cherish these memories forever!
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James Malcolm
Booking manager, DJ, drummer
I’m incredibly passionate about delivering unforgettable wedding entertainment and specialise exclusively in weddings. With over 12 years’ experience and hundreds of weddings personally performed, I know how to read a room, build the perfect atmosphere and guide the evening with calm confidence.
As a professional DJ and live drummer, I bring a musician-led approach to every celebration. This allows me to shape the energy of the night naturally — from the first dance through to a packed dancefloor — blending live performance and DJ music into one seamless experience.
What truly sets my service apart is the care and planning that happens long before the wedding day. I work closely with every couple to understand their vision, plan key moments and make sure everything runs smoothly on the night. If you read through my reviews, you’ll see the same themes come up again and again: personal service, attention to detail and a genuine commitment to getting it right.
For larger setups or specific requirements, I work with a small group of trusted musicians and DJs who share the same standards of professionalism and reliability. Whether performing myself or overseeing the evening, couples always deal directly with me and can be confident their wedding is in safe hands.
If you’re looking for wedding entertainment that feels personal, well organised and genuinely invested in your day, I’d love to be part of your celebration.
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