About Up The Ante – professional wedding band based in Buckinghamshire, available throughout the UK and internationally
Up The Ante comprises three of the UK’s most talented, versatile and professional session musicians who combine a wealth of musical knowledge and experience to create a highly energetic, fun and dynamic stage performance. The UK's most popular 3 piece wedding band!
We're regularly booked to perform for weddings and events at Castello Di Meleto in Italy, The Beach Star in Ibiza, Cripps Barn in Cirencester and The Granary Estates in Newmarket.
Collectively, the band have clocked up a vast amount of live, recording and TV experience and have worked alongside some of the world’s renowned pop artists such as Jason Derulo, Just Jack, Beyonce, Groove Armada, James McCartney, Josh Groban, Rod Stewart, Julio Iglesias, Rumer, Cee Lo Green, Craig David and Jason Mraz (to name but a few).
Armed with an eclectic blend of music from the 60’s all the way through to modern chart hits, their versatility enables Up The Ante to cater for any occasion.
And, to cover an even greater depth of material, additional musicians such as a female singer, horn section (sax, trumpet etc.) or backing vocalists can also be added to the line-up to give your party that extra wow factor.
For UK events, Up The Ante will generally provide:
Specific song requests are always welcomed, and the constantly updated song list will always be tailored to your event depending on the age range of your guests and of course your personal requirements.
Our set list includes songs by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, through to The Black Eyed Peas, Kings of Leon, The Killers, Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers.
Up The Ante are suitable for all types of events and venues. They specialise in performing at weddings, corporate events, product launches, university balls, and private functions and will travel anywhere in the UK and abroad (especially to mainland Europe including France, Italy and Spain) to add that electric party atmosphere to your event.
Up The Ante were recently featured on a destination wedding photographer's blog following their performance at Castello di Meleto in Tuscany, Italy. You can read the blog post here.
They have also been featured on Madeleine Norman's wedding photography blog following their performance at Nigel and Jess's wedding at Villa Podernovo in Italy and on Saša Adamović's blog from Michelle & Marc's wedding at Chateau du Doux in France.
Here are just some of the locations where we have been booked by clients on FixTheMusic for weddings and events...
So if you're looking to hire the finest wedding band Buckinghamshire has to offer, get in touch with Up The Ante.
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"Wow, you guys were AMAZING! Everyone at the ball thought you were brill and said it was like being at a real gig. Sex on Fire (thanks for playing it twice) and the dance-off were a real highlight. A few of my friends are getting married next year so I’ll give them your number. Thanks so much for a brilliant night!"
"Up The Ante were absolutely amazing! Honestly we knew they would be amazing from previous reviews and their videos but we didn’t expect them to be that good! They’re an unbelievably talented group and made the wedding so much fun. Their repertoire was amazing and catered for everyone which showed with the different sets of people on the dancefloor (including a 5 month old baby and a 92 year old grandmother!). We’ve had so many compliments about them on the day and since. I don’t think our wedding day would’ve been the same without them. James was also brilliant to deal with in the build up, answering all of our questions and generally just helping us to relax knowing we were in good hands. I could not recommend booking them for your own event enough. Thank you so much!"
"Up the Ante were better than we could ever have expected for our wedding at Winters Barns, Canterbury. They knew exactly how to read our crowd and that is testament to them as we had such a diverse range of people (old, young, foreign). We can strongly recommend them to anyone, they even managed to get my dad and brother dancing, which has never happened before. It was a great set and they nailed it, with many of our guests saying it was the best wedding they have been to and I think a large part of that is due to Up the Ante! Thanks guys! Andrew & Ging."
"I’m not sure where to start with explaining how INCREDIBLE Up The Ante were. We booked them for our wedding in Greenwich and the whole process from planning to the very last song was exceptional. James was an amazing help with the planning and organising of the day, discussing the types of songs we would like to fit the vibe of our wedding. We had no doubts that it would be great after talking through everything. Simon (singer/guitar), Andy (bass/vocals) and Guillaume (drums) are extremely talented with great vocals and engagement with the dancefloor feeling like you were at a gig at times. Whilst most of their set was Indie music as we had requested when they were taking breaks between sets they played a good selection of songs that suited a range of tastes in music. Us and our guests had the best time (especially my dad who thought he was the fourth member of the band with his air guitar) and everyone keeps saying to us how much fun they had. The dance floor was never empty when the band were playing which is exactly what we wanted. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect evening. We hope they had a great time too and enjoyed playing for us. Thank you so much to Andy, Simon, Andy & Guillaume."
"Hi James, Hope all is well with you and your family. Following our wedding on Friday, we wanted to get in touch with you to thank you and the band for everything you did to make our wedding so memorable. Working with you over the past year or so has been incredibly stress-free and simple, and the band’s performance on Friday was amazing - so many people came up to us saying how good the band was. Wishing you all the very best for the future, Richard and Rebecca."
"I just want to say the biggest thank you from us for really getting the party started last night and continuing to keep everyone up all night. We searched and searched for a band for our wedding and probably found this the trickiest part of all of the wedding planning as it was so important to us. We are so glad we found you you honestly were better than we dreamt you would be so thank you so so much! Rachel & Kevin."
"Destination weddings can be tricky when it comes to choosing the 'right' band/music. We had our hearts set on the venue, food and guest list but what about the music? Well... given the destination we chose, it was impossible to find a local band that suited us. After spending many hours researching our options we came across FixTheMusic, based in the UK. Up The Ante were one of many suggestions and we decided they would be the perfect choice. They were amazing and had the crowd on their feet for hours. Let's face it, the music and the food are two things that people remember most about weddings....Our guests talk about the music to this day. I highly recommend Up The Ante for your wedding, be it close to home or far away. If we did all over again we wouldn't change a thing."
"Hello, Up The Ante were absolutely brilliant. Everyone from the grandchildren to the grandparents were on the dance floor and loving the music. James and the band were very friendly and accommodating and the music was brilliant throughout. We loved it! Thanks, James."
"Up The Ante were amazing! From the beginning FixTheMusic was very helpful with recommending bands to suit our occasion.The band then flew out to Ibiza for the gig and they had the crowd dancing all night! They were lovely and we couldnt recommend a better band for our party! Thanks for everything 🙂"
"A big thanks for playing at our wedding. You guys were absolutely awesome and everyone loved you. I still can’t believe that I was on my knees playing air guitar in my wedding dress – sorry about that. Even my mum and dad were up dancing, which is a first in all the years I’ve known them. I still can’t believe that you managed to get all the band and gear up to Edinburgh but we’re really glad that you did."
"Up the Ante exceeded our expectations. They were very accommodating with our preferences and our choice of first dance song."
"Well what can we say…… Up the Ante put on an incredible performance at our wedding at Notley Tythe Barn on July 30th. We have very high standards when it comes to live music and these guys totally nailed it. From the starting point of the booking process Up the Ante were a dream to work with. They really listened to the music we liked to hear and did an amazing rendition of Into the Mystic by Van Morrison for our first dance. They also let our 17 year old nephew Quinn from California play drums for a song which was a massive hit with the crowd. The floor never emptied all night whilst the guys played and all our guests and indeed the venue manager thought them to be one of the best bands they had heard at a wedding!"
"Dear James, I hope you are well. James and I have just arrived back from our honeymoon and wanted to send a quick email to say thank you for everything you did to help us have the best wedding day. We couldn't have asked for any more from you and the band - we enjoyed every second of your sets and have had so many compliments about the music. Your advice on timings was invaluable (as was your patience on the night!). If it would be helpful to write a testimonial for you please do let us know as we'd be more than happy to recommend you to other couples. Many thanks again, Lydia and James."
"Up The Ante kept the party going all night at our wedding! The dance floor was always full and they sounded great, we've had so many comments on how good they were! A great choice and their communication was great throughout, to include a pre-wedding call with James!"
"I just wanted to thank you guys for playing at my husband’s surprise 40th. He had such an amazing night and was absolutely made up that you played all his favourite songs – he’s been talking about it none stop. I’ll be giving you a shout when it’s my turn in a few years!"
"Up The Ante were fantastic playing at our delayed wedding celebrations. They had been very flexible having previously been booked to play on two previous occasions when we had to cancel our wedding due to Covid-19 restrictions in 2020, and when we at last got to see them in person they did not disappoint. They played two lively sets, which got everyone on the dance floor joining in, and made us look good as we basked in the compliments from guests as to what a good band we had booked, and asking how had we found them!"
"Hi James, we’re just back from our honeymoon and thought we’d send you a quick email to say how much we enjoyed the band. You played a massive part in making our special day. Thanks so much for being so helpful in the lead-up and for being so flexible on the day!"
"The band was amazing! All our guests loved them and spent the night dancing. We loved how they added their own spin to the songs and their version of our first dance song. We would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a band. Thanks, Alice."
"Only good things to say about Up The Ante. Their performance on the day & night was incredible with so many positive responses from the guests, I personally thought their acoustic set was brilliant. Beyond the performance though, the back and forth between myself and James in the lead up to the wedding was essential and James was always available via email and Skype which when you’re organising a French wedding, from Sydney with an English band is absolutely crucial. So, the interaction and organisation was a big factor in making the day so special and nothing was a problem, whether it be music choice, timings, James constantly put us at ease with it all. All in all, a group of really good lads, great artists which culminated in an amazing event. Thanks for everything, Marc & Michelle."
"From start to finish Up The Ante were extremely professional, flexible and generally really nice guys! James was great at communicating with us and the band went above and beyond to make our wedding perfect, even learning songs to play during the ceremony - which were incredible! The band are amazingly sync'd and Simon's versatile voice is unbelievable! The chants of 'one more song' after they had already played one more song, is probably a good enough review in itself! I would definitely recommend these guys for any event/wedding and I would not hesitate to use them again. Nigel and Jess (Tuscany Wedding)"
"Up the Ante were an absolute delight from start to finish! James was very responsive and patient working out all the logistics the months before the wedding. The crowd loved them, sang along and called for encores. They played all of our favourite songs without us even really discussing the song list. I was literally jumping up and down for 2 straight hours!!! Not only were they amazing on stage they were are super nice people and they even invited my husband on stage with them for a song. I knew from the moment I found Up the Ante they would be perfect, but they managed to exceed our expectations! Thank you so much Up the Ante, you are the best!!!!"
"We booked Up The Ante for our wedding in Spain and it was the best decision we could have made for our party and guests. James - the band's administrator, was a pleasure to work with from the start. He met with us in London to discuss our tastes and the atmosphere we were seeking and seemed to accommodate our every request. Flying them out from London to Spain could have been complicated but the band's easygoing nature and professionalism made this simple and hassle-free. And then the party. This band rocks! We wanted a rock/pop party and we got it in spades! Nobody left the dancefloor while the band was on and when they agreed to continue playing for another hour the whole place went nuts! It was the best dance party and rock show any wedding could ask for and if you're looking for great guys who can read a crowd and give them EXACTLY what they want, stop your search and book Up The Ante. You will not regret it."
"The band were amazing, everyone loved them - and they did their utmost to please our musical tastes which was really important to us. They were polished but the sound was raw which is exactly what we wanted. A last-minute find for us so felt lucky to get such good quality and worth every penny. Would definitely hire them again if we have another party and would recommend to others."
"Hi James, thank you so much for playing at my 60th birthday party. The band really made the night and everyone commented on how fabulous they (and the two very talented singers) were! We’ll definitely be booking you again for parties in the future."
"Hello James, I have to say how BRILLIANT the band were on Saturday. People have been raving about them ever since. I particularly loved your rendition of Superstition!! Thanks once again!"
Shut Up and Dance - Walk The Moon
Valerie - Amy Winehouse
Ho Hey - Lumineers
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
Place Your Hands - Reef
Livin’ on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
Mr Brightside - The Killers
Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons
I Will Wait - Mumford and Sons
I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry / Marty McFly
Riptide - Vance Joy
Summer of ‘69 - Bryan Adams
Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus
Don’t Look Back In Anger - Oasis
Somebody Told Me - The Killers
Dakota - Stereophonics
Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen
Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis
Parklife - Blur
Times Like These - Foo Fighters
Blinding Lights - The Weekend
Last Nite - The Strokes
Take On Me - A-ha
I’ll Be There for You (Friends Theme) - The Rembrandts
Give a Little Respect - Erasure / Wheatus
Twist and Shout - The Beatles
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Together in Electric Dreams - Phil Oakey & Giogio Moroder
Yellow - Coldplay
R-E-S-P-E-C-T - Aretha Franklin
Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Saw Her Standing There - The Beatles
I'm a Believer - The Monkees / Smash Mouth
Get Lucky - Daft Punk
Can’t Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake
Happy - Pharrell
Alright Now - Free
Wonderwall - Oasis
Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
Stuck in the Middle with You - Stealers’ Wheel
She’s Electric - Oasis
Jump - Van Halen
Lonely Boy - The Black Keys
Song 2 - Blur
All the Small Things - Blink 182
Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
Sweet Child O’ Mine - Guns ‘n’ Roses
Rock and Roll - Led Zeppelin
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
Champagne Supernova - Oasis
You Really Got Me - The Kinks
Live Forever - Oasis
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Thinking Out Loud - Ed Sheeran
Stand By Me - Ben E King
I Feel Good (I Got You) - James Brown
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Hey Jude - The Beatles
Molly’s Chamber - Kings of Leon
I Predict a Riot - Kaiser Chiefs
Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones
Learn to Fly - Foo Fighters
Everlong - Foo Fighters
Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine
Paradise - George Ezra
Budapest - George Ezra
Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
Proud Mary - Tina Turner
Mardy Bum - Arctic Monkeys
With or Without You - U2
You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon
Hey Ya - Outkast
Free Fallin’ - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
All These Things I Have Done - The Killers
Should I Stay or Should I Go - The Clash