This month we are joined by Craig from the awesome four-piece Funk City Band for our latest Supplier Spotlight.
The band came together through a mutual love of excellent party music and have since played almost 500 weddings and functions. Founded by Craig Mitchel and Simon Baum, every member of the band is a professional musician with over 14 years of live music experience. They are a 100% live talent with no backing tracks or tricks – just them, their instruments and a fun, lively and super upbeat vibe!
I am delighted to hand over to one of the most (if not THE most) brilliant bands for hire in London and the UK…. Although I may be a little biased, because I had them at my own wedding back in 2016! I’ve wanted to get them on here for months so I’ve been very much looking forward to this one! 😍
Please welcome the Funk City Band!
Please Introduce Yourself
We are the Funk City Band. Hello! We are a professional party and event band playing all over the UK. We love to bring our party to any event and are we are specialists at creating amazing memories. Let’s rock!
Your business…
1. What made you want to set up your business?
We’d been performing as a duo since 2002 and we really loved playing smaller venues. It seemed a natural growth to start a bigger band and play larger events. We’re a fun band to watch! We want guests to laugh and dance and sing along not just listen to a band. I think that’s what makes us different.
2. What’s the best part of your job?
At weddings we only see happy, loved up, glam looking amazing people who (normally) want to party. We love being a part of the special day and making it special for them. And we love getting some hilarious requests for the band!
3. What’s the worst part of your job?
I guess late nights and early mornings (most of us have young children), but it’s part of the job – it’s not that bad.
4. What’s the weirdest request you’ve ever had from a client?
The theme tune to ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ as a first dance. It was weird, but it worked really well and as most people knew the words, so everyone sang along!
5. What’s been your favourite ever wedding you’ve worked on/at?
We will have played our 500th wedding by the end of 2018, so its hard to choose the best one! We’ve played some festival themed weddings with lots of acts, a tipi and amazing food all day. However some quieter weddings have a more intimate feel which is also great. We have been flown to Spain for some weddings – one for 5 days which was amazing. Its very hard to choose just one!
6. You’re surrounded by beauty in your job. What do you find beautiful?
Cheesecake. Yup. And New Zealand Sauvignon blanc. Yum. And more seriously, of course the dress. Our Instagram got really popular as we always post a picture of the couple and the dress and it always does well. I guess a lot of brides are looking for dress ideas. (One photo had over 1200 likes.)
7. Best piece of advice to offer to those getting married?
It will go very quickly on the day. Take time to stop, look around you and be ‘present’ to what’s happening. Don’t get too drunk! Have time planned in where nothing happens and you can just ‘be’ with your friends and family.
8. Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
‘’Get up early. Work hard. Eventually you’ll find gold.”
9. Anyone you particularly admire in the industry?
Laura at Devine Bride – you guys are fab! (I wasn’t paid to say that!) And anyone that does hog roast and cheesecake. Did I mention we like cheesecake?
10. What was your career plan B?
I didn’t have a plan B much to my teachers and parents worry. Luckily, we made this work and we are still here 14 years later.
You…
11. Where do you call home?
I’m originally from South Devon although I spent 20 years in London and recently moved to Bristol. I guess I’d say London.
12. Favourite shop?
Can you call cocktail bars a shop? I am buying things…! If so, then BE AT ONE in Greek Street, Soho. Haha!
13. Favourite restaurant?
Five guys. Simple and yum. With EVERYTHING in the burger.
14. Who would you have play you in a movie about your life?
Scarlett Johansson. No real reason other than in prep for the movie we’d have to meet, and I’d show her my guitar collection and my dance moves.
15. Cocktail of choice?
A Godfather – 2 parts whiskey and one-part amaretto. Just yum. And you feel like one of the Sopranos.
16. Do you collect anything?
I do kind of collect wedding dress photos. It’s all for social media but it’s the thing I have the most of. 493 to date.
17. If you could buy any building, which would it be?
A large mansion in the country where our 2 little girls can play in the garden. Twin swings. Sandpit. Ya’ know… all the cool stuff.
18. What’s the most romantic thing someone’s ever done for you?
My wife planned a surprise 30th party in France. There were loads of people there. It was truly amazing and I had no idea how she kept it a surprise. It went on for 3 days.
19. Where do you go to let your hair down?
Cinema or home studio writing songs. When you spend your life at other people’s loud and fabulous social events it’s nice to just reflect and be quiet sometimes. I listen to a lot of podcasts, and surprisingly not a lot of actual music.
And finally…
20. Tell us something surprising about yourself!
I once held the Guinness World Record for ‘Longest concert by a band’. 5 people played non-stop music for 44hours and 23mins. Someone then beat it by 6 hours just 5 months later!
21. Invisibility or flight?
Totally flight! No question. We’d all get into too much trouble being invisible.
22. Any regrets in life?
Wasting time sometimes. Social media… when we are all looking down you can miss what’s up.
23. Tell us your favourite Instagram accounts at the moment!
Ours – @funkcityband, and Ed Sheeran’s bodyguard has his own account that’s quite funny too, @securitykev, and @lensbible for all the amazing photos.
24. If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
We could all be a little bit better at connecting through conversation. Email and text is the usual now but it’s so impersonal. Lets just have a chat!
Thank you so much to Funk City Band for taking part! I absolutely love their energy! Finding super talented musicians and entertainers for your wedding isn’t always easy, but I can personally say that this band is the absolute real deal when it comes to a top-notch live act!
Photography Credits: Funk City Band
