August 2024

Before Chappell Roan was a femininomenon who had us feeling hot to go, pulling in record breaking crowds at Lollapalooza, she spent almost 10 years on the music circuit, playing tiny venues as anything but a household name. But in the last year, almost overnight, Chappell has become exactly that, with her tunes blasting in bars, clubs, Ubers, and even during the roll call at the Democratic National Convention last week (her home state of Missouri chose ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ as their signature song). 

And while Chappell Roan’s meteoric rise is well-deserved and yes, we will absolutely play Pink Pony Club at your reception if you put it on your list of requested songs, what we actually want to talk about today are some other young up-and-coming artists with phenomenal music you may not have heard yet that will absolutely get people on their feet and onto the dance floor, or that may be perfect for some of your special moments! They might not be sensations yet, but with music like this, it’s only a matter of time. 

The real bonus of picking songs by artists who are currently lesser-known for your special moments is that you’re unlikely to find the same song being played the next weekend at your friend’s wedding  – you’ll have music that’s just as special and unique as you are! And Around Town’s award-winning and highly-praised bands can learn any song, no matter how new or underground, so don’t worry if you don’t see it on our song list! If you put a song on your Final Information Document in one of the specified boxes, we’ll learn it – even original songs by you, a friend, or a family member! (Yes, we’re seriously that cool.) 

Now, without further ado, let’s get into some underrated artists you might not know (but should)! 

Sammy Rae & The Friends – a queer band from Brooklyn, NY, this band cranks out nothing but bops that are meant to make you feel good, feel seen, and feel like you’ve always got a friend in them. The band has a permanent horn section and the jazzy retropop feel never fails to bring the heat. The music alone is enough to make you fall in love with the band, but it’s the lyrics that really nail home the empathetic nature of this band and their music, wise beyond their years. The group recently released their first-ever love song called “I Get It Now,” but if you’re looking for an upbeat bop “Let’s Throw a Party” never disappoints! 

Olivia Dean – a London-based singer songwriter with a sultry, gritty-yet-smooth voice perfect for the neo soul music she’s lately been taking off with. Amazon Music declared her the Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2021 and she’s slowly been gaining more and more attention, especially on the summer music festival circuit, making quite the splash at Glastonbury and another at Lollapalooza. Her tunes aren’t all over the radio waves yet though, (which is why she still makes this list) and songs like ‘Dive’ could be absolutely perfect for a first dance, or ‘Carmen’ for a parent dance, or a non-traditional parent dance. 

Stephen Day – A Nashville-based boy from Georgia, Stephen beautifully hybrids folk, pop, and singer-songwriter and is popularly monikered as a “crooner.” With lyrics that will surprise you and a down-home feel, his songs are crowd-pleasers, with “If You Were the Rain” perfect for a more upbeat moment, or “It Was You” for a more dramatic one. 

Boys Go To Jupiter – These funky Brooklynites are so new they don’t even have an EP out yet. But the singles they have dropped? Let’s just say “Wall St” goes so hard that when we first heard it we had to play it another 5 times immediately – the clever lyrics and song title initially hide the absolute brilliance of this rocking love song that surprises you repeatedly; every time you think you know where it’s headed musically, it switches it up, keeping you hooked and dancing hard from start to finish. 

Madison Cunningham – A recent opener for Lake Street Dive, this L.A.-based folk singer-songwriter already has a GRAMMY, making her lack of widespread fame even more surprising. Heavily guitar-based, her music focuses on exposing her tender and unique vocals and gorgeously poetic lyrics. Her song ‘Something To Believe In’ is a phenomenal choice for a slower parent dance. 

Couch – Boston-based and quickly gaining critical acclaim, this pop/funk/rock/R&B/soul style band has been described as “breathing new life into the pop scene” by Sheesh Media. And their songs are nothing but crowd-pleasers and good vibes: ‘Black Bear Lane’ especially stands out as a perfect  song to end the night on if you have a grand exit planned to a getaway car! 

Eloise – born in rural France, and now UK-based after a teenagehood spent in London, Eloise got her start posting acoustic covers on Instagram in 2017 and quickly gained support from artists like Billie Eilish and Sam Smith. She’s gained even more praise lately for her way with words, emotion, and unique incorporation of classic styles like jazz, R&B, standards, and current pop. Her music feels naturally intimate in a way that many artists attempt for years and often never achieve. A lot of her songs express complex emotions that may not be the right tone for your big day, but ‘You, Dear’ is a major exception and makes for a perfect first dance.

Let’s face it, weddings are huge. YOUR wedding is huge. It is one of the biggest days of your lives, everyone important to you will be there, there are so many moving pieces and parts, and you want to have total confidence that it will all go perfectly – down to the last detail. We here at Around Town know how you feel, and if there’s one thing we can always promise it’s that we will play our part to perfection. Our years of experience playing for the best weddings around have created a finely-tuned, well-oiled machine of artists who are experts at their craft. Which is why, today, we want to talk about what you can do to help us make sure your wedding is exactly how you’ve envisioned it, as well as what details you don’t need to waste time on – one of the fun parts about being experts in our field is that we don’t have to waste your time on minutiae. You can sit back, relax, and trust us to do what we do best – keep your guests on the dance floor all night long! 

We’re gonna start this off with a quick and dirty list of things we do need, or are extremely helpful (people pleasers and oldest daughters, we know you’ll love us for this). Of course, most of this is on our Final Information Document that we send to each of you, but we also know that can sometimes feel like a lot to look at! So, let’s break it down and make it a little simpler. Without further a-DO… 

DO write down a song’s title and artist! You’d be surprised how many versions of the same song can exist, each one a little different. If you choose “Here Comes the Sun” but don’t remember to write the artist, we’re going to assume you mean the original Beatles bop – when in fact you could have meant the incredible cover by Jacob Collier, or Nina Simone’s soulful take on the tune! Better yet, if you have a link to the version you’re thinking of, by all means drop that in! 

DO give us specific notes about timing or tempo if one of your dances is choreographed – again, we’ll match the original recording unless we’re told otherwise. If you want the second verse removed, or the tempo changed, let us know! You can even put in a link to the version you’ve been rehearsing to so we can match it exactly on the big day. 

DO have some fun with highlighting the song list! This is our best way to get a sense of your musical taste and the vibe you’re searching for on the dance floor and throughout the night. There’s a “Don’t” that will pair with this one, but we’ll get to that in a minute! 

DO reach out to your venue’s events coordinator nice and early to ask them if they’re able to accommodate our electrical requirements! The Final Information Document even has a section you can just copy and paste into an email, so all you have to do is hit “send”. We don’t need much, but what we do need is essential to make sure your music sounds perfect! 

DO remember to also ask your venue if they’re able to provide a microphone and speaker for your ceremony officiant! This is a big one!! Because plenty of venues do automatically include this for you, it is NOT a standard part of your basic Around Town Entertainment contract. We’re happy to provide one, but it does come with an additional fee since it requires our sound technician to arrive significantly earlier in order to set it up and make sure your ceremony has the same high quality sound as the rest of your evening! This is why it’s extra important to check early on and find out if your venue already has you covered or if you need us to handle it. 

Now, on to the “Don’t”s! 

DON’T cross out songs on the song list. We want to know which songs you LOVE! The song list serves as a great reference for the band to pick and focus on songs you DO love (rather than which ones you don’t). They’ll be reading the reactions of your guests and playing many or your favorites, as well as many others, so that everyone is dancing all night long! Know a song that you’d absolutely die if you heard it on your big day? You can note those very specifically in the box marked “Do Not Play” on your Final Information Document and we’ll steer clear of those like the plague!

DON’T choose more than one song for a special moment! We know that medleys are fun, but there’s a lot of extra work that goes into figuring out how to bridge together two different songs, that are often in different keys, in a way that feels seamless and natural. Sometimes, while seeming like an exciting idea, it could be a flop and make the special moment longer than usual.

DON’T stress! Your big day will be absolutely amazing! It’s going to be absolutely perfect and we’re so grateful you’ve trusted us to make it extra special! Your feet are going to hurt from dancing all night and your family and friends are going to have an absolute blast celebrating you and your partner putting a ring on it!

If there’s one thing that Around Town can guarantee above all else, it’s that our award-winning bands will have your guests on the dance floor all night long. And we know that what immediately comes to mind are your favorite upbeat hits – the ones that have people jumping and jiving, heart rates as elevated as the mood. Those songs are important and absolutely the predominant ones as we bring the party vibes; but what you may not realize is this: the secret to a perfect reception dance party is knowing when to sprinkle in some “sweet and slow.” Slow dances are a crucial part of the evening as they allow your guests to pair up and take a little breather, bringing their heart rates back down so they’re refreshed and ready to go when the next upbeat hit starts. Think of your reception as a HIIT workout – it’s important to have breaks between the high intensity numbers, otherwise everyone is exhausted and back on the sidelines far too early in the night! 

Now, you didn’t think we’d tell you it’s important to have slow dances in the mix without telling you some of our favorites, did you? You know we’ve got a comprehensive list of songs ready to go for any musical taste or vision! You might notice that they’re all love songs – that’s another little secret: by using love songs as your slower dances, people are more likely to partner up and stay out on the floor, rather than running off to the restroom or the refreshment table! It’s also a phenomenal opportunity to get some of your older loved ones out on the floor, since these songs are a lot kinder on their knees than those upbeat hits we all love! 

So, without further ado, let’s get into some of our top suggestions for slow love songs that will help keep your guests dancing the night away! 

“Until I Found You,” by Stephen Sanchez

“I would never fall in love again until I found her/I said, “I would never fall unless it’s you I fall into”/I was lost within the darkness, but then I found her/I found you” This one’s a newer hit, which we’re sure you’ve heard all over Instagram and TikTok – sweet and gentle, it evokes road trip and beach vibes and feels somewhat cinematic. 

“At Last,” by Etta James

“At last my love has come along/My lonely days are over and life is like a song” An absolute classic, this one is known as a jazz “standard” for a reason – it simply will not fail the test of time. 

“All of Me,” by John Legend

“All of me loves all of you/Give your all to me I’ll give my all to you” This one debuted and instantly became a modern classic, and now ranks as one of the best love songs around; this one is also a common pick for a first dance! 

“Keep on Loving You,” by REO Speedwagon

“When I said that I love you/I meant that I love you forever” A song guaranteed to bring your parents onto the floor, this 1980s love song will send them straight back to senior prom. 

“Lover,” by Taylor Swift

“Can I go where you go/Can we always be this close/ Forever and ever” Taylor Swift, as we know, is one of the absolute queens of the music scene lately and this particular song will have all your girlies on the dance floor (and you can’t tell us that the boys haven’t all been learning their TSwift songs for moments like this). 

“Unforgettable,” by Nat King Cole 

“Never before has someone been more/Unforgettable in every way” ‘King’ is in his name for a reason – not only is he the King of Christmas music, but his love songs are just perfection. This song also works well for a parent dance if you’re using the duet version between Natalie Cole and her father. 

“Joy of My Life,” by Chris Stapleton

“She’s sweet to me/Must be the luckiest man alive/Did I tell you, baby/You are the joy of my life?” If your wedding has some homegrown country flavor to it, this song is a fantastic choice to bring the tempo down, and is a beautiful meditation on how lucky you feel to spend each day with your partner. 

“Your Song,” by Elton John

“I don’t have much money but boy if I did/I’d buy a big house where we both could live” The song that launched Elton John’s career, and it’s easy to see why. A simple love song that never fails to bring a tear to our eyes. 

“Better Together,” by Jack Johnson

“Sometimes life can be deceiving/I’ll tell you one thing, it’s always better when we’re together” This one still has a little pep to it if you don’t want to slow the mood all the way down, but has the advantage of still being a nice gentle tempo that lets your heart rate settle a bit before you head back to rocking out!