There is a reason live music can change the feel of a wedding so quickly. For The Joy Issue, we asked Lucas Evans, bandleader of Melbourne jazz ensemble Orlando Combo, to share what he has noticed after years of performing at weddings and why live music continues to have such an impact on guests.

While recorded music creates and enhances an atmosphere, we have noticed that there is no substitute for people being in close proximity to real instruments being performed live in a room. If the musicians are attuned to the acoustics of the space and play at a volume level that is appropriate for the moment, it has an immediate, tangible and visceral effect on the guests.

On occasions we may play a particular song, a first dance for example, through our PA, as the couple may have practised to that particular exact version. Then we come in straight after that to continue the dance sets. We notice that even though the song was at the same volume level as us, and the version was by a renowned artist, the live band has an immediate and dramatic effect on the energy level in the room that excites and draws people in.

The best sign of a live band being effective is if you can see people tapping their toes or moving, even if not overtly. That is a sign that the music is having an effect. Another sign is guests who are hesitant to join in the dancing but eventually get involved. Then the band has had the infectious effect of winning them over.

One of the advantages of our style of music is that we are able to also perform acoustically, so one of the most effective parts is on guests’ arrival, for example, pre-ceremony, or when the ceremony has occurred earlier elsewhere and guests arrive for pre function drinks. We can perform outside or in a foyer area to immediately create atmosphere and “break the ice”, which is often met with warm smiles by guests.

Photo by Jeremy Blode Photography

We get guests and couples that we see years later from a performance who still recall in detail the live music, and how it greatly enhanced the day and was enjoyed by all ages of guests. This genre can be very appealing across ages without isolating one demographic from the other in terms of style or volume level.

We are rather niche, so we find that if we lean into the high-energy upbeat swing era of our genre, it really gets everyone up and dancing and involved. That style is so synonymous with celebrations and festivities from classic films and wider culture that everyone has grown up with.

If you have a certain theme or era you are building your wedding around, then match all things like venue, dress code and music with that. As far as music goes, you can pick a band that covers all genres but perhaps not authentically. Or it can be best to have a specialised live act, either a classical string quartet or a jazz ensemble, for the early part of the wedding, and then either a DJ to cover the pop music or a specialised live pop band for later in the evening. That way there is a clear shift in mood and genre, which also acts as a contrast for guests over the length of a full five to six-hour function.

Photo by Moonshine Agency

From being asked to perform at a few weddings in our infancy as a band in the early 2000s, we found it to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of being a performing musician. A wedding is a unique and particularly joyous occasion when a diverse group of people of all ages gather to celebrate such a significant event. It is a pleasure and joy to be involved in on such a regular basis.

About the author: Lucas Evans is the bandleader and manager of Orlando Combo, a Melbourne-based jazz wedding band performing across Victoria. Orlando Combo is a fixed line-up band (not an agency or rotating franchise) and only takes one booking at a time. They play real instruments live, with no backing tracks, loops or samples, and can perform as a compact acoustic trio through to a quintet with vocals.

Header image by Amanda Alessi Photography