Review Centre: Acoustic Bands

"Harmie brought his full Cockney repertoire to the cavernous Cavalier pub in Whetstone and he had to fight his way through the crowds to get to the stage, arriving with his guitar, a collection of harmonicas, his cloth cap and braces and a mug of jellied eels. This was a real Cockney knees-up evening for the regulars, who included in their midst the Pearly King and Queen of Purley, or was it Finchley? Kicking off with Chas 'n Dave's raucous toe-tapper, "The Sideboard Song" the cheeky chappie tackled a lovely bunch of Cockney ditties, including Tommy Steele's showstopper, "What A Mouth"; an entertaining version of the old Billy Cotton (now there was a good old Cockney) number, "The Marrow Song"; and the singalong tunes, "Maybe It's Because I'm A Londoner", "Show Me The Way To Go Home", "Meet Me At The Church" and the tasty, "Hot Meat Pie, Saveloys And Trotters". Highlights of the first set were Harmie's harmonica-led rendition of the Shadows' classic instrumental, "Apache" and, following a request from a punter, a countryfied version of "What Made Milwaukee Famous", which was part made famous by Rod Stewart. The lovable Cockney character was in humorous form too calling for 'security' when a man approached him for a request, and in telling the audience: "As this is Whetstone I thought we ought to do a song about infidelity," before launching into Gene Pitney's, "24 Hours From Tulsa", complete with harp solo. The second set brought more Cockney treats with Bernard Cribbins' "Right Said Fred"; Mike Jerome's clever, "Sling Yer Hook" and Chas and Dave's weepie, "Ain't No Pleasing You". The audience were loving Harmie by now, but soon he had to battle his way through the masses again to get to the Harmie-mobile and a trip home to the Old Kent Road."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Excellent performers. All my locals that were in the pub commented on their talent, asking me when they are back next. Amazing voice and great interaction with the audience. Definitely booking again and soon. Rob Cotterill"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Excellent performance, Matt made the event a memorable occasion, a varied and enjoyable portfolio of music. Matt , although a solo artist, can achieve a big sound, very professional and we would recommend him. A very personable man "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"21st birthday party Andover "Hi Brendan, thank you so much to all the Rufus Return band, we had a great night, thoroughly enjoyed by all, and I do hope you didn't get too cold beforehand... Thanks also for your flexibility with timings and announcements, planned or spontaneous! ""

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Clusterfolk played at my wedding last weekend and were absolutely amazing. They were the perfect backdrop to my wedding reception and played a mix of instrumentals and vocals. We received many compliments regarding the music and quality, and the guys are truly lovely and easy to work with. We wouldn’t hesitate to book them again "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"An extraordinary performance during the ceremony! They have an impressive mastery of the violin and guitar, and they demonstrate great professionalism! It was a pleasure to have them on the most important day of our lives so far. 100% recommended!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Kei Shimizu’s piano playing during our friends’ wedding cocktail hour was pure magic. Her music had this beautiful, effortless flow that made the whole room pause and just listen. We’re so grateful she shared her talent with us—it’s one of those details people will talk about for years. Thank you for making the day feel so special, Kei!"

Reply by Kei Shimizu - Classic Pianist
Thank you so much! It was a joy to add some magic to their day with music — truly an honor to be part of such special memories.

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Σας ευχαριστούμε πάρα πολύ για την υπέροχη διασκέδαση που μας προσφέρατε, στην βάπτιση της κόρης μας!!!! Καλές δουλειές σας ευχόμαστε"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Moon and Silver Duo was simply perfect for our wedding reception aperitif. With their elegance and refined music, they created a warm and intimate atmosphere. A delicate yet engaging musical accompaniment that made the moment even more special! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"excelente agrupacion... con su extenso y variado repertorio nos hizo escuchar y bailar de lo lindo... se lo recomiendo para cualquier tipo de eventos ya sea al aire libre que en espacios mas cerrados y cultos. de lo mejor que hemos escuchado en nuestro pueblo... gracias HAVANALIKE"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We could not have been more lucky to find Ryan! Not only is he a lovely person to meet, but his music is beautiful and he designed the vibe fit our event! So many compliments from our guests about the music and how good it was! Would highly recommend Ryan for any event, easy to work with, and an amazing musician "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Cheers performed at our Christmas party, they arrived on time, were very organised and gave a great performance. Particularly liked their version of American boy! Would certainly recommend them to anyone requiring a band at their event."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Review: Acacia Road – The Perfect Band for Our Wedding! We were beyond thrilled to have Acacia Road perform at our wedding, and they truly exceeded all our expectations! From the moment we first reached out to them, their professionalism and enthusiasm gave us confidence that we were making the right choice. Leading up to the big day, Acacia Road was incredibly accommodating, working with us to curate a playlist that perfectly matched our vision. They took the time to understand our musical preferences, and they even suggested a few songs that we hadn’t considered, adding a personal touch that we greatly appreciated. On the day of the wedding, Acacia Road created an unforgettable atmosphere. Their energy was infectious, and they had all of our guests on their feet dancing from the very first note. The vocal performances were stunning, and each member of the band showcased their immense talent. Their ability to seamlessly transition between different genres kept the mood lively and entertaining all night long. A standout moment was during our first dance, where Acacia Road performed a beautiful rendition of our chosen song. It was magical and left both us and our guests in tears of joy. They were discreet yet attentive, making sure every moment flowed smoothly. Not only did they deliver an incredible musical experience, but their charming personalities and professionalism made them a delight to work with. They interacted with our guests, encouraging sing-alongs and even joining in on the fun when it was appropriate. It truly felt like they were a part of our celebration rather than just hired entertainers. We received countless compliments from our guests about how fantastic the band was, and many are already asking for their contact information for future events. If you’re looking for a band that brings talent, enthusiasm, and a personal touch, look no further than Acacia Road. They made our wedding the beautiful celebration we dreamed of, and we can’t thank them enough for their fantastic performance. In summary, if you're considering booking Acacia Road for an event, do it without hesitation! They were undoubtedly the best band we could have booked for our wedding, leaving us with memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you, Acacia Road, for being an integral part of our special day"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"They are a female Simon & Garfunkle! Beautiful harmony, talented songwriting. Really enjoyed their performance at The Nest...look forward to seeing them again sometime soon!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The Cheers were absolutely incredible. We had them at our wedding at Old Greens Barn in Newdigate and they just sounded amazing. They got everyone of all ages up on their feet and i think some of our guests didn't stop the whole time. The vocalist were brilliant and we were really amazed at how many comments we had from our guests about how superb the band was. I highly recommend going for the quintet set up so you get a mix of male and female vocals. The band has a great repertoire to choose from that appeals to all ages and they put together the most perfect set list of all our favourite songs and some other greats too. Ben the band manager was faultless, from start to finish he was just amazing. So easy to speak to and communicate with, he really was a dream. It is so nice to have a supplier that knows what they are doing, can be trusted and is just so effortless. We cannot rate him enough. Thank you to all of the Cheers for really making our day so so special. We can't recommend them more highly."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: