Review Centre: Soul Bands

"This band is awesome!!! Down to Earth people that fell right in place with my family. It was my grandfather's death anniversary and they made us all smile and happy with the atmosphere they created. Great selection, top of the line sounds!!! Can't wait to find a reason to book them again!!!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band, The Globe, Cardiff, January 31st Jan Louder Than War’s Nick Fisk catches Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band for an evening of soul classics, resulting in him feeling like he probably should have seen them sooner. There’s something life-affirming about tonight. We may be specks of dust on a chunk of rock spinning around in a seemingly meaningless way, but when people come together for this band, somehow it’s as if sense is made of the world after all, if only for the duration of the gig. Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band have been treading the boards for some time now. And with it being such a large band, you’d think a lot of those boards must have been worn right down. They’ve been known to play in pubs and clubs the length and breadth of Cardiff, including pubs near to this very venue, like the Claude. Have always meant to catch them, but somehow never did, and as a result, this was my first time. I always thought The Regular Fries would have made a good support act. In terms of musical styles, the two bands are like chalk and cheese, but then again, if you think about it, a hamburger and a potato chip are not really similar food stuffs, but are great as a combination. But the London baggy propagandists split up some time ago, while Big Mac has just carried on. The name of the band pretty much gives it away in terms of which genre Big Mac’s fit into – unapologetically in the style of The Commitments (though they actually began before the film came out, and have even supported the band), this is a great, big band, playing all the soul classics you might expect to hear, but in such a smooth, polished style that they can rightfully claim to be the best in South Wales – it would be a brave effort to try to steal this band’s mantle. They have the look, the sound, the lot. Dressed smartly in black, there is a proper feel of professionalism, with just that little bit of gangster-chic thrown in for good measure, with the heavies on the right on the brass, the ladies on the left on backing vocals, and Mike “Big Mac” McNamara himself, proudly centre stage, with something of the look of Al Pacino about him. He has a fantastic voice, with a great range, which he can vary according to which song he’s covering – he can be deep and gravelly at one point, but then switch to softer and smoother, but all the while, extremely strong and confident – he’s a great leader, always with a smile. It’s hard to say which are my favourite songs of the set, they do them all so well. “Mustang Sally” is definitely one that seems popular with everyone; I’ve always liked “Build Me Up, Buttercup” for some reason. We have two whole sets of all the greats, plus an encore, so value for money is never in doubt. When it’s done right, I guess it goes without saying that soul music is good for the soul, and Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band are proof positive of this. This gig was a sell-out, and there will be many people greatly looking forward to seeing them again in a few months for their 25th anniversary in Newport. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We invited the Jazz Centrale to our wedding. This was great. Good atmosphere and wonderful music. Communication runs very smoothly. In short: highly recommended."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"This band.... Well how long have we got?! I couldn't have asked for a more down to earth, crowd pleasing, uplifting, party starting bunch of individuals if I tried. Laura who I had communicated with throughout booking was awsome, so understanding, laid back and willing to tailor to us! This ontop of being the most understanding throughout the pandameic stress we went through!.... I knew they would be amazing as we had seen them live at Molly Malones in Brighton, however.... For our WEDDING... Man, this band brought the Aayyyyyyy in partayyyyy! These guys were unreal, getting people on the floor, catering to the vibe, and even going the extra mile with an encore and joining in with selfie pod fun! 😂👌.... If you want a live band and in vision a great atmosphere look no further, hand on heart give them a 1000 out of 10 😘 Thanks guys for making our day better than we ever imagined your so great ☺️x "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We booked The Detours for our wedding anniversary party last weekend. They were amazing from start to finish and the dance floor was full the whole night. The support leading up to the event was excellent and everyone commented how brilliant they were fantastic. Would definitely book them again."

Reply by The Detours Band
Thankyou, means a lot, hope to see you at another gig soon!

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Miss P is easy on the eyes with muscular theighs and insane calves if you can get past all that great singer you can tell they have been playing together a long time . Do they tour would love to catch another show"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Betty Boom made our wedding truly unforgettable! Their energy, talent, and wide-ranging music selection kept the dance floor packed all night. They took care of every detail and brought a magical atmosphere to our special day."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Went to see these guys at The Horns in Watford, had such a great night. Got everyone up and dancing with their song selection. Would definitely recommend"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I can’t say enough good things about Groove Gang Avenue. It’s always challenging to hire a band or any other service from another country. Giuseppe did everything possible to make the process stress free. He was quick to respond, eager to accommodate all of our requests, and even suggested a video chat on WhatsApp a few months before the wedding to make sure we all knew what to expect. On the day of the wedding, the band drove from Rome to a small town outside Sorrento just for our wedding. After a quick consultation on where we wanted them to set up, they got to it and we were able to get back to handling other details. When our guests began arriving and the band started playing, I knew instantly that we had made the right choice. Our group instantly loved the music, from their standard repertoire up to a few songs that they learned just for us. The sound was balanced and full. I was also very glad that we went with the 5-piece group, since the saxophone added so much to the mood! Then, a rain shower blew through. As soon as we made the decision to move inside, the band started grabbing equipment and within 20 minutes they had set up indoors and were back to keeping the party going. Several times throughout the night I had a guest come up to me, nod toward the band and say: “They’re REALLY good!” And they are. I couldn’t be more glad that we chose Groove Gang Avenue to play for our wedding, and that they were willing to travel so far to make the party happen as wonderfully as it did! Wedding Date: 2025-03-13 Venue: Massa Lubrense, Italy Tom "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Whether as MD, arranger or instrumentalist (or as is often the case, all three), Simon brings a level of rock-solid professionalism that makes everything a pleasure. His exceptional talents as an instrumentalist go without saying. But he is a dependable and hugely reassuring presence onstage and great fun off it. A real asset to any ensemble. Alexander Armstrong"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I want to express a BIG thank you! You guys are truly the best. I'm amazed by your talent and how expertly you managed the issue at hand. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Congratulations on your tour in Romania! 💐💐🎊🎉🥂"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Incredible atmosphere! The band made our ceremony at Villa Cimbrone, Ravello absolutely magical. — Chiara & Marco"

Reply by The Italian Soul & Jazz Band
Ciao Chiara, we’re so glad our music could be part of that beautiful moment. Wishing you both all the very best! – Giuseppe

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"MoSol performed at my wedding and it was the best night ever "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Exceptional. Just what we needed for a Ruby Wedding afternoon. Very friendly and approachable duo!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We had Eva Sakellari and her full band perform at our Christmas themed wedding in Greece, and it was absolutely incredible! As a couple from the UK, we were blown away by the energy, talent, and professionalism they brought to the night. Eva’s voice is stunning, and the whole band created such a fun and lively atmosphere. Our guests couldn’t stop dancing! It was truly one of the highlights of the day. Highly recommended!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: