Americana band

James Riley's All-Star Band

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About James Riley's All-Star Band

A foot-stomping fusion of Folk, Pop, Country & Soul. Delivering unforgettable performances on any stage, from Nashville To Glastonbury. đŸŽ¶đŸ€ 
James Riley's All-Star Band's profile picture
Americana band
London
Public liability insurance of ÂŁ1 million

THE BAND: The James Riley All-Stars have a versatile repertoire that spans genres and generations. We specialise in folk and Americana, with a deep catalog of classic and contemporary songs showcasing the best of these genres. But we don't stop there! We also love to put our own spin on modern pop songs, infusing them with our unique blend of acoustic instruments, soaring harmonies, and delivering them with a folky twist. We’re always happy to try to incorporate requests into our set! Our lineup can include: - Guitar & vocals - Upright (Double) bass - Fiddle - Pedal Steel or Electric Guitar - Trumpet or Trombone - Drums We’re happy to bring along all sound equipment including a PA system. We can also provide DJ service between sets at your request, guaranteeing that the vibe will stay upbeat, even when we’re not playing! Some of our career highlights include: - Headlining Trafalgar Square in 2022 - A four-year run at Glastonbury Festival - Opening for McFly & The Feeling at The Olympic Park, London - Winning the Mayor Of London: Gigs Award - Playing to thousands at Wilderness, Secret Garden Party, Shrewsbury, The Long Road and countless other national festivals. - Coverage from media including BBC London, BBC Wales, BBC Radio 6, London Live and more With thousands of successful shows under our belt, we know how to create an electrifying atmosphere that will keep your guests engaged and entertained, with the perfect blend of energy and intimacy. We aim to exceed your expectations - and to deliver an exceptional live music experience for your guests and your event. JAMES RILEY: This Anglo-American troubadour has played literally thousands of shows around the UK, the US, and beyond, including a four-time run at Glastonbury. When the pandemic hit in 2020 and James' UK tour was cancelled, he didn't miss a beat. Instead, he started playing live-streamed concerts on his roof in Tottenham, which garnered coverage from the BBC and received funding from the Arts Council. The 30 resulting shows also sparked multiple collaborations, raised over £45K for UK food banks, and even inspired a mural depicting the band. Now, James is back on more conventional stages and taking bookings for festivals and events around the UK. James is also available for solo bookings, search Encore for "James Riley"

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6th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 6 years
5 gigs
Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore
Musicianship
Genres:
Folk, Bluegrass, Country, Folk rock, Irish rock, Traditional English folk, Blues, Gospel, Easy listening, Originals, Pop, Acoustic, Americana, Covers, Soul, Tribute, Vintage, 1960s era music, 1970s era music, 1980s era music, 1990s era music
See all genres
Event types:
Wedding, Birthday party, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Burns night, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types

James Riley's All-Star Band's Song list

WAGON WHEEL - Old Crow Medicine Show
COUNTRY ROADS - John Denver
WALKING IN MEMPHIS - Mark Cohn
FOLSOM PRISON BLUES - Johnny Cash
JOLENE - Dolly Parton
THE GAMBLER - Kenny Rogers
GALWAY GIRL - Steve Earle
THE JOKER - Steve Miller
RING OF FIRE - Johnny Cash
MIDNIGHT SPECIAL - Creedence Clearwater Revival
YOU NEVER CAN TELL - Chuck Berry
MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW - The Soggy Bottom Boys
I'LL FLY AWAY - Gillian Welch
CAROLINA IN MY MIND - James Taylor
CHURCH STREET BLUES - Tony Rice
STORMY MONDAY - T Bone Walker
FALLING & FLYING - Jeff Bridges
DRY TOWN - Gillian Welch
JAMBALAYA - Hank Williams
IDA RED - Bob Willis
GUITAR TOWN - Steve Earle
SUMMER’S COMING - Clint Black
ALL THAT HEAVEN WILL ALLOW - The Mavericks
XXX’S & OOO’S - Trisha Yearwood
IT JUST COMES NATURAL - George Strait
HALFWAY DOWN - Patty Loveless
ANY MAN OF MINE – Shania Twain
MY GIRL - The Temptations
WHEN I SAW HER STANDING THERE - The Beatles
TWIST AND SHOUT - The Beatles
DOCK OF THE BAY - Otis Redding
RICH GIRL - Hall & Oates
GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN - Cyndi Lauper
CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE - Queen
LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER - Bon Jovi
SUMMER OF ’69 - Bryan Adams
ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE SCHOOLYARD - Paul Simon
ALL THE SMALL THINGS - Blink 182
THERE SHE GOES - The La’s
TEENAGE DIRTBAG - Wheatus
BOYS OF SUMMER - Don Henley
PURPLE RAIN - Prince
TEARS OF A CLOWN - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Any many more

Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

The thing we hear most often is that people love how quickly we're able to get a party going! We absolutely love playing this music, and I think that joy really communicates in our live show. We hope you're going to love it as much as we do!

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

We have played consistently as the House band at Blues Kitchen in Brixton for over 2 years, as well as countless smaller venues and festivals around the UK. From blues, to swinging soul we've got your Americana music needs covered.

Do you have different line-up options?

Our most common line-up is as follows: Vocals/Guitar, Fiddle/Vocals and Upright Bass We also have an option to include pedal steel, drums or even brass, depending on your requirements.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

We always try our best to be flexible to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. If timings change slightly in the run up to the event just let us know.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Absolutely. This is a really popular request and we actually offer this service for free. If you'd like a DJ service via our PA after the final set until the venue closes, we provide this for an additional ÂŁ100

How much time do you need to set up?

We usually set up about 1 to 1.5 hours before the performance time. As soon as our PA is set up we can provide a free playlist service to help set the atmosphere and get your guests ready for our live performance!

Can you roam around while you perform?

Yes - however we can only offer this option for fully acoustic (unamplified) shows at present.

Can I pick the songs you play from the set list?

Our set lists are crafted from countless performances and learning what works best to ensure guests dance and have an amazing time. However, we're definitely happy to chat through and make sure we find what works for your event.

Is all of the equipment (e.g. PA & lighting) included in your quote?

Our PA system is included in your quote. We usually require a minimum of 8 x 8 square feet ground area to perform.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

If a song isn't included in our song list there may still be a chance we already know it. If there is a special song you'd like us to learn we are happy to do this for you. There is a fee of ÂŁ50 for this service to take into account rehearsal times etc.

James Riley's All-Star Band's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Up to 1 hourÂŁ1200
Up to 2 hoursÂŁ1300
Up to 3 hoursÂŁ1400
James Riley's All-Star Band
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5 out of 5
6 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

James Riley's All-Star Band's Reviews

From Encore customers:

JG
Julie G
3 months ago
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5 out of 5

The band exceeded all of my expectations. Every single guest at my husband’s 50th birthday party has taken the time to write to me and tell me how great the party was and especially the band. They had everyone-all ages-dancing. We had several Americans at party so the Americana music in addition to the Irish fiddle, and James threw in some Dolly for my English Dolly lovers, and there wasn’t an idle foot to be found. Just excellent.

SS
Sarah S
8 months ago
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5 out of 5

The James Riley Band were fab, communication with them from start to finish and getting the crowd going, tunes were awesome, everyone had a great night 👍â˜ș

RC
Rob C
10 months ago
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5 out of 5

Do not hesitate to ask The James Riley Band to play at your wedding (or other event) - they will absolutely steal the show. At our wedding, they were simply phenomenal and like no other wedding band you've seen before - something so unique and memorable (and so different from the other generic wedding band fare out there) that all our guests walked away talking about just how good this band were. They brought so much energy and talent to their set, not to mention James' total professionalism and just being a top guy to deal with the whole way, from booking through to the day itself. He took it upon himself to make sure we got exactly what we were after, taking requests at no extra cost and he was very happy to accommodate his set to ensure we got exactly what we wanted. We could not have been happier on the day with their set, and we have been reminiscing about it ever since. We could not recommend these guys more highly. Thanks so much guys for playing a massive part in helping to make our wedding day one we'll never forget. Rob & Helen

SG
Serena G
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

The band were amazing, very professional and added a great atmosphere to our event. I will definitely hire them again!

Read all 6 reviews

From other customers:

VS
Verity R
10 years ago

One of my highlights of 2014

FR
Folk U
11 years ago

“It hooked us on first listen
from the harmonies to the guitar work there’s nothing to not like”

Read all 3 reviews