Hire The Balloons | Cover band in Oakham

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From£1625

1 hour

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Dreaming of You (The Coral) - The Balloons

Psycho Killer (Talking Heads) - The Balloons

Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash) - The Balloons

About The Balloons

Eclectic rock and pop from the last 60 years with 4 singers, harmonies, amazing musicianship and a great stage presence!

3 of 9 photos

Cover band

Oakham

Public liability insurance of £5 million

The Balloons are a four piece function and wedding band specialising in rock and pop classics from the past fifty years, covering classic and contemporary popular artists from Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, The Doors and The Beatles to The White Stripes, The Strokes and Arcade Fire. Unusually, all four members sing lead vocals, helping to diversify their sets. Each member is an extremely experienced musician in their own right. In 2015 Pembroke (vocals & guitar) was named BBC introducing artist of the month; he receives regular radio plays and has performed live on TV for London Live network and performed at the O2 Arena. Steve (vocals, guitar & keys) is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist with 20 years' experience gigging up and down the country with various acts including The Libertines. Sam (vocals & drums) and Mike (vocals & bass) have toured nationally and internationally together with their previous originals projects, supporting acts such as Johnny Foreigner, The Wombats and The Holloways, as well as playing on the UK’s major festival circuit. Together they provide an upbeat, dance orientated experience for any occasion. With unique arrangements, high energy performance and unrivalled musicality, The Balloons guarantee a show like no other function band.

The Balloons

5 out of 5

7 verified reviews

Satisfaction

5.0

Professionalism

5.0

Communication

5.0

Punctuality

5.0

The Balloons' Reviews

5 out of 5

The Balloons were the perfect band for our wedding - their set is filled with great song after great song and they play with a fantastic energy that got our whole wedding party on the dancefloor. I was looking for a wedding band who didn't play the usual more obvious wedding covers, and the balloons fitted the bill perfectly with some of the best, and less obvious rock and indie songs covering multiple decades - a highlight for me was their rendition of The Beatles' A Day In The Life - never expected to hear a wedding band play that song! Myself and my best man are musicians too and they suggested we get up and play a few songs, which was a brilliant surprise for my wife Lucy! It was such a special moment to be able to perform with my best mate at my own wedding too. They are a genuinely lovely group of guys. All of our guests were blown away by the band and have since commented on how amazing they were. Thanks for helping our wedding end on such a strong note!

5 out of 5

Absolutely fantastic band - I would 100% recommend and would definitely book them again. They sounded great and were all really nice guys too! Lots of people at our wedding commented on how good the band were, they definitely made the night what it was.

Reply from The Balloons

1 year ago

Thanks so much for having us SJ, it was a delight! Best wishes, Pem

5 out of 5

We booked the Ballons for New Year Eve in our venue, and we haven't regretted it! We had a very fun night , all the guests enjoyed the music and we had a very nice party! Thanks you so much guys! You were amazing 👏

Reply from The Balloons

1 year ago

Thank you Isabella! Glad we could help make NYE special.

5 out of 5

The Balloons were the highlight of our party. They communicated well, arrived promptly and were charming. Their playing, singing, ability to gauge an audience and get them dancing is second to none. They wowed us and all our guests. Seeing them play was like stumbling on a secret gig from the sixites or seventies and feeling like you had discovered something truly unique, exciting and unforgettable. I'd hire them again in a shot!

5 out of 5

The Balloon Animals were absolutely fantastic at our wedding. They learned a song for us and absolutely nailed it as a first dance. Form then on it was long set full of energetic classics including Beatles, Stones, Talking Heads and loads more with some great jams thrown in the crowd loved it all night. We got so many compliments and a lot questions about how we found them. They had a great sound and energy and the singers seemed to be able to carry any song they turned their attention to. We couldn’t have asked for more. All the best to them and hope we get to see them again very soon.

5 out of 5

The Balloons were THE event on the Friday night. With the songs they played they reached everyone, with the way they played they got the younger ones, and with their looks the rest. Literally everyone asked me how I found them. I strongly recommend them.

Read all 3 reviews

Encore badges

5 gigs

Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore

Saved the day!

Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice

5th Anniversary

This act has been working with Encore for over 5 years

The Balloons' Song list

1950s

Heart Break Hotel – Elvis Presley

Hound Dog – Elvis Presley

Jail House Rock – Elvis Presley

Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley

Johnny Be Good – Chuck Berry

Memphis, Tennessee – Chuck Berry

You Never Can Tell – Chuck Berry

Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash

I Got Stripes – Johnny Cash

Cocaine Blues – Johnny Cash

Jackson – Johnny Cash

Everyday - Buddy Holly

That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly

Words of Love - Buddy Holly

1960s

House Of The Rising Sun – The Animals

The Weight – The Band

A Day In The Life – The Beatles

Come Together – The Beatles

Don't Let Me Down – The Beatles

Hey Jude – The Beatles

Lady Madonna – The Beatles

Little Help From My Friends – The Beatles

Norwegian Wood – The Beatles

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles

Twist & Shout – The Beatles

What Goes On – The Beatles

Here Comes the Sun - the Beatles

Get Back - The Beatles

Stand By Me – Ben E. King

Oh Well - Fleetwood Mac

I Put A Spell On You – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Born on the Bayou - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Misirlou – Dick Dale & His Del-Tones

Roadhouse Blues - The Doors

Alabama Song – The Doors

Light My Fire – The Doors

Break On Through (To The Other Side) – The Doors

Love Me Two Times – The Doors

Mr. Tambourine Man - the Byrds / Bob Dylan

Lay Lady Lay - Bob Dylan

Visions of Johanna - Bob Dylan

Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan

Somebody To Love – Jefferson Airplane

White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane

Lola – The Kinks

Waterloo Sunset - the Kinks

Sunny Afternoon - the Kinks

Hit The Road Jack – Ray Charles

Jumping Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones

Paint It Black - The Rolling Stones

Sympathy For The Devil – The Rolling Stones

Wild Horses - the Rolling Stones

Be My Baby – The Ronnettes

My Girl – The Temptations

It's Not Unusual – Tom Jones

Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

She's Not There – The Zombies

Moon River - Audrey Hepburn/Henry Mancini

Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield

Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding

Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte

You Really Got a Hold on Me - Smokey Robinson

Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye / Creedence Clearwater Revival

The Boxer - Simon & Garfunkel

Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel

Let's Work Together - Canned Heat

On The Road Again – Canned Heat

Sunshine of Your Love - Cream

Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix

Fire - Jimi Hendrix

Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix

The Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix

God Only Knows - the Beach Boys

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band

Little Green Bag - George Baker

Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker

Wild Thing - The Troggs

Happy Together - The Turtles

Down By the River - Neil Young

1970s

Sultans Of Swing – Dire Straits

Jolene – Dolly Parton

Country Roads - John Denver

Roadhouse Blues – The Doors

Hotel California – The Eagles

Mr Blue Sky - ELO

Dreams - Fleetwood Mac

Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac

The Chain – Fleetwood Mac

I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

Atomic - Blondie

Heart Of Gold – Neil Young

Breathe - Pink Floyd

Time - Pink Floyd

Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

Stuck In The Middle With You – Stealers Wheel

Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) – Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

Psycho Killer – Talking Heads

I Want to Break Free - Queen

Fat Bottom Girls - Queen

Teenage Kicks - the Undertones

Baba O'Reilly - The Who

Hotel California - the Eagles

Tequila Sunrise - the Eagles

Horse With No Name - America

Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Miss You - the Rolling Stones

Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

Feel Like Makin' Love - Bad Company

The Passenger - Iggy Pop

Lust For Life - Iggy Pop

Jealous Guy - John Lennon

Heart of Gold - Neil Young

Hey Hey, My My - Neil Young

Kashmir - Led Zeppelin

Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen

No More Heroes - The Stranglers

Sweet Jane - the Velvet Underground

Perfect Day - Lou Reed

Knockin' on Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan

One More Cup of Coffee - Bob Dylan

Shelter From the Storm - Bob Dylan

Tangled Up in Blue - Bob Dylan

Always a Woman - Billy Joel

1980s

Friday I'm In Love – The Cure

Let's Dance – David Bowie

A Town Called Malice – The Jam

Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush

Killing Moon - Echo & the Bunnymen

Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics

The La's – There She Goes

Gigantic – The Pixies

Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division

I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen

Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen

Can't Go For That - Hall & Oates

She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult

Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams

1990s

Karma Police – Radiohead

Girls And Boys – Blur

Tender - Blur

Mrs Robinson – The Lemon Heads

Red Right Hand – Nick Cave

Come As You Are – Nirvana

Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

Glory Box - Portishead

She's Electric – Oasis

Champagne Supernova - Oasis

Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis

Disco 2000 – Pulp

Just – Radiohead

Karma Police – Radiohead

Waterfall - Stone Roses

Harvest Moon - Neil Young

2000s

Valerie – Amy Winehouse

No Cars Go – Arcade Fire

Rebellion (lies) – Arcade Fire

The Suburbs – Arcade Fire

Tunnels – Arcade Fire

Wake Up – Arcade Fire

Lonely Boy – Black Keys

Dreaming Of You – The Coral

Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

White Winter Hymnal – Fleet Foxes

Pumped Up Kicks – Foster The People

Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand

Lightning Bolt – Jake Bugg

Tickle Me Pink – Johnny Flynn

Going Up The Country – Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

Molly's Chamber – Kings Of Leon

Don't Look Back In To The Sun – The Libertines

Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons

Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show

Steady As She Goes – The Raconteurs

Last Night – The Strokes

Fell In Love With A Girl – White Stripes

Hardest Button To Button – White Stripes

Seven Nation Army – White Stripes

The Balloons' Prices

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

Performance duration	Price
Up to 1 hour	£1625
Up to 2 hours	£2000
Up to 3 hours	£2500

Customer questions

Will the singer be the same as who I see in the videos?

Yes, all four of us share lead vocal duties.

Do you have different line-up options?

Our line up is as follows: Stephen: lead and backing vocals, guitar, keys, organ; Pembroke: lead and backing vocals, guitar, mouth organ; Mike: lead and backing vocals, bass guitar; Sam: lead and backing vocals, drums. We can add a female vocalist and/or violin, trumpet and additional keys on request.

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

We will always try our best to be flexible. Just let us know.

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

Yes. Our drummer Sam takes care of this. We usually run the playlist though Spotify and download in advance of the gig. Some clients like to share a playlist with us before the event.

How much time do you need to set up?

It's best to allow 90 minutes.

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

Yes. Do let us know if you have any preferences in particular. Our list is vast and would take some ten hours to perform in its entirety. Equally, let us know if there's anything you don't want to hear.

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

Yes. We own a system powerful enough for up to 400 guests. Anything over that we recommend bringing in support from a specialist company. We have worked with many engineers up and down the country, and we will help organise this aspect if required.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

Yes. We offer one complimentary song request with each booking. There is a fee of £80 for any additional song requests beyond this to cover our rehearsal time.

What do your clients love most about your performances?

The four of us sharing lead vocals helps bring a great deal of variety to our performances.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

The list is very long. We used to hold a residency at the BFI in London, and we still play there now from time to time. Or, you can catch us twice a year in our home town at The Grainstore Brewery in Rutland.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

The Doors (especially Ray Manzarek), Pete Townsend, Keith Moon, The Grateful Dead (especially Jerry Garcia), Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes, The Beatles, Talking Heads

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

We were lucky enough to play at a French chateau together last summer. That certainly felt special.

Musicianship

Genres:

Rock, Alternative rock, Covers, Vintage, Pop, Folk rock, Rockabilly, Experimental

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Types:

Cover band, Alternative band, Festival band, Folk-rock band, Function band, Party band, Indie band, Rock band, Rock n roll band, Vintage band, Wedding band

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Event types:

Wedding, Wedding proposal, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve, Virtual event

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