Cover band

The Balloons

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About The Balloons

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

Encore badges
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
5 gigs
Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore
Musicianship
Genres:
Rock, Alternative rock, Covers, Vintage, Pop, Folk rock, Rockabilly, Experimental
See all genres
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
See all event types

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
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.

The Balloons' Prices

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

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Up to 1 hour£1625
Up to 2 hours£2000
Up to 3 hours£2500

Add-ons

Afternoon Performance
+£500
DJ set
+£562.50
Saxophone
+£562.50
The Balloons
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
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

The Balloons' Reviews

From Encore customers:

SH
SJ H
9 months ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
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
9 months ago

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

IM
Isabella M
11 months ago
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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
11 months ago

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

MR
Ms P
1 year ago
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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!

From other customers:

MA
Mark A
5 years ago, for a Wedding in Cotswolds
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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.

FT
Freidrich T
5 years ago, for a Wedding in Cornwell
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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