Vocal-piano duo (with a trio option available) performing relaxed soul and pop music.
The Soul Essentials are a vocal-led band performing exquisite renditions of soul and pop classics ideal for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions and private celebrations.
The band features a female vocalist accompanied by a pianist or guitarist, and they perform unobtrusive music which is the perfect accompaniment for drinks receptions, garden parties, or dinner entertainment.
The standard line-up can also be expanded with additional musicians such as a saxophonist to give the music extra presence.
The band’s repertoire features mellow classics from the 60s and 70s – including A Natural Woman and At Last, alongside contemporary classics such as You’ve Got The Love and Ordinary People.
The band’s flexibility and ability to learn most requests (with enough notice) make them the perfect choice for wedding ceremonies. We can entertain your guests as they enter the ceremony room, accompany you for the processionary music, and then play your special songs for the signing of the register.
The bands client list includes Next, Royal Ascot and Harvey Nichols, and the band are often found performing at venues such as The V&A and Pinewood Studios.
You can also book The Soul Essentials alongside any of our other line-ups for a whole-day entertainment package. Why not have The Soul Essentials for your wedding ceremony, The Vintage Strollers for your drinks reception and then our sensational party band Capital Sounds Collective for your evening entertainment!
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You and your band were fantastic, not just brilliant at the music but also lovely, helpful and a total pleasure to work with. You were exceptional!
We hired the Soul Essentials duo for our wedding ceremony and drinks reception and couldn’t have been happier with our choice! A super classy addition to our day and created the perfect atmosphere for our guests.
Here is a selection of The Soul Essentials repertoire list – get in touch if you have any requests!
Something Beautiful (Jacob Banks)
Ordinary People (John Legend)
Havana (Camilla Cabello)
Golden (Jill Scott)
Valerie (Amy Winehouse)
Love is a Losing Game (Amy Winehouse)
You Know I’m No Good (Amy Winehouse)
Mercy (Duffy)
Warwick Avenue (Duffy)
Only Love Can Hurt Like This (Paloma Faith)
What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye)
I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James)
Let’s Stay Together (Al Green)
Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding)
Stand By Me (Otis Redding)
You’re All I Need To Get By (Aretha Franklin)
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) (Natalie Cole)
Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson)
At Last (Etta James)
Midnight Train to Georgia (Gladys Knight and the Pips)
Say A Little Prayer (Aretha Franklin)
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out (Bessie Smith)
I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free (Nina Simone)
A Sunday Kind of Love (Etta James)
Feeling Good (Nina Simone)
You Send Me (Aretha Franklin)
As (Stevie Wonder)
Until You Come Back To Me (Aretha Franklin)
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin)
I Feel The Earth Move (Carole King)
All Night Long (Lionel Richie)
We Can Work It Out (Stevie Wonder)
We loved the combination of old and new songs that the band seamlessly moved between - and loads of our guests commented on how brilliant the band were.
The Soul Essentials is available in three line-ups:
Duo
Female vocals, piano
Trio
Female vocals, piano, saxophone
Quartet
Female vocals, piano, saxophone, bass
If you want to dance to our soul tunes, check out The Get Downs!
Not only is the music wonderful but the customer service was the best of any of our suppliers.
Mike Paul-Smith Music: a collective of professional musicians available to hire in a range of exclusive band line-ups.
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Mike Paul-Smith Music is a trading name of Down for the Count Ltd, a registered company in England and Wales (10694876). VAT registration number 266786449.