Cocktail Hour & Dinner Music

Dynamic, refined, and perfectly suited to your event.

2,500+ Events

Performed Across North America
Multiple Awards For

Best Wedding/Event Entertainment

Perfect 5.0 Google Rating

Across Multiple Cities
Side One acoustic band performing

Elevate Your Event With The Perfect Soundtrack

Set the tone for an elegant and engaging event with music that enhances every moment.

Our cocktail and dinner ensembles offer 1.5 hours of music for receptions or 2 hours for dinner, creating the perfect ambiance for mingling, dining, and conversation.

Full Dance Band

Musicians: Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Drums, Tenor Sax, Trumpet, BG Soprano Vocal, BG Alto Vocal

The ultimate party starter and our flagship band. With two background vocalists, a horn section, and powerhouse lead vocals, this configuration guarantees a packed dance floor and a show-stopping performance.

Musicians: Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Drums, Tenor Sax, Trumpet

A couple fewer bodies on stage, but the horns still provide that big-band sound. The guitar and bass players take on the essential background vocals.

Musicians: Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Drums

The most compact dance band and still a complete barn burner. The keys cover the horns.

Musicians: Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, Drums, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, 2 x Trumpet, BG Soprano Vocal, BG Alto Vocal

The ultimate in big-band style, this ensemble adds a second trumpet and baritone sax for a four-horn section that will blow you away — literally and figuratively.

Acoustic Band

Musicians: Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion

Perfect for intimate spaces and smaller guest lists, this group delivers the full Side One repertoire in an unplugged style.

Guests love hearing everything from Queen to Nicki Minaj in this stripped-down setting.

Musicians: Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Percussion

With the addition of bass, this lineup brings a fuller, more dynamic sound to the unplugged experience.

Instrumental Background Music

Musicians: Guitar or Piano

Elegant and understated, a solo musician on guitar or piano sets the perfect tone for cocktail hours or intimate gatherings.

Musicians: Guitar/Piano + Horn or Guitar/Piano + Bass

Adds depth to the soloist with bass or horn, creating an inviting atmosphere for mingling and light conversation.

Musicians: Guitar/Piano, Drums, Bass or Guitar/Piano, Horn, Bass

Classic and timeless, this trio brings the energy of live jazz with a compact setup that fits any space.

Musicians: Guitar/Piano, Drums, Bass, Horn

With the addition of a horn, the jazz quartet brings a sophisticated sound that elevates your event’s ambiance.

Vocal Background Music

Musicians: Singing Guitarist or Singing Pianist

A singer with their guitar performing a mix of contemporary songs everyone knows and loves. The right mix of upbeat but background appropriate allowing guests to converse and mingle

Musicians: Guitar + Vocal

A vocalist and guitarist for a bit more presence, performing either contemporary favourites or more of a jazz vibe – or a bit of both.

Musicians: Guitar/Piano + Vocal

Smooth vocals paired with guitar or piano create a cozy and intimate mood for cocktails or dinner.

Musicians: Guitar/Piano, Vocal, Upright Bass

Adds upright bass for a warm and grounded sound that brings jazz standards to life.

Musicians: Guitar/Piano, Vocal, Upright Bass, Sax/Drums

Brings in a drummer or saxophonist for an added melodic layer to the trio’s classic sound.

Musicians: Guitar/Piano, Vocal, Upright Bass, Sax, Drums

A full jazz ensemble, this configuration delivers a rich and immersive sound, perfect for formal events and lively receptions.

Why Choose Side One?

Relax and Savor the Moment

Event planning is in our DNA. We understand the stakes, flow, and emotional arc of your event, so you can be sure every detail will run seamlessly.
Side One band performing

Keep the Party Alive

We’ve learned from over 2,500 events exactly how to read and fuel a crowd, keeping the energy high and the dance floor buzzing throughout the night.
Side One band performing

Make it Unforgettable

Our phenomenal musicians create iconic moments that set your event apart, leaving a lasting impression on all who attend.

singer moshpit in crowd
Side One jazz band performing

The Cities We Play

BASED IN VANCOUVER, CALGARY, TORONTO AND SEATTLE—AND READY TO ROCK ANY DESTINATION

We started in Vancouver, but demand quickly grew beyond our hometown. Soon, we built Side One band in Calgary, Toronto, and Seattle—each filled with top-tier musicians trained to deliver the same unforgettable experience.

With a band based in four amazing cities, Side One can bring world-class live music anywhere in the world (we travel well!).

Wherever your event is, we’re ready to take the stage.

Highly recommend this band, we had the acoustic trio during cocktail hour and then 6 piece band for the evening, both were awesome!

Highly recommend this band, we had the acoustic trio during cocktail hour and then 6 piece band for the evening, both were awesome! had everyone dancing all night and everyone was commenting on how amazing the band was. As a musician myself from a technical view these guys were seriously on point! They catered the music just right all night while sticking to our style preferences, amazed how well they cover such a wide range of music. They also let me play a couple songs with them which was great fun! Look no further book these guys!

R.W.

Side One band performing

See What We're All About

A Killer Band For Every Occasion

Weddings

Set the tone for your big day with expertly curated live music, from transcendent ceremony arrangements to a barn-burning dance floor experience.

Corporate Events

Imagine a work party where everyone stays until the very end. You can make it happen with dynamic entertainment that keeps the room energized.

Fundraising Galas

Make your Gala the season’s event that no one wants to miss! With outstanding music and vibrant performances, you will captivate donors throughout the night and keep them coming back year after year.

Private Milestones

Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones with an intimate performance that shapes cherished memories for you and your loved ones.

What It Costs To Hire Live Musicians

We strive to provide the perfect live entertainment package for your event. Since your event is unique, our service package will be customized to suit your needs, and our pricing will reflect that.

Reach out to our team for a custom quote. But first, please consider the following points: