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Trusted by venues and brands from Aspen to Aruba
Aspen, CO
Dallas, TX
Las Vegas, NV
Round Rock, TX
Amelia Island, FL
Los Angeles, CA
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Aruba
Denver, CO
Austin, TX
New Orleans, LA
Beaver Creek, CO
Dallas, TX
Austin + Houston
Los Angeles, CA
Lost Pines, TX
Denver, CO
Dripping Springs, TX
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Round Rock, TX
Denver, CO
Aspen, CO
Dallas, TX
Las Vegas, NV
Round Rock, TX
Amelia Island, FL
Los Angeles, CA
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Aruba
Denver, CO
Austin, TX
New Orleans, LA
Beaver Creek, CO
Dallas, TX
Austin + Houston
Los Angeles, CA
Lost Pines, TX
Denver, CO
Dripping Springs, TX
Dallas, TX
Austin, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Round Rock, TX
Denver, CO
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Austin Wedding Band & Corporate Event Entertainment
Black-tie weddings and polished corporate galas, performed by the very musicians you see in our videos
Weddings
Corporate events
As Seen In
“Transformed the evening into an unforgettable party!”
“They really know how to get the crowd going!”
“Uptown Drive kept the dancing going all night!”
Meet Our Front Line
Greg Williams
Greg trained at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, then spent years on the Disney and Universal stages before touring the world on saxophone with Jason Mraz. He brought all of that home to Austin to build Uptown Drive around one idea: the band you book is the band that shows up. Today he leads the group on sax and guitar, emcees every event himself and is the person you'll work with from your first email to the last song of the night
Trained at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, Greg took his sax from the Disney and Universal stages to a world tour with Jason Mraz. Now he leads Uptown Drive on sax and guitar and emcees your entire night
Courtney Gayle
Courtney is a powerhouse vocalist who traded New York City for Austin. She has performed with bands and orchestras across the country, works as an actress and is one half of the duo Gritty Sunset. On an Uptown Drive stage she moves easily from soul ballads to dance floor anthems, and she has a way of turning a single chorus into the moment everyone remembers from the night
A powerhouse voice who traded New York City for Austin, Courtney has lit up stages with bands and orchestras across the country. Singer, actress and one half of Gritty Sunset, she turns every chorus into a moment
Quiesean Wilson
Quiesean grew up singing gospel and has been hooked on every genre since. He is a born showman who carries the pop and hip hop side of the Uptown Drive show, and he never stays behind the microphone stand for long. Once he takes his energy out onto the dance floor, the guests follow him, and nobody sits back down until the last song
Raised on gospel and hooked on every genre since, Quiesean is a born showman. His pop and hip hop sets pull guests straight out of their seats, and once he hits the dance floor, nobody sits back down
✓
Certified Original Lineup
The band you see is the band you get
Unlike agency-style entertainment brands that assemble different musicians for each event, Uptown Drive performs with our established original lineup
"Who's Available" band
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Whoever's free that night
Whoever's free
A pool of substitutable players. Worth asking who is actually confirmed for your date
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A new roster, untested together
Untested roster
Reviews often belong to the agency, not the specific players showing up
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A great reel. Worth double-checking
Outdated reel
Promo footage can predate the current roster by years
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A booking agent hands you off
Handed off to strangers
The person who sold you the date is rarely the one leading your event
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First rehearsal: your event
Never rehearsed
Great musicians who may be meeting for the first time on your stage
Uptown Drive
Certified Original Lineup
Same lineup, every event
The same core musicians at every event, never a rotating cast
5.0 from 273 reviews
Our 273 reviews
Earned by our core band, not a rotating brand name
The band you're watching is the band on your stage
The band in the videos
Same musicians you see in our videos, same team on the day
Greg, from your first email to your last song
Greg, from start to finish
You work directly with the bandleader himself, personally invested in your event
Every performer is a member of the band
Our own members, every show
We perform with our own band members, never players pulled from an agency roster
VS
Them vs. Uptown Drive
Whoever's free that night
Certified Original Lineup
Same lineup, every event
The same core musicians at every event, never a rotating cast
A new roster, untested together
5.0 from 273 reviews
Our 273 reviews
Earned by our core band, not a rotating brand name
A great reel. Worth double-checking
The band you're watching is the band on your stage
The band in the videos
Same musicians you see in our videos, same team on the day
A booking agent hands you off
Greg, from your first email to your last song
Greg, from start to finish
You work directly with the bandleader himself, personally invested in your event
First rehearsal: your event
Every performer is a member of the band
Our own members, every show
We perform with our own band members, never players pulled from an agency roster
Hiring a Wedding or Event Band in Austin: FAQs
About
About Uptown Drive
Austin Live Band
About Uptown Drive Austin Live Band
Austin, Texas wedding and corporate event band led by Greg Williams, rated 5.0 from 273 reviews and 11x Couples' Choice
Services
Wedding & Event
Music Services
Wedding & Event Music Services
Wedding reception band, ceremony and cocktail hour music, emcee services, corporate parties, galas and awards shows
Service area
Where We Play
Texas & Beyond
Where We Play Texas & Beyond
Based in Austin, playing Texas, Colorado, California and destination weddings, from the Hill Country to Aspen and LA
Music
Wedding Music
& Song Planning
Wedding Music & Song Planning
First dance songs, custom set lists, grand entrances and DJ music between sets, plus our full wedding song catalog
First dance songs, custom set lists, grand entrances and DJ music between sets, plus our full wedding song catalog
FAQs
Wedding Band FAQs
& Booking Tips
Wedding Band FAQs & Booking Tips
Wedding band cost, when to book, live band vs DJ, set lengths, venue sound limits, travel and corporate event booking
Austin wedding band and corporate event band questions, answered
WEDDINGS
Who is the best live wedding band in Austin?
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Uptown Drive is an Austin wedding band rated 5.0 from 273 reviews and an 11-time WeddingWire Couples' Choice winner. As a Certified Original Lineup, the same musicians perform at every wedding, led by bandleader Greg Williams, so the band in our videos is the band at your reception
How much does a live wedding band cost?
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Every Uptown Drive quote is custom. Your price depends on the date, the city, the size of the band and how much of the day we cover. Send your date, city and venue and we'll put together a personalized proposal
How far in advance should we book a wedding band in Austin?
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Most couples book 8 to 14 months ahead. Spring and fall Saturdays at popular Austin and Hill Country venues go first, while corporate events and holiday parties often book much closer to the date
Should we hire a live band or a DJ for our wedding?
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You don't have to choose. Uptown Drive brings the energy of a live band for the dance sets and DJ music for cocktail hour, dinner and every break, so you get the best of both with one team
How long does a wedding band play?
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It depends on your timeline. Sets usually run about 60 minutes with 15 to 30 minute breaks, and DJ music plays during every break so the dance floor never goes quiet
Can one band cover the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception?
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Yes. We handle ceremony sound with a lapel mic for your officiant, a curated DJ set for cocktail hour, dinner music at the right volume and live dance sets for the reception
Can a wedding band learn our first dance song?
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Yes. Your pre-show worksheet covers your special dances, must-play songs and do-not-play list, and we regularly learn first dance and special dance songs shaped to your timing
Will the band emcee our reception?
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Yes. Greg emcees the whole night, from your grand entrance and toasts to the cake cutting and last dance, and we build the timeline and emcee script with you and your planner ahead of time
Can you do a live sax and DJ grand entrance or set?
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Yes, and it's one of our most requested moments. Greg plays live saxophone over the DJ for your grand entrance, cocktail hour or a high-energy set between the band's dance sets, so the energy never drops
What should we look for when comparing wedding bands in Austin?
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Ask who will actually be on stage, read reviews on Google, WeddingWire and The Knot, and confirm what's included, like an emcee, sound, lighting and DJ music between sets. The best Austin wedding bands can show you videos of the exact lineup you're booking
Are you a wedding band or a cover band?
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Both. Uptown Drive is an Austin, TX live cover band for weddings, playing the dance floor hits your guests know, from Motown and funk to today's pop and hip hop
THE BAND
Is the band at my event the same band I see in the videos?
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Yes. Uptown Drive is a Certified Original Lineup, so the same core musicians rehearse and perform at every contracted wedding and corporate event, never a rotating cast
Is the band interactive with guests?
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Very. Our vocalists and Greg don't stay on the stage. They're out on the dance floor with the couple, the wedding party and your guests all night, pulling people in and keeping the whole room dancing
How many musicians are in Uptown Drive?
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Our core band is six Austin wedding musicians: drums, bass, guitar and keys, saxophone and guitar, and two lead vocalists. Add trumpet for a seven-piece or trumpet and trombone for the full eight-piece band
What kind of music does the band play?
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High-energy dance music across the decades, from Motown and funk to pop, hip hop and today's hits, plus the classics your grandparents will dance to. Your worksheet lets us tailor every set to your crowd
Can we see Uptown Drive perform live before booking?
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Our upcoming public shows are listed on our events page. Most of our dates are private weddings and corporate events, so we can also share recent performance videos from events like yours
Can we hire Uptown Drive for a private party in Austin?
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Yes. Along with weddings and corporate events, we're an Austin party band for hire for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, reunions and private celebrations
CORPORATE EVENTS
How do we hire an Austin corporate event band or holiday party band?
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Send your date, city and venue with your agenda. We build the run of show with your planner, cover program moments with walk-up music and an emcee, and can add your company or venue as an additional insured on our $2M liability policy
Do you play corporate events, galas and company holiday parties?
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All the time. We play company holiday parties, conferences, sales meetings, awards shows and galas, including walk-up and bumper music for honorees and an emcee who keeps your program on schedule
Can the band work around our speeches, awards and agenda?
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Yes. We build the run of show with your planner, cover program moments with walk-up music and stay flexible if the agenda runs long, then open the dance floor the moment the program ends
Are you insured, and can you provide a certificate of insurance?
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Yes. We carry a $2M general aggregate liability policy and can add your venue or company as an additional insured
Do you offer corporate live band karaoke?
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Yes. Your guests take the mic and sing lead with the full live band behind them, one of the most popular add-ons for company holiday parties and corporate events
LOGISTICS AND TRAVEL
Where does Uptown Drive perform?
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We're based in Austin and drive to events all over Texas, including the Hill Country, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth. We also fly to Denver, Aspen, Vail, Beaver Creek, Los Angeles and destination weddings
Do you travel for destination weddings?
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Yes. We've played destination weddings in Aspen, Beaver Creek, Las Vegas, Amelia Island and Aruba, and travel is always built into your quote
Does the band provide sound and lighting?
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Yes. Our audio engineer, professional sound system and stage lighting are part of every package, and we coordinate power and load-in with your venue ahead of time
How much space and power does the band need?
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A stage is recommended but not required, and we don't bring one. If you're adding a stage, we ask for 16 by 20 feet, and our event rider covers power and the rest of the technical details
Can the band work within our venue's sound limits and curfew?
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Yes. Many Austin and Hill Country venues set volume limits and outdoor curfews. Our audio engineer keeps the mix within your venue's rules and we plan the timeline around any hard stop
How do we book Uptown Drive?
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Send your date, city and venue through our contact page. If it's a great match, we'll send a performance contract, our rider and a 50% deposit invoice, and your date is locked in once both are complete