We love wedding fairs and events - they're a great way to get out and meet people. From the point of view of brides, grooms and their families, they make life so easy! You get to see everything you need under one roof.
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As a wedding band, we're very pleased to see that marriages are on the up!
The number of weddings in Britain had been falling steadily since 1972 (when there were 400,000 wedding a year!), according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), but that suddenly increased in 2010 and has been steadily climbing since then. The most recent figures available show there were over 262,000 weddings in the UK in 2012. That's an awful lot of wedding entertainment needed!
The Souljers are well known around the Midlands for our appearances at local wedding fayres, events and shows. Many wedding venues around Leicester, including The City Rooms, recommend Adam Thomas & The Souljers. Although weddings are our speciality, we also cater for a range of other events for corporate clients and charities.
Corporate events
The Souljers have played many corporate events. We are known to be easy to work with and, most importantly, to provide a great night of entertainment! Our band's fully choreographed sets are very popular for any corporate gathering. We were the resident band at Leicester Tigers for six years. The Souljers have also played at awards ceremonies such as the Leicester City FC Player of the Year awards, as well as other local events, national shows and international marketing events.
Our clients for corporate events range from local Leicestershire companies through big names in the car industry like BMW, Mini and Nissan to other well-known brands such as L'Oreal and Adidas.
Charity events
Always happy to support good causes, The Souljers play many charity events every year and are happy to provide entertainment for fundraisers including Rainbows, LOROS, Children in Need and lots more.
Coverage area
Adam Thomas & The Souljers provide a few different options when it comes to your event. We're based in Leicestershire, but generally cover the whole of the UK for events and have played in London, Birmingham and both the North and South of England. But we're not just limited to the UK! We have played abroad plenty of times, including Cyprus, Spain and the Canary islands.
Music can be so much more than just a catchy beat and interesting lyrics. Soul music has shown that music can bring together people from all races and backgrounds. As soul music continues to increase in popularity, it is worth looking back at how it all began.
The origins of soul
Soul music began in the 1950s as a melting-pot of gospel, blues, funk and even jazz. It provided an outlet for black people and minorities in American inner cities. What started as a personal anecdote about life under racism and class struggles, quickly gained in popularity.
Early pioneers such as James Brown, Sam Cooke, and Ray Charles helped to bridge the gap between black and white through music. The music had the feelings and power of gospel and blues, yet it provided a catchy and danceable groove that had more in common with funk. Many soul artists also added elements of jazz into their recordings.
Soon, Aretha Franklin became famous for her powerful voice and heartfelt lyrics. As a strong black woman, Franklin was the antithesis to America's then segregated society. Her songs, while not lyrically political, helped to bring society closer together through universal themes such as love, devotion, and honesty. Most important of all, her songs were well-written and became very popular on the radio.
'Soul'jers, get it? ;)
Motown Records was formed during the height of soul's popularity, and they helped produce such renowned acts as The Jackson Five and Marvin Gaye. The Jackson Five in particular became extremely popular, and lead singer Michael Jackson eventually became the highest grossing pop artist of all time. For a musical genre that started in the ghettos, soul quickly surpassed all expectations by providing world-class music and entertainment.
Soul today
Soul music is remembered as the loving ballads of Marvin Gaye, the chaotic concerts of James Brown, and the soothing lyrics of The Commodores. Its revival has begun with acts like Adele and Joss Stone. Soul music continues to evolve, yet its unique ability to warm hearts while inspiring dance has never changed.
And we continue to bring a touch of soul to weddings and events today. The Souljers wedding entertainment covers many different musical styles including some of the best soul classics, played at venues locally in Leicester, as well as at venues around the UK.
There are several beautiful wedding venues in Leicestershire to choose from. No matter what you’re looking for, there are plenty of options for your special evening. We are pleased to highlight three of our favourite venues around Leicester which The Souljers have played at many times.
Kilworth House
The Kilworth House Hotel is a lovely country house, built at the end of the 19th century. There are three venues to accommodate both small, intimate gatherings and larger parties. The Shakespeare Room holds 20 guests and is the perfect setting for a cosy ceremony and reception. The Library Restaurant has a domed ceiling and chandeliers and can accommodate 40 guests. Finally, The Orangery is an awe-inspiring room with natural light and wonderful views of the countryside. The room holds 130 people and is the perfect place to bring an outdoor wedding inside.
In Kilworth's beautiful orangery
Kilworth House has lists of wedding suppliers for any special needs the couple may have. Each room at Kilworth is unique. Although there is no dedicated bridal suite, the couple can choose from a wide array of luxurious rooms.
Sketchley Grange
The Sketchley Grange Hotel & Spa offers many options for wedding accommodation. They have four rooms that are perfect for civil ceremonies. These range from the intimate garden pagoda, which holds 18 guests inside, to the opulent and open Bradgate Suite, which seats 300 guests.
Asian weddings are a specialty of the Sketchley Grange. Their caterers are experts in preparing Asian cuisine from many cultures, or your caterer is welcome to use the hotel’s facilities.
They also offer complimentary accommodation for the bride and groom. The Sketchley Grange offers a number of different dining packages for both breakfast and evening buffets. The hotel offers different suite options for guests, and the attached spa can provide a welcome treat to both the happy couple and wedding guests.
Hothorpe Hall
Hothorpe Hall’s history dates back to nearly 900 AD. This beautiful and scenic venue offers stunning settings for wedding photos, no matter what time of year.
Hothorpe Hall has wedding packages to suit any couple’s needs. The winter wedding package takes advantage of the splendour of the snow-covered grounds for photos and the cosy interior for the ceremony. The intimate wedding package is designed for couples who don’t need the entire venue to themselves and can accommodate parties of 30 to 60 guests. The platinum package features exclusive use of the venue, and the twilight package is suitable for evening weddings that use the venue after an earlier party has left the hall. Accommodation includes a bridal suite and rooms for guests. The hotel offers both a breakfast wedding menu and an evening buffet menu to keep your guests happy.
All of these choices are wonderful venues in which to hold a wedding and they come highly recommended by us! Each of them has a unique history and charm that will leave long-lasting memories and provide the perfect start to a life of bliss.