Interview: Gruff - Wrapped Up

Meet Gruff Owen - Wrapped Up’s drummer. Gruff is originally from Garndolbenmaen, and is about to finish his final year at The Atrium yn Cardiff where he studies the drums. A relatively new face to The Function Hub, Gruff is an experienced player who has now taken his hand to being in a wedding band.

What was the thing that got you into music?

One day I decided I wanted to learn to play the drums - the reason why is still a mystery. 

Who are your musical influences? 

Bill Stewart, Mark Guiliana, Elvin Jones, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Joe Morello, Nate Smith, Eric Harland, Paul Motian

What is your favourite song to play live? 

Be My Baby by The Ronettes

What do you enjoy most about playing live? 

The enjoyment of seeing other people having a great time.

What do you feel is the hardest thing about being a wedding musician? 

Remembering all of the songs!

Do you have any stand-out gigs that you've played in the past? 

The first gig with Wrapped Up was a memorable one. So much preparation had gone into it, and it was nice to perform with each other for the first time. 

If you could create and attend a dream gig with 3 acts, dead or alive, who would they be and why? 

John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Chris Potter

Watch Gruff in Wrapped Up’s promo video below!

Blog: Our most popular video of all time!

In this week’s blog, we’re looking at what we’ve been doing during the lockdown. The lack of weddings means that we have to get a bit creative with the content we put out. Read on to see how exactly we’ve been doing that.

Our bands have been busy creating content to entertain you in these strange gig-less times. Four Kicks, The Fuse, The Swing and Three Strikes are in the process of creating videos of popular songs from their sets for your enjoyment. These will be posted in their entirety to our Facebook page and clips will be posted to our Instagram profile. 

In the first installment of our Isolation Sessions, Four Kicks gave us their rendition of ‘Footloose’ by Kenny Loggins. The video now has over 5,500 views on Facebook making it the most watched Function Hub video of all time! If you missed it, take a look below!

More Isolation Sessions are on their way, which will include classic tunes in both English and Welsh. If you’d like to request a song by a band - let us know and we’ll try to make it happen! 

We have also started hosting a weekly music quiz live on our Facebook page. The live streams for the quiz have reached over 2,500 people in the last 2 weeks with over 100 people taking part in the quiz itself. We will be running the quiz on our Facebook page at 8pm on Friday night for the next couple of weeks, so if you think you can beat the current high score of 30.5 join us on The Function Hub Facebook page! 

The best way for you to keep track of the things we’re doing during the lockdown is to follow our social media pages - you can find these below:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/thefunctionhub/ 

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionhub/ 

Twitter

https://twitter.com/FunctionHub

Interview: Tomos - Four Kicks

Tomos is the guitarist for Four Kicks - we asked him a few questions about being a wedding musician, and particularly one of North Wales’ most popular wedding bands - here’s what he had to say:

What was the thing that got you into music?

Finding Eric Clapton’s live album ‘24 Nights’ in my dad’s CDs box in the attic! Banger of a CD!`

Who are your musical influences? 

A lot of people from a lot of genres! Iconic blues players like Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton and Peter Green. The most notable for me is probably Bruce Springsteen! He’s also influenced who I listen to these days… people like Sam Fender, Dave Hause, Brian Fallon (Gaslight Anthem). 

What is your favourite song to play live?

Depends on the occasion! Something upbeat with a lot of guitar parts, probably! Bryn puts on his dancing shoes when we play Johnny B Goode or Footloose. 

What do you enjoy most about playing live? 

Seeing everyone have a great time! A gig is a lot easier when everyone is dancing! 

What do you feel is the hardest thing about being a wedding musician? 

Relearning the songs after a short break! Remembering that some of the songs are in different keys to the original etc. Just little things more than anything! Looking after Bryn too - he’s hard work sometimes! 

Do you have any stand-out gigs that you've played in the past?

There are a few! A wedding in Rhosgoch in 2018 - Massive evening party with a load of farmers without shirts dancing on top of each others’ shoulders and not letting us finish the set! A recent gig in Nanhoron Arms, Nefyn too - The band was worrying that the turnout wouldn’t be great, and Ioan Gwyn forgot the mixer for the PA on Anglesey (lemon!). Luckily, a lot of people turned up before the set started and Ioan made it back in time! Everyone was dancing from the first to last songs! 

If you could create and attend a dream gig with 3 acts, dead or alive, who would they be and why? 

Bruce Springsteen, Sam Fender a George Harrison - That would be good, wouldn’t it?

Watch Four Kicks’ video below!

Interview: Geth - Sound City & The 1965

Geth is the guitarist for The 1965, the bassist for Sound City, and one of our wedding pianists - here is an interview with our resident rockstar:

Who got you into music?

Freddie Mercury, my brother, my parents and my music teacher Walter Glyn Davies.

Who are your musical influences? 

Anything that's good. My influences changed as I grew up. My dad was a great musician and played with the likes of ‘Gerry and the Pacemakers’. He put me onto Don Williams, Cash, Duane Eddy and traditional Irish music. Then Jerry Lee, Sun Ra, Queen, Y Cyrff, Sabbath, Deep Purple, Slayer, Smashing Pumpkins, etc etc. I'm very much into extreme music, be it any style. I'm a big fan of black metal such as Behemoth but also some strange classical stuff. Love The Clash too. If it's good, it's good.

What is your favourite song to play live? 

The last song in the set. Because I'm usually knackered! Erm, 'George Harrison‘ I Got My Mind Set On You' for Sound City. For The 1965 it’s ‘Play That Funky Music’ - I get to shred.

What do you enjoy most about playing live?

Just playing tunes the audience enjoy listening to. I also enjoy the challenge of keeping the floor full by reading the vibe. The banter is good fun too, especially in Sound City. You never know what's going to happen. That's why it's very entertaining. We don't write setlists, we let the audience dictate what we play. As we play totally live we can jump into any song really... And we usually do.

What do you feel is the hardest thing about being a wedding musician?

Nothing. We play to nice people, become old bald rock stars for 2 hours and get fed. It's all good.

Do you have any stand-out gigs that you've played in the past?

Before this I was in a band playing original stuff. We put the Christmas lights on in a large town with Napalm Death one year. I guess that was epic. I've also played with The Commitments which was interesting. Most of the weddings I play are memorable. Great chips, great tunes, great people. It always ranges.

If you could create and attend a dream gig with 3 acts, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

Tough one. If it was a line up it would have to be bands I never got the chance to see. 

Sepultura (original line up), The Clash, and seeing Queen would have been good. Ole Fred.

Watch Sound City and The 1965’s videos below!

Sound City

The 1965

Interview: Phil Vaughan Films

In these extremely strange times for all, we’ve reached out to a few suppliers around North Wales to give you an insight into what it means to be a wedding supplier in North Wales. We recently caught up with Phil Vaughan Films and this is what he had to say:

Instagram: @philvfilms

Tell us a bit about yourself and services you provide…

I’m Phil from Anglesey. I am a freelance videographer with a passion for capturing live events, especially weddings. I have a very minimal approach to filming enabling me to capture the natural moments of the day and in turn this puts the couples at ease, as I don’t use large cliché video equipment that can be intimidating and unnecessary. 

When did you start your business?

I started the business in 2018, but I have been creating videos as a hobby since around 2015.

What inspired you to create your business?

My biggest inspiration was my passion for creating videos and telling a story - every wedding has its own story. I’ve always had a creative streak and wanted to work for myself, so it was an easy decision to set up my own company. We also live in a stunning area which is inspiring to work in, I love the countryside and coastal areas of North Wales.

@philvfilms

What are the benefits of using your service for couples getting married?

I’m easy going, love to meet couples and hear all about their wedding plans. I enjoy creating a cinematic story of their special day that’s unique to them - It’s the perfect way to document such an important day. I’m easy to talk to, I’m bilingual which is also a big advantage when talking to couples and when editing speeches and ceremonies in Welsh. My wife and I also took a long time deciding on a wedding videographer back in 2011, and I have always prided myself on attention to detail and making the films unique to each couple. 

What part of the Wedding Day is your favourite to shoot? 

It depends on the wedding I’m at. I’d say there are big highlights in all weddings I film. Some have stand out speeches, a touching ceremony or energetic party atmosphere in the evening. It’s always fun! Every wedding is different and each one has its own part that stands out. 

What is your favourite thing about the Wedding industry in North Wales?

The stunning venues - There are so many to choose from and also the fact many now have bespoke weddings on farms and private land which mixes things up nicely.

@philvfilms

You can find Phil at:

Website - www.philvfilms.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PhilVFilms/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/philvfilms/

Blog: What's going on?

In our blog post this week, we’re catching up with what’s been happening at The Function Hub in February. We had an incredibly varied month with our bands attending a number of different events. 

The Swing - The Outbuildings, Llangaffo

The Swing were invited to play at The Outbuilding in Llangaffo for a very special birthday party. The Outbuildings is a venue that is very familiar to us at The Function Hub, with a number of weddings happening there every year. The intimate room is perfect for a small group looking for a very special atmosphere for their event. The Swing were in their element singing the classics by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin for the guests, with a few songs from Elvis and Michael Buble thrown in. 

The Outbuildings, Llangaffo

The Fuse - Nanhoron Arms, Nefyn

On the same night, one of our new bands ‘The Fuse’ were entertaining the residents of Nefyn at the Nanhoron Arms Hotel. This was a chance for The Fuse to play their brand new set in its entirety. The set included classics by Queen and The Strokes, as well as songs by some of the biggest bands of the nineties such as Spice Girls and Nirvana. The crowd are always very lively in Nefyn, and it is a favourite of a few of our bands due to the reception the bands receive. Four Kicks and Wrapped Up have also played there recently, and we’re sure to send some more bands that way at some point. 

If you haven’t seen our last blog post where we interview Nathan from The Fuse - click here to see how Nathan had his first musical experience on his last day at Primary School. 

Wrapped Up - Mona Show Ground

Wrapped Up were given the opportunity to play in the High Sheriff of Gwynedd’s Valentines Charity Auction and Dance in February. The dance floor was full of jivers according to the High Sheriff, and there was plenty of fun to go around the crowd that was more than 100 strong. The big crowd was no issue for Elin Angharad Williams and the band, and they were truly comfortable performing to a large crowd at such an exciting occasion. We received great words from the HIgh Sheriff, and it’s very possible that Wrapped Up will be one of our most popular bands going forward. Check their profile out here. 

Portmeirion Wedding Fayre

At the end of the month, we attended the wedding fayre at Portmeirion once again. We are well aware of the locations of Portmeirion by now - Castell Deudraeth, Hercules Hall and the Mirror Room. Portmeirion was our most popular venue last year! 

There were a number of well-known suppliers from North Wales and beyond showcasing their services to couples including: Howard Hughes Magician, Event Lounge, Gav’ Discos and La Mor Bridal. Rhianwen Pugh was there playing the harp and setting the mood - you can see more of her work on her profile.  It was an amazing opportunity for a large number of couples to see what is available to them in the locality. One couple had engaged that morning due to the leap day! It was a special day at a very special venue, and we’re looking forward to coming back to Portmeirion in the year. 

Nanhoron Arms Hotel, Nefyn

Interview: Meet Nathan from 'The Fuse'

We caught up with Nathan - the frontman of one of our newer bands, The Fuse. After explosive performances at the Venue Cymru Wedding Fayre and the Nanhoron Arms Hotel in Nefyn over the last few months, The Fuse are cementing themselves as one of the most exciting wedding bands we have on the roster. Here’s what Nathan had to say:

What was the thing that got you into music?

“Bit of a strange one, but on the last day of primary school the teacher let the class have a little going away party! We were encouraged to bring our favourite CD’s so we could bop along together. It was at that point one of my mates put on the first Linkin Park record. It really peaked my interest and music has been burning a hole in my (and for those first couple of years, my Mum’s) pocket ever since!”

Who are your musical influences?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

"The ultimate frontman, Freddie Mercury, closely followed by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and Liam Gallagher. On the guitar side of things I can’t choose between Angus & Malcolm Young of AC/DC.. Those catchy simple riffs are what made me hassle my parents for a guitar!"

Freddie Mercury

What is your favourite song to play? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

"My favourite song to play live is definitely Mr Brightside by The Killers because it just goes OFF!"⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀

What do you enjoy most about playing live?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

"The thing I enjoy most about playing live is the crowd reaction. There’s nothing better than when everyone in the room is 100% in the zone and singing/dancing along together!" 

Do you have any stand-out gigs that you've played in the past?

“My number 1 would have to be The Cavern Club... just walking down those stairs, the whole place peppered with photos of the iconic bands that have passed through.

It was also the first time someone did my soundcheck for me, so it felt super glamorous! My family and friends all made the trip down, including my late father. So it’s definitely close to my heart, that one.”

The Cavern Club, Liverpool.

What do you feel is the hardest thing about being a wedding musician? 

“I think the hardest thing, whilst also being the most rewarding thing, is crafting a good set. That process of trial and error, knowing what your audience wants and mastering your engagement with them. It can sometimes be a frustrating procedure, but it also makes sure that your next show is always your best one!”

To finish, If you could create and attend a dream gig with 3 acts, dead or alive, who would they be?

“My dream lineup would be; Oasis, Queen & The Who.

Oasis because it’s what we all want! It could be legendary or a complete mess involving brotherly fisticuffs.. and I’d want to be there for either.

Queen because they, in my opinion, are the greatest band of all time! They encapsulated so many genres throughout the years that they’ve become almost impossible to define.

And finally The Who, simply because they are the pioneers  of going absolutely CRAZY on stage!”

Check out The Fuse’s profile and video by clicking here!

Introducing: The Function Hub Blog!

The Function Hub is approaching the 2-year mark since our first wedding, and a lot has happened since then. We were recently thinking: “If only there was a way to document what our business had been up to since our first gig in detail...”

… So we’ve made a blog!

As an ever-growing company, we’d like to show you what’s going on at The Function Hub through a weekly blog here on our website! We’ll be using this as an opportunity for you to get to know the company in more depth than what is already available to you on our social media platforms.

So what should you expect from our brand new blog? Here are 5 things we’re going to cover:

The Fuse by Kristina Banholzer

1. Weddings (Obviously…) 

We naturally attend a lot of weddings - it’s what we do. Every wedding is unique, every detail is personalised and has a special meaning to the wedding party. Our bands aim to provide unforgettable entertainment, but if you do end up forgetting, our blog will be here providing insight into some of the weddings we cover over the course of a year.

2. Our Bands

We’d love for you to get to know our bands a bit better, so we’re going to reach out to some members to answer questions that will give you some insight into the life of a wedding musician. What’s the first album they ever bought? What was the most memorable first dance? You can find out on our blog.

3. Wedding Suppliers

Our blog will give us an opportunity to showcase some of our favourite wedding suppliers based in North Wales and beyond. The local wedding industry is booming, and many small businesses are blossoming into national powerhouses. North Wales is an area where wedding suppliers can really thrive, and we’d love to give you some insight into what actually goes into putting on the perfect wedding from a supplier’s perspective.

4. Wedding Fayres

The ultimate accumulation of local wedding suppliers - the fayre. As a supplier in North Wales, it is of utmost importance that we get our name out to engaged couples, and what better way to do it than at a wedding fayre? In our blog we’ll cover the various wedding fayres we attend so that you can take a better look at all the wedding suppliers available to couples in North Wales!

5. Major Developments 

At the end of last year, we announced 2 new bands - Wrapped Up and The Fuse. The bookings have been flying in for these new and exciting groups. The introduction of Wrapped Up and The Fuse was our first major development as a company since the introduction of the original bands right at the beginning. At the time, we were keeping you up to date via our Social Media channels, but with the addition of this blog we’ll be able to delve in deeper to any big developments at The Function Hub!

To find out when our next blog post is published - keep an eye out on our social media!

Wrapped Up by Kristina Banholzer

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