Our first Manchester Wedding Jam of 2014 happened in March and took place at the fabulous Great John Street Hotel in Manchester. I’d been to a friend’s wedding there a few years back and knew that the top floor with roof garden would be a great location, should the Manchester weather hold out.
Dialogue with our bride and groom started well in advance of their big day… I knew this was going to be a top party when they sent me an email listing the kind of music that they liked… Fela Kuti, Talking Heads and “any Nile Rodgers!”.
Through Wedding Jam we prefer to understand exactly what our client likes, but it also helps to know what they don’t like. In this case… “Some bands we don’t like are: The Killers, Abba, Mumford & Sons, Coldplay, U2 & The Darkness”. We aren’t music snobs at Wedding Jam, far from it! But it’s fair to say that this list provided us with a knowing chuckle, while re-affirming belief in our WJ mission.
I arrived at the hotel and took the lift to the top floor, where I was greeted by the sound of African drumming. Thankfully the weather was mild, so outdoor sparklers and limbo action had the party well underway. A quick chat with the lovely bride and I began to set up along with my WJ driver / technician.
It seamed fitting to kick my set off with one of my favourite tracks…
& here’s my full set list:
Paul Simon – Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (Tangoterje Dub Remix)
Fela Kuti – My Lady Frustration
Mr Mendel – Fela’s Fight (Local Talk Records)
Van Morrisson – Moondance (Couple’s first dance)
Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares For Me
Johnny Mercer – Ac Cent Tchu Ate The Positive
James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good)
Jocelyn Brown – Somebody Else’s Guy
Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody (Muzikant Edit)
Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke (The Reflex Revision)
The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back (88 Remix)
Eric B & Rakim – I Know You Got Soul
Diana Ross – Upside Down
Sister Sledge – He’s The Greatest Dancer
Daft Punk – Get Lucky (Daft Punk Remix)
Chic – Good Times (Cold Duck re-edit)
The Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
Alexander O’Neil – Criticize
Fingerman – Too Much
Mantronix – Got To Have Your Love (GM’S 2013 Beef)
Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place (Maybe Ruthie Mix)
Tom Tom Club – Genius Of Love
Sly & The Family Stone – Family Affair
Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours
Jackie Wilson – (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
The Reflex – Ain’t No Mountain
Frank Wilson – Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)
R. Dean Taylor – There’s A Ghost In my House
Martha & The Vandellas – (Love Is Like A) Heatwave
Pharrell Williams – Happy
David Bowie – Modern Love
Stone Roses – I Am the Resurrection
The Reflex Revision – Town Called Malice
Primal Scream – Movin’ On Up
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – (Ain’t Nothing Like) The Real Thing (Pillow Talk Edit)
Sister Sledge – Thinking Of You (Killer Funk Edit)
Fleetwood Mac – Everywhere
After their honeymoon, Wedding Jam was delighted to receive a nice thank you card in the post, along with the following testimonial…
We were delighted with DJ Dan Soulsmith who rocked our wedding reception with a first class set inspired by us. The quality and service from this highly professional and knowledgeable company is second to none. From our initial meeting with Paul McGuire, we knew we’d struck gold. He totally got the sound and feel we were after.
Finally, a wedding DJ company that matches the weddings of our time. Absolutely brilliant! Our friends and family did not sit down all night!! Thank you Wedding Jam for making our day.
– Neil & Ros
Wedding photography by www.davidstubbsphotography.co.uk