Dave Murphy Band
Weddings
Music makes the party.
Of all the elements involved in a great wedding, there is probably none more important to its ultimate success than your live entertainment. The right band can create an incredible night that your guests will always remember, whereas the wrong band can lead to a night you will quickly want to forget!
The Dave Murphy Band is your best choice because of an unmatched combination of experience, repertoire, professionalism and musicianship. We strive for excellence on a musical and business level in an industry where both are often mutually exclusive. What it means for you is not only a band that performs an incredible range of great music, but a band that has the commitment and knowledge to make your wedding the best it can possibly be.
Experience
The band has performed for more than a decade, and weddings are now the mainstay of our work. The experience of over 3000 performances means that we know exactly what it takes to put on a great show. We have seen it all, and take a great deal of advance preparation to make sure every aspect of your wedding runs smoothly. Our experience allows us to deal with any unexpected problems so your wedding runs without a hitch.
We have performed all over southern Ontario, and chances are good we have performed your venue on numerous occasions. Above all, our experience at countless weddings has taught us that the key ingredient to an amazing party is a great variety of everyone’s favourite songs.
WE Work With You To Bring Your Perfect Day to Life.
Let’s talk about your wedding day and party. We can provide music for the ceremony, cocktail hour, over dinner and dance. Whether it is the full band, trio, duo or solo piano we are the perfect fit.
The letters of thanks we regularly receive from our clients are our very best advertising – read them below in the reviews section.
Repertoire
At all times our goal at your wedding is to get every one of your guests dancing. The real art in making this happen is not only having all the right songs, but knowing exactly when to play them. Never having a predetermined setlist means that we are able to choose the best song at a moment’s notice based on whatever music your guests are enjoying the most. The band’s enormous repertoire spans all of popular music, from the turn of the century to the current century. Our ability to perform jazz with grace and elegance is matched by our ability to rock without compromise, and play everything in between. The result is that all guests both young and old will get to hear the songs they love. Because we encourage you to make requests from our songlists, you will get to hear all your personal favourites too.
Professionalism
From the moment you first inquire about the band to the moment that a wonderful night has concluded, we are constantly committed to making sure that every facet of your wedding is professionally taken care of. A successful wedding involves a great deal of preparation, and we make sure that all your questions are quickly answered and all arrangements are planned in advance. Every detail is discussed and confirmed, giving you peace of mind that your night will be a great success. We arrive early on the day of your event to fully check our sound system before your guests arrive. We use first rate sound and lighting equipment, and our constant aim is to give you quality sound that is never too loud, but just right for dancing and conversation. Whenever the band is offstage we use our stereo equipment to provide you with music throughout your event, including beautiful background music during cocktails and dinner, as well as dance music during band breaks so that the party continues. When the band hits the stage, we exude energy, fun and personality in addition to all the great music. As your host I’m happy to make announcements for you, and I routinely lead couples through optional events such as the bouquet toss and garter in a way that is quick, simple and entertaining.
Musicianship
Even if you have a professional, experienced band playing all the biggest hits, it all means nothing if the songs sound lousy. Great music is the most important aspect of all, and this is where the band truly excels. Our talented musicians perform together constantly, which means that we know our music inside out. And unlike other bands where you often hear far more music than you actually see being performed, we never use computers or backing tracks to artificially enhance our performance. What you always get is great live music, and having first rate musicians means that your favorite songs will always sound just the way you remember them. What enables the band to do such a great job is that we truly love all the different styles of music we play. We are dedicated to our craft, and we are incredibly fortunate to enjoy the most wonderful job imaginable. We love to make music, and it shows; let us show how we can make our music work for you!
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We received a really awesome thank you card and pictures that brought back memories of one of our favorite shows from this past year: an epic birthday / anniversary party for Carol and Tim at Blue Mountain Heaven! This venue near Collingwood was the perfect spot for a party and one we won’t soon forget! Carol and Tim were amazing hosts and we are so grateful to them for having us on such a special occasion.
What a fabulous wedding for Madison and David this past Saturday at @paramount1982 in Vaughan. Their first dance was made extra special by a beautiful monogrammed dance floor. Everyone loved it when some family members joined the band to do some freestyle rapping! It’s a great sign of a truly successful night when both the couple and the parents write such nice thank you letters. Thanks so much to Madison, David and family for having us!
Wow what a night at the stunning @hotelxtoronto a few weeks ago!
The huppa on the 28th floor featured a beautiful view of the Toronto skyline.
Super talented groom Adam serenaded his bride Lara with a song he wrote, and then he and his band took to the stage for a few songs and rocked the house!
It was a wonderful evening right to the very last moment when they re-enacted the famous scene from Dirty Dancing at the end of the night!
Congrats Lara and Adam!
This past Thursday we were thrilled to return as the house band at the annual Humour Me CEO comedy fundraiser for the sixth year running. This show features CEOs trying their hand at stand up comedy and raising money for charity. This year’s event raised over two million dollars for Sick Kids Hospital! Lawyer Marie Henin made quite the entrance for her routine! Previous headliners at this event have included Howie Mandel, Gary Gulman, and Jerry Seinfeld.
Graydon Hall Manor (@graydonhall_couturecuisine) is one seriously gorgeous location to have a wedding. The building and grounds of this restored mansion in North York have so much character! It was an absolutely incredible wedding for Melissa and Mike there this past Saturday. The first dance by the fountain surrounded by sparklers was a very romantic touch.
Happy Clients
Perhaps our best advertising is what our clients have to say about the band.
“Of the myriad of vendors we dealt with in preparing for the wedding (ceremony venue, reception venue, rehearsal dinner, dress maker, tuxedo rental, makeup artist, hair stylist, photographer, transportation, cakes, hotels, preacher, invitations, etc etc), you were by far the best by all measures. We were impressed by your solid professionalism – a clear and simple contract, very responsive and dependable interactions. We were very pleased with your quality – Awesome dance tunes, great rapport with the audience, incredible sound. And we were grateful for your customer sensitivity – taking the time to understand our wants, planning the evening in advance and clearly communicating everything. Thanks to you and your band for making such a difference on our special day….we wish all the vendors were cut from the same cloth as you.” – Jackie and Neil

“Thank you so much. You really made our wedding a huge success. People can’t stop telling us how amazing a job you guys did. Everyone loved the music and the dancing, there were a number of sore feet the next day – a good sign of a great party. We will be sure to recommend you to any of our friends.” – Sara and James

“Steve and I have arrived home from our honeymoon and it’s back to reality!! We both wanted to thank you SO much for doing an excellent job for us at our wedding. I can’t even begin to explain to you how happy we were with the band – absolutely amazing. Everyone loved the music (young & old alike!) – you certainly have a special knack for reading the crowd. I can honestly say that the decision to have you play was one of our very best for the day. It was also a pleasure to deal with you beforehand – you are incredibly professional, organized (yay!) and obviously very talented. Thank you very much Dave – we wish you all the best.” – Yvonne & Steve
A few more testimonials from our clients.
Planning
We consult extensively with our clients to make sure every aspect of your celebration is meticulously planned so you can enjoy your day to the fullest with zero worries or concerns. The experience of literally thousands of events means you will be in the hands of true professionals.
Our Arrival
Our entire band is always on site hours before your event is set to begin to fully set up and test everything. Our early set up ensures everything will be just perfect the moment your guests first begin to arrive.
Ceremony
Beautiful music makes your ceremony truly unforgettable. Whether you opt for DJ music, a solo keyboardist or a duo of keyboard and guitar, we provide lovely music as your guests begin arriving. One the ceremony starts we plan with you to pick the perfect songs for your procession, signing and recessional.

Cocktails
We always endeavour to provide a lively ambiance during cocktails. This can take the form of DJ music, or a live solo, duo or trio performance. If you have any specific music you’d like to hear during cocktails just let us know – we’re always happy to accommodate your requests.

Dinner
A full musical experience means exactly the right music at the times. During dinner we can provide lovely DJ background music through our sound system. Live music is also an option during this time. Maybe a solo pianist or even the full band – dancing between courses is a lot of fun!

DJ
During band breaks we provide DJ dance music so the party continues unabated. If you know all the favourite songs your crowd will love just let us know and we’ll be happy to put them on for you. This is also a great time to play music from your cultural background.
Dancing
Dancing is the specialty of the Dave Murphy Band! Guests young and old will have the night of their lives dancing and singing to all their favourite songs. Great music is what truly creates an unforgettable wedding.
Perform With Us
Do you love to sing or play an instrument? Why not join the band and perform your favourite song? Do you have an incredibly talented guest attending your wedding? Then let’s get them onstage with the band. The special moments create a lasting memory!
Photos
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Meet the band!
Our six piece line up complete with horns. From the left it’s Dan, Tony, Dave, Mike, Peter and Jim.
With the Late, Great Jeff Healey
First Dance
At The Old Mill in Toronto. The band performs over 50 weddings every year.
Nobody plays it like Jimmy!
Up close and personal with our fabulous sax man Jim Lawlis live at The Orbit Room.