About Big Sand Steel Band

About us

Our band is one of the most established steel drum bands for hire and has some of the best players. You will detect a difference in the quality of the sound when you listen to our demo samples and compare with other steel drum bands. Experienced players have a more refined technique when playing melodies, compared to the clunky, heavy-handed sounds which are often heard by amateur performers. The quality of our sound attracted attention from the production team at BBC EastEnders when they were searching for a steel drum band and we have since covered several episodes starting with the Walford Square carnival, followed by the Walford Fayre (image below) plus various Christmas episodes. It's great to be part of any special celebration and you can rely on our experience to perform a selection of quality melodies to transform your party into a most memorable occasion.

In central London we have many event managers who rely on our service for their annual parties and conferences. Sometimes it's just to play as delegates arrive at a conference or during the drinks reception at a boat party.

We offer a vibrant 5 piece band (image below) for clients that have the space. The 5 piece band is a real treat for parties and events, imagine how it would sound at your party after hearing the demo.

If you are unsure which option would be best, send an enquiry and you will get lots of advice and support to make those decisions. We can also give you feedback about any venue where we have performed, etc.

For clients that hire the more vibrant 5 piece band, they will enjoy the benefit of 2 additional cylinders to power a highly tuned machine. Lots of reggae, lots of calypso and lots of fun if you are hosting a Hawaiian or Caribbean themed party. However, 80% of bookings are covered by the 3 piece band because of the scale of the party or event. This option provides an uplifting and melodic repertoire as background music during a drinks party or wedding.

What is different about our steel drum band?

Our players, equipment, presentation and performance are developed to impress the most discerning clients. We make every effort to fully understand your specific requirements and any instructions for the event. Having worked with the best party planners, we know the drill and deliver a seamless service. 

Below is the 5 piece band awaiting the arrival of 200 guests at a party in Marlow. Our band arrives an hour before the event and setting up takes less than 20 minutes.

Below is another company party where our 3 players covered just the drinks reception as guests were greeted with a glass of strong rum punch.

Going forward, we are currently receiving inquiries for many celebrations after lockdown, so please book early for key dates. If you are not in the U.K and looking for a quality steel drum band, please send an inquiry. If you really want to impress your guests at your new mansion, penthouse, private villa at Coral Bloom or onboard your new Sunseeker Superyacht, we would be delighted to entertain you. Online, we have an extensive footprint throughout #SocialMedia and you can follow us on Twitter/bigsands. We also have a colourful T-shirt shop through an online fulfillment partner. All social media and marketing communications are managed by the band's leader who is nicknamed Bigsands.

Email responses are within 24 hours during the busy season. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where do your players come from? The Caribbean. Our band consist of a tight crew who have worked together for many years.

Q. Is your steel band based in London? Yes. 

Q. How long does your steel band play for? For most bookings, it is just for the drinks reception. For other bookings, consideration is given for the requirements of the event.

Q. How much does your steel band cost for weddings? There is a minimum chargeout fee of £595. Our pricing model is very consistent and transparent.

Q. Do you play the wedding march? Yes.

Q. Do you have a playlist? Yes.

Q. How long does your steel band take to set up? Less than 20 minutes.

Q. Does your steel band have public liability insurance? Yes. Includes over £5m indemnity.

Q. Can we take photos of the band? Yes. You are welcome to take pictures and record sound with your new iphone 14 pro max with 48MP sensor, OnePlus 10 Pro, Google Pixel 7, Sony Xperia 1 IV or any other smartphones. If you use a DJI Mavic 3 Drone or similar, we would appreciate a snippet of the footage.
Commercial use without consent is prohibited.

Feel free to call or send an inquiry from the contact page.

Performance & Pricing

To find out the cost to hire our steel drum band it would be best to send an enquiry. There is a minimum chargeout rate of £595 and our pricing is very consistent for all counties that we cover. If you send an inquiry from the contact page, we will understand your requirements much better.

Most of our bookings are to provide quality background music for a drinks reception, usually for around 1.5 to 2 hours and this forms the basis of our pricing strategy. The 3 players ensemble covers over 80% of bookings and is the most requested format that we use.

You can expect to be taken on an exciting melodic journey characterised by real steel band DNA from the Caribbean, this means real musicians performing live music without backing tracks. Compare our live music with other steel bands and book with full confidence.