“Nicky and I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the fantastic set you and the band did at our wedding. We had such a fantastic time and you guys really got the party started. Everyone was saying on the night and afterwards what a great set you guys did, so thanks very much!”
- Alan and Nicky

Who are Florence and the Soul Bears?

An outstanding voice and a bewitching performer, backed by superb musicians and offering a huge repertoire of songs from the past six decades, Florence and the Soul Bears are the band to make your event stand out. Based in Bristol, UK our mission is to spread both classic and modern soul, as well as blues, funk and motown wherever we go.

Florence Pardoe has been wowing audiences for over a decade in the UK and abroad. Best known as the front woman of The Bare Souls, you may have also seen her perform with Cut Capers or on the function circuit with many of the top bands in the south-west.

We are proud to say that some of the top sessions musicians from this end of the country count themselves as Soul Bears. Between them they've worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Freyia, Ellie Ford, Backbeat Soundsystem, peformed on ITV, CBBC, Jazz FM, at fesitivals such as Glastonbury, Boomtown, Shambala, Wilderness and that's only scratching the surface.

What we do

With so many bands playing the same offerings we wanted to craft a set list that would appeal to those with a more classic taste. Our sets are chock-full of hits from the good old days. Etta James, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone are our bread and butter as well as modern artists that keep the soul tradition alive such as Amy Winehouse and Bruno Mars. We've got a full list of our repertoire in the FAQ.

We provide a full package of entertainment, live sets, DJ music, all sound/lighting equipment taken care of and we'll walk you through the whole process. From a duo to a 7-piece the band is adaptable in terms of size to create the perfect soundtrack tailored to your event, check our Packages section for more detail on this.

We're not managed by one of the big entertainment agencies, so we can keep our prices competitive and you'll be dealing direct with us at all stages of your booking. Contact us now to get a quote!

Quintet

(from £950)

Compact in size but not in sound, The five piece band features Florence's incredible vocals along with the Soul Bears rhythm section of Drums, Bass, Keys and Guitar. Bring your dancing shoes...

Septet

(from £1250)

The full party experience and our most popular option. The seven piece band adds our fabulous horn section of trumpet and saxophone into the already steaming groove for an unforgettable night!

Duo/Trio

(from £450)

Looking for something more initimate and stripped down? We provide a two or three piece band. Ideal if you want a chilled event or music during your wedding ceremony itself. (Discount available for this act if you book as a daytime precursor to a larger evening band.)

FAQ
(click to expand)

Do you have your own PA and lighting equipment?

We have a top quality PA system and lighting for both the dance floor and band. In cases where events are very large (400+ guests), we book a professional sound technician with a much more powerful sound system and additional lighting. Please let us know if you think this applies to you.

How long are the sets?

We play two sets of an hour length each. While we find this the most effective format in general, feel free to discuss with us if you would like something different.

Do you DJ in between sets?

We've got a great selection of DJ music in a similar style to our live set that you're sure to love. We'll play this before we start, in between sets and up to 30mins after we finish. If you wish we use play your own playlist, which you can send to us before the night via Spotify or alternatively provide us with an iPod or similar device that we'll hook up to our system.

How long does it take to set up?

We will need an hour and a half to set up, during which time we will need to complete a sound check. However, we would look to arrive at least two hours before the performance

Do you have any more recordings of you playing?

Yes, check these out!

Do you take requests? And what about our first dance?

We've got a standard set that we find has the best balance of songs, but you can check our full repertoire list below and if there are any you particularly want us to play we will make sure to include it. For your first dance we understand how special a certain song might be for you and providing it's practical for our lineup, we will happily learn it, even if it's not currently part of our repertoire.

Ain't No Mountain – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Ain't Nobody – Chaka Khan
At Last – Etta James
Black and Gold – Brenna Whitaker
Blame It On The Boogie - Jackson 5
Brick House – Commodores
Can't Get No Satisfaction – Rolling Stones
Come Together - The Meters
Crazy – Scary Pockets
Cupid - Amy Winehouse
Express Yourself – Charles Wright
Feeling Good – Nina Simone
Scream (Funk My Life Up) – Paulo Nutini
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
Happy – Pharrell Williams
Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder
I Feel Good - James Brown
I Got a Woman – Ray Charles
I Just Wanna Make Love To You - Etta James
I Wish – Stevie Wonder
If You Want Me To Stay - Sly and The Family Stone
In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
Just the Two of Us – Bill Withers
Kiss – Prince
Lady Marmalade - LaBelle
Let The Good Times Roll - Aretha Franklin
Let's Get it On – Marvin Gaye
Let’s Stay Together - Al Green
Long Train Running – The Doobie Brothers
Master Blaster - Stevie Wonder
Mercy - The Third Degree
Move On Up – Curtis Mayfield
Moondance – Van Morrison
My Baby Just Cares for Me – Nina Simone
No Diggity – Blackstreet
Pencil Full of Lead – Paulo Nutini
Piece of my Heart - Dusty Springfield
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Proud Mary – Tina Turner
Rehab – Amy Winehouse
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Seven Nation Army – Ben L'oncle Soul
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window - Joe Cocker
Signed Sealed Delivered - Stevie Wonder
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
Soul Man – Sam and Dave
Spoonful - Etta James
Spooky - Dusty Springfield
Sunshine Of Your Love - Spanky Wilson
Super Duper Love – Joss Stone
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
These Boots Are Made For Walking - Nancy Sinatra
Uptown Funk – Bruno Mars
Use Me - Bill Withers
Valerie – Amy Winehouse
We’re A Winner - The Impressions
What's Going On – Marvin Gaye
W-O-M-A-N – Etta James

Get in touch

If you're interested in booking us for your event, drop us a line. Please remember to include your name, contact details, and the date & location of your event!

07800915846

hello@soulbears.com