-Top-
-Bio:
Formed by the rhythm section of the acclaimed soul/reggae
rockers known as Daylow; The Uptown-Getdowns were born. Drummer; Steve
Dans, bassist; Benjamin Earl, and guitar man; Jake Nowak wanted to
try something other than the original music scene. They wanted to
create a quality act that can play the music they grew up loving and
apply it in almost any setting. After adding female vocalist Mary
Niewola and vocalist/pianist; Peter Bellomo, what they got was something
beautiful and undeniably funky. Since the five members share such
a love of music from the 60’s & 70’s soul/Motown era, it was decided
that they would be covering that style of music. Avoiding limitations,
you’ll also hear them playing a diverse mix of music spanning a wide
spectrum of genres from bossa nova, rock, jazz and everything in-between.
These five highly experienced and extremely tasteful musicians/singers
can lay down a groove that’ll demand you get up and boogie. Having
played venues that range from Carnegie Hall, small coffee shops, weddings
and wedding cocktail hours, they know exactly how to play to the room.
The Uptown-Getdowns are a fun-loving, party style, feel good band,
and you really can’t go wrong!!
-Testimonials:
Cat Mollitor, bride quote (Jun 11, 2011)
"If you want excellent music at an affordable price for your wedding
The Uptown Getdowns are the way to go. They made my wedding awesome.
People who don't dance on a regular basis were up dancing at my wedding.
They are very accommodating with learning new songs. Honestly they
will make your wedding day so remember-able and fun!!!!"
Renee, bride quote (July 24th, 2011)
" More than any other professionals we hired, I wish I could
give our band, The Uptown Getdowns, SIX
out of five stars. They were absolutely amazing. Steve was the
point-person--what a great guy! So down-to-earth, organized, professional,
and friendly. Their website was very helpful too. I wanted to surprise
my husband by singing a song to him and I wanted to perform it with
the band. The band was totally down! They even let me drop in during
one of their rehearsals to practice the song with them. And they were
so friendly and supportive during the rehearsal; I really appreciated
it. On the day of the reception, they were at the venue hours beforehand,
set up and ready to go. They looked great and they were calm, cheerful,
and confident. I've recommended this band to four of my friends already.
They made the party vibe exactly what we wanted. You won't be disappointed!"
Frank & Jaclyn Sperrazza, newlywed quote (Sep 03, 2011)
"Hey Just wanted to let you guys know we had a fantastic time and
you guys were incredible. We still keep hearing from friends and relatives
what a good job you guys did and how great you sounded. Thanks again
for the fantastic performance and if you ever need a recommendation
just let us know. Hopefully we will be able to make it out to Jersey
to see you guys play again sometime"
James Lashway, brother of the bride (Oct 29, 2011)
"These guys are great. The best wedding band I have ever seen.
Very professional (looks and sound). I hired them for my sisters wedding.
They played a very wide variety of music that had everyone dancing.
You will not find a better band than these guys in the area."
Jeremy Manjorin - wedding guest (May 30, 2011)
"They played a lot of 60s,70,80s stuff...mostly funk, R&B and Motown...and
they were fantastic. The band was tight, versatile and enjoyed what
they were doing. Genuinely enjoyable to listen to (and their mix wasn't
overpowering which is a rarity with bands that do their own audio...we
were still able to chat at our table while they played)."
Jenn Schilling-Horvath, bride quote (May 27, 2011)
"My husband and I got married Memorial Day weekend of 2011. We
wanted a band that would fun, funky and soulful that would get everyone
wanting to hit the dance floor. We made the perfect choice with The
Uptown- Getdowns. Everyone from my younger cousin to my grandmother
were up dancing!"
-Back to Questions-
-Who are you?
The Uptown-Getdowns are an affordable wedding / cover band from Northern
New Jersey. We specialize in weddings, but we are a perfect fit for
corporate and private parties, birthday and retirement events, high
school reunions and college dances, or any gathering that you would
like quality live entertainment for all ages. We are also always looking
for new local bars and restaurants that want live music that people
are familiar with.
-What style of music do you
play?
The Uptown-Getdowns play almost every style of music. We mainly stick
to Funk, Soul, Dance, R&B, Rock, Blues, Reggae, and Pop. We even play
a little Classic Rock, Country, Latin, Disco, and Jazz. We specialize
in dance music from the sixties (60s), seventies (70s), eighties (80s),
nineties (90s), 2000s, 2010s-today. Basically if you can tap your
toe or shake your bum, we will play it. Check out our Song
List
-Do you want a live band to dance to?
Great! The Uptown-Getdowns love to get you and your guests off their
chairs, into the isles, and up front to dance the night away. We play
well known music that is easy to dance to and we will keep the dance
floor packed all night. Not only will you and your friends have a
great time, but we will have your teen ager and Grand Parents on the
dance floor as well.
-Do you need a lounge act
for back ground dinner music?
No problem! The Uptown-Getdowns are very versatile and can play to
almost any room. We have a full repertoire of quiet down tempo R&B
tunes that won't be obtrusive or abrasive. The band will feel elegant
and blend seamlessly into the mood of your event.
-Are you looking for rocking
entertainment that will melt your face off with talent?
Yes we can do that too! Don't think we are limited to the booty shaking
and the sultry grooves. We can rock! The Uptown-Getdowns can entertain
the masses and even awe the most unimpressed musician guru. We've
got the skills to pull off some of the most difficult progressional
/ classic rock tunes, and we learn them because sometimes it is just
fun to show off. If you want, we can captivate the audience and be
the center of attention
-Do you want a band a
looks as professional as they sound?
The Uptown-Getdowns always dress up. We are the entertainment and
we don't think jeans and T-shirts are entertaining. We can dress formal,
semi formal, or costumed. Our usual dress code is semi formal with
matching ties and Mary wears a dress. Check out pictures and video
in the Gallery
-Back to Questions-
-Do you need the band
to learn a song or three?
Yes we do that too! The Uptown-Getdowns can learn songs for your grand
entrance and your special dances. Or we can just learn a few songs
that you must hear during your special event. We've learned Christmas
songs, Irish songs, Halloween songs, etc. Once we even learned a song
to perform with a bride to serenade the groom. Special requests are
encouraged! We will also play your special song any time you come
out to see us perform before or after your event.
-How come your not the typical
run-of-the-mill wedding / cover band?
We try to be unique even though The Uptown-Getdowns are a cover band.
Yes we play popular music, but we try to keep it fresh with a few
lesser known tunes from the artist we all love. We try not to play
anything that is too over played or just annoying. We also refrain
from some of the more horrible "Jersey" cover band songs.
We are definitely a breath of fresh air compared to the status quo.
-How can your band be so affordable?
The answer is simply because we are a smaller band. We are a small
5 piece band with a huge sound. We have 3 strong lead singers who
multitask and play other instruments. Technically we have one female
singer, two male singers, two keyboard players, guitar, bass, drums,
and percussion. We are five musicians who sound like nine. Fewer people
= fewer wallets. Call or email us to discuss how we can work with
your budget.
-Don't have a sound system, but you want
a band?
No problem! The Uptown-Getdowns have a full pro audio sound system
that will sound great in small, medium, and large rooms. We can also
perform out side on a patio or in a tent. We are very versatile and
can adapt to any room large or small.
-What do you need if the venue provides
sound?
The Uptown-Getdowns need:
3 vocal mics
2 boom stands and 1 straight stand (or 3 booms)
2 DI boxes for keyboards (or a board that excepts 1/4" cables)
Vocal/keyboard monitors are a must!
Any backline for amps and/or drums is great!
-Do you have a special
performance during your event?
We can help! The Uptown-Getdowns are experienced audio engineers and
can provide sound for almost anything. Do you want to sing a song
to your spouse? Play a classical piece with your string quartet? How
about a dance troupe or traditional cultural performance? We do it
all.
-How do I contact you?
Steve Dans
908-334-2469
stevedans@gmail.com
-Will you play in my town /
city / state?
Yes! We perform regularly in Northern & Central New Jersey (NJ), New
York City (NYC), Eastern Pennsylvania (PA), but we are willing to
travel anywhere! (please contact us to discuss long distant rates)
-Back to Questions-
