Acoustic folk-style bands are all the rage these days. If you’re thinking of hiring one for your wedding and are wondering what kind of songs they play, keep reading! The songs are upbeat and catchy so will get everyone up and dancing all night long. Rock, pop, indie and even soul and Motown songs take on a totally new persona when played in a folky style!
We’ve listed some of the most popular acoustic folk wedding songs that are tried and tested and have wedding guests packing out dance floors all over the country. As folk-style wedding bands are kind of our thing here at Entertainment Nation, we’ve shown our incredible bands singing the songs for you so you get a real feel for how they would sound at your wedding! If you’re looking for acoustic song ideas for your ceremony, check out these amazing acoustic guitar songs!
Looking To Hire An Acoustic Folk Wedding Band?
The Best Acoustic Folk Wedding Songs
Below you’ll find a selection of songs that sound great played live and lend themselves to a folky style. If you choose to hire an acoustic folk wedding band, the chances are they will know how to play these songs as well as scores of other popular songs that are guaranteed to result in a full dance floor and some very happy guests! If you’d like the band to play your first dance, they’ll learn that too!
Remember, a great folk band will be able to make any song sound amazing, so we’ve included songs from lots of different genres to showcase their abilities.
Ho Hey – The Lumineers
One of the original folk acoustic wedding songs that made this genre so popular. This gem of a song is bound to be a big hit at your rustic-style wedding!
I Will Wait – Mumford And Sons
If there’s one group whose songs are requested more than any other for our folk bands it’s Mumford and Sons. The driving rhythms and country feel to this song make it a guaranteed floor filler!
Hold Back The River – James Bay
Hold Back The River is an ever-popular folk wedding song because it’s great to dance to and has prominent guitar parts. Here it is played by the highly sought-after County Kings!
Wake Me Up – Avicii
The riff in this song sounds like it was written to be performed on sax, which makes it a firm favourite with folk bands like Foxland who come with a saxophonist as standard!
Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
The beauty of hiring a live band means that songs that you wouldn’t have thought were suitable as party songs suddenly become irresistible to dance to, like this one – played by The Footmen!
Paradise – George Ezra
Another king of acoustic folk weddings songs is George Ezra, whose tuneful melodies are sure to please at your wedding. Paradise’s propulsive drum beat will have your guests flocking to the dance floor.
By Your Side – Calvin Harris ft. Tom Grennan
Dance songs sound irresistible played in an acoustic folk style! We love Grayson’s version because it’s so uplifting and is bound to get everyone dancing the night away. The sax brings a new dimension to it too.
Mr Brightside – The Killers
There’s no escaping the fact that when people hear this song, they are automatically drawn to the dance floor. Uke & The Leles have put a folky twist on it here to make it fit in with your rustic vibe and it sounds like a different song!
Three Little Birds – Bob Marley & The Wailers
You can’t beat a spot of reggae on a hot summer’s evening and The Lightmen’s acoustic version of this Bob Marley classic will go down a treat at your wedding reception. It’s laid-back and charming and will be popular with guests of all ges.
Galway Girl – Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran might have written some of the most popular first dance and ceremony songs of the last decade but that hasn’t stopped him writing some straight up floor fillers as well. The fiddle and Irish feel to this track make it the perfect folk wedding song to be performed live!
Watermelon Sugar – Harry Styles
This song has shot up the popularity charts and is a real favourite at weddings. Here are Folk Fables doing what they do best – making chart hits sound incredible live!
Dance Monkey – Tones and I
Some songs were just made to be danced to and this is one of them. Dance Monkey is a fail-safe way to give everyone that unstoppable urge to show off their best moves!
Twist And Shout – The Beatles
The rock ‘n’ roll rhythms and warm harmonies make this much-loved track an ideal candidate for a folk-styled wedding song. When your band start playing it, your guests are sure to want to dance.
Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
We don’t know if there’s anyone who doesn’t love this song. When the band’s guitarist starts to play there won’t be anyone able to resist a good boogie!
Old Town Road – Lil Nas X
This song is an absolute tuuuune! It sounds amazing played by Hatchland with their stunning harmonies and is bound to have your guests glued to the dance floor. A definite guilty pleasure for lots of people!
Shivers – Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran’s at it again with this absolute banger that highlights the excitement of falling in love for the first time. The man’s a genius! The Penny Kings nail this acoustic version don’t you think?
Pencil Full Of Lead – Paolo Nutini
This song is just so much fun and The White Shirts have brought it to life with their joyful performance. They are a roaming band, which means they play without amplification and are able to wander among your guests as they perform – perfect for an unforgettable drinks reception! If this is something you’re interested in, check out the perfect roaming bands for outdoor summer weddings!
Shotgun – George Ezra
This is a great acoustic wedding song to get everyone singing along with your band. The funky bassline and summery feel it has is ideal for a wedding reception!
Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
OK, so this definitely isn’t a folk song, but listen to how amazing it sounds played by Cube Tuesdays Duo! It’s always a good idea to mix things up a bit and have your band play songs of different styles.
The Cave – Mumford And Sons
We couldn’t make an acoustic folk wedding songs list without including at least two songs by Mumford and Sons could we? Long Island definitely do The Cave justice in this video, but imagine how good it would sound live at your wedding?
All The Small Things – Blink 182
Who would have thought that this punk rock classic would lend itself so perfectly to that Mumford and Sons-style? We certainly didn’t until we heard this perfect rendition by The Guidefires!
Sex On Fire – Kings Of Leon
This song is certain to have people rocking out on the dance floor and has remained a solid choice for the past few years.
Castle On The Hill – Ed Sheeran
The fast-paced backing to this track will energise your guests into showing off their best dance moves and regularly appears in our bands’ repertoires as it never fails to disappoint.
Green Green Grass – George Ezra
This upbeat ditty is sure to get people on their feet and has a truly celebratory feel to it. It’s a great party song that will be a smash hit with your guests and The Willowbrooks do it proud here!
Shut Up And Dance – Walk The Moon
Another track that is pretty much guaranteed to have everyone shouting out the lyrics and waving their arms in the air. You can’t deny there’s a distinct fun-factor with this song.
MMMBop – Hanson
Love it or hate it, Mmmm Bop has a feel-good vibe and a catchy tune that’s great to both dance and sing along to – what more do you want from a party song?
Thought About Hiring An Acoustic Folk Wedding Band?
Acoustic folk bands are extremely versatile and can pretty much play any style of song, which makes them ideal for weddings. Everyone will be able to find something they love to dance to, whether it be a 50s rock n roll floor filler or a modern chart hit. A great folk wedding band will put their own quirky twist on each song and come dressed in rustic attire, adding to the overall vibe and making the evening unforgettable for all your guests!
How Can I Hire One Of These Amazing Bands?
Now that you’re feeling inspired by these acoustic folk wedding songs, why not check out the incredible array of wedding bands available to play them for you at Entertainment Nation? To get a quick and fully-comprehensive quote, fill in the simple enquiry form on your chosen band’s profile and we’ll get back to you ASAP. If you’d like to talk through your options, give our friendly advisers a ring on 0800 53 000 35 and they’ll be more than happy to help match you to your dream wedding band!
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