Shakedown puts on an energetic show to keep everyone, young and old, on the floor dancing and singing along. Our dynamic band of talented musicians have decades of performing experience. Unlike some narrowly focused cover bands, Shakedown covers a wide range of genres, spanning from Sinatra to George Strait to Journey. We specialize in the pop and rock and Motown dance hits of the 70s and 80s, and we frequently add to our already extensive list of country classics and current hits by artists like Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, Megan Trainor, Elle King and Daft Punk. For any event - corporate party, wedding reception, charity gala, or fraternity party, we've got your party music!
Shakedown has been performing in Central Texas since 2010; its seasoned members have played thousands of gigs and several hundred weddings and other private parties.
Get what you're paying for; live music played by real musicians without the use of backing tracks!
We're flexible, and work closely with our clients on party planning. For example: Don't see your must-have song on our list? No worries, just let us know in advance so we can rock it at your party!
Shakedown specializes in weddings. We know planning a wedding can be overwhelming, with so many details and decisions to make, each in an effort to create an event that’s uniquely you! Choosing the right band is a decision that will define your reception.
Shakedown works hard to personalize your wedding entertainment, while providing a stressless vendor experience from booking to performance. For instance, unlike some other bands in our area, we will learn up to 3 new songs at your request. These songs are typically the first dance, father/daughter and mother/son dances, but they don’t have to be! We’ll also provide MC services per your needs. These are just a couple of the ways Shakedown is able to customize your reception entertainment. Additionally, if you’re using a wedding planner, or have a venue event coordinator, we will work with them to ensure that our performance will fit seamlessly into your reception timeline.
To help make your reception even more memorable, Shakedown has partnered with Go Dance Studio. All of our wedding clients receive a 10% discount on Wedding Dance Lesson Packages! Whether you want to create a choreographed routine that will go viral or just want to learn some basic steps for your first dance, Go Dance can help.
Please see our FAQ page for more information on having Shakedown perform at your wedding.
"Shakedown was FANTASTIC! They were great to work with before the wedding, including learning our weird requests like Working Man by Rush. Also, they helped my husband plan the surprise song he sang me at our reception! And they were so fun at the reception - they kept our friends and family out on the dance floor the whole time!! Shakedown was awesome; I highly recommend them!!"- Katie P. Caldwell,TX
"Thank you all for the amazing music you played at our wedding! We cannot tell you enough how wonderful your performance was. Every song you played was perfect and fit into the theme of our night. Thanks so much for fitting us into your schedule so last minute. Your professionalism and honesty were appreciate so much. Good luck to all of you in the future You are a great band and we are more than happy to recommend you to others!!"- Christin & Kyle, M. Smithville, TX
"Shakedown is FANTASTIC! Met them first for one of our corporate events in 2013 and loved them so much they performed for our wedding in 2015 and my sister-in-law has just hired them for her wedding in 2016! Incredibly professional and so much fun! Really, really loved working with this group!" - Kate B., Bryan, TX
"Thank you so very much for the amazing show y’all put on! We still get comments on how amazing you were from our family and friends. Y’all truly kept the party going all night and made our special day one for the books! We are so glad we chose y’all to be our band! Elizabeth G., Austin, TX
"Shakedown was the highlight of our wedding reception!!! They kept the party going until midnight and everyone had a blast!!! Their performance of Sharp Dressed Man for our father daughter dance was incredible!!!! I could not be happier and more thankful that we hired Shakedown. I'd recommend them to anyone!!!!" - Kinsey M., Lubbock, TX
"Shakedown was absolutely wonderful. They were great to work with leading up to the wedding in coordinating songs for the wedding and accommodating our wedding schedule. Once the wedding started, they blew our guests out of the water. Just about everyone came up to me and told me how great the band was. They were a lot of fun and had great crowd interaction. They used their lighting system well to enhance the party. They have a wide variety of songs that they can play and play well at that. I would recommend the Shakedown to anybody planning a wedding or a party." - Blayne R., Austin, TX
"You were by far our most seamless vendor in this whole deal and I cannot thank you enough for delivering exactly what you said you would, and, more importantly, communicating clearly throughout the whole process. You guys rock, have great sound and equipment, and I would certainly book you again. Our guests keep mentioning how the dance floor was the place to be, and that was our goal the whole time." - Ben D., Austin TX
"We could not be happier with how Shakedown contributed to our wedding reception. We made some additional requests, and Joe was very accommodating. We received hundred of comments on the quality of their performance, and our guests filled the dance floor right up to the last note." Gary G. Austin, TX
"Shakedown was wonderful from start to finish! They kept in constant contact throughout the wedding planning process and they put on a GREAT show! We danced all night and the only downside was that it had to end! They have a great variety of music and will learn special songs for you as well. I highly recommend them and I know you will not be disappointed!" - Taryn T., Austin TX
"Y'all were so flexible and gracious...such a fun reception...y'all are amazing!" - Vickie T., Salado TX
"Wedding planning is stressful. If you do not wish your band to add to this stress, book Shakedown. They were dependable, responsive, prepared, on time, were EASY to deal with, EASY to pay, and most importantly, coach you through the whole process. As far as the music itself, they kept the tempo up, had all their ducks in a row, were practiced and tight, and I know without a doubt that ALL of our guests had a great time. There are a lot of crooks in the wedding/event business who disappear after you give them your deposit, only to reappear just in time to throw things together. Not them. Don't pay $5K for a band! Book Shakedown and spend the rest on booze!" - Erica E., Austin, TX
"These guys were incredible performers. The band was very accommodating. They learned three new songs for our event and performed them flawlessly. Finally, their showmanship and charisma had every single person on the dance floor. They were interactive (our best man played cowbell on stage) and fun. I highly recommend them!!"- Catherine M., San Antonio TX
"Wanted to thank you all for doing such a great job Saturday night at the St. Anthony hotel in San Antonio for Catherine and Aaron's wedding. Y'all were totally rockin, and it was exhibited in the reaction of the crowd. The dance floor was totally crowded all night...all the way to the last dance. What a great party, due , in part, to your professionalism. Hope y'all had as great a time as we did. Thanks again." - Mary M., San Antonio TX "P.S. I would hire y'all again in an eye blink!"
"Shakedown's performance at our wedding reception was great. The band provided high energy entertainment and music that everyone enjoyed." - Isaac and Susan G., Austin TX
"Shakedown ROCKS! Put on a great show with very little notice. Very easy to work with and absolute pleasure to listen to." - Nick C., Kempner TX
"Thank you for playing at our Gala fundraiser. We have received many compliments about your performance. We hope to have you back at our next event! You are awesome!! Thanks - The Bee Cave Police Benevolent Foundation Board of Directors
"Wow!!! Just Wow!!!! Get down with Shakedown, a phenomenal band of talented musicians providing an extensive list of songs that will bring an extraordinary level of supreme verve to your special event! The group is courteous, helpful, is great at communicating with you, and they're professional when negotiating. They take the time to have the right song list for your event. On the day of the party, they are there with an energy that carries through the night. I highly recommend this band that performs with brio! I know that our community of It's Boomertime enjoyed dancing to all of the music that they played. I heard rave reviews as I visited with all of our guests. Thank you!!" Krissi S., It's Boomertime Meetup Group
"You and your group were just SPECTACULAR! I have heard nothing but compliments over the quality of your music, the incredible talent of the singers and the general appearance and musical energy of the band. We were absolutely thrilled with you." - Susan R., Italian Cultural Association
"This band was AWESOME!!! Everyone walked out at the end of the night dripping with sweat from dancing to their songs."- Jessica W., San Antonio TX
In addition to weddings and private events, Shakedown performs at public venues in the Austin area. Here are some of the clubs and restaurants we've played: Steiner Ranch Steakhouse, Sherlock's Pub (Austin), Baker Street Pub and Grill (Austin), The Oasis (Austin), Cafe Mueller (Austin), Baby Acapulco (Austin), Hanovers 2.0 (Round Rock), Table 620 (Lakeway), Hardtails (Georgetown), Crossroads (Fredericksburg), Lone Star Grill (Georgetown), Strange Brew (Austin)!
Click the highlighted dates to see where and when we are playing! Check back soon for more shows or follow us on Facebook for the latest public gig announcements and updates.
What can you expect when hiring Shakedown for your corporate or community event? A commitment to get the details right, an attitude that helps your event run smoothly, and a performance that you and your guests will love. We provide entertainment services for cocktail receptions, award ceremonies, holiday dance parties — everything from small dinner events to grand ballroom galas to multi-day conventions, all in the right style and atmosphere to suit your event.
Several of our corporate clients are shown on the right. Community organizations that have trusted Shakedown to make their event memorable include: City of Caldwell, Bee Cave Police Benevolent Association, St. Frances Academy, Alpha Phi Sorority (UT), Aggie Men’s Club, The Austin Italian-American Club, “It’s Boomertime” Meet-Up Group.
For more information, email our booking manager, Paula Barkan paula@shakedownaustin.com or call (512) 771-8950. For a quick rate quote simply use our bid request form below.
Q: At what kind of parties/events does Shakedown play?
A: We play at all kinds of parties and events, including weddings, birthday parties, holiday parties, corporate events, town festivals, and even fraternity parties. We also play club and restaurant shows. These are great opportunities for interested clients to check out the band. We can play for groups of 25 people or 5,000 ( or anywhere in between)
Q: How far will you travel?
A: We are based in Austin, but will travel for gigs. We frequently play in San Antonio, and we are happy to travel to Houston, Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Waco, Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, and all points in between. Under the right circumstances we will travel as far as Lubbock, Midland/Odessa and Louisiana.
Q: What kind of music does Shakedown play?
A: We are a variety cover band, which means we will play just about any style of music you want. We specialize in music that appeals to all ages and keeps people on the dance floor, be it new or old, pop, rock, Motown, disco or country. We're also happy to satisfy just about any song request made in advance.
Q: Do you take requests?
A: Absolutely! We will take requests made in advance of the event. For weddings, we typically will learn new songs for the first dance, father/daughter dance and mother/son dance. In the rare case when we don't believe we can do a song justice (that hasn't happened yet) or you really want the original recording, we can play the original from an iPod.
Q: How many people are in your band?
A: We perform as a 5-piece band with one female lead singer, male lead vocals, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards/synths. We also perform as a 6-piece band with two female lead singers instead of one. Both line-ups can perform the same material -- think of the difference as Grande versus Venti, if you're a Starbucks fan.
Q: Can we work with you to choose the music you play at our party?
A: Yes. We are happy to work closely with you to ensure you get the entertainment you want at your party. However, we've found that it's usually best to just tell us what kinds of music you like, and what kinds you don't like, and then let us create the set lists, based on our experience in keeping everyone on the dance floor and maximizing the excitement level and momentum of parties. We will also read the crowd throughout the party and choose songs on the fly that keep everyone moving.
Q: How do we hire Shakedown?
A: Just send us an email or call us. Tell us about your event and we'll give you a price quote. Once you're happy with what we're going to provide and we agree on a price, we'll send you a contract
Q: Do we have to give you a deposit?
A: Yes, your deposit (typically 50% of the total fee, refundable at the band's discretion), locks in the date on our calendar.
Q: OK, so you've given us your price; what's included in that price? Are there any other charges?
A: The price we quote is always all-inclusive. It includes the fee for our performance and all travel costs. We provide a top-quality modern sound (PA) system and stage lights. All you need to provide for us is a place to set-up (24' wide x 12' deep is standard, but we can work with less), and electrical outlets so we can plug in our gear. We can provide a stage plot, which includes electrical requirements, if needed.
Q: Can you play the music for our wedding ceremony?
A: Yes, we can provide a keyboard/piano player for your ceremony. If you'd prefer something else, we can help you find other performers for your ceremony.
Q: Can you play soft music during our dinner/cocktail hour?
A: Yes, we typically play soft instrumental jazz at weddings during dinner and/or cocktail hour.
Q: What happens if we book Shakedown for a wedding that's nine months away and someone quits the band or gets sick before the wedding date?
A: We will be contractually obliged to perform at your event. We have substitute professional players for each position in the band. You will receive the performance you expect at your event.
Q: Why should we hire Shakedown instead of just getting a DJ
A: Look at it this way: one year, or five years after your big day, when your friends and relatives talk about your wedding reception, what are they going to remember? How delicious the steak was? The floral arrangements? We're willing to bet it will be the entertainment and how much fun they had dancing and partying. That's the key difference between a band and a DJ. A good wedding band does more than just play music. They put on a show, and they work the crowd to bring your guests into the show. Shakedown will read the crowd: If everyone is dancing wildly to a particular song, the band can extend that song to keep the energy level at a peak. If Uncle Bob is on the dance floor moving like Jagger and singing along, the band can bring him up on stage and hand him a mic. We can also act as a DJ too! If you really need to hear the original version of the latest hip hop classic, we band can play it on an iPod just as a DJ would.
