Book the best cover band in Switzerland (Zurich, Bern, Basel)

6 differences between LAFESTA and other cover bands:

1. Soloist (Olha Rossi), has a rare talent - she sings professionally in 3 different vocal styles (in three voices): pop, opera and folk (authentic). Having a higher academic vocal education (National Music Academy of Ukraine / Conservatory), Olga not only sang the leading roles in famous operas (La Bohème, Iolanta, Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro), but also became the laureate of 6 pop vocal competitions. As the winner of the "International Youth Song Festival" in Kielce (Poland), Olga sang a duet with the soloist "Bonny M" (Sheila Bonnik) at the final gala concert.

2. Depending on the format of your event, LAFESTA has 4 different concert programmes that can be performed as separate blocks (30 minutes, 45 minutes, 2 × 30 minutes, 2 × 45, 3 × 30) or mixed: 1) Cocktail and background music (90 minutes); 2) Dance and club music (45 minutes); 3) Stylish opera (45 minutes); 4) Ukrainian folk (30 minutes). The cover band can agree the song list for the performance with the client and event organisers.

3. Depending on the format of the holiday or the size of the stage, you can change the composition of the cover group. For example, the main team (3-4 people) is ideal for small venues. At the same time, for large stages, you can increase the size of the group and even add your own orchestra (9-15 musicians), which is very rare for cover bands. The main composition of the cover band includes a soloist, accordionist, saxophonist or flutist and a DJ playing electronic percussion.

4. LAFESTA has created its own unique shows Laser Harp and 3D Dress which allow you to decorate the programme of your event with other bright numbers without a noticeable increase in rider. This is especially true when organising events and weddings in other cities or countries. With just 3-4 tickets and a simple rider, you can have a full concert programme for the whole evening. For example, you can open the event with a vibrant 3D dress show, followed by a cover band performance, surprise guests with a laser harp show in the middle of the evening and close with a musical band performing a dance set of remixes of world hits.

5. Since LAFESTA always brings some of its own equipment (mixer, microphones, musical instruments, DJ equipment) to concerts, and the DJ of the cover band is the sound engineer, this allows you to keep the technical rider to a minimum. If necessary, we can rent our sound equipment for the duration of the event.

6. The soloist of the LAFESTA cover band (Olha Rossi) was the first of the Swiss artists who started to perform in unique luminous dresses, which makes the image of the concerts more vivid and memorable. Olga was awarded the "Woman of the III Millennium" (December 2019) for her contribution to the development of contemporary music and art, being the first opera singer in the world to start playing the laser harp (more than 150 concerts) and popularising contemporary art through 3D mapping (more than 100 projection concerts).

Dance hits performed by the band LAFESTA. Club dance music, disco house, electronic.

Questions about organizing a cover band performance at a wedding or corporate party:

How long can the cover band perform at an event?
It all depends on the programme and style of your event. As early as the script-writing stage, you can discuss with the host and organisers (wedding or event agencies) the format of the cover band's performance that suits you best. Usually the length of the performance varies from 60 to 120 minutes and consists of several sets (blocks). Just let us know your requirements and we will think about the best timing for the cover band performances.

What styles of music can a cover band perform at a wedding, private party or event?
Each performance can vary according to the style of the event. Usually, during the reception at a wedding, conference, business dinner or buffet, the cover band can play pleasant festive music in a cocktail style (jazz lounge, light pop, funk blues). In the course of the evening, the programme can change to dance music. If required, the cover band can adapt its style to the genre and theme of your party (Hawaiian, Chicago, Oscar, Disco, Gatsby, Latino, Venetian, Opera, etc.).

Will the cover band be allowed to play pre-approved songs?
The repertoire of the LAFESTA band is much bigger than a single performance. Therefore, there is always the possibility to choose from the list of songs provided those that appeal to you more. It is best if you let us know your wishes, the purpose of the event and the audience, and the cover band will offer a programme based on their extensive concert experience, which can also be edited during the event, depending on the mood of the guests.

What equipment does a cover band bring to a wedding, company party or event?
LAFESTA will provide some of the necessary equipment (mixing console, DJ controller, instruments and microphones) free of charge. If a cover band is performing in Central Europe (Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Monaco), we can bring our own acoustic system (speakers) and switching. Sometimes our technical contractors can provide the event and wedding with all the necessary equipment (large concert sound, lighting, LED screen, special effects) at a bargain price.

How long does it take for a cover band to set up and sound check?
If the sound equipment is prepared for the sound check, the entire setup will take 30-40 minutes. As LAFESTA's DJ is the sound engineer and the cover band has its own digital console with the necessary equalisers and effects, this allows the concert sound to be set up and prepared for the performance quickly and professionally.

Can the cover band perform outside?
Absolutely. There are just a few weather factors to take into account. As a rule, LAFESTA does not perform in open-air venues during the cold season, as there is no heating on the stage. This is due to the risk of the soloist becoming ill after singing in the cold for a long time and the likelihood of damage to expensive musical instruments.
For any open-air concert, we recommend that the stage is protected from rain and that all equipment is placed under a canopy so that it does not have to be disconnected from the power supply and protected from water. In this case, even a brief shower will cause the performance to be interrupted or cancelled.
If a cover band is performing at a wedding or company party on a hot day, a canopy or awning is required to provide shade over the equipment and protect it from overheating.

How do I book a cover band for an event?
You can book a cover band up to 1 day before the event (if the required date is available), but paying in advance guarantees that someone else will not book your date. Cover band performances are usually fixed in advance (30-50% of the fee). Payment can be made in cash or by bank transfer.
The cost depends on 3 main factors: the length of the concert, the city/country where the event takes place and the date (whether the performance falls on a holiday or New Year's Eve). If LAFESTA perform more than once, but there will be several concerts (for example, a performance at the opening of a chain of stores or a tour in nightclubs / hotels), the cost may decrease depending on the number of concerts.
Book the best cover band in Switzerland, Italy, France, Monaco.

Stylish opera concerts by the LAFESTA music band with its own orchestra. Music style: modern opera, lounge opera, pop opera, contemporary opera, classical crossover.

Tips for choosing and booking a cover band for an event, wedding or corporate party.

When organising an event, one of the most important questions is how to choose the right cover band. After all, an artist invited to a company party or a wedding not only helps to emphasise the style of the event, but also enhances the image of the event.

1. Every professional cover band has extensive experience of performing at private and corporate events, which is backed up by an extensive video/photo archive of live performances. Concert videos are an indication of the standard of the events the cover band has already performed at. Conversely, a newly formed and inexperienced band may only have a studio promo video. Therefore, if musicians are not sharing concert videos, this should be alarming. Most likely, their live performance will be significantly inferior in quality to their own promotion.

2. Specify the style and repertoire of the cover band. After all, there are musicians who specialise in dance music for weddings and corporate parties and will not fit into the format of a relaxed aperitif, business buffet and any other event where a calm, relaxed atmosphere needs to be created.

3. Depending on the composition of the guests and the theme of the event, you should decide which musical genre will be most appropriate for the party and use this as a basis for finding and booking the best cover band for your event or wedding.

4. Ask how much a cover band rider will cost you. Some bands specify in their technical requirements that drums, guitar amplifiers, sound monitors, etc. must be provided for the performance. Providing such a rider can sometimes cost anywhere from $400 to $2000. Therefore, when selecting and booking a cover band for a wedding or corporate event, be sure to consider not only the artist's fee, but all other expenses as well.

5. The cover band must confirm that they will be able to complete all stage preparations before the guests arrive at the venue. Sound check and any equipment testing will take place at a pre-determined time.

6. Some cover bands work on 75-100% prepayment. It is up to you to decide whether it is appropriate to give away the majority of the amount long before the event. If you are sure that these musicians are the best for your event, then the risk can be justified. But don't forget that many other cover bands charge 30-50% up front.

7. Ensure that the cover band agrees to perform in accordance with the approved schedule and scenario of your event. Some bands charge extra for long breaks between blocks of their performance. There are situations where a musical group is asked to perform for 60 minutes at the beginning of the event so that the artists can perform at another event. In this case, they will have to leave for another concert immediately after their performance at your venue. If you have anticipated the possibility of extending the cover band's performance time at your event, or postponing the performance time due to possible guest/speaker delays, please discuss this in advance and include it in the contract.

8. If your event has a specific dress code, make sure the cover band dresses appropriately and does not contrast with your format.

Fragments of LAFESTA cover band performances at various parties, presentations, anniversaries.

What is a cover band?

Can a performance of a folk song or a well-known classical piece (e.g. "Ave Maria") be considered a cover? Broadly speaking, yes, but the term "cover band" is more commonly used for artists performing hits from modern music styles: pop, rock, blues, disco, chanson, hip-hop and electronic music. Therefore, all music bands that perform other people's songs are called cover bands.
But the main advantage of having a cover band perform at weddings, private parties and corporate events is that famous hits are much better received by the audience than songs by unknown writers. Guests recognise familiar tunes from the first notes, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere or helps them get on the dance floor. There is an aphorism: "A hit is a song that makes you think you can sing it".

Cover bands are divided into those that work in several musical styles at once and those that focus on one of them (for example, musical groups that only play reggae or disco 70-80). Such highly specialised bands are good if their style fits the format of your party (a rock and roll cover band at an Elvis Presley company party or a Latin band at a Cuban party). For this reason, cover bands are usually invited to perform at corporate events in a format that matches the theme of the event and the style of the company.

If a cover band focuses on imitating only one famous artist, it is called a "tribute band". They try to copy the stars as much as possible, so they sew the same stage costumes and repeat their behaviour. For example, members of the Gabba tribute band (imitating the pop group ABBA) joke that they would like to win the Eurovision Song Contest, but they are not allowed to fill in the entry form because they already won in 1974.

Cover bands can be divided into genres and the musical styles they play in.
1) In Switzerland, Italy, France and Monaco, pop music is the most common and most numerous category of cover band. Such musicians are ideal for a traditional wedding, a company New Year's Eve party and a festive banquet.
2) Jazz cover bands whose repertoire includes both jazz standards and popular hits in jazz arrangements. Such a cover band would be suitable for an event with a sophisticated atmosphere and cocktails.
3) Rock and roll cover bands. Their repertoire is quite wide and includes both the famous hits of these styles of music and rock covers of almost any popular song.
4) Instrumental cover bands (without vocals). For example, a string quartet or a DJ with a saxophonist.

Thanks to cover versions, many old hits are given a new lease of life and return to the top of the music charts. Sometimes the new version of the song became better and more popular than the original (for example, the songs "California Dreamin", "Macarena"). For this reason, the best cover bands are able to create author remixes of hits, in which only the main melodic parts of the original remain, or the song becomes almost unrecognisable due to a change in the musical style (for example, when a rock hit is covered in a lounge style, or a pop hit is covered in a rock style).Sometimes it is only in the middle of the song that the listener understands which hit is being played, but this is the highlight of cover bands (Zurich, Geneva, Milan, Nice).

The main advantage of a cover band at a festival is that when guests enter the hall they hear live music and are immediately immersed in the festive atmosphere. Conversely, if guests arrive at the event and there is no one in the hall or on the stage, it is not an ideal start to the holiday. That is why a professional cover band at a wedding or corporate party will be your guide to the world of quality and vibrant live music.

Photos of the performances of the musical group LAFESTA at various corporate events, parties, weddings.