About this vendor
Arlen Music Productions specializes in providing live music entertainment presentations for weddings, corporate events, fundraising events or galas. Much more than just a traditional standalone Chicago wedding band, Arlen Music ensembles are recognized as leaders within the Chicago special event band industry.
Winner of the 2014-2021 Best Band by Better Magazine, the Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra has also developed a nationwide presence with performances ranging from New Year’s Eve at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, to the Presidential Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C. Arlen Music has 5 live dance bands and multiple smaller ensembles including our all new 8 piece string ensemble Luna Strings Chicago. For more information, please checkout our website at https://arlenmusic.com/
You can also check out each of our dance bands on Instagram!
Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra:
http://www.arlenmusic.com/dance-band/ken-arlen-evolution-orchestra-wedding/
Indigo:
http://www.arlenmusic.com/dance-band/indigo/
Front of House:
http://www.arlenmusic.com/dance-band/frontofhouse/
Entourage:
http://www.arlenmusic.com/dance-band/entourage/
Velocity:
http://www.arlenmusic.com/dance-band/velocity/
Details
Instruments
- Percussion
- Violin
- Vocals
Music Genres
- Classical
- Country
- Dance
- Disco
- Folk
- Hip-Hop
Music Services
- Live Music
- MC Services
Wedding Activities
- Wedding
Awards and Affiliations
9-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2026.2025.2024.+6 more.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Hall of Fame
Earned by winning 'Best of Weddings' four or more times.
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
5
out of 5.0125 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Front of house was incredible! They really kept the party going. They took all our special request dance songs and played them absolutely beautifully. Thank you Rebecca and front o...
f house for truly rocking it and making our wedding night EPIC!!
I cannot recommend Arlen Music Company/Evolution Orchestra enough!
They were professional, polished, and fun. They really partnered with us throughout the wedding planning experie...
nce, so we felt that all of the music was personalized and exactly what we wanted. We had a few calls with them leading up to the wedding, where we explained our vision and vibe. They made sure it was delivered on the dance floor.
We planned sweet and sentimental songs for the walk down the aisle. For example, my bridesmaids walked down the aisle to a violin version of "Mastermind" - the same song my husband proposed to. My mother walked down the aisle to a piano version of "Cannon D" - the same song she had walked down the aisle to at her wedding. And I walked down the aisle to "XO" by Beyonce and John Mayer - my favorite singer and my husband's favorite singer.
Then, they played our first dances beautifully. My dad and I danced to a slow version of "It's a Beautiful Day." The slow version didn't really exist, so they helped us to create one. Then, they played it so beautifully as we danced to it.
For my husband and my first dance to "Simply the Best", they sounded even better than the original.
Then, they made sure the dance floor was bumpin'! They played slightly older songs at the start for the dance floor. Then, they played really fun songs that brought all of the young people onto the dance floor.
At the middle of the party, I really wanted to bring out espresso martinis to a fun song. They helped me to find a song and time that would keep the vibes high for our 5-hour dance floor, but also would be after grandma went back to sleep for the crazier songs.
Towards the end of the night, the lead singer even came out on the dance floor and danced with us. It made the crowd go wild and the pictures so fun!
Plus, they knew I loved Taylor Swift, so they did a surprise bonus song where everyone sang "Love Story" together.
Then, we did a final slow dance to "Wedding Dress" by Matt Nathanson. They made it all so perfect, before we headed to our after party.
I cannot recommend Arlen Music Productions more. We loved Evolution Band - from the sentimental pieces to the party. They made our wedding so memorable, fun, and special.
Our wedding was 18 months ago and we still get compliments on the band - from their beautiful voices for the first dance to their vibes for the dance floor.
Book 'em!
Indigo and Kendall were AMAZING!
Fabulous music, everyone danced the night away! Incredible song choices! they completely understood the vibe we wanted! It was so much fun!!!! Our...
guest never left the dance floor. The most epic Hora EVER! They surpassed our dreams! so grateful!
Entourage was instrumental in making our Chicago Cultural Center wedding such a memorable event and kept the dance floor PACKED all night long. After our wedding, countless guests ...
told us that Entourage was the best wedding band that they had ever heard and we couldn't agree more. Morgen is an absolute rockstar of a bandleader and was a true pleasure to work with in the weeks and months before the wedding. Live music is very important to us and we were so lucky to be able to book Entourage for our big day, we can't recommend them enough. Thanks Entourage!
Indigo was the band we chose for our Chicago wedding at Salvage One. We cannot say enough great things about Indigo – they made all our wedding band dreams come true! The band is l...
ead by the incredibly talented Kendall Nesbitt, who kept all of our guests on the dance floor (including himself) all night long, curating a set list that perfectly matched our music taste (Motown, oldies and pop). He delivered the BEST version of “Shout!” (with a mashup of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds!) we have ever heard. Some guests who typically do not prefer that song were raving about it. Each band member and singer were also insanely talented – Noah perfectly sang our first dance song “Forever You and Me”. We also would be remiss to not mention the solo guitar during our ceremony too. They were able to perfectly learn and play versions of songs we requested for the processional. If you are looking for a high energy, fun wedding band, we highly recommend working with Arlen, specifically Indigo. “Worth every penny.” – A happy father of the bride. Thanks Arlen/Indigo!
Velocity provided music for our wedding ceremony over Labor Day Weekend at Revel Motor Row in Chicago. The musicians and vocalists brought so much energy and joy to the celebration...
! They played music at the ceremony so beautifully, created a calm and elegant atmosphere during cocktail hour and dinner, and kept the dance floor full all night long! They kindly learned first dance songs as well as additional songs special to my family members. Not only are they incredibly talented musicians, but they also know how to read the room and keep everyone engaged. Guests of all ages have told us it was the best wedding band they’ve ever heard! Would highly recommend Velocity to provide music at any special event.
Velocity was absolutely incredible for our wedding! They were so easy to work with and helped us customize every aspect of our ceremony and reception. The sound quality was phenome...
nal, and their vocalists were amazing - seamlessly covering everything from classic hits to current favorites. Their attention to detail was unmatched - they even coordinated with our wedding planner to perfectly time "Boogie Shoes" for when we changed our shoes! Our dance floor was packed for three straight hours with guests of all ages dancing together. We're still getting compliments weeks later! Simply fabulous in every way - we honestly can't imagine a better band. Velocity made our special day unforgettable!
I HIGHLY recommend Entourage! The band was absolutely INCREDIBLE. They all have so much talent and know how to keep a crowd of all ages engaged and thriving. Our dance floor was co...
mpletely packed the entire evening thanks to their energy and setlist. I truly had the best evening at my wedding and Entourage played a huge role. I had so many wedding guests tell me that they were the best band they have ever heard at a wedding by far, and I could not agree more! I wish I could see them every weekend. 🪩🎶 On top of that, they were great to work with in terms of picking songs and planning the day, and Morgen was the perfect MC for the evening. Thank you so much, Entourage!
Skyline could not have made our nights any better. Chris and the crew helped bring the energy and were extremely easy to work with throughout the entire process. We would not have ...
had the night of our lives without them.
We booked Skyline for our wedding and their energy was off the charts! Our guests danced all night long to a variety of incredible songs performed to perfection. Thanks to Skyline ...
“it was the best wedding EVER” (quote from a guest)!!
I'm sorry the star system only goes to 5 because they deserve a TEN!! Evolution is an amazing band and I would hire them in a second!
Rebecca & Front of House were magnificent, 3rd family wedding to have this band & did not disappoint! Thank you!
Simply the best!! We had Velocity and they kept the party going all night! Heidi was awesome to work with and made sure all of our ideas for our first dance, entrance songs, etc w...
ere exactly what we wanted. They had such a great mix of music that kept everyone happy (even as a bride who had a lot of songs on her do not play list 😇) We have received non stop compliments about the band even long after the wedding. Velocity was so good in fact, there were guests from other events that tried sneaking in to our wedding because they could hear how great the music was and wanted to join in!!
Indigo and Kendall as our band leader were such highlights of our wedding!! Even before the day, Kendall was so responsive and helpful in his guidance and helping us think through ...
decisions around ceremony music, etc. Day of, the band was phenomenal - people packed the dance floor all night, and everyone raved about them, their talent, their song selection - all of it! Closing with "Pink Pony Club" was a major highlight :)
I cannot say enough good things about Evolution—they were absolutely incredible for our special day! From the moment they started playing, they brought an unbelievable energy that ...
kept the dance floor packed all night. Their talent, professionalism, and ability to read the crowd made the night feel so magical to us. Every song was performed flawlessly, and they even took the time to learn our special requests, which meant so much to us. So many of our guests have told us it was the best wedding band they’ve ever seen. Truly unforgettable—thank you for making our day so special!
We are so happy we hired Front of House for our September wedding at the Chicago Athletic Association! Everyone raved about the band - from my aunts in their 70s to my cousin’s tee...
nage daughters. A band that can cater to all ages and different tastes and keep everyone on the dance floor is pretty rare! David was really helpful throughout the planning process helping us build a timeline for our reception dinner. We had a song in mind for our first dance and the band learned it for us, which made our night really memorable. We had a guest comment that she felt like our wedding had the best timeline “flow”, and that was all due to David’s suggestions. If you are considering Front of House as your wedding band, do yourself a favor and book them!
I can’t say enough great things about FRONT OF HOUSE! This incredible 11-member band, led by the talented David Sherman, exceeded every expectation. During the planning stages, Dav...
id went above and beyond, helping us fine-tune the evening’s itinerary and carefully curating a perfect playlist based on our preferences—both songs we loved and ones we wanted to avoid.
FRONT OF HOUSE even learned a few new songs we requested, including the Father-Daughter dance, which made our celebration even more personal and special. On the day of the wedding, they brought an infectious energy and professionalism that had everyone on the dance floor all night long. Their enthusiasm was palpable, and their talent undeniable.
We especially loved their on-stage choreography—it was clear they were having as much fun as we were! Their ability to read the room and create the perfect musical vibe made our wedding reception truly unforgettable. The energy they brought was lively, joyful, and exactly what we dreamed of for our daughter's big day.
A huge thank-you to Rebecca Richey, Katherine Anderick, Bret Zweir, Curt Bley, Brian Danzy, Tom McCarthy, Josh Hettwer, Josh Jern, LeTroy Jackson, Rebecca Brown, and of course, David Sherman. You all were the heartbeat of our celebration, and we wouldn’t dream of hosting a wedding without you!
Our band Front of House was the highlight of our wedding. I can’t even count how many guests told us how amazing they were. It was really important for us to have a music set that ...
appealed to all generations and boy did they deliver! Rebecca was so wonderful to work with and incredibly thoughtful AND talented. The band was honestly the best investment for our wedding. Highly recommend!
We had Entourage for the night of our wedding and they were absolutely fantastic!!! Lloyd was super personable and so easy to work with. Days after, people are still talking about ...
how good the band was for our wedding!!! It truly made our night and everyone was on the dance floor! Arlen Music is magical!!
We worked with Arlen Music Productions 9-piece band Front of House for our wedding night. They were spectacular!! The dance floor was packed all night long with guests of all ages....
They listened to our requests for songs to play and songs to avoid and seemlessly varied the music depending on the vibe needed to keep the party going! We have had multiple guests tell us they were the best wedding band they have ever heard!
Music is a huge part of our relationship, and we wanted to make sure we had a special wedding band. In fact it was the first thing we booked after the venue!
We heard about Arlen M...
usic Productions through word of mouth and family friends’ previous positive experiences. We were impressed with our first meeting and quickly decided to move forward. We chose the band Entourage based on our budget and their video on the website- and they absolutely lived up to the video!
Morgen is such a pleasure to work with. Our meeting with her a few weeks before the wedding was perhaps our only vendor meeting that left us feeling more excited than nervous. She worked with us to create a set list tailored to our music taste but also the music that has shaped our relationship. Our first dance song and final song of the evening were both not on the band’s repertoire list prior to the wedding, but both songs sounded so perfect.
We got so much feedback throughout the wedding and in the days following about how great the band is and how talented Morgen and Adam are! We are so so happy we chose Entourage’s , they helped make our wedding the best night of our lives!!
We greatly enjoyed working with Front of House for our wedding music. The music throughout the evening was a high point of our celebration and many guests have commented on how gre...
at the music was throughout! Rebecca and David thoughtfully addressed specific requests we had for the ceremony and carried through certain themes and tunes throughout the night. The night ended with a dance floor no one wanted to leave because of their incredible selection and execution. We wish we could dance the night away all over again!
Omg Indigo is AMAZING!!!! And of course Kendall is just the most fun!!!! Our guest seriously did not leave the dance floor once. They are so incredible. All of our friends and fami...
ly could not stop raving about them! I didn’t even change into my second reception dress because I didn’t want to miss a minute of the fun!!!!!! THEY ARE THE BEST!!!!
We hired the Evolution Band from Arlen Music Productions for our wedding and they were absolutely incredible! We had an initial meeting with the band leader, Lloyd, who was really ...
personable and willing to work with us regarding our song choices for our wedding night. During the reception, the band was so fun and entertaining - our dance floor was crowded all night long, they made me and my husband feel so special throughout the night, and all of our friends and family raved about them that night and in the weeks following our wedding. They were amazing and I would recommend them to anybody looking for a band for their wedding!
We had the Front of House band from Arlen Music Productions play at our wedding in April, and they were absolutely fantastic! From professional musicians who attended, to the grand...
mas... everyone was ecstatic in their feedback. We had an incredible time dancing and singing all night long.
The band exceeded our expectations with their surprises and delights throughout the evening. Even the sound engineers were top-notch, and we appreciated their flexibility with our (numerous) playlists during downtime. The whole group handled everything with precision and grace.
David was an amazing master of ceremonies, creating a genuine connection with us and perfectly understanding how we wanted the night to unfold. His attention to detail and ability to read the crowd made the evening unforgettable.
Special shoutout to the keyboardist who played our ceremony, he was phenomenal and nailed all of our requests.
Thank you, Front of House band, for an unforgettable celebration. Everything was on time and on point, making for a night we'll never forget (even if parts are a bit fuzzy!).
Thanks!
To say they were incredible is an understatement. Every artist in Indigo is fantastic and so talented! Kendall was easy to work with, energetic and can read the room really well. E...
very guest I've seen since my wedding day first comments on how much they loved our wedding band. Thank you again, Indigo!
We had their Entourage Band, with Morgen as the lead. They were fabulous and Morgen was wonderful! Their sound was terrific and did a great job with all the songs they played. They...
knew how to read the room and get people up dancing and keep them on the dance floor the entire time. Everyone had a such fun and are still talking about it! Morgen was great to work with leading up to the wedding day. I would highly recommend them! Thank you for making it such a memorable evening!
A big 'thank you' to you to Indigo for such an incredible night! There was a theme among our wedding guests' compliments we received about the day, and Indigo was by far a highligh...
t!
I can confidently say booking you all for our wedding was one of the best decisions we made! We said we wanted to throw a party and have everyone talking about the entertainment, and that is exactly what happened!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Ashley & Alex
Working with Arlen Music and our musician (Stephanie Aaron) was great. She and her band were fabulous, and the whole team was responsive, accommodating, and easy to work with. I hi...
ghly recommend them!
We had Indigo for our wedding and they were a hit! Kendall and team are so talented. People are still talking about our band! Kendall did a great job with song selection and even l...
earning a few songs for our special dances. He was an absolute pleasure to work with!
Kendall and his team at Arlen music were a huge part of making our dream wedding a reality. From pre-planning all the way through the big night, we felt taken care to the highest d...
egree. There was such amazing talent on that stage and our whole wedding was raving about their performance. Nothing but the highest compliments for this crew!
Oh what a night! Indigo was amazing! Our wedding guests were so impressed with them - from the jazz trio during dinner to the high energy music that kept everyone on the dance flo...
or. Kendall knows how to start a party and keep it going until the end of the evening! Their range of music and ability to play to our guests was so impressive. We are so glad that we decided to select the 11 piece band - the horn section was fantastic! And then they ended the evening with a private dance for the bride and groom that was so special. They are definitely a five star band! A big thanks to Kendall and Indigo for a very special evening!
We recently worked with Kendall and the Indigo Orchestra at the Warwick Allerton. As a venue manager, they were so respectful of our "house", took EXTRA time to visit ahead of the ...
event to make sure our unique ballroom would offer all that they wanted - and it did!!!! (They made it work!)
They were sooo great- dance floor was packed the WHOLE time, and the energy just filled the room and everyone from kids to grandparents where on the dance floor!
We can't wait to have them back!
Thanks, Kendall for your professionalism and of course, your vocals!
We had Front of House play at our wedding and I can't recommend them enough! We knew after our initial consultation call with FOH that we were in great hands. David, the lead singe...
r, took his time listening to us about what styles of music we like, and was more than happy to learn a few specific songs that my wife and I wanted to be played. He was totally onboard with our outside of the box bridal party walkout and first dance request (I loved her first into sweet child of mine).
When it came to the wedding they played for three hours after dinner and our dance floor was packed the entire time. They played hit after hit, sticking to our preferred music list but also going off script which enhanced the vibe. I can't tell you how many people came up to us afterwards raving about the music. All of the musicians in front of house are talented and know how to preform in front of an audience. I would recommend FOH to anybody looking keep the party going for their wedding. 10/10.
We loved working with David and Front of House. David was very helpful and collaborative during planning stages. He really made sure everything went smoothly and was able to accomm...
odate a couple specific song requests. And Front of House was so fun and full of energy the night of the wedding! We received lots of compliments on our wedding band. Would definitely recommend Front of House!
I cannot express enough how absolutely incredible the band Indigo was at our wedding! From the very first note to the final encore, they brought an unparalleled level of energy and...
enthusiasm that had everyone on their feet from start to finish. What truly stood out was the band's interaction with our guests. They made everyone feel like they were part of the performance, and the lead singer's charisma was off the charts. People were not just dancing; they were fully engaged and singing along. Indigo made our wedding night an epic celebration we'll cherish forever!
Front of House was incredible! We had so many guests say they were one of the best bands they had seen at a wedding. David was great keeping the energy alive and transitioning song...
s seamlessly. They were able to perform a few specific sentimental requests even with a few changes just before the day. David was great working with out month of planner in creating a reliable timeline. HIGHLY recommend!
We had Velocity from Arlen Music for our wedding and they were fantastic! Heidie and the rest of the band were great in planning and execution in playing the music we asked for and...
keeping the energy high. Many of our guests remarked how great they were and we agreed. We would absolutely use them again!
We booked Front Of House. The band and the was one of our top priorities. David was 100% worth it. We did the 9 piece band but David is what makes it. As an artist his stage presen...
ce is amazing. To get people dancing you need someone like him. He made sure the floor was always popin and even started a line dancing group that took off.David killed it. We got numerous comments that the band was spectacular.
We had seen many other bands play and nothing compares to them. Also, the sound engineer was amazing. We had less than 100 people on a big space. Nothing was overpowering. Everything was perfect.
We hired Indigo for our wedding and could not be more thrilled with the experience from the pre-event planning through the wedding night. Kendall and Dan were consummate profession...
als with great communication and honest insight beforehand to help guide us through the process. On the night of, the band played an incredible 3.5 hour performance with great energy, a diverse and all-encompassing playlist, and perfect timing on song selection and crowd interaction. Our guests continue to rave about the band well after our wedding. We couldn't more highly recommend Indigo!
We hired Front of House (9 piece) for our wedding 4/22/23 at City Winery - West Loop. They were EVERYTHING and MORE!! They brought the energy and kept the party going ALL night lo...
ng. They sounded amazing, even learned our first dance song so they could play it live. Leading up to the wedding, they were very communicative and accommodating. They played ALL night long and even had killer dance moves!! I would 100000% recommend them to any couple that wants a giant dance party.
We hired Evolution Orchestra for our wedding, and it was easily the part of our wedding we were most excited for! We had searched far and wide for a wedding band, and we were so ex...
cited when we found them. They are everything that you want in a wedding band - enthusiastic, lively, fun, and TALENTED! Every single member who performed that night did an incredible job, and we had people on the dance floor all night. Ken and his team made us feel so comfortable leading up to the wedding, and helped us with our timeline as well. The night of our wedding, Caitlin was our band leader and was such a sweetheart! She did so much to make us feel special, and the entire band was extremely engaging. I wish I could hire them to perform at every event, they really are a team of incredible professionals and are the life of the party. They were our favorite part of the wedding, and we cannot recommend them enough!
Wow! Dan and his band Indigo were phenomenal. No one wanted to leave the dance floor. They are truly great musicians and the range of music they play is a delight for all ages. ...
From Michael Buble to Earth, Wind and Fire to Darius Rucker --- everything was great.
AMAZING! We first heard the band Indigo at a friend's wedding and we were blown away. We thought they were so good that we decided to hire them for our own wedding. Our dance floor...
was full the entire night! Everyone at our wedding kept going on and on about how amazing the band was. Additionally, they were great to work with and really helpful with all of the planning and logistics prior to the event. Would highly recommend!
Absolutely the very best decision made for the wedding! Ken was fabulous to work with, listened to the bride and groom and what they wanted, and then gave the event a night no one ...
will forget! Energetic, fantastic, awe inspiring concert/music for hours! No one left the dance floor!! Truly Epic!! Can’t say enough about how amazing Evolution was and how they preformed! They truly Made the night beyond spectacular!!!!
We cannot recommend Arlen Music highly enough! After multiple postponements due to COVID-19, we were finally able to celebrate our wedding with our family and friends in August. Ve...
locity made sure all of our guests - regardless of age - were on the dance floor until the very end of our reception. The singers and musicians were incredibly talented. We received endless compliments after our wedding that Velocity was the best wedding band. We couldn't agree more! If you are looking for the best band in Chicago, look no further!
Front of House Band
No doubt about it, if you want a band that will keep your guests out on the dance floor all night long, Front of House is the perfect band for you. David Sher...
man and the entire band created an atmosphere at our daughter’s wedding that was fun and energetic. All our guests couldn’t stop talking about the great band! Our daughter and son-in-law left most of the music choices up to David with the one request that this was a dancing crowd so please make sure that the songs would keep guests dancing. Talk about a band that knew how to read the room! There was never a moment that the dance floor wasn’t packed. Another comment from our guests was that the band never took a break and also, that you could still have a conversation with the band playing. Every member of this band is so talented and together they made beautiful, fun and amazing music. Hope to hear them again sometime!
Entourage was the highlight of our wedding!! We received SO many compliments on the band and the dance floor was full the entire night! One highlight: one of our friends went up to...
our pregnant friend and asked her “As a sober person, is this band really THIS GOOD?! Or am I too drunk?” which of course she assured him they were actually amazing haha. Everyone in the band is so talented and Leslie was so great and easy to work with. They even learned a specific song for us that we wanted to close the night with. My husband and I are trying to figure out an excuse to hire them again for something… 1,000,000 out of 10, would recommend!!!
Look no further than Front of House for your wedding! I cannot say thank you enough for the work David and the band put into making our night so special. As a guest said "I knew it...
would be fun, but I did not know it would be THAT fun!" We have Front of House to thank for that. The dance floor was packed from the moment David invited guests to the floor until we all sang the final song together. If budget is a priority (as it was for us), I can assure you Front of House was worth every penny and much more. We even extended the playing time another 30 minutes!! Thanks again Front of House!
My husband and I planned our entire wedding around when Ken Arlen's Evolution Orchestra was available. They are the best of the best. Not only are the musicians incredibly talented...
, Ken and Lloyd's ability to cater to the couple and their families is first rate. Every interaction with Ken and his team was absolutely wonderful, and he helped me our special night a dream come true. We cannot recommend Ken and his bands enough!
Contact
1415 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL
Arlen Music Productions