5.0
Verified reviews from real couples
Your Party Has Arrived
The Big Badd was one of the best parts of our wedding. Ian was very easy to work with and asked about all our preferences well in advance. The ceremony music/sound was perfectly timed and a good volume. Even the cocktail hour music got compliments from our guests. But the biggest compliments we got were about the reception set. The band got people on the dance floor that never dance at weddings! They were so engaging and created such a fun atmosphere for everyone. Most of our guests were band/music people, and they were so excited to dance to a band with amazing musical talent. The band even learned a few new songs for our wedding and nailed it! Even the Photo Booth was a great addition and gave people a fun keepsake. They really made our wedding so special and our guests truly enjoyed the night. 100/10 stars. You should book this band.
Claire T.
5.0
I would highly recommend booking The Big Badd for your next event. They performed at our wedding reception and were fantastic; they kept the dance floor filled all night and sounded incredible. We received multiple compliments from our guests about them.
Danielle P.
5.0
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Ian Harrah
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (3X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Professional musicians specializing in filling dance floors and starting parties in Columbus, OH, The Big Badd wants to make your wedding experience the best night of your life. Our core band spotlights nine of Columbus’s best musicians, featuring guitar, bass, drums, keys, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and two vocalists.
Fully customizable, The Big Badd offers packages as large as 11 musicians and as small as four, providing sound, lighting, DJ, and MC services, as well as optional ceremony and cocktail hour music. Genres - From oldies and Motown to pop, rock, funk, and hip hop, no matter what your tastes are, we’ve got you covered.
Details
Instruments
Bass
Cello
Guitar
Keyboard
Percussion
Piano
Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet
Viola
Violin
Vocals
Music Genres
Classical
Country
Dance
Hip-Hop
Jazz
Pop
R&B
Rock
Music Services
Live Music
MC Services
Recorded Music
Sound Equipment
Wedding Activities
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Reception
Awards and Affiliations
3-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2024.2023.2022.
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.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Ian Harrah
Owner
I'm the owner, trumpet player, keyboardist, and your contact for every thing you need to make sure your wedding is exactly as you imagined it! I'm happy to make sure that we provide just the right music, environment, and entertainment for your special day!
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.028 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
The Big Badd delivered energetic, professional performances that kept the dance floor full and impressed guests. Booking and coordination were seamless and responsive; they learned requested songs and provided beautiful ceremony music. Their musicianship, setlist flexibility, and fair pricing make them highly recommended for weddings.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 3
Alexander L
Highlighted review.
5.0
11/12/2025
Ian was great to work with leading up to the wedding. Clear early communication. Everything went smoothly. The Big Badd also did a great job with their performance for the ceremony...
and the reception. They were able to accommodate our request for live band, DJ set, and a DJ set with a saxophone. They also learned new music for the ceremony. Reasonably priced and a great result. If you are considering booking them, I would recommend catching one of their local live performances beforehand.
Response from The Big Badd on 12/01/2025
Thanks so much Alex for the review, we had a blast playing your wedding and loved being a ...
part of the party!
Claire T
5.0
8/06/2026
The Big Badd was one of the best parts of our wedding. Ian was very easy to work with and asked about all our preferences well in advance. The ceremony music/sound was perfectly ti...
med and a good volume. Even the cocktail hour music got compliments from our guests. But the biggest compliments we got were about the reception set. The band got people on the dance floor that never dance at weddings! They were so engaging and created such a fun atmosphere for everyone. Most of our guests were band/music people, and they were so excited to dance to a band with amazing musical talent. The band even learned a few new songs for our wedding and nailed it! Even the Photo Booth was a great addition and gave people a fun keepsake. They really made our wedding so special and our guests truly enjoyed the night. 100/10 stars. You should book this band.
Response from The Big Badd on 08/07/2026
Thanks so much for the review Claire, we were so happy to be a part of your and Lovell's w...
edding!
Any questions?
Danielle P
5.0
1/29/2026
I would highly recommend booking The Big Badd for your next event. They performed at our wedding reception and were fantastic; they kept the dance floor filled all night and sounde...
d incredible. We received multiple compliments from our guests about them.
Response from The Big Badd on 02/02/2026
Thanks so much for the review Danielle, we loved being a part of your wedding!
Alexandra H
5.0
12/19/2025
We cannot say enough great things about The Big Badd! They were absolutely amazing at our wedding from start to finish. The vocals were incredible, the energy was through the roof,...
and they had everyone on the dance floor all night long.
We received so many compliments from our guests about how great the band was, and they truly helped make our wedding day unforgettable. If you’re looking for a band that brings talent, fun, and nonstop energy, The Big Badd is it. Highly, highly recommend!
Aimee C
5.0
12/18/2025
My wife and I booked The Big Badd for our wedding and they were AMAZING. Every part of the process was easy and painless, which for people planning for their wedding know—that is a...
very rare experience.
The actual booking process was really simple and quick. They sent us a detailed form (but not too long!) prior to the meeting that was really helpful. It included all the songs on their setlist as well as for the quartet. We got to highlight our favorite songs, ask for a few new songs which they accommodated (and everyone loved, shout-out to Hot to Go!), and we got to say what songs we absolutely did not want which I loved because there are certain songs that tend to get played at wedding that I cannot stand lol. We do not live in Columbus so everything was over zoom and email, and it was super easy.
Both Ian and Eric were super friendly, cool, and helpful. There are so many decisions to be made in wedding planning and in booking a band, and when I said that I was overwhelmed and just wanted some decisions to be made for me, they were just like "yeah, totally, we got you". (For example, I could not pick a song for the wedding party to walk down to so they picked it, and everyone complimented the choice!!). The music during the ceremony was perfect and beautiful. My sister-in-law is planning her wedding and she said that she just wants "whatever music they played during the ceremony" too haha.
For the first dance, they knew exactly when we were done dancing and cut off the music in a very natural way lol.
For the reception itself, it was a non-stop party and the dance floor was never empty. The Big Badd know how to party and were just phenomenal in every way. They ended the night with TWO Chappell Roan songs and half the guests didn't want to leave!
The only reason I would ever want to get married again is for the opportunity to book the Big Badd again (lol!).
Caleb B
5.0
12/13/2025
We could not have been happier with The Big Badd. From our initial meeting with them, to coordinating the events of the day, and their performance at our reception. Everything was ...
exactly what we wanted. They even learned a new song that we requested, and absolutely knocked it out of the park. Everyone at our wedding was asking us where we found this amazing band. They gave us the party we were hoping for, and more. We cannot recommend them enough! -Caleb and Agnes
Amanda G
5.0
1/31/2024
We kept getting complements all night from our guests. Amazing musicians all around. They can really pump up the event. Amazing energy that keeps the party going.
It was great w...
orking with Eric. He was very professional and customized the entire experience for us. His wife was the pianist for our ceremony and played beautifully. Thank you Eric! We would happily recommend to anyone looking for a memorable wedding.
Gregory C
5.0
11/26/2023
We were recommended The Big Badd through a friend who also hired them for their own wedding. The entire process from start to finish was the most seamless part of our wedding, whic...
h is really saying something about their service and attention to detail. Their price was one of the most competitive in town and their quality was unmatched. Every time we talk to our friends about our wedding, the first thing they mention was how amazing the band was. Can't recommend The Big Badd enough!
Jimmy D
5.0
11/15/2023
Not only did The Big Badd put on a great performance for our wedding, they coordinated it all in a month between contacting them for the first time and the wedding date (the short ...
notice was totally on us). They had a great set list and let us filter and choose what we wanted. They even learned a song not on their list so that one of us could sing it with them. Ian (the band's lead) was responsive and helpful throughout the process and gave us an accurate assessment of what to expect day-of. We were impressed with the quality, professionalism, and interaction from the band. Would hire them again.
Quentin B
5.0
11/03/2023
Unlike the bands name may suggest, this group of musicians is truly phenomenal. From taking requests to their energy on stage, they are the perfect blend of fun and professional. W...
e hired them to perform at The Ohio State University Marching Band's annual ball, and from one group of musicians to another, they rocked the house. We highly recommend The Big Badd and believe that anyone who does so will write the same glowing recommendation we did. O-H!
Maggie J
5.0
8/22/2023
We were SO pleased with the Big Badd! We hired them for our wedding this past July and they absolutely brought the energy. Our guests are still talking about how amazing our band w...
as ! Everything was perfect and we have nothing but the nicest things to say about them.
Cierra L
5.0
4/29/2023
I have worked with multiple of the members of this group, which is what lead me to hiring them for my wedding. However, regardless of friendship, this band KILLED IT and the guests...
loved the live music option. We had to make some last minute changes on the wedding day and everyone was so flexible. Ian was super helpful with all info and Eric, the emcee, was a blast to work with. If you’re on the fence about live band vs DJ, go for this live band. You won’t regret it!
Response from The Big Badd on 05/02/2023
Thank you so much Cierra! It was a pleasure working with you and we really appreciate your...
kind review!
Katheryn M
5.0
3/17/2023
This was my second time hiring The Big Badd for WesterBall because everyone loves them so much! We had a ton of fun dancing. They play a great selection of music that all ages enjo...
yed! And we had children through age 80 at my event. The horns really add to the professional sound. Don't hesitate to book this band! It is fabulous!!
Response from The Big Badd on 05/02/2023
We were so happy to be a part of Westerball again Katey, I'm glad you enjoyed our performa...
nce! We really appreciate your kind review!
Denise C
5.0
3/17/2023
We used the Big Badd as entertainment during for our final event after a trade show. They were awesome to work with and delivered a fantastic show. During the planning stages, th...
ey were very responsive. They even met us at the venue to discuss logistics! Our guests loved their music and had a blast. I would highly recommend them.
Response from The Big Badd on 05/02/2023
Thank you so much Denise, I am really glad your guests enjoyed the show and we were very h...
appy to work with you!
Allyse L
5.0
3/13/2023
We hired the Big Badd for a corporate black tie event. Ian and I met 3 times prior to our event to ensure we were on the same page and that everything would run smoothly. He used...
his expertise to make recommendations on the set list, the location of the band, the sound and the overall experience.
Having a live band instead of a recorded track took our event to the next level and we have already booked them for next year's event!
Response from The Big Badd on 05/02/2023
Thank you Allyse, we are so happy to have been a part of your event and to be working with...
you again next year!
Joey D
5.0
10/31/2022
We originally booked with Ian and The Big Badd about a year out from our wedding date. From our initial meeting discussing our ideas for the set list to the pricing and number of b...
and members for our big day, Ian made everything incredibly easy. He went over the serperete price points and which musicians we could get with each package to make sure we were in agreement before moving forward. Leading up to the wedding we had a phone call and a final zoom meeting with Ian and Eric who would be MC’ing our event to coordinate the itinerary and when and what needed to be said. Again working with Ian and the band members couldn’t have being easier they were always more than accommodating and professional every step of the way. On the day they were incredible, the set list the vocals the HORNS!! truly a top shelf band and would suggest them to anyone trying to put together an event that needs a groovy hook.
Response from The Big Badd on 11/17/2022
Thank you Joey! We had a blast at your wedding and enjoyed working with you and Savannah! ...
The crowd was so much fun and leading the second line parade at the end of the night was exhilarating to say the least!
Ian
Christopher C
5.0
9/09/2022
We booked The Big Badd for our wedding and we absolutely loved them! From our first call with Ian he was extremely helpful and personable. We unfortunately couldn’t make it to see ...
the band live before we booked them but Ian shared so many videos and photos from previous weddings we were confident they would be great. And we were right! All of our guests loved their performance. It was the first time I’ve ever heard guests cheer for an encore at the end of the night! Ian also played trumpet at our ceremony and did a fantastic job. Eric did a fantastic job as the MC. We highly recommend booking the big Badd for your wedding!
Response from The Big Badd on 09/12/2022
Thanks Chris and Courtney! We had a blast playing for you guys and I really enjoyed workin...
g on the planning with you to make sure everything went smoothly! Your wedding was an incredible party and we were happy to help keep it going!
Tiana N
5.0
7/31/2022
The Big Badd is the best around!!! My husband and I are both music teachers and really cared to have good, live music at our wedding. The Big Badd is comprised of excellent musicia...
ns and sound engineers who take great care into a high-quality performance not only for the ceremony, but also the reception. Our wedding venue was set near a residential area, so we were worried that the sound would be too loud, resulting in complaints from the surrounding areas. Not only was the band volume perfect, but the owner of the the venue loved the music so much she brought her husband to come listen! The musicians really know how to keep a crowd dancing and did a wonderful job creating a fun and upbeat environment (which was our priority for the wedding). We were also so impressed with the quality of their sound equipment and Eric, the emcee, did a wonderful job with setting the tone for the reception. It's a shame we're not getting married again any time soon, as we would hire them again in a heartbeat!!
Response from The Big Badd on 08/03/2022
Thank you so much Tiana! You all were great to work with and it is an honor to be hired by...
musicians and your family and friends were a lot of fun! We wish you guys all the best!
Ian and The Big Badd
Jasmine S
5.0
6/23/2022
HIRE THIS BAND. I am a full-time musician in the Columbus music scene and I hired this band because they bring down the house! They played our favorite songs, mash-ups of popular s...
ongs, oldies, 1990s and 2000s nostalgia, crowd-pleasers, and even a special horn feature that marched around the room and got my wife and I centered on the dance floor for some amazing pictures and unforgettable moments on our big day! The bandleader, Ian, was very accommodating to our needs, made all the music work for our timeline, and even played piano for the cocktail hour. The MC was so friendly and made the whole reception run as smoothly as possible and we had the most perfect day!!
Response from The Big Badd on 08/03/2022
Thanks Seth! You guys were amazing to work with and we had a blast at your wedding! Best o...
f luck to you and Jasmine!!
Ian and The Big Badd
Amy N
5.0
5/19/2022
The Big Badd band is AMAZING! From their responsiveness out the gate, their tailoring of their set list to the songs we love, and the outrageously fun night they hosted, all made t...
hem the band I would recommend to anyone. They know how to play for a great party!
Response from The Big Badd on 05/25/2022
Thanks so much Amy! We had a great time playing for your party!!
Faith M
5.0
11/17/2021
Stop your search now and book The Big Badd! By far the best part of our wedding - our guests still talk about how much fun it was dancing to their music all night! But, what I foun...
d the most impressive is how easy they were to work with. Ian set up a intro call to understand what I was looking for out of a band before even booking. Then, as we got closer, we had an additional call to walk through the timeline, how we wanted things announced, and all the little details that make a huge difference. The band was also able to accompany a singer from our hometown for our first dance and walk down the aisle songs. Everything was so perfect and I cannot sing the praises of this band enough!! BOOK THEM NOW!
Response from The Big Badd on 11/18/2021
Thank you so much Faith! You and Cam were great to work with and your wedding was a BLAST!...
Ian
Aidan P
5.0
10/28/2021
I didn't hire the band for a wedding but rather for a dance that had ~300 people attending and everyone loved them! They bring an awesome energy and were great to work with. I woul...
d recommend them to anyone!
Response from The Big Badd on 11/01/2021
Thank you Aidan! We had a great time and would love to work with you all again!
Amber R
5.0
10/27/2021
I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing our event was in October. I have to say a big contribution to it be so unforgettable was The Big Badd-it was honestly a game changer hav...
ing them!
I had friends and family of all ages attend, ranging from 30 to 70 years old. They all love different genres of music (country, rock, todays hits) and I can say every single person enjoyed themselves!
I will 1,000% have them again at another party!
Response from The Big Badd on 11/01/2021
Thanks Amber! Your party was incredible and we were happy to be a part of it! Let us know ...
whenever you need us!
Ian
Ken & Cathy B
5.0
10/10/2021
Ian and the Big Badd have been extremely responsive, communicative, transparent, and fun throughout the process of booking our band. It’s clear that the band works together all the...
time, and it is that type of family atmosphere that shot them to the top of our radar when working with Ian. Their setlist is packed with hits, both new and old. And their content shows how talented the group really is! The Big Badd are sure to bring an incredible atmosphere to any event!
Response from The Big Badd on 10/26/2021
Thank you so much Cathy! It was great working with you as well!
Megan M
5.0
9/13/2021
Everyone, from our youngest teenage guests to our oldest senior guests, loved this band - they transcend generations! Ian was professional, creative, and flexible and he partnered ...
with us to create a musical masterpiece , which some of our guests are calling an experience of a lifetime. Each band member authentically cared about creating a magical experience and it showed: we all danced the night away and our souls were elevated by the Big Badd’s talent and energy. We can’t recommend them enough and we, along with our friends and family, will be finding venues where they play and listening to them again and again whenever we can!
Response from The Big Badd on 09/13/2021
We are so happy you enjoyed our performance and that your day was such a success! The ban...
d had a great time and loved the energy we got from everyone at the wedding! Thank you for the review!!
Ian
Timothy B
5.0
9/13/2021
What a pleasure it was to work with this band! They sounded fantastic and created a beautiful vibe for our celebration. Our guests were blown away and danced their faces off. Hi...
re them before Dre Peace blows up...
Response from The Big Badd on 09/13/2021
Thank you Tim! Dre is something special and we all had a great time at your wedding!
Ian
Aaron D
5.0
7/28/2020
I have booked this band a handful of times and they are very professional and have a versatile setlist you can choose from. Would highly recommend.
Rob M
5.0
7/23/2020
The Big Badd was the perfect wedding band. They started out smooth and easy with jazz-pop vibes and sultry vocals. As the evening progressed, they brought up the energy and turned ...
the reception into one big dance party. As far as musical styles, they covered a lot of territory over the course of the evening and were able to appeal to everyone's tastes - which not an easy feat for one band to do. From the youngest to the oldest of guests, there was something for everyone.
Service area & Contact info
Travel area: Within 300 miles
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The Big Badd
Ian Harrah
|
Owner
Typically responds within 24h
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