The Best Music. The Best Band. The Brooklyn Beats.
Based in NYC - will travel anywhere!
Service area
Jon Shiffman
OWNER
AWARD WINNER (2X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
The Brooklyn Beats is a premier event and wedding band based in Brooklyn, NY, and established by music industry veteran Jon Shiffman.
From 2005 to 2015, Jon's career thrived on the road with Grammy winner Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Lorde). During this period, Jon played drums with Antonoff's band Steel Train, recorded with the Platinum-selling band Fun, and served as Music Director and Drummer in Antonoff's Bleachers.
Jon's extensive experience includes worldwide tours, performances at festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, and appearances on late-night shows such as David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O'Brien, and Jimmy Fallon. His drumming features in various national TV commercials and is showcased in the 2024 release of Paramount Pictures' Mean Girls movie.
Since transitioning from touring in 2015, Jon has become a staple in New York's private event and wedding band scene, working as a drummer, band leader, talent booker, and event producer for the region's top agencies and bands. After over a decade of collaborating with other bands and agencies, Jon recognized his ability to deliver exceptional musical performances with personalized "Mom and Pop style" customer service. His talent scouting and his unique background in mainstream music and private event production guarantees that The Brooklyn Beats stands out as one of New York's premier event bands. The band features the most skilled and experienced performers from the New York area.
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Details
Instruments
Bass
Cello
Guitar
Keyboard
Percussion
Piano
Saxophone
Steel Drum
Trombone
Trumpet
Viola
Violin
Vocals
Music Genres
Classical
Country
Dance
Disco
EDM
Folk
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
Any questions?
Meet the team
Jon Shiffman
Owner
"I can promise that I treat every client and event as if it were my own wedding or party. Whenever live entertainment is hired for events, I understand the importance that music holds for the client - especially weddings, one of the most important days of a person's life."
-Jon Shiffman, founder of The Brooklyn Beats
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.031 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Brooklyn Beats are widely praised for creating high-energy, unforgettable receptions that keep the dance floor packed. Reviewers highlight excellent communication, professionalism, and flexibility, from jazz trios to full-band/DJ hybrids. They customize songs, nail special requests, and come highly recommended for weddings.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Peter S
Highlighted review.
5.0
7/06/2025
I’m going to be talking up Jon and The Brooklyn Beats for the rest of my life, and I think our guests will be too. I’ve lost track of how many people have gone out of their way to ...
tell us how great the band was at our wedding. Having great music was a major priority for us, and from the planning phases down to the last song of the evening, we couldn’t have asked to work with anyone better.
From the first conversations, it was clear how focused Jon was on making the energy and atmosphere of the party feel true to us and fun for our guests. He’s thorough, detail-oriented, and communicative, all while keeping the joy of it all front-and-center. In a whirlwind of decisions to make and things to keep track of, working with Jon made things feel easy.
All of that was great, but when all the planning was done and it was time to party, The Brooklyn Beats brought the house down. The whole ensemble was just crazy talented, and they carried the energy of the whole evening so perfectly. They had great range, a deep catalogue of all-time great songs, and nailed every little detail. We had talked with Jon about the specific arrangement for our first dance song, and how the intro would need a slight tweak to work with our arrival on the dance floor, and it all just felt so effortlessly dialed as we stepped out in front of our family and friends.
The Brooklyn Beats are the real deal. Cannot recommend them enough.
Caitlin A
5.0
4/01/2026
Best investment into our wedding!! Having a band was something we always knew we wanted and we are SO happy we chose the Brooklyn Beats. We had a 9 piece band and they were absolut...
ely INCREDIBLE! The talent was unreal and they helped curate the vibe we wanted for our wedding. Our dance floor was packed until the last song, and we will be replaying this night for the rest of our lives. Thank you so so much Brooklyn Beats!!!
Any questions?
Andrea S
5.0
3/16/2026
We recently worked with Brooklyn Beats for our reception in February, and the partnership and professionalism they brought to the planning process, as well as the vibes they brough...
t to the event was absolute perfection. We wanted the music to build throughout the night - both in energy, but also, in musicians - starting with a DJ and ending with multiple brass players and the drums. Brooklyn Beats coordinated their musicians to pull this off with complete ease, and continued to wow the guests as well as keep them on the dance floor with the whole experience. We couldn’t have asked for a better night, and the memories of all our friends and family having an absolute blast with us will last a lifetime!
Amanda M
5.0
1/16/2026
The Brooklyn Beats & working with Jon was the best decision we made as an add-on to our wedding on New Year's Eve 2025. We had a trio (singer, keyboardist, saxophonist) perform at ...
our Cocktail Hour and they played throwback hits that performed so well and set the tone for our event. Sean crushed every song from Billy Joel to Jay-Z to Michael Jackson to Bruce Springsteen. The music was such a fun component to our beginning of the night. Then we had Matt on the saxophone come up to the reception and perform during the entire reception during select songs which he absolutely blew everyone away with - it was the talk of the night and one of the most talked about moments of the event, it was the perfect add-on with our DJ who played mostly hip-hop and EDM hits. The team was so willing to work with our DJ to integrate the saxophone and worked perfectly in the venue setting up the most amazing position next to the bar during Cocktail Hour. I could not recommend The Brooklyn Beats more for dynamic, fun, energizing and soulful performances for your NYC wedding!
Julia S
5.0
12/09/2025
We booked a jazz trio of piano, bass, and drums for our cocktail hour and it was awesome! Jon asked us if we had any requests and the band was happy to accommodate. Our guests said...
that the music was elegant and enjoyable, yet quiet enough that they were still able to talk comfortably. The band provided the perfect ambient atmosphere. The right songs, the right mood, and the right volume.
SAM W
5.0
12/03/2025
Jon and The Brooklyn Beats made our wedding amazing - they had all our guests on the dance floor ALL NIGHT! Band was tight and high-energy through a long reception, were profession...
al and personable, and they really rock. would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone looking to have an amazing experience.
Sam V
5.0
11/15/2025
The Brooklyn Beats were absolutely incredible from start to finish! They were so helpful throughout our planning process—taking in all the details of what we were looking for in a ...
wedding band, offering great suggestions, and really understanding the vibe we hoped for. On our wedding day, they delivered. They created such a fun, energetic atmosphere that kept our guests on the dance floor all night long. We’re still hearing rave reviews from friends and family about how amazing the band was. Couldn’t recommend them more!
Sydney S
5.0
11/13/2025
Booking The Brooklyn Beats was possibly the best decision we made during our entire wedding planning process. Even though we were getting married in Rhode Island, we turned to the ...
NY wedding band scene, and were referred to Jon and his incredible band. After watching their teaser video, I was sold. And after chatting with Jon, the decision was an absolute no-brainer.
Jon is so incredibly kind and communicative, not to mention, a total professional who has impeccable music taste. My husband and I wanted to steer clear of the typical wedding playlist, and Jon and The Brooklyn Beats absolutely delivered.
From our live ceremony musicians, to the jazzy cocktail hour band, and all through the night until last call, we enjoyed the most incredible music. At our reception, EVERY. SINGLE. SONG was a banger - once the dance floor opened, not a single person left.
It was truly everything we could have hoped for and more. If you are considering booking them, DO IT! You won't find a better band in the Northeast. We miss you guys already - wish we could relive it over and over again!
Allie H
5.0
11/13/2025
Had the best experience with Jon and the entire Brooklyn Beats team. They were able to create a custom set up for our unique wedding / needs, and everyone could not stop raving abo...
ut our music. HUGE thank you!! Do not hesitate to book them!!
Micaela B
5.0
10/26/2025
OOur ask for a wedding band was to bring down the house and get everyone on the dance floor and DID THEY DELIVER!! The number one thing we heard our guests say that night and days ...
to follow was "where did you find this band? they are absolutely incredible!!!". On top of that the owner of our venue said it was by far the best band they've had there yet. The Brooklyn Beats made our wedding!! Some of our guests I had never even seen touch the dance floor before, were out at our wedding tearing it up because this band was that good!!!
Jon the band leader was an incredible communicator from the moment we reached out, he made everything easy and as we got closer to our wedding day I could feel his excitement, which was awesome! He is incredibly passionate about music and the band he has created. He understood our music taste to a T. The MC of the night was not only the sweetest person (and incredible singer) but she amped up our guests and came out on the dance floor to get everyone involved! the other two singers--incredible vocals, came out to sing and dance with all our guests. We had an 8pc band and they JAMMED! You want a banger of a wedding---BOOK THE BROOKLYN BEATS!!
Emily K
5.0
10/06/2025
The Brooklyn Beats were INCREDIBLE! Best decision I made for my wedding! They put on such a great performance and brought such great energy! We got so many compliments on the band ...
and everyone was on the dance floor all night. Jon was also so kind and easy to work with and made sure everything was exactly how we wanted it. They also had such a long and wide ranging song list. I highly recommend the Brooklyn Beats!!!
Jessica W
5.0
9/30/2025
Brooklyn Beats was everything we could have dreamed of for our wedding, and then some! From start to finish, Jon (the owner) went above and beyond to make sure we felt completely c...
onfident in our decision. Since the company is relatively new, he took so much care in walking us through every detail: multiple calls to go over logistics, sharing videos and testimonials, even connecting us with a past client. He even arranged for us to see Kevin (our DJ) play live at an NYC rooftop, which sealed the deal for us!
On the big day… wow. I cannot recommend the band/DJ hybrid enough if you’re going for a true party vibe with a polished, elevated feel. The live instruments layered behind the original songs added so much texture, energy, and freshness that it never once felt like a “typical” wedding playlist. They played almost every single song from our must-play list, and the flow was absolutely perfect from start to finish. Kevin absolutely crushed it with the vibes, transitions, and timing, every moment felt effortless and electric.
One of the most special touches was Jon helping with my aisle song. I wanted something that didn’t exist yet, and he actually composed my vision, sent me a sample, and it turned out PERFECT. It was such a unique, personal moment, and I’ll never forget it.
If you want a flawless, incredibly fun, high-energy party that still feels classy and unique, Brooklyn Beats is your answer. I HIGHLY, highly recommend them!
Zohar N
5.0
9/01/2025
Jon is amazing to work with through and through. He is organized, friendly and absolutely crushed it at our wedding. People danced the whole time. We are so happy we found the Broo...
klyn Beats for our wedding!! Highly recommend.
JJ E
5.0
8/12/2025
So I’m a bit of an intense planner and I take music seriously - more than anything at our wedding, I wanted to be sure our dance floor was rocking. Truthfully while we were plannin...
g our wedding, I think I reached out to or interviewed 20+ bands. My wife thought I was nuts.
But I am SO happy we went with Jon and the Brooklyn Beats! Our wedding dance floor was indeed rocking - we ended up pairing the band with a DJ, which was the perfect solve for blending the energy of live music with ability to get through a range of bangers that covered the diverse musical tastes of my wife and I. Jon on the drums + all the horns were insanely talented musicians, but they also had such a cool, infectious vibe that they had my whole family partying and taking photos with them throughout the night.
From our first call, Jon was super understanding, highly communicative, and generally just fun to talk to. This man lives and breathes music and it shows! The band has an extensive songbook and they were even able to accommodate a few of our more obscure requests. More than anything, I never had a doubt that Jon and the Beats were going to deliver - they were our most steady vendor throughout the whole process. Which, once you get into planning, is worth more than anything. Fwiw, they were also very reasonably priced compared to many of the estimates we received. Do you and your wedding guests a favor and book the Beats without hesitation!
Jake G
5.0
7/20/2025
Jon and the Brooklyn Beats band put on an incredible wedding performance. Working with Jon was easy as he was available, collaborative, and eager to ensure that our wedding ceremon...
y and reception was personally crafted based on our music preferences.
The band energized the guests to be on the dance floor all night. The vocalists even came down from the stage onto the dance floor, making it an even more personal experience. Many of our guests have said that the band was one of the best they've heard!
Ryan T
5.0
6/03/2025
Jon & the Brooklyn Beats STILL have our weddings guests saying how much they loved the band. The Brooklyn Beats are without a doubt, a surefire hit at your wedding if you want the ...
BEST party! Jon was so attentive to detail, they truly made the setlist feel so personal and made sure the dance floor was bumping the entire time. Some of our guests missed dessert they were having so much fun on the dance floor. Do yourself a favor and book them for your wedding, you will not regret it!!
Hannah S
5.0
2/12/2025
Where to begin! My husband and I cannot recommend The Brooklyn Beats enough! They played for our wedding ceremony, cocktail hour and reception and literally made the night! The aco...
ustic guitar during our ceremony was even better than we could have imagined and the full band during the reception kept everyone dancing, engaged and having the absolute best time. We even extended an extra hour because we were all having so much fun dancing the night away. We cannot thank or recommend The Brooklyn Beats enough. If you are looking for the perfect band for your wedding, look no further! Thank you to Jon and his entire team, you made our night unforgettable.
Chloe H
5.0
12/05/2024
Two months before our wedding we decided we wanted to add a live music element. Our amazing DJ connected us with Jon at Brooklyn Beats who recommended Sax player Mike who was someh...
ow still available! Jon was incredibly responsive and a pleasure to work with. At the time we didn't know that last minute decision would be one of the best we'd make - Mike MADE the night! It was all our guests could talk about and kept the energy so high. Would recommend Mike and Brooklyn Beats to everyone! Thank you Jon and Mike!
Jesse R
5.0
11/20/2024
I cannot say enough great things about Jon Shiffman and Brooklyn Beats! They came in at the eleventh hour and saved the day! As a vendor, communication and reliability are my first...
concerns and there was no lack of that on their end. It instilled confidence right away, as this was my first time working with them. Their musicians who played alongside my already-booked DJ were fantastic and kept the party going! We also hired one of their violinists to play for the ceremony. There was a high chance of rain and the violinist was concerned, but totally cool and calm. It did end up raining towards the end, but we had a plan in place and everything went according to plan! I will absolutely be looking to book Brooklyn Beats in the future!
M S
5.0
11/14/2024
Jon and The Brooklyn Beats were the best decision we made! Jon was fully available and wonderfully communicative to us throughout the whole process. He was very receptive and open...
to our music curation list (specifically with some mash up requests) and completely brought the house down. Everyone could not stop raving about the band during and after the wedding! Book Brooklyn Beats now, before they blow Up because they will!!!
Anna P
5.0
11/08/2024
The Brooklyn Beats is THE BEST wedding band you will ever work with. Seemless planning, thorough communications and the absolute best time on the dance floor. They navigated the ve...
nue and last minute setup issues with ease and brought the house down with their performance - not a lull in the dance floor for one moment, everyone was truly dancing the night away! Would hire them a thousand times over!
Matthew S
5.0
10/03/2024
We had the absolute pleasure of having The Brooklyn Beats perform at our wedding, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience! From the moment they started playing, the ener...
gy in the room was electric. Their music selection was spot on, perfectly blending classic hits with modern tunes that had everyone on the dance floor all night.
The band's professionalism was evident from the start. They took the time to understand our musical preferences, were incredibly easy to work with, and even learned a special song for our first dance. Their performance was flawless, and the talent and chemistry within the band were clear. Every member brought something unique, and their enthusiasm was contagious!
Al G
5.0
8/14/2024
The Brooklyn Beats were hands down the best party band I’ve ever hired. I produce a lot of weddings and events and this band stands out amongst the very crowded scene.
The musici...
ans are just amazing. Some of the most talented I’ve come across. Many of them have credits on major artists tours and albums. Some have performed on Broadway. Just an awesome group. They sounded great and play all the hits across every era of great music. They also have excellent medleys and set compositions, which creates a seamless flow and nonstop feeling to their performance.
They are not only incredibly talented performers, but true professionals. Communicative, flexible, and prompt. Jon was a pleasure to work with and made my life easy. I felt like they had everything fully under control which allowed me to focus on the other elements of the event.
All in all, I would highly recommend The Brooklyn Beats to anyone looking for a high energy, joyful, world-class music experience at their event or wedding.
Spencer R
5.0
7/18/2024
We hired the Brooklyn Beats for our event after seeing them two weeks prior at another event. They were FANTASTIC. Great playlist, amazing arrangements, the band dressed to match t...
he vibe, and they were very helpful during setup. Real professionals. We got a ton of notes the following day calling them out as being awesome. This band is a HIGH recommend for any event. Oh yeah... they brought us a bottle of champagne as a thank you for hiring them. Above and beyond!!!
Amy P
5.0
7/06/2024
The Brooklyn Beats were amazing. Jon was great to work with. Everyone was singing and dancing all night! I highly recommend using them - honestly they MADE the party fun. Besides m...
e having the easiest time working with Jon - every guest asked for their info afterward!! I would definitely use them again and again! RUN don’t walk to Brooklyn Beats!!
Roy D
5.0
6/26/2024
Amazing job. used the Brooklyn Beats for cocktail hour and nice sit down dinner party at my house. We had a Jazz trio first played outdoors and then moved indoors and played on ou...
r piano. really made the entire event so special. perfect vibe setting by the band, great jazz and piano based classic rock which we requested. Would use them again and again. very reasonably priced as well. Highly recommended!
Jamie F
5.0
6/03/2024
I recently attended a wedding where The Brooklyn Beats performed. They were fantastic! They played a great mix of music and kept the party going all night long. I would definitely ...
recommend them to anyone looking for a wedding band.
Jacob O
5.0
6/03/2024
The Beats were so great, they traveled for our wedding earlier this year and Jon helped us plan a setlist and timing that worked well for our reception
Erin T
5.0
5/20/2024
The Brooklyn Beats were amazing at our upstate wedding in April! A family member connected us to Jon and he could not have been friendlier and more professional. We were blown away...
by their Demo video and instantly knew they had to be our band for our wedding.
To say that this was the best wedding band we’ve ever seen is an understatement!! The dance floor was completely packed all night and we just couldn’t believe the musical talent that was coming off that stage. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about them all night and still ask us about them to this day. Can’t recommend booking them enough!
Philip H
5.0
4/23/2024
Full disclosure, my wife and I have known Jon for a long time. He is one of the most honest, transparent, trustworthy and hard-working, and talented people I’ve ever met.
Separat...
e of that, I just simply wouldn’t trust anyone else when it comes to music for events and weddings. When Dara and I got married, Jon was producing weddings and bandleading for one of the bigger wedding band agencies in New York. Because of our trust in him and because we wanted him to be the bandleader, we hired that company for our wedding and it was the best decision we could’ve made. The party was absolutely epic!!! Our guests kept coming up to us and commenting on how the band was incredible. It was obvious that Jon was one of the main reasons why - having been a major part of their operations for several years at that point.
We are absolutely ecstatic that he started The Brooklyn Beats! We know that countless parties and weddings will also agree that it was the best choice to have his team of talented and professional artists rock the house! We can’t wait to renew our vows and work with Jon again!
Brian W
5.0
4/22/2024
Best choice we made! Do not sleep on booking The Brooklyn Beats. I’m positive this will be the most popular wedding band in NYC very soon! I was a big fan of Jon’s old band, Stee...
l Train, and also saw him play drums when he was with Bleachers in 2015. Since then I’ve followed him on social media and when I heard he started his own wedding/event band, I couldn’t believe it lined up with me looking for a band for our big day! We debated a DJ versus a live band—but wow a live band is the way to go. They play every style of music which has everyone from your older relatives to your youngest friends singing and dancing for the ENTIRE night. The talent is unreal and the energy of a live band brings a night to a new level. Wish I could give more than 5 stars.
Response from The Brooklyn Beats on 04/23/2024
Thank you Brian and Sam! We had an absolute blast and were honored to be part of such a sp...
ecial day. Stay in touch!
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The Brooklyn Beats
Jon Shiffman
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Owner
Wedding vendors in Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Beats
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