Chicago's Full Service Wedding and Event Band!
AWARD WINNER (10X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Based in Chicago, IL, The Walk-Ins is an experienced wedding band that aims to get your guests dancing all night. A versatile band that can play music from virtually any genre, their talents will be a memorable and fun addition to your special day.
The Walk-Ins is a five-piece band that features vocals, guitar, bass, keys, and drums. They can also provide horn players if you'd like to add a brass section to the band. They play entirely live and will never use any pre-recorded instruments or sounds during their set. Their shows are exciting, dynamic, and sure to put a smile on your guests' faces.
Whatever your taste in music is, The Walk-Ins can put on a show that suits your wedding style. From Top 40 hits to Classic Rock, they can do it all. Before the wedding, they'll work with you to create a setlist of songs that will entertain guests of all ages and backgrounds. Depending on your vision, they can play at the ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception. They'll bring their own equipment and lighting so that you don't have to worry about anything but enjoying your wedding. They're also willing to travel to weddings throughout the country.
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Music Genres
Classical
Country
Pop
R&B
Rock
Music Services
Live Music
MC Services
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Reception
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Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0143 reviews
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Review Summary
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The Walk-Ins wedding band received rave reviews for their exceptional service and performance at weddings. Band leader Joe Matise was praised for his professionalism and ability to go above and beyond to ensure a seamless and unforgettable experience for couples. Reviewers highlighted the band's versatility in music genres and their engaging interactions with guests, making the dance floor an energetic and buzzing place throughout the night. The Walk-Ins were also commended for their affordability and ability to coordinate various aspects of the wedding, earning high recommendations from multiple thrilled couples for any special event.Review photos
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Taylor M
5.0
1/22/2025
The best wedding band ever! They are incredibly talented, kept the party going all night, and were easy to book. Their music selection was amazing, and we received countless compliments from our guests. Highly recommend!
Marta C
5.0
11/16/2024
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Nick S
5.0
10/16/2024
Amidst a weekend of many moving parts, The Walk Ins were easily the least stressful vendors we worked with and the best part of our wedding reception.
While we initially hired The Walk Ins as our Wedding Band, band leader Joe Matise quickly became our officiant, MC, and pseudo wedding planner. Of the many vendors we worked with, Joe’s decades of experience provided much needed guidance that proved invaluable amongst the countless decisions a couple must make in planning their Wedding day. Joe went above and beyond to support us, offering to help with everything from transporting floral arrangements to our ceremony venue to double checking our venue’s wedding planner when details were missed.
Service aside, the Walk Ins ROCKED. Their musical range spanned the distance from classic wedding ballads to 90s rap. When one of our nieces took our Best Man’s story to heart, she was even able to convince the Walk Ins to provide a live karaoke backing to a rendition of Weezer’s Buddy Holly that will be remembered for years to come.
For any couples reading these reviews, they all tend to blend together and it’s tough to make a decision. Trust us when we say that you don’t need to go any further. Hire the Walk-Ins. You won’t regret it.
Jamilee l
5.0
8/19/2024
If you want a band that is going to sound great, interact with your guest and give you the best night of your life, then do not hesitate in hiring The Walk-ins. I already knew they were amazing from another wedding I went to and seeing them out in the area a few times. What really makes this band unique is their personability and the way they interact with the crowd. They were there from the ceremony until after midnight and you can really see that they love what they do. We could not have imagined a better band for us on our big day. I literally had people raving to me for days after how much they loved the Walk-ins! We cannot thank you guys enough for making our wedding extra special!
Henry K
5.0
7/16/2024
Working with the Walk-Ins was a pleasure, and I would unreservedly recommend them as a wedding band.
About a year before my wife and I got married, I requested pricing from about 25 wedding bands in the Chicago area (many do not publish pricing information publicly) and ultimately wound up having introductory phone calls with about 12. Of those, the Walk-Ins, which have comprised the same 4 core members for almost 20 years, were the clear best choice, with a repertoire comparable to much pricier ensembles. We also appreciated that their contract wasn’t laden with fees for things like load-in/out, emcee services, interstitial music during breaks, or ridiculous LED lighting arrangements, which seemed to be the norm among other groups I spoke with.
Joe, the bandleader, was a great point of contact throughout the planning process. He was straightforward about pricing and gave us a great sense of the group and its configuration options. We wound up adding a brass section, and Joe was proactive and helpful in confirming that our reception space, which had a unique layout, could accommodate the full group. Around 5 months prior to the wedding, my then-fiancee and I met with Joe and had a great conversation about logistics and our preferences - and he even drove all the way into the Loop to a cafe 2 blocks from my apartment, which set us at ease. Of the vendors we worked with closely, Joe was consistently one of the most accommodating and attentive.
One of the things Joe explained was his role as emcee during and after dinner. He did an outstanding job keeping the various toasts, speeches, and dances on schedule, with no lulls in energy throughout the 4-hour reception. Among the guests we’ve seen since the wedding, feedback on the band has been effusively positive.
There were a couple minor miscommunications about, for example, whether the first dance songs would be performed live or played from a recording, but to be honest, the (small, in the scheme of things) error could well have been my fault. Regardless, my wife and I would enthusiastically recommend any newly-engaged couples planning a wedding reception reach out to the Walk-Ins - they’ll elevate your big day to an event your guests remember for years.
Krista K
5.0
1/03/2024
The Walk-ins were phenomenal entertainers and easy to work with. We met with Joe multiple times prior to our event. He is very talented and manages multiple tasks with ease. Our guests continue to complement how great the band was. Joe engaged with the crowd and brought the energy. The band played all songs that were assigned for certain moments (procession, recession, bridal party introductions, etc). We had a list of songs for when the dance floor opened up but it seems they have a standard wedding play list which was still great. We occasionally would remind them to play a song and they responded promptly. Very talented group and would hire again!
Dave S
5.0
12/09/2023
We recently had the absolute pleasure of hiring The Walk-ins for our wedding, and the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. Joe, the band leader, not only proved to be a sensational musician but also an outstanding Master of Ceremonies, making our special day seamless and unforgettable.
One of the standout features that sets The Walk-ins apart is Joe's incredible talent for event coordination. His meticulous planning and execution meant that we didn't even need a wedding coordinator. Joe took charge, putting together a comprehensive itinerary for the entire evening and ensuring that every moment flowed seamlessly. From the grand entrance to the final dance, Joe orchestrated the evening with precision and expertise.
Speaking of music, The Walk-ins are absolute maestros. The dance floor was a perpetual whirlwind of joy throughout our wedding, thanks to their incredible musical talent. The band's versatility and ability to read the crowd kept everyone on their feet, creating an infectious energy that lasted all night. If you want a wedding where people remember the dance floor as much as the vows, you absolutely need to hire The Walk-ins.
What truly amazed us was the band's longevity. Having played together for an impressive 20 plus years, The Walk-ins exhibited a level of cohesion and synergy that only comes with years of shared musical passion. This chemistry was evident in every note they played and added an extra layer of magic to our celebration.
Surprisingly, The Walk-ins are also refreshingly affordable compared to other bands. Their pricing, however, belies the true value they bring to your special day. We feel like we received something priceless – an unforgettable soundtrack to our wedding that our guests can't stop raving about.
In conclusion, if you're in search of a band that not only plays phenomenal music but also takes your wedding day to the next level, look no further than The Walk-ins. Joe and the band delivered an experience that exceeded our expectations in every way possible. Our heartfelt thanks go out to The Walk-ins for making our wedding a night to remember for a lifetime.
Meaghan D
5.0
12/06/2023
The Walk-ins were absolute incredible!!! They completely stole the show. All of our guests were raving about how awesome they were, even guests who don't prefer bands. It has been 3 months since our wedding, and we are STILL getting calls/texts about the band and how much fun they were. They accommodated every single one of our requests from start to finish. The lead singer Joe is professional, fun, organized, and outgoing. Joe also helped coordinate the wedding party, before/during the wedding. He had no problem jumping in and lending a hand. If we wanted them to play "dj" style songs they did, any song we requested, they sang. They really outdid themselves! They were engaged as much or as little as we wanted. I honestly cannot speak about them enough. I wish we could hire them for every occasion!
Catherine D
5.0
12/04/2023
Completely professional, but friendly at the same time. This was our 3rd child that got married and we have used The Walk-ins for every one!. They are so much fun and extremely talented. Joe coordinates the wedding so well you don't even need a planner. Can't say enough positive things about them!!! Love them!!!!!!
Karlie Z
5.0
12/03/2023
We hired The Walk Ins to play at our wedding and we got never ending compliments from our friends and family!! The music, performance, and planning was seamless. They’re incredibly talented and Joe helped us plan the timeline of our day and prep the day of. We’d recommend this band to anyone, they made the wedding so much fun!
Dominique W
5.0
9/12/2023
Joshua and I had our wedding on 9/9/23. The walk-ins were simply incredible!!! It’s hard to put into words how special they made our night. Joe is fantastic and so wonderful to work with! We fully trusted Joe, and didn’t think twice to even send him a set list. The dance floor never ended throughout the entire night! We received SO many compliments and the entire band was the greatest! Highly recommend!!
Jessica A
5.0
8/28/2023
The Walk-ins have been awesome to work with throughout the entire wedding process. We met with Joe several times before the big day and he truly took the weight off our shoulders making sure he understood our vision and having everything under control. We had such a fun day and were completely worry-free. Not only was Joe amazing but the entire band was extremely professional and super entertaining. Having the band interact with our wedding party added such a personal touch. We highly recommend the Walk-ins for any event, small or big! Truly the best !!
Kyle C
5.0
8/16/2023
The Walk-ins made the night! The entire group was professional and so much fun! Music was outstanding, all of our guests could not say enough great things about the Walk-ins. Would highly recommend them to all!
Amanda M
5.0
8/07/2023
I had the absolute pleasure of having "The Walk-in's" perform at our recent wedding, and I can't express enough how impressed I am with their professionalism and responsiveness. From the moment we contacted them, they went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. took the time to understand our preferences and tailored their performance to match our vision perfectly. It felt like they were performing just for us, making the event incredibly special. Their attention to detail and dedication to making our celebration unforgettable was truly remarkable. They didn't just meet our expectations – they surpassed them in every way. Not only are they incredibly talented musicians, but they also know how to create an unforgettable atmosphere. The energy and joy they brought to our event were unparalleled. Countless guests raved about their performance, and I couldn't agree more – they are a must-have at any wedding or celebration. If you're looking for a band that not only delivers exceptional music but also ensures a fantastic time, "The Walk-in's" are the ones to book!
Joelle F
5.0
8/07/2023
Using Joe and the Walk-Ins was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding! Joe was incredibly easy to work with as he talked us through our timeline and reception planning process. At the wedding, the played for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, and were perfect at all three! The dance floor was packed all night due to the energy they brought! The charisma, service, music, and price can't be beat!
Gregory G
5.0
7/17/2023
Where do we even begin???
First off, stop your internet search for live band and event host/entertainer.
These fine musicians are absolute professionals. They sound so darn good every time we see them play. Large venue or small, they kill it every time! The quality of their show and sound will NOT disappoint! I honestly lost track of the comments our wedding guests made about how “awesome they were”, how Joe’s interaction with the guests was “top notch”, “where did you find these guys?”, “how do we hire them”, etc.
When it came to the “event planning” Joe took charge once I contacted him and ensured the entire day was on track and successful! He thought of all the things we didn’t!! I can’t stress to you enough how much Joe made the Bride and Groom NOT STRESS about the reception.
This was hands down the BEST money spent on our wonderful day. I can not thank these guys enough for being a part of our wedding, providing such a memorable experience and absolutely crushing it with their playing!!! With out them it would have been a boring old wedding people barely remember!
Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!!!!
Rebecca J
5.0
6/05/2023
We used the Walk-ins for our wedding last night, and it was the best decision we made. After researching and speaking to several bands, we decided to move forward with Joe and the Walk-ins because of how much Joe actually cares. Besides being an excellent performer, Joe was wonderful with helping create the timeline, answering all of my Bridezilla questions, and keeping the dance floor lively. He truly is an all-in-one guy and if you go with the Walk-ins, you will be getting much more than a band. You will be getting a group of wonderful performers who are there to truly making your event as special as they can. Thank you Joe and your band for all that you did to ensure we had a magical wedding.
Erin H
5.0
4/19/2023
We looked into so many different bands for our downtown Chicago wedding and couldn’t be happier we booked the Walk Ins!
When looking and comparing to other bands— they were so easy to talk to, knew exactly how to help match our vision of what we wanted and were also a great price point! They were organized, fun, brought high energy and really made sure everything was low stress before the wedding!
On to the day off— I have never seen a more packed dance floor through out the entire night. About 2/3 of our guest stayed until the end of the night and most were on the dance floor! Friends and family I had never seen dance were dancing. Joe even sang throughout dinner and sang a request that my husbands grandma made which got her up and smiling more than I’ve seen in a while. We have so many memories from our day that were special and so many revolve around things the Walk Ins did to make the reception so much fun! They came highly recommended by our friends and family and will be highly recommended to our friends and family after our experience!
If you are debating on who to hire talk to them— they were one of our best decisions! 5/5 stars doesn’t do justice!
Bridget M
5.0
1/11/2023
I cannot say enough good things about The Walk-Ins. Joe was an absolute dream to work with - we told him our vibe and he ran with it. He was willing to meet up with us multiple times to discuss planning, he made the entire wedding. Our guests were RAVING about The Walk-Ins and 2 months after the wedding, one of my guests booked them for their wedding. Joe was interactive with the crowd, dancing like an animal through our guests, an absolute joy to witness - we had the best time ever. He was also our officiant and made our ceremony so personal and nice for us, even though we barely gave him any guidance at all. Everyone kept coming up to us telling us it was the best ceremony they've ever seen, and I am not kidding when I say we barely gave the guy any guidance!!! SO FREAKIN GOOD I WANNA DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN! Book them. Don't even think twice. Just book them and you will be SO HAPPY.
Jamie P
5.0
1/09/2023
We cannot say enough good things for the job that Joe and the Walk-Ins did at our wedding. From countless calls, texts, meetings, etc., Joe and the Walk-Ins were attentive to our needs leading up to our wedding and the day of as well . The value they offer for ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner service, and the rest of the night cannot be matched by any other group. The dance floor was packed from start to end. There was a time where we saw people look up to the stage not knowing they were on a break they did such a good job. We would not have had it any other way than with the Walk-Ins playing at our wedding.
Amy S
5.0
12/04/2022
This band was hands down one of the best parts of our October 2022 wedding!! Joe was absolutely amazing from start to finish. All of the music during cocktail hour, dinner, and the reception was even better than we could have hoped for. He was interactive and really made our guests feel included. People were dancing the whole time, and we got so many compliments on how much fun they had. Thank you Joe!!
Barbara C
5.0
11/05/2022
Hiring the Walk-Ins as my wedding band was the best decision I ever made. From the beginning, Joe was responsive and took the time to explain all of the details they offered. I was so impressed by their experience and affordability that I hired the horns section and female lead, and they were AMAZING! The Walk-Ins have a very large repertoire, from current pop songs, Motown, 80s and 90s, and classic rock. Joe sang Faithfully by Journey during dinner service and it was so good that I had tears in my eyes. All of the songs they did sounded great. I got so many complements from my guests. On top of that, Joe was fun, easy to work with, and helped MC the evening so I didn't have to hire an event planner. I highly recommend the Walk-Ins to anyone having a wedding in Chicago.
Terry W
5.0
10/27/2022
The Walk Ins were absolutely fantastic. Everyone raved about how awesome the band was. We added the woman vocalist and saxophone which was great. Joe and the rest of the group bring awesome energy every minute. From playing cocktail hour, to MC’ing dinner, and rocking out all night after dinner, they were a 10/10. We met with Joe twice in person before the wedding and had lots of communication leading up to the wedding. The Walk Ins are seasoned veterans, make everything easy, and make sure your wedding will be a blast! They play all different types of music too. Not to mention they’re very reasonably priced compared to similar bands. Joe has become a friend even, great people. Couldn’t recommend more.
Jamie C
5.0
10/25/2022
I've seen The Walk-Ins at several weddings, but it was the first time I saw them at a co-workers wedding that I knew they would be my wedding band one day! They went above and beyond and we couldn't be happier with our choice! We've had so many compliments already! They made the night! Hands down make the wedding as seamless as possible and everything ran smoothly from the entrances to the last song. They are very versatile and even did a song on the fly they never played before at the grooms request. When your photographer contacts you a week before your wedding saying OH MY GOD - we're at an event with your band and THEY'RE AMAZING! We already knew that but it just added to our excitement for our perfect fairytale of a wedding day! Thank you again for everything!
Colleen A
5.0
9/01/2022
Joe & the walk-ins were absolutely amazing! Joe knows his stuff & was able to assist us with choosing songs & even the timeline of the day. On the day of he kept us running on time & kept the events (and guests) moving on schedule. The music was absolutely great and they kept people on the dance floor all night. We received so many compliments on the band and we would recommend them to anyone
Sophia B
5.0
5/04/2022
Joe Matise and the Walk-Ins were one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. We booked them without ever hearing them live because we were so impressed with Joe's professionalism, organization, friendliness, and general competence with all things party! During our first meeting with him, he said "I don't want you thinking about anything on your big day, if anyone has problems or concerns they come to me and I will solve them." We were able to put our confidence in him and his crew that they would make the reception run as smoothly as possible. And they did - Joe provided constant gentle reminders of timing throughout the night so that I never felt rushed but also never felt behind schedule. He makes a great MC and his transitions were wonderful. And the music - he kept everyone on the dance floor even during the band's breaks when a playlist was on. Also, I wanted to surprise my husband with a song during dinner accompanied by the band, and texted Joe ahead of time about this. He immediately was encouraging and supportive of my plan and it went off without a hitch (apart from me almost breaking down in tears multiple times during the performance)!
I highly recommend the Walk-Ins for your wedding, as they will provide not only great music but also wonderful organization, MC-ing, and a sense of peace that the night will go exactly how it is meant to because if anything happens Joe and his crew will fix it without you even knowing. Pure professionalism!
Meghan P
5.0
10/21/2021
The absolute best decision ever - they are amazing. We had a smaller wedding (less than 100 people) and it didn't even feel like it - the dance floor was PACKED. We got the full band (plus horns & female singer) and they just killed it. We would recommend them any day. Joe was a pleasure and it was a wonderful experience.
Jordan M
5.0
8/01/2021
We Hired The Walk-ins for our wedding band. BEST DECISION EVER! They were amazing!! The offered live music during the ceremony, live music for cocktail hour, and even live during dinner! Joe, the lead singer, was engaging with our guest, they LOVED IT. The day after everyone could not stop talking about how amazing the band was. The dance floor was packed most of the night, people said the only reason they weren't dancing is because they need a break to catch the breath! I would hire them again in a heart beat!!
Robin S
5.0
7/07/2021
Best Band ever! Every guest raves about them. They are interactive and really get the party started! They play everything and sound amazing! He also sang and played the piano during dinner and cocktails. Joe really knows his stuff and is a wedding coordinator at the same time keeping everything running smoothly. Not a dull moment with this band. He works the room and they are a huge hit! I will be using them again!
Becki B
5.0
7/07/2021
Absolutely amazing!!! Joe and the Walk-Ins were absolutely spectacular at our wedding. We were able to have a couple planning meetings prior to the event and was super accommodating with our unique requests. On the day of the event, everything went SO smoothly, and we had so many of our guests saying that the band was incredible! Not only was the music spectacular, but Joe really went above and beyond to help make sure we were taken care of on our special day. I cannot recommend this group highly enough!!!! Thank you Walk-ins for making our day amazing!!!
Kate R
5.0
12/13/2020
Joe and the Walk-ins did an absolutely incredible job! Even during the chaos of a global pandemic, Joe took the time to meet with us a few months before the wedding. We could tell right away how down to Earth he was. He put our minds at ease as he explained he would take care of all music from start to finish—including the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. We wanted a variety of music and Joe catered to all different ages and included various genres. Joe was completely accommodating and adapted to even the most last minute changes—switching the spot for set up, and even taking requests from me (the bride) as he was in the middle of singing a song. There was one point in which I requested a song and Joe pulled up the lyrics on his phone. He delivered an amazing performance without ever practicing the song! Joe completely worked the crowd and even took selfies with our guests. Everyone raved about the Walk-ins after the wedding. It also spoke volumes that our photographer, who has photographed hundreds of weddings in the U.S. and abroad, reached out for Joe’s contact because she was so impressed with their performance. Going into the wedding day, I can’t stress how much comfort we had knowing Joe was there to coordinate many of the most important components that make a wedding successful and memorable. In short, you cannot go wrong with Joe and the Walk-ins. They provide top notch entertainment at a surprisingly affordable price.
Kaitlyn F
5.0
10/07/2020
I can not say enough good things about The Walk-Ins! My guests were raving about them for days after the wedding. We did the full band & it was SO worth it. There is not another band in the midwest that is this good of quality & reasonable when it comes to price. Joe, the head member, is super organized & made our day a breeze!! Their range of music is one that kept everyone on the dance floor, from young to old. I wish I could have them at every event of mine.
James h
5.0
10/06/2020
Every wedding needs Joe. Not only did he and the band perform well, but he is the emcee of the event. He keeps everything running smooth and you don't have to worry about anything.
Tracey W
5.0
10/05/2020
We could not have asked for a better vendor to play live music on our wedding night! The Walk-Ins were absolutely amazing to work with leading up to our big day, and even more amazing to dance all night long to! Weeks later we are still receiving so many compliments from our guests on how great the Walk-Ins were!
Cole + Jack H
5.0
12/10/2019
I have never met a more kind, big-hearted group that had ALL of our 225+ wedding list on their feet! Joe saved us so much stress and worry by managing our reception timeline, offering to help our other vendors decorate should they need it, was cognizant to our "dos and don't plays" and more. I feel very lucky and fortunate to have had them play our special day and feel like we gained a new close friend that we'll continue to stay in touch with.
Most importantly, after stressing with so many wedding costs and budgeting, the Walk-Ins understand that not every situation is the same and we're very accommodating. If I could recommend any band for a wedding, these are the guys and I can't say enough how awesome they were. Miss you all already!
Cole + Jack Hickey
Lauren B
5.0
11/15/2019
We loved the Walk-ins as wedding guests years ago and for our own wedding in December 2018! Joe helped us plan our wedding reception (from out of state) to be as smooth as possible, and they sure delivered a fantastic outcome! Joe and the rest of the Walk-ins provided wonderful entertainment during the cocktail hour, dinner, and the rest of the reception. They are easy to work with, and we HIGHLY recommend the Walk-ins for weddings!
Christen G
5.0
11/03/2019
OK these guys are awesome! Honestly, if you are considering a band for your wedding, go with them. All of our guests couldn’t believe how great they were. Joe is laid back but engaging and kept our guest dancing the entire night. My husband and I worked with Joe to create a list of songs that we liked so he knew and understood our music style. Joe helped with the ceremony, introduced us at the reception and MCed the night. You can upgrade your package to include a female singer, a horn section and even a photo booth machine. We went with the horns and photo booth and they were both a hit with our guests. Going with The Walk-Ins for our wedding band made things really easy and super fun!
Maggie T
5.0
10/09/2019
There are not enough words to describe how great of a wedding band the Walk-Ins are. My husband and I are so happy that we decided to book them for our wedding. Immediately after talking with Joe on the phone for the first time, I knew I wanted him and his band to be our music vendor. He was so easy going and friendly which made the vendor booking process relieving. Joe was willing to create a custom package to fit our budget which I really appreciated and I didn’t see many vendors offer that when researching wedding bands. Since our wedding in August, I have been to 3 others in the last month, and our wedding music was hands down the best, which is all due to the Walk-Ins. I received so many compliments of how fun our wedding was and how the music was excellent. Guests who I expected to leave early, ended up staying until the very end of the reception because they were having such a fun time dancing. Joe enjoys singing during dinner and that was a special touch to the reception that really enhanced the evening. I have never been to a wedding where the band performs during dinner, so I really appreciated how the Walk-Ins went above and beyond to create a fun and memorable atmosphere for our guests. Would highly recommended booking for a wedding!
Mikayla C
5.0
10/06/2019
If you're looking for your wedding or special event band-- you can stop looking. This is it! Joe and the Walk-Ins were absolutely amazing during our wedding in August. They were so lively, entertaining and kept the party going from start to finish! I got SO many compliments on them all night and long after the wedding!! They really know how to throw a party.. and for an amazing price too! I stopped Joe multiple times throughout the night to have him make announcements for me and he made it so seamless and natural. He was also a wonderful MC for the toasts and announcements. We truly couldn't have chosen a better band. Everyone loved them!
Jamie H
5.0
9/16/2019
The Walk-ins were AMAZING!! I've heard from a ton of my guests that said it's the best wedding band they've ever heard. Joe and the band played all the songs we asked them to and even sang our first dance live to make it extra special.
Joe was really easy to work with and charged a VERY reasonable amount for our wedding. They are teachers by profession so only do weddings on the side, so they don't rely on weddings for their salary and therefore charge less.
The band played acoustic during our cocktail hour. When the night got going, our guests were up dancing all night long! Definitely recommend The Walk-ins!
Alexandra P
5.0
9/12/2019
HOLY COW! The Walk-ins were amazing at our wedding! Joe and band were playing during dinner and our guests started dancing within the aisles while waiting for their main entree. It was amazing! The dance floor was full the entire night. Joe was so interactive with our guests and we couldn't hear enough compliments from everyone. I wish we could repeat this day all over again. I truly recommend this band to anyone! I will be still going to see them play at other venues, that's how amazing they were! Thank you, Joe and The Walk-ins. You all were amazing!
Laura P
5.0
7/22/2019
I don't know where to start! What an incredible group of musicians. Joe was so helpful in running the logistics of the wedding-every piece of the reception was so seamless and it was all because of his organization. Everything ran on time and my husband and I and our families didn't have to worry about a thing. Not to the mention the music-oh my gosh! We had all 8 band members (with the horns) and I have never seen so many people on a dance floor. What an incredibly talented group of people. They made the reception so much fun for everyone. I could not have better things to say about The Walk-ins!
Jessica G
5.0
7/05/2019
It was so special and wonderful to have The Walk-ins at our wedding. Days after and guests are still raving about how great the band was. We also had Joe officiate our ceremony and he took time to meet with us and get to know us. Everything was spectacular!
Alexandra B
5.0
6/24/2019
Joe and The Walk In’s are INCREDIBLE!! Choosing a great band was very important to my husband and I. Joe and the Walk In’s were better than we could have ever imagined. Our guests are still texting us about them!! Joe walked around during dinner singing and dancing with our guests. His voice is AMAZING, our guests literally say “we like the Joe version of songs better now.”
Up until the wedding Joe was very responsive and helpful. He was extremely easy to work with, professional, and fun!! Choosing the Walk In’s was the best decision we could have made and I highly recommend booking them for your wedding!
Katie K
5.0
6/17/2019
We were told by multiple people at our wedding that we really know how to throw a party. Truth of the matter is, we have no idea how to throw a party, but the Walk-Ins definitely know how to throw a party! If you want to have a great time with you and your guests up and dancing all night, this is the band for you!
One of our guests actually requested that the band play a crappy song so she could take a break from dancing :-P
To the Walk-Ins, Thank you for making our wedding day extra fun!
Cristina G
5.0
5/02/2019
I knew that I wanted a band at our wedding, and The Walk-Ins were the perfect fit. Joe helped keep the entire night organized and flowing perfectly while keeping the dance floor jam packed the entire night. From the acoustic cocktail hour to playing DMB perfectly for our first dance to letting my mom come up and play guitar with the band and even letting my dad sing, the Walk-Ins made our wedding absolutely perfect. I would recommend them over and over again.
Kelly D
5.0
4/03/2019
THANK YOU, WALKINS! Anything I say won't do this band justice. 100000 stars! They are phenomenal. They played during cocktail hour, through dinner, all the way until the end of the reception, they knew exactly how the please the crowd with what music to play, and Joe (he's a wedding magician) was so helpful in finding me any time a dance, bouquet toss, entrance, etc was going to happen so that I was always prepared and aware of what was going on. Seriously amazing. Best decision we could have possibly made.
Colleen P
5.0
1/30/2019
AMAZING!! The is the best wedding band I could have ever asked for. We randomly saw them playing at a fest and I knew immediately I needed them at our wedding. The band is sooo engaging with the crowd and also very talented musicians! We also met with Joe a couple times before the wedding and he helped us plan the perfect schedule for us. He offers his expertise and it helps keep everything on schedule as planned. Everyone at our wedding was raving about the band and on the dance floor having a good time! You won’t regret this hire!
Marissa L
5.0
1/04/2019
Joe and the rest of The Walk-ins were so awesome! My now husband, and I found them through The Knot and they were very reasonably priced, so we reached out to them after watching all of their videos. From our first phone call with Joe, we knew it was a great match. We booked the band, the female vocalist, and the 3-piece horns and we would do it all over again if we could. For our wedding, their energy was through the roof, they worked the crowd, they were SO fun, and they kept our dance floor full for the entire reception. We got so many compliments during the reception and they are still coming in from friends and family a week later. We would highly recommend booking The Walk-ins for your Chicagoland wedding!
Lori B
5.0
1/03/2019
Just wanted to say thank you for being such an amazing group in every way. The music at The Pavilion was the icing on the cake to make the evening perfect! Lauren and Sean commented so many times how easy you were to work with, how fun and talented Joe is and how much they enjoyed the music.
Mother of The Bride
Katherine B
5.0
12/01/2018
The Walk-Ins did a fantastic job! Joe was really easy to work with leading up to the day and they made all of our special song requests work. During the reception, Joe walked through the crowd as he sang and our guests LOVED that! The music was great and kept the energy up until the very end. We would definitely recommend them to others!
Scott M
5.0
10/08/2018
Joe and the Band never fail to deliver on putting on a great show. I have seen them a few times at local venues and I told my sister-in-law about them. She ended up hiring them for her wedding at the Patrick Haley mansion and it was a great time. Lots of energy and top notch musical talent, I would highly recommend them!
Jennifer M
5.0
10/05/2018
The Walk Ins exceeded my expectations! They sounded fantastic and really made my night memorable! They were easy to work with and made the night flow seamlessly! They went out of their way to customize the night to be unique and unforgettable. They are a tremendous value given what their cost is, I highly recommend to everyone!
Daniel d
5.0
9/08/2018
The Walk Ins were terrific at our wedding. Joe was amazing with running the whole show and we got compliments from everyone attending the wedding that they had a wonderful time because of the band.
Emily W
5.0
9/07/2018
Having the Walkins at our wedding was truly the best decision we could have made. They kept the energy up the whole night! People that normally wouldn't dance at weddings were all over the dance floor. I have had numerous people ask me who our band was so that they could recommend them to their engaged friends. Live bands are great in general, but the Walkins are incredible. Also, Joe and his team performed our first dance song live which gave it an extra special touch. I can't say enough nice things about them! (Also, they are extremely budget friendly!)
Erin A
5.0
9/07/2018
We first saw the Walk-ins when we were helping my brother and sister-in-law look into wedding bands. We saw Joe and one other member preform at a local bar and they played all the requests we wanted and even if they didn't know the song Joe would look up the music on his phone and give it his best shot. They were awesome. My brother-in-law booked them and they did a fantastic job playing music, Joe was also basically their wedding planner, keeping everything running smoothly. When my husband and I got engaged I knew we had to have the Walk-ins play at our wedding. We got married in Cleveland and Joe was extremely accommodating with traveling to us. We opted for the horns and it was a great choice, it definitely elevated the music. We struggled to find an officiant, and then realized Joe offered that, so he officiated our wedding and did a great job! They did an acoustic happy hour, which was beautiful. We have received so many compliments on the Walk-ins, people loved their energy and were on the dance floor all night!
Renee P
5.0
6/28/2018
Joe and his team were incredible! Throughout the entire process, which included multiple meetings before the wedding, Joe was attentive, helpful, and kind.
I had the best wedding thanks to The Walk-ins. All of my guests have been ranting and raving about the band at our wedding; you couldn't even find a spot on the dance floor! All of the musicians were fantastic and Joe was so personable with all of my guests - singing with them, dancing with them, etc.!
Meghan P
5.0
6/20/2018
I HIGHLY recommend the Walk-ins band. Joe and the Walk-ins performed at our wedding on April 14, 2018. We received so many compliments about how fun the band was and how great they sounded. Joe was very engaging with the crowd and definitely created a very fun vibe for the wedding. Joe and the Walk-ins were worth what they charged us to perform 10x over. I first saw the Walk-ins perform at my cousins wedding in August of 2017. I knew immediately that I wanted them to perform at my wedding. I loved the cocktail hour music they played (they can play a really wide variety of music!) and I have never been to a wedding before where people were dying to get on the dance floor even before dinner. Besides the music being spectacular on our big day, Joe was very professional and met with my husband and I a few times before the wedding to go over details, timing, and music. He assured me I didn’t need a wedding planner. He vowed that he would take care of all the timing and he lived up to everything he said he would do. Joe planned the timeline for the night. Everything ran so smoothly the whole night! Joe is very easy to work with. He listens to exactly what you like and don't like, and he caters to exactly how you want your wedding to be.
Lauren C
5.0
6/06/2018
Best. Band. Ever. They made our wedding so much fun and just perfect. Joe was amazing and we are still getting compliments left and right. I would recommend The Walk-Ins to anyone who likes fun!
Catie K
5.0
6/06/2018
The best vendor decision i made was hiring the Walk-ins! They are a truly amazing and talented band, the lead singer helped me along through the entire reception giving me 15 min warnings and making sure i had time to eat. THIS WAS PRICELESS! We had 9 musicians at our wedding and they had the dance floor packed at all times, im still getting comments from guests on how awesome they are. The Walk-ins are fun, talented and reasonably priced. they added the right dash of extra to my wedding day.
Renee B
5.0
4/04/2018
I cannot rave about this band enough. My daughter and her fiancé did not want a want but I promised them if they hired The Walk-Ins, they wouldn’t regret it! They are so happy they did! The wedding was so much fun-people are still talking about it. Joe, Mike, Duece, and Marco made sure everything went perfectly! Everything went according to plan, and best of all, as the mother of the bride, I had one less thing to worry about. Thank you so much for making my daughter’s wedding amazing!
Catherine L
5.0
3/25/2018
We’ve gotten non-stop compliments from everyone at our wedding about the band! The music was absolutely perfect the entire night and our guests loved the personal interactions from the band members. They made sure our entire night ran smoothly and was exactly what we wanted it to be!
Allison W
5.0
3/08/2018
THESE GUYS ARE THE BEST! They played during our ceremony, cocktail hour, AND reception! I had several requests for the band, and Joe worked with us to make every part of our day perfect!
They played acoustically at the ceremony before the mass (processional and recessional), which make a very traditional part of the day feel much more personal! Being able to walk down the aisle to the Beatles made that moment so special for my husband and I.
They also played acoustically for the cocktail reception. Everyone loved that surprise! It really added a fun energy to the cocktail hour!
The reception. They made it everything I dreamed of and more. We had the full band plus a 3 pieces horn section....AMAZING! Joe also worked with the hotel staff to keep the timing on schedule and kept me in the loop. He told me that if there were any issues, he would take care of it. If there were any, I had no clue! They kept the dance floor full with all the best songs! All I had to do was tell them our taste in music and a few of our must plays, and the band just made the night a party! Our guests are still talking about how much they loved then band, and other brides-to-be at the wedding wanted their contact information!
My parents weren't sure about getting a live band at first (my family had never had one at a wedding), so I took them to see one of The Walk-Ins shows. Not only did they LOVE the band, when asked about the wedding, my dad would immediately talk about how great the band was going to be...nothing about his only daughter getting married...they are THAT good!
I cannot recommend The Walk-ins enough! These guys rock! They went above and beyond, and I can't thank them enough!!
Andrea M
5.0
3/08/2018
loved loved loved the band!
Joe did everything he said he would! The Walk-ins made our day memorable. All our family danced, and we're entertained All night! Great Band.
Thank you Joe!
Lauren T
1.0
3/03/2018
We had a very unfortunate experience with this band. We emailed them originally with our date and information, and they got back to us that they were available and had played at our venue before, so were very excited about playing our wedding. We set up a time to watch their gig (a special 50 min trip away for us) and totally loved them (they are a legitimately awesome band). We talked with the lead singer/manager during a break and said YES! We had a verbal agreement and handshake deal and started telling our friends and family that we found the wedding band! Then things turned sour. Joe did not answer our emails or phone calls for three and a half weeks.
I can’t make this clear enough. Radio silence for a full month. Then he called to say they had another couple that they had “paperwork” out with but hadn’t committed until recently. And they were waiting to see their decision before honoring our agreement.
At the end of the day, I get it. But they kept us on the line for almost FOUR WEEKS while they figured out their schedule — all the while we were thinking we had our wedding band finalized. It was unprofessional to not communicate with us about the situation. And, to be honest, it was the only part of wedding planning that I cried about.
So. Overall. Good band. Terrible professionalism.
Vendor response 03/04/2018
Hi Lauren,
As a band, we would like to extend a sincere apology for the miscommunication a...
nd lack of communication you've described. As a business that prides itself on over 10 years of only 5 star reviews and a reputation for making events stress free, the discovery that we've put any type of strain on your big day is not something we take lightly. We consider it our duty to provide a thorough explanation on details such as contract necessity and the process for prioritizing multiple requests for a given date. We take full responsibility for failing to provide a seamless experience for you and we genuinely hope that your big day was a success in spite of this. While we realize that we cannot remedy this particular issue we would appreciate an opportunity to make things right. Please feel free to message us with specific contact information if there is something we can do or provide to rectify this experience.
Sincerely