The best 80s cover bands in Melbourne
Melbourne has more working musicians per head than anywhere else in the country, and the eighties end of the covers market is where a lot of them make a living. The standard is high because the competition is, and the bands here have usually played hundreds of nights.
Which means you can be fussy. If a band's video does not show a full dance floor, look at the next one, because plenty of them can show you exactly that.
Top picks in Melbourne
Top picks are the acts in this category in Melbourne, with the most visible client reviews first, then rating; premium listings break remaining ties.
Questions people ask about 80s cover bands in Melbourne
How much does an 80s cover band cost in Melbourne?
In a city with this many good players, the price gap between bands is mostly about lineup size, production and the date, not who's better. A Melbourne five-piece with horns in November is the top of the range; the same band as a four in July is not. Look at the from-prices on this page, which are what Melbourne 80s bands are quoting right now.
How long does an 80s cover band play?
Three sets of forty-five minutes is the classic pub shape, and most Melbourne bands will do two longer sets for a private party instead. Ask them to put the running time in the quote. And if the venue has an early cut-off, common in the inner north where apartments now sit next to old music rooms, shorter sets that start earlier are the answer.
Do 80s bands need a big stage?
Not a stage, but they do need floor and power. A five-piece with a keyboard rig wants a clear space you can't put a dining table in, and a warehouse in Collingwood with one power point is a problem. Tell them the venue and they'll say what they need.
Should we get an 80s band or a general covers band?
If the crowd is mostly over forty, the eighties set wins, and Melbourne has enough bands doing it that you'll find one at your price. For a mixed room of twenties to sixties, a general covers band that leans eighties gives you the same big singalongs plus something for the younger tables. Ask the band how much of their set is from the decade.
Booking tips
Ask about the room, not the genre
Any of these bands can play the songs. What varies is whether they have worked a space like yours, and a warehouse with a hard floor is a very different job from a carpeted function room.
Get the lineup options in writing
Most will quote as a four or a five, sometimes with horns on top. The cheapest version is not always the right one for a big room, so ask what they recommend for your headcount.
Winter dates are the value
Melbourne function work stacks into spring and December. A party in June or July gives you more choice and more room to negotiate than the same party in November.