Need minor help with finding a major enough music group.

[Tomh1966]

For some reason I cannot find a band that suits.

Closing scene of a chapter... Couple are at an outdoor concert in a park. Just a happy scene last night of a big national holiday festival weekend say around ten at night. She is dancing, perhaps swaying or a tad more happily is a better term. Big smiles on both their faces as life is just freaking awesome. They went through hell, paid a huge price to get where they were and it is working out insanely well. She looks at him and he looks at her with big smiles and contented happiness and... fade the scene out for that chapter.

The band has to be very well known.
Most of their music has to be at least moderately danceable, but not pure dance music. Something catchy enough to just put her in the moment.
Happy Music. Maybe even suggest a song to me.
the crowd is all ages of adults from young adults up to the mid or even late 50s so nothing super trendy right now. The 50 year olds have to be at least somewhat familiar and not just ones who follow the current music charts. Please don't say Taylor Swift.
A group both US and UK people would recognize. Probably add Aussies and Kiwis if possible if known to the US and UK audiences.

I have ideas for some of the above conditions but can't think of anything that fits very well on all of it. The generational thing is a big block for me.

 

[StillStunned]

ABBA? The Killers? Since "Stranger Things", how about Kate Bush?

 

[TheRedChamber]

Since "Stranger Things", how about Kate Bush?

Oh, StillStunned, I'm so disappointed in you right now.

 

[TheRedChamber]

The Cure.

Somehow, I just know it should be The Cure. Trust me.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Go with the classics. I'd choose The Eagles. Large enough repertoire that you have plenty f songs to choose from. They're only doing Vegas now,but depending on your timeline could still work and I'm pretty sure everybody in both the US and UK knows who they are. Maybe 'Desperado' for the song.

 

[shelleycat1]

REM Well know, international, danceable. Shiny Happy People. Losing my Religion. What's the frequency Kenneth.

 

[Sappho_CGN]

Classics, many generations ...

LOL

The Stones ...

 

[Fatdog25]

Unfortunately, my candidates are either dead or disbanded.

 

[StillStunned]

Oh, StillStunned, I'm so disappointed in you right now.

I have it on good authority that disappointing people is my superpower.

 

[Tomh1966]

Go with the classics. I'd choose The Eagles. Large enough repertoire that you have plenty f songs to choose from. They're only doing Vegas now,but depending on your timeline could still work and I'm pretty sure everybody in both the US and UK knows who they are. Maybe 'Desperado' for the song.

Great minds think alike. There were 3 concerts, one each night as Monday is a holiday from work. The Eagles were the first night. Luke Combs was the second night as it was not going to be all the same genres. I'm stuck on the third night as I explained above.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I'll second The Killers, and add Train (Hey, soul sister in particular).

 

[Scarla]

ABBA? Take a chance on me? Or Lay all your love on me?

Or maybe The Beatles? Elvis? Queen?

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Mumford and Sons or Avett Brothers

 

[HordHolm]

For some reason I cannot find a band that suits.

Closing scene of a chapter... Couple are at an outdoor concert in a park. Just a happy scene last night of a big national holiday festival weekend say around ten at night. She is dancing, perhaps swaying or a tad more happily is a better term. Big smiles on both their faces as life is just freaking awesome. They went through hell, paid a huge price to get where they were and it is working out insanely well. She looks at him and he looks at her with big smiles and contented happiness and... fade the scene out for that chapter.

The band has to be very well known.
Most of their music has to be at least moderately danceable, but not pure dance music. Something catchy enough to just put her in the moment.
Happy Music. Maybe even suggest a song to me.
the crowd is all ages of adults from young adults up to the mid or even late 50s so nothing super trendy right now. The 50 year olds have to be at least somewhat familiar and not just ones who follow the current music charts. Please don't say Taylor Swift.
A group both US and UK people would recognize. Probably add Aussies and Kiwis if possible if known to the US and UK audiences.

I have ideas for some of the above conditions but can't think of anything that fits very well on all of it. The generational thing is a big block for me.

I'm looking through who's actually touring this year, and big names include Springsteen; the Stones; Justin Timberlake; Avril Lavigne; Pearl Jam; the Red Hot Chilli Peppers; Hootie and the Blowfish; Alanis Morrisette; The Doobie Brothers; Blink-182; Maroon 5; Jennifer Lopez; Earth, Wind and Fire; Foo Fighters; Green Day; Kings of Leon; ELO; and rather notably, until a couple of weeks ago, Jane's Addiction.

Of course, I'm not suggesting you use any of them, but it does give a quite varied picture of who is currently treading the boards, as opposed to calling it a day.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Kind of depends... is this a music festival or a concert staged for the holiday? Lots of places here will bring in a band for a 4th of July celebration followed by fireworks.
Typically for that kind of thing you get a band that is past their prime but still touring. You aren't going to get the current A list or bands that are still massive draws like the Stones or the Eagles.

Cheap Trick would fit that category. They were big time, are still touring but not a huge draw anymore so not a super expensive ticket.
Depending on the mood the Flame works:

Especially if she's more swaying to the music.

If you want to go more upbeat then I Want You To Want Me would be the ticket.

ETA: Just saw your follow up post about a three day festival. If you have the Eagles on the lineup they are totally going to be the headliner playing the last show of the festival. Unless you are getting Led Zepplin back together that's just the way it is.

 

[THBGato]

Dolly Parton? Coldplay? Foo Fighters? Taylor Swift?

Kate Bush and ABBA would be great, except neither play live (Kate Bush last played live in 2014, which was the first time since the 80s).

 

[MrHereWriting]

For some reason I cannot find a band that suits.

Closing scene of a chapter... Couple are at an outdoor concert in a park. Just a happy scene last night of a big national holiday festival weekend say around ten at night. She is dancing, perhaps swaying or a tad more happily is a better term. Big smiles on both their faces as life is just freaking awesome. They went through hell, paid a huge price to get where they were and it is working out insanely well. She looks at him and he looks at her with big smiles and contented happiness and... fade the scene out for that chapter.

Have you mentioned a band they both liked? A favorite song? Their song?

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Great minds think alike. There were 3 concerts, one each night as Monday is a holiday from work. The Eagles were the first night. Luke Combs was the second night as it was not going to be all the same genres. I'm stuck on the third night as I explained above.

Then I'd go with somebody like Hootie and the Blowfish or Black Eyed Peas

 

[Tomh1966]

Some great ideas! And quite a few I never thought of. Please keep em coming.

It's a 'free' concert with a big budget and the band is well paid and funded well. the location was purpose built to be able to have concerts, shows and celebrations. the festival THE fictional yearly celebration for the fictional location in a fictional year 2020 without Covid. The MC and his wife are in a VIP exclusive area nearish the front because of connections to those who can get them there. Note NOT THE front row figure something like row 3 to 7. The scene is not nearly finished.

Ideas that caught my eye so far. How danceable is Cheap Trick? Coldplay? Foo Fighters? Red Hot Chilli Peppers? Hootie? Earth Wind and Fire? Mumford? REM? The Cure? I know Abba is danceable because there is a play featuring dancing to their music. Understand that my dancing ability is a 1 on a 10 scale and I can't really tell.

 

[AllenWoody]

Could it be a cover band? If you just need a set of happy songs then a cover band fits the bill without requiring the act(s) still be touring. Big acts like Springsteen (who I just saw a couple of weeks ago) mostly play to large venues where it isn’t necessarily easy to find a place to dance. Plus this would allow music like from Tom Petty even though he’s, uh, no longer touring.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Some great ideas! And quite a few I never thought of. Please keep em coming.

It's a 'free' concert with a big budget and the band is well paid and funded well. the location was purpose built to be able to have concerts, shows and celebrations. the festival THE fictional yearly celebration for the fictional location in a fictional year 2020 without Covid. The MC and his wife are in a VIP exclusive area nearish the front because of connections to those who can get them there. Note NOT THE front row figure something like row 3 to 7. The scene is not nearly finished.

Ideas that caught my eye so far. How danceable is Cheap Trick? Coldplay? Foo Fighters? Red Hot Chilli Peppers? Hootie? Earth Wind and Fire? Mumford? REM? The Cure? I know Abba is danceable because there is a play featuring dancing to their music. Understand that my dancing ability is a 1 on a 10 scale and I can't really tell.

They are all danceable, what kind of dancing do you want to take place?
Is there a specific scene or emotion you want to invoke?

 

[Tomh1966]

They are all danceable, what kind of dancing do you want to take place?
Is there a specific scene or emotion you want to invoke?

Think two people just being happy. Life was almost unbearable 4+ months earlier and they are just being happy after paying an awful price to get there.

They are near the end of the third and final concert over three nights in a VIP section having the time of their lives. He the MC is happy. He looks over at his wife who is sort of dancing or swaying to the music living that perfect moment in life. He is not dancing with her. She is just dancing or bopping to the music watching the concert in her own happy little world loving the moment. She feels his eyes on her, looks over at him, smiles then continues her little dance and fade out the final scene of the chapter.

 

[Tomh1966]

BTW many thanks all for this. I was wracking my dumb brain and see quite a few good ideas.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Then you aren't really going for dance necessarily. I'd say look at a few songs from the groups mentioned and pick the one that fits that moment to you.

 

[BornNorCal]

Maroon 5. It checks all your boxes.