A moment with 'The Dannies'
ABIA meets the husband-and-wife acoustic duo captivating the wedding couples of Brisbane.
All images courtesy The Dannies
When talented Brazilian musicians Dan and Danni Abe decided to launch their musical entertainment duo, the name was an obvious one. They formed The Dannies in 2020 in Cairns, just a year after moving to Australia and, now based in Brisbane, have been enchanting wedding guests across the south-east Queensland region.
“With soulful harmonies and beautifully-arranged acoustic renditions of timeless classics and modern favourites, we create the perfect soundtrack for weddings,” the pair explains.
Their musical repertoire extends from pop to soul and RnB, but they are also happy to learn new songs if couples request something with special meaning.
ABIA spent some time with the pair to chat about their favourite wedding, their lifetime love of music and how they got together.
Tell us about your wedding entertainment services.
We’re a husband and wife acoustic duo offering live music for weddings, and bringing warmth, elegance, and unforgettable moments to special occasions across Queensland. With soulful harmonies and beautifully-arranged acoustic renditions of timeless classics and modern favourites, we create the perfect soundtrack for weddings, receptions and intimate gatherings.
How did you get started in the wedding industry?
Live music and weddings tend to go hand-in-hand, and we started performing at weddings in Cairns and around Far North Queensland in 2020.
Where are you based and what locations do you service?
We are based in Brisbane and perform regularly at weddings on the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and in Noosa and Byron Bay.
At what age did you each start your musical journeys?
We both began learning and loving music from a young age, Danni as a three-year-old and Dan at the age of 11. We both began learning music at home and at church, surrounded by relatives and friends. We’ve each played, studied and learnt music for more than 15 years and have both been performing for 10 years.
Can you tell us a little about how you met?
We met on a church camping trip where we were playing sports and music. We became friends at first, but started dating within a month. Eventually we fell in love, got engaged and were married in São Paulo, in Brazil, in 2018. We moved to Cairns the following year and in 2020 we started our business, The Dannies.
What genres of music do you perform, and which are you favourites?
We perform pop, soul and RnB, and love them all!
What should couples look for in a wedding entertainer and how far should they book in advance?
It’s a good idea for couples to look at videos of entertainers singing and we advise booking at least three months in advance.
If couples have a specific song request, are you able to learn and play it for them?
Absolutely! If couples have a specific song they want played to walk down the aisle, or at any other special moment, if we don't already know it we’re always happy to learn it and sing it on the day. We do require notice, at least one month before the wedding, so that we have time to learn the song properly. Any other songs we can download and play from Spotify, and we offer plenty of songs to choose from in our repertoire.
Do you provide musical breaks in between your sets?
Absolutely! Couples can either choose their own playlist on Spotify or we will provide music during our breaks.
Do you have a favourite wedding?
We love to sing at weddings and each one makes us happy, but singing for our friends, Ally and Meg, when they got married at Kewarra Beach in Cairns, was a very emotional experience for us both. It was also great fun — the groom’s family came from all the way from England and it was a fabulous celebration.
How would you describe the couples you connect with the most?
Like us, they love to spend time with family and friends, enjoy good music, and appreciate good food and great wine.
What makes your wedding entertainment unique?
We are both Brazilian, we’re also Christians and, with more than 10 years of performance experience each, our harmonised voices bring passion to our music. We also use only the highest quality equipment, and backup equipment, to make sure there are no technical issues on our couples’ wedding days.
Read The Dannies ABIA Wedding Reviews
Visit The Dannies' website
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