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As one of the hottest dance bands in Chicago, Indigo has been featured on New Year’s Eve at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and has earned repeat performances at premier events in Chicago including the Lyric Opera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Opening Galas, among others. Indigo is built upon young veteran talent hand-selected by producer Ken Arlen to bring an exciting presence and youthful energy that our clients have come to expect from an Arlen Music experience. As the featured bandleader, arranger and saxophonist, Dan Nicholson is well known for his personable and energetic style and his ability to call a great dance party while incorporating a client’s vision with a fun and easy flare. He also has instilled a fresh yet authentic sound to the full spectrum of Indigo’s repertoire through his spectacular and exciting arrangements.
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Dan Nicholson is an accomplished bandleader and virtuoso musician hailing from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Before making his home in Chicago, Dan attended the University of North Florida where he studied saxophone and flute under the legendary Bunky Green, who called Dan “a musical force to reckon with.” Dan developed his bandleading skills on the East coast and in Chicago before he joined the Arlen Music organization four years ago as the lead arranger and music director for Front of House. Dan also serves as the lead saxophonist and soloist to the nationally renowned Chicago Jazz Ensemble. With a Master’s Degree in composing and arranging from DePaul University, Dan creates spectacular and exciting arrangements for all of the Arlen Music bands, including the Ken Arlen Orchestra. Dan is well-known for his personable and energetic style, his fun and easy flair, and his ability to call a great dance party while incorporating a client’s vision.
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Testimonials
Marissa Koszewski and Alex Spork Wedding – September 28, 2019
Thank you so much for bringing the house down at our wedding! You guys kept the party going all night long. Thank you for making our best day ever even better. YOU GUYS ROCK!
Mr. and Mrs. Spork, Bride and GroomLauren Ganshirt Wedding – September 7, 2019
Not sure how you thank people for the most perfect night!!! Everyone was amazing and went beyond our expectations. Lauren and Blake were so happy (as most of you could see that on their faces) and it was radiating to everyone that was at the wedding. Each person mad a difference and that is why the day will be beautifully remembered. I know everyone is busy with their next project or event, but never forget that you gave Steve and me a memory that will be with us forever!!!
Eternally Grateful,
Jessica Palay and Rob Sadow Wedding (Art Institute of Chicago) – September 1, 2019
The band was simply incredible. We had a fantastic time, and our guests kept coming up to us throughout the evening talking about how great the music was. Thank you for making it such a special night!
Rob, GroomMasha Isaakson and Adam Kahn Wedding – August 31, 2019
We can't thank you enough for the fabulous time everyone had at the wedding. I received numerous calls raving about you.
I especially want to thank you for going the extra mile and learning my requests. I could have danced all night.
You know it's a good party when the evening is over and the dance floor is still going.
I hope our paths cross again soon!
Rachel Cohen and Harvey Schaffner Wedding – August 25, 2019
While it is still fresh in my mind I wanted to take a moment to let you know how much we all enjoyed having Indigo at the wedding. So many people commented on what a "hot band" we had and my sister, the bride, barely left the dance floor all evening!
I want to give a special shout out to Dan for being so much fun to work with and so accommodating (Soul Train was a blast!) Also, special thanks to Chris for all the help in regards to accompanying me at the ceremony.
And, finally, to Steve for connecting me with Arlen Music in the first place.
Collectively, you made this whole process very copacetic and my family and I really appreciate it.
Warm regards,
Lauren Byer and Garrett Back Wedding (Theater on the Lake) – August 10, 2019
Dan & Indigo,
Thank you so much for such a perfect wedding reception and for being an instrumental part of our wedding day. We have received so many compliments about how amazing Indigo was and that it was the best wedding band our guests had ever heard! Thank you for working with us and helping us create personalized touches and song selections, an amazing wedding evening, and truly unforgettable memories with all of our family and friends. It was a weekend we will never forget, thanks to you and Indigo!
We hope to see you at another event and/or wedding soon!
With Love,
Erin Coughlin and Tim Coffey Wedding (Millennium Knickerbocker) – June 29, 2019
We cannot say thank you enough to the amazing members of Indigo. We are still getting compliments on our band. They were absolutely incredible! Our dream of having the dance floor full all night definitely came true. Thank you for being so amazing to work with. We are so happy we were able to hire you for our big day!
Erin, BrideMichelle Basic and Shane O’Connell Wedding – May 18, 2019
Well what can I say!!! You and your crew made my daughter's beautiful wedding over the top......and I mean literally over the top!!! Every time I turned around someone was telling me how wonderful the band was! I personally never wanted the evening to end. Thank you so very much for giving your all. What an awesome so very talented group of musicians all of you are. I am so so very grateful!!
Thank you and may our paths in the future cross again!
Mary Zindrick and Sam Schieber Wedding (Bridgeport Art Center) – February 2, 2019
Dan,
Thank you so much for your music note card! We loved having you guys for our wedding. We seriously got so many compliments and everyone was blown away by the east coast style and loooooved all the dancing so much.
Thanks for bringing such great energy and music to our special day. We’ll never forget it 😊
Anna Sherman and Justin Geller Wedding – November 3, 2018
Hi Dan,
I just wanted to thank you again for the amazing performance/experience you and your band provided at our wedding last month. It was unreal how awesome you guys were. You guys made it magical and the compliments for Indigo have not stopped since (at brunch the following morning more than one person was talking about how sore they were from dancing all night long!)
Purple Rain and all the G'n'R was killer too! We can't express our gratitude enough (I just wish I could go back as a guest :)
Thank you again for everything and happy holidays to you and yours!!!!
Laura Collins and John Baker Wedding (North Shore Country Club) – October 20, 2018
Dan,
Music makes the reception and Indigo certainly did! We are so very grateful that we were able to secure the band. Everyone had a blast and feedback has been pouring in.
Many, many thanks!!
Dianne Thoensen and Zach Arlia Wedding – September 29, 2018
I'm not sure where to begin or where to end. We cannot thank you enough for making Dianne and Zach's wedding such a special event this weekend. We loved having Indigo there. Your play list was perfect and all music and vocals were spot on. Loved the way you kept everyone on the dance floor and made it an incredible party. I can't tell you how many compliments we have received about how amazing Indigo was. As we know, it is the band that makes the party and Indigo certainly did.
Thank you for everything.
Matt Connor and Carly McInerney Wedding (Union League Club) – September 8, 2018
Dan,
We are finally back from our honeymoon and we had plenty of time to discuss and reflect: you guys were absolutely amazing!
From start to finish, the energy that the band brought to the room at Union League was truly a sight. Seeing friends and family literally flood the dance floor and not really leave meant a lot to me - just showed how much fun everyone was having.
Margaret Archibald and Jimmy Borrasso Wedding (Union League Club) – August 25, 2018
Dan,
Thank you for EVERYTHING this past year in preparation for the glorious day that was 8.25.18. YOU GUYS WERE INCREDIBLE!
Thank you so much for learning Jimmy’s Nana’s song (and all the other songs which made the night more than perfect).
Thanks also for letting Dad do his thing - we all think he rocked it (and your drummer did too!!!).
We have gotten so many people gushing about our first dance. Have a fabulous fall and I hope to work together again in the future!
Molly Sutton and Bradley Young Wedding (Hinsdale Golf Club) - Saturday, May 19, 2018
WOW!!!! What a spectacular night-Indigo was out of this world, as I knew you would be. I have never seen a dance floor so full from start to finish and that is exactly what we wanted. Thank you for making our celebration so much fun. Can you tell that we like to dance lol?!?!
These were the comments that we heard through the night and the next morning….
“best band ever”….” “loved walking into a room with the band playing and starting the party-took away the awkwardness of walking into a stuffy room and finding your table” “loved hitting the dance floor right away” “ I had to stop and look if you went to a DJ because I thought this can’t be the band” “musicians and singers were unbelievable” -should I keep going?? 😊
I also really appreciated the way you MC’d the night-your presence was known, everyone listened to you, you kept us moving and on schedule and you didn’t make it about you (I’m sure you know what I am talking about…)
As you can appreciate, planning a wedding is a very expensive and you make choices along the way and adjust accordingly, certainly having Indigo as our wedding band was well worth the investment.
We are so thankful to you and everyone in Indigo sharing their amazing gifts and talents with us-it was truly a fantastic night. Please share my thanks to the band.