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Led by vocalist Heidie Malnassy, Velocity performs an expansive repertoire, including jazz standards, R&B, Soul, Motown, Classic Rock, Contemporary Top 40, and everything in between. The band features world-class talent who have performed alongside Chaka Khan, Common, Wynton Marsalis, and Diana Krall! The inclusion of 3 lead vocalists in a 7-piece band is unique in Chicagoland, and it allows Velocity to perform with uncommon versatility. The band can be expanded by adding horns and violins as well. At any size, Velocity is a perfect choice for your special event!
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Heidie Malnassy has been belting out tunes since the age of 11. Since moving to Chicago in 2008, she has been a lead vocalist in several Top 40 bands, as well as lead her own original music projects as singer, songwriter and producer. In 2015 she wrote and co-produced her debut EP entitled “No Love Like Our Love” which she was able to release with the help from a fully funded Kickstarter campaign. Her versatile tone and attention to detail have made her a highly sought after vocalist in the Chicago music community. She has performed alongside several highly acclaimed musicians including Paula Cole, Jim Lauderdale, Charlie Sexton, and Todd Rundgren. When she’s not performing, you can catch Heidie as a full time vocal Instructor and Music Director at the School of Rock Oak Park, where she loves to inspire and encourage kids and adults to access their inner rockstar. Heidie received her Bachelor’s of Music from Columbia College Chicago in Contemporary Urban and Popular Music.
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Testimonials
Lauren Mooradian and Travis Mewton Wedding (Bay Harbor Yacht Club – Petoskey, MI) – August 24, 2019
I just have to tell you so many of our guests have told me it was the best wedding band they have ever heard, I fully agree - thanks to you and your team :-)
Doug Mooradian, Father of the GroomMichael Korobov and Lauren Aguilar Wedding (River Roast) – August 3, 2019
Velocity was the highlight of our wedding! Arlen music was SO EASY to work with. They listened to our vision and helped put together 3 different ensembles for each component of the wedding. We started with an amazing string trio for the ceremony playing beautiful classical music, but they also had many contemporary songs in their repertoire. The cocktail hour featured a piano & saxophone duo playing soft jazz and added a sense of ease and elegance to the ambiance. The reception featured the Velocity band. We were so busy leading up to the wedding we were only able to provide 15-20 songs and a general idea of what we were looking for and they DELIVERED. We started the reception with big band jazzy type tunes and as dinner finished transitioned into the classic wedding dance songs. High energy, talented musicians, and so easy to work with! Would definitely use again and highly recommend!!
Michael, GroomAdrienne DaGue and Kolin Pound Wedding (Chicago Cultural Center) – July 5, 2019
Thank you so much for all your hard work in making our wedding an absolute blast. Everyone had such a wonderful time and we did not want to leave at the end of the night! We’ve received many compliments since our wedding and Velocity made it truly memorable.
Adrienne and Kolin, Bride and GroomElisabeth Siciliano and Connor Sullivan Wedding (Theater on the Lake) – June 22, 2019
We hired Velocity for our wedding in June 2019, and they were absolutely incredible. Our dance floor was packed the entire night. Every person we've talked to since the wedding - family, friends, even other vendors - has brought up the music and told us that it was the best wedding band they've ever seen. One friend said she has never danced that hard in her life; another told me she almost peed her pants because she didn't want to leave the dance floor (gross, but a testament to how much fun we were all having). If I could go back in time, the only change I would make is to have Velocity play for another hour. We also had two musicians play during our ceremony. I decided to walk up the aisle to Baba O'Riley as a surprise for my husband, and only had a YouTube clip to share as an example of what I wanted. It happened EXACTLY as I imagined. I will never forget the look on my husband's face when he realized what song was playing - it was such an amazing moment. Thanks so much to Velocity for helping make it a perfect wedding!!
Elisabeth, BrideOlivia Hoyt and Ben Grant Wedding – June 1, 2019
VELOCITY IS THE BEST!!!! We had Velocity play at our wedding earlier this month. And WOW WOW WOW were they fantastic. If you want fantastic music and a full dance floor all night-- hire Velocity! Our guests had the best time and loved the band. Velocity truly rocks!
Olivia, BrideAnna Potter and Doug Collett Wedding (Terre Haute, IN) – November 24, 2018
Wow, what an amazing night we had with your band! Doug and Anna were thrilled, as were John and I. Terre Haute will be talking about Velocity for a long time to come. Thanks you for the memories!
Sallee Collett, Mother of the GroomAmanda Hughes Wedding – October 6, 2018
You and the band were beyond phenomenal on Saturday! Thank you so much for making our wedding so amazing! Everyone has been texting and calling me and saying how much they loved you guys. Thank you - everything was so wonderful.
Blaine Turner and Matt Mastenbrook Wedding (Millennium Knickerbocker) – August 25, 2018
We had the Velocity band within Arlen Music Productions as our wedding band, and I can't imagine having a better wedding band! The 3 singers are absolutely incredible! The flow of the night was flawless, and they sounded amazing. I have gotten SO MANY compliments on this band choice. My guests had an absolute BLAST because of how they entertained SO HARD all night! They have an incredible range for the types of music that they can perform and their energy is amazing. They were great to work with! There were SO many people on the dance floor all night for every song which is an achievement!!!
Blaine, BrideCaroline Parsons and Ryan Swan Wedding – August 18, 2018
I can’t begin to thank you enough for arranging to have Velocity play at Caroline and Ryan’s wedding reception. Honestly, the musicians made the evening. If I heard one compliment more than any other in the hours, days, and weeks following the wedding, it was how great the band was. As you know, from the opening dance to the last song of the night, the dance floor was packed. I don’t think I have ever seen that happen and I couldn’t be happier that the first time I witnessed it was at Caroline’s reception.
Jim Parsons, Father of the BrideErin Potocki and Greg Wycklendt Wedding (Chicago Illuminating Company) – August 11, 2018
We used Velocity for our wedding in August 2018 and they were AMAZING! Several guests said they were the best wedding band they'd ever seen. They knew just how to keep the energy up all night, and the dance floor stayed crowded the whole time. They even took our special requests into consideration. For example, I was having a hard time deciding what I wanted to use as a "siblings" dance in lieu of a father/daughter dance (my father passed away), so about an hour before the wedding I finally told them what song I wanted and assumed they were going to play it like a DJ track. It's an old song that's not at all common, so I was shocked when the time came and they played it live themselves as opposed to just playing the recording. It was so impressive that they learned it that quickly for me. We are so happy with our choice of Velocity and would recommend them to anyone!
Erin, BrideJill Puttrich and Jeff Dennhardt Wedding (Grand Geneva Resort) – July 21, 2018
We recently had Velocity play at our wedding. Wow is all I have to say! Our guests danced from the start until the band ended. They were polished and professional, not to mention really, really good! Awesome night! Awesome band!
Jill, BrideMolly Rintz and Sean Lane Wedding (Glen View Club) – July 14, 2018
Hey Erik,
We just got back from our honeymoon, and we wanted to take a minute to thank you and the entire band for an incredible night at our wedding. We've received so many compliments on the band, and for both of us, the music was one of the highlights of the entire day.
Thanks for being so flexible to requests and helpful to us during the planning process. You were by far one of the easiest vendors to work with, and we really appreciated it.
Thanks again,
Brittany Cummings Wedding (Drake Oak Brook) - June 22, 2018
Erik,
Jason and I wanted to thank you and the whole band for being amazing and blowing our expectations away! Everyone can't stop telling us how great you all were and it was truly one of the most fun nights of our lives!
THANK YOU!!!
Amy Reichstein and Brandon Stec Wedding (Renaissance Chicago North Shore) - March 3, 2018
Dear Ken,
My wife, Marcie, and I would like to thank you for making our daughter’s wedding spectacular.
Velocity, with special thanks to Erik Martinez, provided the perfect backdrop for each element of the evening. We truly believe that while guests attend to celebrate an occasion, it is the music that sets the tone. Velocity proved this to be true.
Probably the best compliment we can pay you is that many guests remarked that if they ever got married again you would be called upon to provide the music. In fact we are still getting calls complimenting us on the night and especially the music.
So, thank you and your entire crew for making the evening everything we could have hoped for.