Audio Demo
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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Arlen Music Honors Couples with Virtual Surprise!
We know how heartbreaking it has been for our clients to postpone their wedding date. A few months ago, Dan Nicholson from Indigo surprised a bride and groom with a virtual first dance on their original date, and the rest of our bandleaders followed suit!
We're excited to present a featured article from PartySlate with links to all of our band's special performances. We can't wait for you to hear them live!
Testimonials
Natasha and Scott Kennedy Wedding (Shoreacres Golf Club) – August 7, 2021
Hi Heidie,
Thank you for the amazing job you and Velocity did at our daughter's wedding on Saturday. Absolutely everyone loved the music and commented on how unusual it was to enjoy every song at a wedding. It was a pleasure working with you.
Best, Anne
Brian and Molly Calcutt Wedding (University of Notre Dame) – June 18, 2021
Heidie,
What an amazing weekend! I just wanted to tell you thanks so much for all you did to make Molly and Brian’s wedding reception the huge success that it was.
Our guests were blown away by you and the band, with many saying you were the best wedding band they had ever heard. Your song selection was perfect, your emceeing spot on and you kept the dance floor hopping all night. And we never could have pulled off our jam session with the band if not for your coordination, flexibility, and encouragement. And, girl, you can sing!
Above all, you made the planning and coordinating easy and fun, and you were always consummate professionals. I cannot say enough about the job you and everyone at Arlen did for us and on behalf of Chris, Molly, Brian, and me, I want to say again, thank you so much for helping to make Molly and Brian’s reception a truly special night that we will always cherish and remember.
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 Bride