It can be difficult to make ends meet if you are working in the arts in 2025. Musicians, actors, poets, film directors, dancers, graphic novel artists etc must often take one or more extra jobs to make ends meet. The modern musician, in particular often needs a second source of income to keep the wolf from the door.
The most ingenious of them all must surely have been that late-great entrepreneur, The King of Rock and Soul, Solomon Burke. He started his business career cooking and selling barbecued chicken sandwiches backstage and then went on own a snow clearance business and chain of funeral parlours.
Gothenburger, Jens Lekman has slightly more modest ambitions. I am a big fan of his bitter-sweet love songs and thoroughly enjoyed this Guardian interview with him about his parallel career as a wedding singer. SEE COMMENTS FOR LINK TO ARTICLE.
“I was at a point in my life where I was searching for purpose. In this era of streaming, music has become like a scented candle. And singing at weddings is reversing that for me. I began playing weddings because I just thought it was a fun, weird thing to do. And then I realised that these moments were the most important point in these people’s lives. You’re not the reason people are there. Your job is to be a midwife, delivering these people into the next phase of their lives. It was that connection that I was searching for.”
His new album is called Songs for Other People’s Weddings, and comes with a novel of the same name written with David Levithan, author of books including Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.
Many other artists could do very well to follow in Mr Lekman’s footsteps and get on the wedding circuit. For example….. Who wouldn’t want to hear Arthur Brown providing the soundtrack for their nuptials?
Rammstein. Rod Stewart. Half man Half biscuit. Lizzo. Kraftverk. Sigur Ros. Devo. Nicki Minaf.
The possibilities are endless.Who would you like to book?
Let’s not forget the Beautiful South singing their greatest hits.
Don’t marry her, …….
Here’s that article.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/sep/05/youre-either-getting-punched-or-going-skinny-dipping-swedish-indie-star-jens-lekman-on-playing-132-weddings-of-his-fans?fbclid=IwY2xjawMo2wNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmgAyghco1viiFiT6QC1tOSAgRo8tJgx0ay0n-xgVsFBwEI3qT3DKfgiZ89L_aem_DzOJ-pM43lofpw_7-6MxQQ
And here’s a song from Jens…
KFD, it will come as no surprise to you that I have sung at several weddings, and not just family! Plenty of folkie fare hits the spot; Searching for Lambs; Brigg Fair; Sweet Jane.
I sang at my mother’s funeral, amongst others, too.
Never been asked to do a bar mitzvah.
Thanks for that fascinating comment @thecheshirecat.
My apologies that it has taken three days for me to reply.
As far as I know, you are only person here on the AW with a voice that enables you to perform at both weddings and funerals. To be able to contribute musically to both very happy and very sad occasions is a great gift and a great responsibility.
Going back to the Lekman article, have you ever jumped out of a wedding cake or gone skinny dipping with the bride?
Probably best you don’t answer that.
Both weddings and funerals can be very unusual occasions.
An amusing story.
About a year ago, I went to the funeral of the wife of one of my best friends. She died of cancer, far too young. The service was at a very beautiful, very splendid church in one of the posher parts of Stockholm.
I was feeling very nervous about it all as I didn’t know anyone else who would be there.
I arrived at the church and the very first person I met was the priest. She recognised me at once.
Hallo John. I haven’t see you since that wild Midsummer Party at Ortala Lund two years ago. How are the family?
What a surprise. The priest was the niece of Helena, one of my oldest Stockholm friends. And her friendly welcome really put me at ease.
I am not a believer, but she certainly conducted a very moving service.
When I pop my clogs I would like my body to be sent out into the Baltic on a flaming Viking longship. If that is too costly, I guess a flaming pedalo would do.
I once went to a wedding reception where the entertainment was an AC/DC tribute act. Rather like the real thing, the first few songs were great but it soon got samey and noisy. We left early.
Well I went to a wedding reception where the Bonzos were the turn. Class!
3 Bonzos and a piano perchance?
Northampton writer Alan Moore had a Bonzo tribute band play at his wedding reception….he knows the score!