The LustreLights is a professional musician and entertainment group

The LustreLights

The LustreLights is a dedicated group of professional musicians and entertainers who have performed in a variety of musical settings.  Whether it be a ceremony, a reception, an outdoor concert, or a corporate function, The LustreLights will always bring audiences to their feet. From pop, rock, and dance, to classical and jazz, our versatility and years of experience will ensure that your event will be the talk of the town.

Bring Your Party Playlist To Life with The Lustrelights!

The Mission

The LustreLights is a dedicated group of professional musicians and entertainers who have performed in a variety of musical settings. Whether it is a ceremony, a reception, an outdoor concert, or a corporate function, The LustreLights will always bring your party playlist to life. From classical to jazz to pop/rock, our versatility and years of experience will ensure that your event will be the talk of the town. And how can you enjoy all of these talented musicians without a high quality sound and lighting system? We have on-staff sound and lighting engineers with a state-of-the-art system that is sure to enhance your experience.

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Band Leader – Kara Baldus

Kara Baldus has over twenty years of experience playing in some of St. Louis’ most popular event bands. The LustreLights is a group of talented musicians who she has worked with frequently throughout the years. All of the musicians in the band have degrees in music and are well-respected throughout the community for their dedication to their craft and drive to entertain. Kara has been a full-time instructor of jazz piano at Washington University in St. Louis since 2005. Building on her valuable knowledge and versatility she and The LustreLights are confident that they can deliver an event for you to remember!

What We Do

  • get all generations on the dance floor by playing your favorite songs from the 50’s through the modern day hits

  • entertain and engage you and your guests from the ceremony to cocktails/dinner music to the dance sets

  • all events will have two dedicated professional sound/lighting engineers delivering the best audience experience

  • offer customizable packages, thorough communication and professional booking

  • deliver a dynamic, high-energy performance that goes above and beyond to ensure a memorable event that everyone will be talking about

  • offer a range of outfits from classic black suited & tie to flashy stage clothes

 

As seen on The Knot!

Hall of Fame2024 Best of Weddings Winner2023 Best of Weddings Winner2022 Best of Weddings Winner2021 Best of Weddings Winner2020 Best of Weddings Winner2019 Best of Weddings Winner

Favorite Quotes

  • “The lights, the dance moves, the props and more made our reception feel like one big dance party all night long” – Emily Y
  • “…besides marrying my husband, hiring The LustreLights for our wedding was the best decision I’ve ever made ” – Laura M
  • “…they bring the energy, so easy to work with, and have people dancing the ENTIRE time. ” Madeline K
  • “They are experts at hyping up the crowd” – Jessica P
  • “…they had everyone on their feet and created an unforgettable atmosphere that exceeded our expectations. The musical talent of The LustreLights is nothing short of phenomenal… a truly inclusive and memorable experience…” – Graham R
  • ” I have countless pictures of me and the singers as well because they were out on the dance floor with us having an amazing time! ” – Madeline S

The LustreLights Music Video

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The LustreLights Song List

SORT BY NAME:

A

  • A-ha – Take On Me – 80’s
  • ABBA – Dancing Queen – 70’s
  • Adele – Hello – 2010’s
  • Adele – Make You Feel My Love – 2010’s
  • Al Green – Let’s Stay Together – 70’s
  • Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful – 2010’s
  • Amy Winehouse – Valerie – 2000’s
  • Aretha Franklin – (You Make Me Feel Like) Natural Woman – 60’s
  • Aretha Franklin – Chain of Fools – 60’s
  • Aretha Franklin – Respect – 60’s
  • Avicii – Wake Me Up – 2010’s

B

  • B-52’s – Loveshack – 80’s
  • Beck – Dreams – 2010’s
  • Beck – Loser – 90’s
  • Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison – 90’s
  • Ben E. King – Stand By Me – 60’s
  • Beyoncé – Crazy In Love – 2000’s
  • Beyoncé – Love On Top – 2010’s
  • Beyoncé – Single Ladies – 2000’s
  • Billy Idol – Dancing With Myself – 80’s
  • Blues Brothers – Soul Man – 70’s
  • Bon Jovi – Livin’ on a Prayer – 80’s
  • Britney Spears – Toxic – 2000’s
  • Bruce Springsteen – Dancing in the Dark – 80’s
  • Bruno Mars – 24K Magic – 2010’s
  • Bruno Mars – Locked Out of Heaven – 2010’s
  • Bruno Mars – Marry You – 2010’s
  • Bruno Mars – That’s What I Like – 2010’s
  • Bruno Mars – Treasure – 2010’s
  • Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk – 2010’s

C

  • Calvin Harris – Feel So Close – 2010’s
  • Calvin Harris – Slide – 2010’s
  • Carrie Underwood – Last Name – 2000’s
  • Cee Lo Green – Forget You – 2010’s
  • Cheap Trick – I Want You to Want Me – 70’s
  • Coldplay – Viva La Vida – 2000’s
  • Counting Crows – Mr. Jones – 90’s
  • Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun – 80’s

D

  • DNCE – Cake by the Ocean – 2010’s
  • Daft Punk – Get Lucky – 2010’s
  • David Bowie – Fame – 70’s
  • David Bowie – Let’s Dance – 80’s
  • Donna Summer – Last Dance – 70’s

E

  • Earth Wind & Fire – September – 70’s
  • Ed Sheeran – Shape Of You – 2010’s
  • Elle King – Ex’s & Oh’s – 2010’s
  • Elton John – Bennie & The Jets – 70’s
  • Elton John – Tiny Dancer – 70’s
  • Etta James – At Last – 60’s

F

  • Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way – 70’s
  • Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks – 2010’s
  • Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight – 60’s

G

  • Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive – 70’s
  • Gnarls Barkley – Crazy – 2000’s
  • Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child of Mine – 80’s

H

  • Hall & Oates – You Make My Dreams – 70’s
  • Huey Lewis & The News – Power of Love – 80’s

J

  • James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good) – 60’s
  • James Brown – Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – 60’s
  • Jill Scott – Golden – 2000’s
  • Joan Jett – I Love Rock ‘n Roll – 80’s
  • Journey – Anyway You Want It – 80’s
  • Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’ – 80’s
  • Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop the Feeling! – 2010’s
  • Justin Timberlake – Señorita – 2000’s

K

  • Katrina & The Waves – Walking on Sunshine – 80’s
  • Katy Perry – California Gurls – 2010’s
  • Katy Perry – Chained to the Rhythm – 2010’s
  • Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone – 2000’s

L

  • Lady Antebellum – Need You Now – 2010’s
  • Lady Gaga – Just Dance – 2000’s
  • Lady Gaga – Pokerface – 2000’s
  • Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing)
  • Lorde – Green Light – 2010’s
  • Lorde – Royals – 2010’s
  • Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World – 60’s
  • Lynryd Skynryd – Sweet Home Alabama – 70’s

M

  • M83 – Midnight City – 2010’s
  • MAGIC! – Rude – 2010’s
  • Madonna – Material Girl – 80’s
  • Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger – 2010’s
  • Maroon 5 – Sugar – 2010’s
  • Marvin Gaye – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – 60’s
  • Meghan Trainor – All About That Bass – 2010’s
  • Meghan Trainor – Lips are Movin – 2010’s
  • Meghan Trainor – Me Too – 2010’s
  • Michael Jackson – Billie Jean – 80’s
  • Michael Jackson – PYT – 80’s
  • Michael Jackson – Thriller – 80’s
  • Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It – 90’s

N

  • Nat King Cole – Unforgettable – 50’s
  • Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline – 60’s
  • New Radicals – You Get What You Give – 90’s
  • Norah Jones – Don’t Know Why – 2000’s

O

  • Outkast – Hey Ya! – 2000’s

P

  • Paramore – Ain’t It Fun – 2010’s
  • Pat Benatar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot – 80’s
  • Patti LaBelle – Lady Marmalade – 70’s
  • Phoenix – 1901 – 2000’s
  • Pink – Raise Your Glass – 2010’s
  • Prince – Kiss – 80’s

R

  • Ray LaMontagne – You Are the Best Thing – 2000’s
  • Rick Springfield – Jesse’s Girl – 80’s
  • Rihanna – Diamonds – 2010’s
  • Rihanna – Umbrella – 2000’s
  • Rihanna – We Found Love – 2010’s
  • Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines – 2010’s
  • Rose Royce – Car Wash – 70’s

S

  • Sister Sledge – We Are Family – 70’s
  • Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – 70’s
  • Stevie Wonder – Superstition – 70’s
  • Sublime – What I Got – 90’s

T

  • TLC – Waterfalls – 90’s
  • Taylor Swift – Shake It Off – 2010’s
  • The Beatles – In My Life – 60’s
  • The Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling – 2000’s
  • The Cars – Just What I Needed – 80’s
  • The Commodores – Brick House – 70’s
  • The Cure – Friday, I’m in Love – 80’s
  • The Isley Brothers – Shout – 50’s
  • The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back – 60’s
  • The Lumineers – Ho Hey – 2010’s
  • The Outfield – Your Love – 80’s
  • The Supremes – Baby Love – 60’s
  • The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love – 60’s
  • The Temptations – Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – 60’s
  • The Temptations- My Girl- 60’s
  • The Weeknd – Can’t Feel My Face – 2010’s
  • The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army – 2000’s
  • Tina Turner – Proud Mary – 60’s
  • Tommy Tutone – 867-5309/Jenny – 80’s
  • Toto – Africa – 80’s

V

  • Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl – 60’s

W

  • Walk the Moon – Shut Up and Dance – 2010’s
  • Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody – 80’s
  • Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music – 70’s
  • Wilson Pickett – Mustang Sally – 60’s
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Reviews

The Lustre lights were my dream band. After seeing them at my friends wedding a little over a year before mine I knew that I wanted them to play at mine as well. They are so entertaining. Everyone was on the dance floor all night!! They interacting with the crowd as well. Aside from that they are such kind people. I couldn’t recommend them more. They are INCREDIBLE. Everyone that attended my wedding is still raving about them!

Elizabeth D — 12.5.22 — Wedding

We used the LustreLights for our wedding a couple months ago and they truly knocked it out of the park. We couldn’t have loved them more! They brought so much energy and fed off the crowd, who fed off of them! Months later, people are still telling us how great they were. Everyone was dancing. They played a great mix of top 40 and classic rock, just what we told them we liked. They even played Bruce Springsteen for me and a special song for my husband- such great surprises! They brought us up on the stage too- they made the party and I recommend them to anyone getting married in the St. Louis area. We are officially groupies for life!

Rachel W — 11.30.22 — Wedding

I wish I could give The LustreLights more than 5 stars! They performed at my sister's wedding and we had so much fun that we used them for mine! They are high energy and keep people on the dance floor all night. They engage the crowd and let the bride and groom be a part of the group at times. They were the biggest hit and the number one compliment I received from the wedding. Their team is so easy to work with and will do everything they can to make your day special. They even made changes day of and put me completely at ease that everything would be perfect. We love The LustreLights and would recommend them to anyone. Thank you for the best night!

Madeline K — 11.9.22 — Wedding

The LustreLights truly made our wedding at Union Station St. Louis! We owe the down-to-earth vibe and fun-loving energy of our night to the band! During the father-daughter dance, they were so good that people didn’t even realize the band was playing at first — they thought it was the DJ. By the way — The DJ who played during the band’s quick breaks was also fantastic. LustreLights got family members I’ve never seen hit the dance floor before out and having a ball — people still keep talking about “that band.” We were a little nervous about the sound in general because of how open of a space the Grand Hall is but having played there before, they had it down to a science and everything sounded perfect all night. I hope I get to go to another wedding or show of the LustreLights!

Mary F — 9.27.22 — Wedding

The LustreLights were our "priority vendor" and let me tell you - it was worth it. Being a professional musician myself, it was a no-brainer to have this talented and fabulous group of musicians play at our wedding. We hired the full band with horns, and we had a jazz trio play for cocktail hour. It was perfect. Totally worth every single penny! All night long my family and friends came up to me to tell me how awesome the band was. It really tickled me seeing how happy and excited they were about the band! Nothing beats a live band for your entertainment! They brought the party, interacted with the wedding guests (at a safe distance #covid), and kept everyone dancing with high energy. Not only was our wedding night amazing and fun, the whole process leading up to our day was smooth. Communication with the band was very easy, which was especially helpful when we had to reschedule due to Covid. The LustreLights are incredibly professional, not only in how they perform, but also in how they run their business. 1000% recommend!!

Gabe M. — 9.11.20 — Wedding

Lustre lights is AMAZING! Weeks later and I'm still getting notes from my guests telling me how incredible they were. They kept the energy in the room high all night long and the lead singers were the best special event performers I've seen (I plan events for a living). My husband and I planned out a choreographed dance for our first dance and the band was super accommodating and learned the song in the correct BPM to sing it live for us. It made it all the more special. The gist is they are worth every penny, every bride deserves them, if you want to have a high energy, fun wedding you found your key.

Jordan E. — 9.4.20 — Wedding

My family and I absolutely LOVED the Lustrelights!!! Kara , the band leader, was so sweet and amazing to work with. The two lead singers are incredible!! And the band as a whole is so interactive with the guests, we just cannot say enough good things. We had so many compliments at the end of the night. The Lustrelights truly made our wedding the best day, even during COVID season. They are the best wedding band in St.Louis!

Caroline Q — 7.10.20 — Wedding

The LustreLights absolutely MADE our wedding reception! They were so good at every detail from the introductions to the last dance. The bride and groom and all of our guests couldn’t get enough of the band all night. Their energy and love for our party are their secret ingredients for making our wedding reception so memorable! Our friends and family can’t stop talking about how awesome Kara, Dan and everyone with the band was on our special night. Thank you LustreLights! Also, thank you Contemporary Productions and Gretchen for making the planning so easy!

Kathryn F — 12.20.19 — Wedding

We found and booked the LustreLights before their first live performance, August 25th 2017. Our immediate reaction: “Holy crap, this is our band!” We had so much fun listening and dancing the night away that night, that we kept coming back, each time with more friends and family, to show off their amazing talent! Working with Lauren has been seamless and her response time was always very quick and professional.
Kara, you are so amazing! You always made us feel so special at all of your shows and we couldn’t have asked for a better wedding reception! From the Jazz at dinner, the horns accompanying the father/daughter dance, to the whole band rocking the house the entire night, we wish we could re-live it every single weekend!

If you’re on the fence about live music vs a band, we would always recommend live. And if you’re picking out a band, we would 10/10 recommend LustreLights!! I promise, they will not disappoint!

Erin M. — 10.20.18 — Wedding

Well, what can we say. LustreLights absolutely rocked our wedding! We cannot possibly recommend them highly enough. Here are some things you should know about LustreLights:

1. Kara, Dan, and the whole band are total pros. Not only incredible musicians but also so courteous and respectful and willing to dial-in a set list and create a vibe that works with YOUR wedding.
2. There was never an air of "you're just another wedding for us". With LustreLights, they wanted to be there, they wanted to make it a special night for us. They did not act as if this was just another gig to get through and get paid.
3. LustreLights really listened to us and made every effort to accommodate song requests, timing of dances, and anything else we wanted to hear/do for the night. You will be in VERY good hands with them.

All in all, they helped make our wedding absolutely unforgettable and would recommend them to anyone out there looking for a band that can play damn near anything you're looking for. We had a mix of Motown, soul, country and pop and they nailed all of it.

Andrew B. — 6.22.18 — Wedding

THANK YOU for helping give us the wedding of our dreams. You made the weekend and we cannot get over how incredible you were. Your energy, charisma, helpfulness, attentiveness, spunk, and talent truly turned the weekend into the best of our lives!

Our guests have not stopped commenting that you were the best wedding band/DJ they have ever seen. I feel so very lucky that we found you. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.

Haley E. — 6.9.18 — Wedding

The Lustrelights are by far the best wedding band I've ever experienced! They were extremely professional and the nicest group of people. They said yes to all of my crazy bride requests like: Can my best friend sing with you? Is it OK if I sing with you? Can we shoot off confetti canons at 10:30pm sharp? Our wedding reception was amazing but The Lustrelights made it 100% unforgettable!!!

Mary Catherine M. — 5.19.18 — Wedding

As a first time groom and long time musician performer, I was keen in having an exceptional group play at our wedding. LustreLights is that exceptional group of musicians whose sole purpose is a successful event. Their repertoire consists of all the great songs plus your Requests! Their sense of volume vis a vis the space is excellent. Everyone could converse without yelling over the music. The one constant comment I got during the reception was » awesome band!

Armando L — 5.12.18 — Wedding

One of the best elements of the wedding. So easy to work with from booking to performance. Guests of all ages were able to enjoy their incredible talents. They even let my brother join them for a song on the drums. Many guests have asked us about them and said they were their favorite wedding band. Can't recommend them enough!

Jamie S — 5.5.18 — Wedding

The LustreLights were absolutely fantastic; the dance party was nonstop! The ensemble has a diverse list of songs that cater to all ages across many genres. They have great sound, groove, passion and energy and their performance was lively throughout the night. The use of their 3 part vocal harmonies was stellar. We used Kara, the keyboard player, for our ceremony and she was very talented and able to replicate a difficult and meaningful song for our procession. Everyone from the band manager to the band members were prompt in their communication, flexible with last minute changes and very professional. Our guests are still raving it was one of the best weddings they have been to and an unforgettable night of fun while on the dance floor. Thank you LustreLights!!

Brandon and Diane H. — 4.14.18 — Wedding

Where do I begin?! We can not recommend The Lustrelights highly enough! Their energy, performance, and musical talent was the best I have ever seen at a wedding. In addition to every musician/singer being extremely talented, the band was wonderful to work with- flexible, professional, helpful, and friendly. Our guests are still raving about the Lustrelights and how much fun they had dancing and singing the night away. The Lustrelights put their heart and soul into making the dance floor and vibe come alive at our wedding- we are forever grateful!

Julia D. — 4.7.18 — Wedding

The LustreLights played our law school formal ball and everybody loved the band! They were professional, amenable, and so very much fun! Starting the night with a Stevie Wonder classic was brilliant! Very highly recommend.

Jacob W. — 3.24.18 —

[The LustreLights] were FANTASTIC! Easy to work with, very professional, the crowd loved them, they sounded great -- I only have wonderful things to say!

I'm sure I'll be reaching out to you to book them again in the future :)

Stacy E., Event Planner — 11.3.17 — Gala

The committee really enjoyed the band and heard a lot of great feedback from the crowd. “What a professional and engaging band” was said more than once. Lots of compliments for both of the lead singers – but big raves about the lead male vocalist! I must say – the help they gave me and those who used the stage and their microphone was the best.

They were truly just great people! Thank you for suggesting them.

Lee M. — 9.30.17 —

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