An East Yorkshire tour bus company has earned glowing praise after taking American singing sensation Teddy Swims around Europe.
MM Band Services, based in Burstwick, Holderness, provides luxury travel for some of the world’s leading artists and their crews.
Its team designed a unique ‘Star Bus’ for Teddy – whose biggest global chart hits include ‘Lose Control’, ‘The Door’ and ‘Bad Dreams’ – ahead of the UK and European leg of his ‘I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy’ tour.
This one-of-a-kind vehicle comes with premium features, including a private en-suite bedroom for the star, a downstairs restroom, a fully equipped kitchenette with a sink and fridge, a dedicated office and desk area, a cosy lounge and luxury quilted sleeping bunks with gel-cooled mattresses that accommodate up to 10 people.
Crafted over 18-months, the vehicle also boasts a state-of-the-art entertainment system. There is widescreen HD TVs, immersive surround sound, Starlink high-speed internet connectivity and smart integration via Alexa.
It is also thought to be the only vehicle of its kind in the world powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) – a sustainable alternative to diesel that cuts fuel emissions by up to 90 per cent, dramatically lowering the environmental footprint of life on tour.
The Star Bus was used by MM Band Services to transport Teddy to gigs across the UK and Europe, visiting countries including Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland and Germany. The company also provided five sleeper buses to transport his crew to the concerts, from the beginning of February to the end of March.
MM Band Services – which is celebrating its 25th year in business this year – has supported Teddy on tour since he started touring Europe and has been a mainstay ever since.
Teddy’s Tour Manager Curtis Baldwin said: “MM Band services are absolutely brilliant. We’ve been really impressed with them since we first started using them for Teddy’s tours.
“It’s essential for any artist to feel comfortable with the people around them, and this is particularly important when they’re out on the road touring for so long.
“We’ve got to know the MM Band Services team really well, and the Star Bus is now a wonderful addition to their fleet.
“It was really important for us to be able to influence the design, to ensure it was exactly what we wanted.”
Curtis reserved special praise for Les Tomlinson, the lead driver of the Star Bus.
He said: “Having someone like Les at the wheel makes all the difference. His professionalism and easy-going nature help set the tone for the whole journey.
“When you’re touring non-stop for weeks, trust in your driver is essential – and with Les, we always have total confidence the whole time.”
Les said: “Teddy and his team absolutely loved the Star Bus – we could tell because they kept asking people to come over so they could show it off to them!
“Teddy loved his bedroom in particular, as well as his private bathroom. This was his home from home whilst on tour, so it was important he was part of the process creating it.
“Teddy’s just a fantastic bloke. He’s so easy to talk to, and he and his team are like family now. He’s not changed at all, despite his success.”
Mike Moulds, Founder and Managing Director of MM Band Services, said: “I’m delighted Teddy and his team were so pleased with the Star Bus.
“It’s really important for us to work closely with the artists we provide transport for, to ensure we’re delivering exactly what they need.
“Teddy and his team were consulted throughout the design, meaning we were able to provide exactly what he wanted.
“Other artists who book the Star Bus will also now benefit from that, and it’s already in high demand.”
For more information about MM Band Services, visit www.mmbandservices.co.uk