Play Together: Billy's Band v3.0 with Custom Songs
Every Simmer knows the pain: you want your Sims to form a rock band, but EA keeps teasing you with the lack of a proper band expansion pack. The result is usually a chaotic cacophony of Sims playing instruments at completely different times, with zero harmony and even less fun. That frustration is exactly what inspired the creation of Play Together: Billy's Band v3.0 with Custom Songs, a mod that finally lets your aspiring rockstars play multiple instruments together in sync, perform concerts, draw a crowd, and earn fame on their journey to stardom. And with the latest update, you can now add your own custom MP3s for infinite musical possibilities.
What Does the v3.0 Update Bring?
The headline feature of this update is the ability to play custom music. The new Custom Setlist option randomly plays any .MP3s you drop into your band's Custom Music folder. If you add multiple tracks, your band will play several songs in a row, which is perfect for long concerts when you don't want to re-assign band members to their instruments after every track. This effectively means infinite music options for you and your crew, breaking free from the limited Simlish song list.
Other Notable v3.0 Features
- Violins are now a playable band instrument.
- The instrument picker is locked to a maximum of one item per Sim.
- Removed skill tests needed to play instruments, making it more accessible.
- Updated Russian translation courtesy of Viavet.
Core Mechanics: Forming Your Band
Getting started is straightforward. Gather your bandmates and place all instruments in the same room and in-world, not in a Sim's inventory. Click any guitar to find the new "Play with Band" pie menu. From there, select "Form Band" and add your bandmates. You can assign Sims, including those you aren't controlling, to specific instruments. Choose from seven different instrument types, including guitars, pianos, microphones, drums, saxophones, French horns, and the newly added violins. You can even have three guitarists or two singers if you want a unique lineup.
Practice Makes Perfect
Once your band is formed, you can select "Band Practice" for a low-key rehearsal in your garage. This is a great way to build skills without the pressure of a live audience. Alternatively, select "Perform Concert" to draw an audience of nearby Sims and earn fame. Concert songs marked with a moodlet color will affect the audience with a corresponding 4-hour mood buff, letting you sway the emotions of your fans.
How to Install Custom Music Setlists
To get the most out of Play Together: Billy's Band v3.0 with Custom Songs for The Sims 4, you will want to set up your custom music. First, download the mod and drag the "CustomSetlist" folder inside your "Custom Music" folder. This folder is typically located at "Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Custom Music". Add one or more .MP3s to this CustomSetlist folder. When choosing a song from the practice or play submenus, select the "Custom Setlist" option instead of a specific song. Your Sim will now randomly play any tracks in that folder until the interaction is canceled.
Requirements and Compatibility
Before you download, you need to be aware of the requirements. The mod requires Scumbumbo's XML Injector to function at all. City Living is required for microphone singing, and Get Famous is required for fame accrual. For drums, you must have Necrodog's v2 playable drum mod from the Into Music pack; the older, original drum release will not work. JaneSimsten's playable French horn is needed for that instrument, and Necrodog's playable saxophone is needed for the sax. Only the base game is needed for other instruments, so the mod will work with just the base game and extra CC, though you will not be able to assign a microphone or drums.
When you are ready to get this mod, you can download Play Together: Billy's Band v3.0 with Custom Songs from the official mod page. The installation process is simple: just place the mod files inside your /Mods folder and ensure you have an up-to-date version of the XML Injector installed in the correct place. If you are using the foxygame.net launcher, you will appreciate how it simplifies the entire process. The launcher offers a one-click install for Play Together: Billy's Band v3.0 with Custom Songs, automatically handles version compatibility checks, and keeps the add-on catalog updated so you always have the latest features without manual file management.
Performing Concerts and Earning Fame
When you are ready to put on a show, select "Perform Concert" from the band menu. Other Sims in the area will be drawn to the performance and will perform actions like watching or cheering. Up to twice a day, a concert will net band members fame based on a combination of their instrument skill level and current star level. This creates a rewarding progression loop that makes your band feel like they are truly climbing the ranks of the music industry.
Known Quirks and Tips
There are a few things to keep in mind. Adoring fans love to get up on stage, so when playing concerts, it is highly recommended to add your band to a club-only access door or install a door locking mod. The custom setlist songs will likely be quieter than the built-in songs because they are broadcast as stereo channels rather than crafted music. Also, the microphone singing in City Living is a bit quirky, and Sims at the mic will randomly express emotions or perform other short sub-interactions, both with and without this mod.
Supported Instruments and Mod Integration
Billy's Band works with a variety of instruments, including microphones, guitars, pianos, violins, Necrodog's v2 drum kit, JaneSimsten's French horn, and Necrodog's saxophone. It also supports custom in-game instrument CC like VRO's playable bass, or mods with the func_guitar, func_piano, or func_microphone tags. Do note that completely unique instruments with custom sound effects will not work with this mod unless they are listed above.
Final Thoughts
Play Together: Billy's Band v3.0 with Custom Songs is a game-changer for Simmers who have been waiting for a proper band experience. The addition of custom MP3 support makes the mod infinitely replayable, and the concert and fame mechanics give your Sims a clear goal to work toward. While it requires a few prerequisite mods, the payoff is well worth the setup time. Whether you are looking to recreate your favorite real-world band or just want your Sims to rock out in harmony, this mod delivers on all fronts. The combination of custom setlists, multiple instrument types, and the ability to command your bandmates with a few clicks makes this the definitive band mod for The Sims 4.