Folk band Mumford & Sons and soul singer John Legend will provide the music for President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron's state dinner at the White House on Wednesday.

The British band was invited by the Prime Minster, while President Obama asked Legend to perform at the stately bash.

A host of celebrities including British actor Damian Lewis and Virgin tycoon Richard Branson will be among the 1,000 guests at the dinner, which is being held to mark Cameron's state visit to America.

Mumford & Sons and Legend will be hoping to benefit from the Obama effect - the U.S. President caused sales of Al Green's classic song Let's Stay Together to surge after singing lines from the track earlier this year at a fundraiser.