Small time Liverpudlian drummer charters funky band (6,9)
I believe the answer is:
string orchestra
'band' is the definition.
(type of musical group)
'small time liverpudlian drummer charters funky' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'liverpudlian drummer' becomes 'Ringo' (Ringo Starr, drummer from The Beatles).
'funky' indicates anagramming the letters (an unusual form of the letters).
'charters' with letters rearranged gives 'rchestra'.
's'+'t'+'ringo'+'rchestra'='STRING ORCHESTRA'
(Other definitions for string orchestra that I've seen before include "Players" , "group" .)