Moondance
Ceilidh / Irish Band

Line up: *6 piece band: caller, electric fiddle, keys, electric guitar, bass guitar and drums*
*5 piece band: caller, electric fiddle/keys, electric guitar/synth, bass guitar and drums
*4 piece band: caller/melodeon, guitar, bass and drums*
... also available as a 10 piece with horn section and extra percussionist

MoonDance are one of the busiest as well as one of the most experienced ceilidh / barn dance bands on the function circuit. Mentioned on the BBC Radio Two website as one of the high profile UK dance bands the band has over two decades of experience in providing dance music for wedding corporate and private functions and will ensure that your client's event runs smoothly and that everyone has a good time.

MoonDance provide a truly unique ceilidh experience. Imagine the accessibility of traditional dance music combined with power of rock and funk music. Unlike many ‘electric’ barn dance bands the band's sound is much more than just an acoustic folk band grafted onto a pub-rock rhythm section. The music has been developed as true fusion of the best of traditional and modern dance rhythms.And we don't stop the music every five minutes we keep a groove going to help the dancers during the walk-throughs which maintains the atmosphere during the whole event.

Because of this we are one of the most popular and experienced ceilidh / barn dance bands in the country and is mentioned on the BBC Radio 2 website as one of the UK's "high-profile" dance bands. The band performs at public events and festivals around the UK and overseas.

On the night our caller will select the dances to suit the mood and ability of the audience. The dances are all based on the Scottish / English / Irish social dance tradition (i.e. Ceilidh Barn Dance and Irish set dances) with a few other influences thrown in. Our aim is that the dancers have a great deal of fun rather than to produce some kind of 'proper' dance display. If you have a particular favourite dance then we will certainly endeavour to include it in the set but one of the reasons that our dance sets are so enjoyable (and inclusive) is that the caller will 'go with the flow'.

The duration of the dancing can be anything up to 3 hours - for any performance over 2 hours we will need to take a short break. This break often takes place when food is served. We can play appropriate recorded music through the PA system during any breaks. The caller will often act as a kind of MC. Basically you tell us what you want us to do and then go and have fun.

The band are fully self-contained and fully insured for public liability and all the equipment has regular PAT safety checks.


The band:

Brian Heywood (electric guitar & guitar synth)
Originally hailing from Australia Brian cut his musical teeth playing with the top Sydney band Bluetongue. Since arriving in England he has played in a number of rock and folk/rock outfits such as The Cluster of Nuts Band as well as in more mainstream rock and blues bands. Brian has appeared at many music festivals around the UK as well as releasing a number of recordings. 

Tom Fairbairn (keyboards fiddle & bass guitar)
From the North of England specialising in folk jazz-rock and collaborative projects with bands in various styles. As well as work on the folk scene Tom plays in a number of original/pop groups, including Thelonius Gooo & The Cringe and Kandid (featuring French singer-songwriter Nicolas Driot), Whapweasel and with Brian in the Anglo-Australian band WoodworX of which FiddleOn magazine said: "possibly the best thing you'll hear all year...superb fiddling".

Paul Francis (Electric Bass)
Paul has worked with a wide range of musicians and bands including Paul Weller, Midge Ure, London Beat,The James Taylor Quartet, Ian Hunter, Maggie Bell & Chris Farlowe, Paul Gilbert & Producers Braund Reynolds to name a few. TV appearances have included Top of the Pops & various others around the Globe.

James Asher (kit drums & percussion)

Starting out as a classically trained violinist, James taught himself drums, percussion and keyboards and trained as a sound engineer. James has a very wide range of performance experience both live and in the studio -for instance playing percussion on Pete Townshend’s 'Empty Glass' album as well as composing and performing on many commercial and library album releases

Siân Phillips (electric fiddle)
Siân is a fifth generation fiddle player with roots back to the chapel fiddlers of the Swansea Valleys. Her professional career has seen her perform at festivals, concerts, workshops and seminars throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. She has played with Celtish, The Constitution Hillbillies, Heather Jones, Meic Stevens, Wild Welsh Women.

Mark Knight (electric and acoustic fiddles)
Mark is a recent addition to the line-up though we've known him for some time. His nick name of 'madfiddler' belies his amazingly dynamic and sophisticated playing style. Needless to say he can also 'let rip' as the occasion demands, just as well really when he's playing for MoonDance. His playing credits are far too extensive to include here but a few that you might recognise are Blue Horses, K-Passa and Tricks Upon Travellers.

Sam McEvoy (percussion)
Sam learned percussion and drums from Douglas Johnstone and Russell Gair in the Shetland Islands. He played with the young Shetland group "New Tradition" and travelled to European festivals and the Royal Festival Hall in London. Sam also plays with the jazz trio "The Antipodeans", Nordic Tone and has performed and arranged music for many theatrical productions.

Horn Section

- Lisa Heywood (soprano sax, clarinet & whistle),
- Alison Heywood (alto sax),
- Alex Heywood (trombone)

Lisa, Alex & Alison make up the 'Heywood Horns' who join the core band for larger (or at least noiser)  ceilidhs. Lisa also joins the frontline on clarinet and whistle for a few numbers. The horn section can be augmented by special guests when required.

Roger Watson (caller, melodeon) 
Roger is one of the top callers in the UK with experience at calling dances at all levels from social functions to international dance festivals. Roger is incredibly charismatic and will the the audience dancing like experts in a very short period of time without them realising it, and having a great time as well!

Liz Scholey (caller) 
Both a qualified dance instructor and dancer, Liz brings her proven skills of introducing people at all levels of skill and ability to the world of dance. A performer and producer in her own right she has performed all over the world in dance troupes and directed her own touring group - the Pink Cadillacs.

Fee Lock (caller)
The only rock chick caller on the dance circuit, Fee spices up her unerring eye for what the dance floor wants by pogo-ing up and down between cut-glass enunciations. Favourite after danceable favourite spiked with unusual new dances make for an entertaining evening. Fee gets totally into the music which leads directly to fabulously feels-good, feels-right setting for each dance


What the clients say:

"... it really exceeded our expectations and everyone is still talking about the fun we all had. We have a lot of pictures of the night ... There is not a single photo where people are not smiling. We will definitely recommend you to family and friends and should we have another party in the future." - Alison and Leigh Gates (wedding ceilidh)

"The barn dance was the highlight of the day and so many of our friends and family have commented on how good the band was and how much they loved the rocky style of your music! Roger was a fantastic caller and did such a great job of filling the dancefloor for almost every dance. Suddenly it was impossible to keep even our most uncoordinated friends away from the dance floor!" - Emma and Alex Heath (wedding ceilidh)

"Everybody I have spoken to since has raved about the high quality of music and calling . . . For our part, we sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity of working with you again on a future fundraising event" - Mike Hall, Datchworth All Saints' Church.

"Thank you all very much for doing such a fabulous job on Friday. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves" - Clare & Bernard (London).

"a big exciting sound... electric folk, jazz, ceilidh band and pure rock...all in one number" - Bucks Examiner

Previous Clients:

O2
Molly Maid
BAT (London)
John Lewis
1853 Association, Royal Russell School, Croyden
Beverley Festival
Guilfest
University of East Anglia (Faculty of Medicine)
Aldershot Officers Mess
University of Hertfordshire (International Fresher's Ball)
Two Rivers Festival
Unilever
Honourable Artillery Club
Broadstairs Festival