The Ceilidh Band
Ceilidh / Irish Band

Line up: Standard 5 piece band: caller, electric fiddle, electric guitar, bass guitar and drums

6 piece band for ceilidh set: caller, electric fiddle, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and keyboard

6 piece band for covers set: caller, electric fiddle/keys, electric guitar/synth, bass guitar, drums and female vocalist

4 piece acoustic band: caller, fiddle, guitar, percussion/drums


Highlights
* One of the most experience function ceilidh / barn dance bands in the country
* Is mention BBC Radio 2 website as one of the UK's "high-profile" dance bands
* Entertaining and professional in every way
* Excellent value for money
* Will travel anywhere in the UK and internationally
* Top class equipment
* Experienced caller will read audience and tailor dances to suit
* Some of the top players on the UK social dance circuit
* Can also add a party 'covers' set to the evenings programme
* Very friendly and approachable



The Ceilidh Band 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.

The Music
The Ceilidh Band 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 also performs at public events and festivals around the UK and overseas.

The Ceilidh Band Acoustic is the semi-acoustic version of the band consisting of an experienced dance caller, fiddle, guitar/synth and acoustic hand percussion (bodhran, congas, djembe etc). We work with a number of very experienced callers who are well versed in involving wedding audiences in ceilidh and barn dancing.

The Dances
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 can usually 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', selecting the dances to suit the skill and mood of the audience.

Covers Set
If can't decide between a Ceilidh / Barn Dance Band and a Party Band - then we can do both!. We can include a 'covers' set of Rock and pop songs from the 60s through to the 90s for which we add a female singer to the line-up. The covers set is dance orientated and is usually performed at the end of the ceilidh / barn dancing part of the event. We can even learn your favourite song for a very special 'first dance'.

We can also play background music between sets and after the performance - either from a supplied iPod or using our library of tracks in a variety of genres.

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

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! ... 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).

"We just wanted to say a big thank-you for playing at our wedding. Both out families have never experienced Ceilidh before and were a bit worried, but they were thrilled and thought it was brilliant and even people who never dance at weddings got up there ..." - Claire-Louise & Neil (Statford-on-Avon)

"Just loved the way this band did a 'rolling start' for all the dances. Never seen a ceilidh caller and band do that before. It's the way to go - we were all dancing proper before we realised it!!" - Paul Asher (Broadstairs FolkWeek LNE)

Previous Clients:
O2
Molly Maid
BAT (London)
John Lewis
1853 Association, Royal Russell School, Croyden
Beverley Festival
Guilfest 2008-2012
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
Aura Soma
Great Western Ceilidh
Sega Games (London)
Vets Now!
University of Surrey (Freshers' Barn Dance)