Artys Party

A lively group of musicians including a Brit Award and Mercury Music Prize nominee. Arty’s Party play Irish singalong standards. You can dance the night away to the ceilidh calling dance tunes such as the Seige of Ennis, the Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow.

Price from £778 + travel

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Set List / Repertoire

Songs Include:
I’ll tell me Ma
The wild rover
7 drunken nights
Galway Girl
Brown eyed girl
Little old wine drinker
Fields of Athenry
40 shades of Green
Grace
Whiskey in the jar
Black velvet band
Back home in Derry
The leaving of Liverpool
Danny boy
Star of the county down
Step it out Mary
The Galway shawl
4 green fields
The Irish rover
Molly Malone
The black velvet band
Carrickfergus
Raglan road
Erin go bragh
Dublin in the rare old times
Dirty old town
Follow me up to Carlow
Come by the hills
Cunla
Green fields of France

Instrumental Dance Tune sets include:
The Kerry Polkas
Cooleys
Monaghan Jig
Waves of Tory
Irish washerwoman
King of the fairies
The Finnish Polka
Off to California
Kid on the mountain slipjig
The butterfly slip jig
The soldiers’ joy
The flowers of Edinburgh
The rights of Man
Tripping up the stairs
New mown meadow
Matt Cunningham polka set
Lark in the morning
Blackthorn stick
Knocknaboul
Clare Jig
Red haired boy
Matt Cunningham set paddle me own canoe
Bucks of oranmore
Blarney pilgrim
Cry of the Celts
Phil the fluters ball
It’s a long way to Tipperary
The Coffin set waltzes
Planxty Irwin set waltzes


Full Biography

Highlights
Fronted by Belfast singer songwriter Padraig, Arty’s Party deliver a genuine Irish sound with an eclectic mix of traditional, contemporary & original songs.
The bands key ingredients of outstanding musicianship, warm wit & uniquely Irish party spirit are the perfect recipe to infuse any special occasion with the authentic flavours of the Craic.
Line up to accommodate everything from large Festivals/Corporate Events, to Weddings & private party’s and more intimate settings such as Home/Parlour Parties.
The Band can play totally acoustic for that Irish pub session feel.
The band can wander around your guest tables serenading them with the Irish Craic.
Full Calling and Ceilidh option, they'll make sure everyone gets on their feet and enjoy the Craic with dances such as strip the willow, the Gay Gordons and the Seige of Ennis.

About Arty’s Party
Padraig lalor - Singer/Guitarist
Padraig was born in Belfast. He lived his formative years in the 1970s against the backdrop of the troubles in Northern Ireland. He worked as a freelance journalist in the 1980s; becoming Northern Irish correspondent for the Irish Post, before gaining a Scholarship to Ruskin College Oxford. It was in Oxford he formed the Traditional Irish band Arty's Party and started writing songs in the late 1990s.  A fascination with his country's musical history and a love of the stories that permeate its culture, bring an engaging authenticity to his songs. Capturing the passion and contradiction of the people and places of Belfast has seen Padraig earn the reputation of a modern day Seanachaí. Not surprising perhaps, that he lists both the great Irish Tenor Josef Locke, and Belfast's Kathleen Largey amongst his key musical influences.

Greig Stewart - Drummer/Percussionist 
A founder member of the internationally renowned Guillemots and both a Brit Award and Mercury Music Prize nominee. Greig and Padraig became friends and musical collaborators in Oxford in 1997 before Greig moved to London to become a core member of the Guillemots. Greig was both Percussionist and co-writer helping the band enjoy significant single and album chart successes, and touring globally. Greig has appeared alongside the likes of Rufus Wainwright, Snow Patrol, KT Tunstall, The Script, Beck, Morrissey, REM, Travis and even with a full orchestra at the BBC Electric Proms. Re-united with Padraig in 2013, Grieg’s characteristically innovative style and fluid rhythms form the bands heartbeat.

Gill O’ Shea- Whistles/Accordion/Melodeon
Gill has an Honours Degree in Music from Cardiff university. She sports an infectious sense of fun. Coupled with a unique whistle style and a genuine affinity towards Irish tunes, she quickly became an audience favourite. An ever present since 2002 she also plays squeeze boxes and was the band’s first female member. Living off the same Motorway junction as Padraig they also perform regularly as a duo.

Recent clients have included:
Royality
Robert Smith (the Cure)
Eastenders Cast
Orlando Bloom Movie "Romans"
Wales Millennium Centre
Welsh Rugby Union
Cardiff Coal Exchange
Sandown Racecourse
Chepstow Racecourse
E Festival Fos Llas Racecourse
Cheltenham Race Festival
International Folk Festival Guernsey
Rothsay Folk Festival Scotland
Small Nations Festival Wales
Caerphilly Big Cheese Festival
Bonne Nuit Festival Jersey
Caistor Festival Lincoln
Pontardawe Festival Wales
Sesiwn Fawr Festival Wales
P&O
Stena
Irish Ferries

TV & Radio:
BBC radio Wales 30 Minute Special Celtic Connections
BBC Radio Jersey March 2012
BBC Radio Shropshire April 2012
BBC Radio 2 Titanic Special April 2012
Radio Pembrokeshire Special May 2012
BBC Radio Oxford
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Solent
The band’s music has also been played on radio shows in:
France, Norway, Germany, Holland, USA, Russia, Finland and Poland
Appearances on Cowboys & Indians for S4C TV

What clients have said:
"Arty's Party provided the evening's entertainment at our wedding and were absolutely fantastic. They had everyone up dancing from the word go and all our guests had such a great time. Thank you so much for creating such a fun atmosphere and for helping to make our wedding the best day of our lives. Highly recommended!"
Danny Riding - 2017

"Padraig & Artys Party were absolutely brilliant. The music was great & it got everybody & up & dancing. All of my family & friends just can't get over how much "jigging" there was - Padraig is hilarious & is a really good link man to keep the party going!. I would have no hesitation in getting them back again for another do."
Angela Devon - 2017

"Just wanted to say a big thanks to Arty's Party for playing at Pat McDonald's farm last weekend! It went amazingly everyone enjoyed and they even humoured dad when he wanted to join in! Thanks a million. I would highly recommend Arty's Party they are brilliant musicians and know how to make a party great."
Anthony McDonald - 2017

* Please note: the members are based in Wales, London and Oxfordshire and so prices may vary upon enquiry due to exact travel and expenses for each member.

* Please note:
For events taking place in Scotland please call for a quote.

Lineup

Default lineup: 3 members

3 Piece Band: Guitar/Vocals, Whistles/Accordions, and either Fiddle or Percussion/Irish Bodhran Drum.
* Quartet and Duo also available (please see booking options for more details).
* Caller also available (please see booking options).

Performance Times

2 x 45 minutes sets


From £778 + travel

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3 x 45 minutes sets


From £1,002 + travel

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3 x 60 minutes sets


From £1,196 + travel

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Booking Options

Customise your booking with the following options...

Requirements

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Prices

Price from £778 + travel from Swansea

Based on 3 members performing 2 x 45 minute sets

  • Wales From £777
  • South West From £847
  • South East From £915
  • West Midlands From £1,052
  • East of England From £1,190
  • North East From £1,308
  • North West From £1,396
  • East Midlands From £1,420
  • Yorkshire and the Humber From £1,449

Most Alive Network artists travel UK wide and internationally. Get a guide price instantly by clicking the 'get quote' button and entering your event date and location. Make an enquiry and we will liase directly with Artys Party to confirm price, availability, and the provide you with a confirmed quote.

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58 Customer Reviews

Performance quality: 5 stars
Sound quality: 5 stars
Behaviour: 5 stars
Communication: 5 stars
Audience engagement: 5 stars
Value for money: 5 stars
  • Excellent 58
  • Good
  • OK
  • Unsatisfactory
  • Poor

Band was amazing

5 stars - Artys Party are Highly Recommended
booked Artys Party for their event in Bristol November 2023

“They arrived promptly at the party, Patrick interacted with many of the guests and used that information to make the repertoire entertaining. It was my husband memorable birthday and the music, the entertainment factor and their presence made it all the more memorable. We sang Happy Birthday together, that was very cool!”


Amazing atmosphere and energy

5 stars - Artys Party are Highly Recommended
booked Artys Party for their Wedding in Shropshire September 2023

“Artys party were absolutely brilliant, got everyone up and dancing and we all had a blast. Thank you so much, everyone loved it!”


Not enough stars in the sky to describe how good Artys Party are!!!!

5 stars - Artys Party are Highly Recommended
booked Artys Party for their Wedding in Suffolk August 2023

“We had Artys Party as the main music for our wedding reception and wanted to have a good old Irish session with great music and all the classics, and the guys didn't disappoint! The sound quality was outstanding, the music was brilliant and they even accommodated a couple of Irish dancers with a great jig! Patrick and the band were absolute stars and their professionalism shone through, but with no airs and graces. We wanted to have fun and they provided a fun filled evening with great music and great entertainment. If you love Irish music and I mean real Irish music (not some of the rubbish you'd normally hear) then hire this group. I'll definitely keep them in mind if I need an Irish group for another event! Go raibh míle maith agat!!”


Artys Party,

5 stars - Artys Party are Highly Recommended
booked Artys Party for their Wedding in Devon

“The Irish band of choice for wedding celebrations. First class in every way. Fast, slow, traditional Irish music in every way. This band is professional in every way and masters of their music. We will recommend them to all of our friends.”


Was excellent!

5 stars - Artys Party are Highly Recommended
booked Artys Party for their event

“It was excellent full complements to group”

See more customer reviews (53)

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