Sandpiper

The Sandpiper Band are amongst the UK's finest ceilidh bands. They perform the most exciting, entertaining and energetic ceilidhs for weddings, parties, celebrations & corporate events. Previous engagements include performing at festivals and events in Europe, North Africa and beyond.

Price from £1,176 + travel

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Event Photos

  • Event Sandpiper Ceilidh Band Lancashire
  • Event Sandpiper Ceilidh Band Lancashire
  • Event Sandpiper Ceilidh Band Lancashire
  • Event Sandpiper Ceilidh Band Lancashire

Set List / Repertoire

Songs:
Wild Rover
As I Roved Out
Whiskey in the Jar
Molly Malone
World Turned Upside Down
Irish Rover
Wraggle Taggle Gypsies
Dirty Old Town
Come on Eileen
and more...

Dances:
Walls of Limerick
Zemer Atik
Wring out the Dishrag
Witchs' Reel
Waves of Tory
Westmorland Cottagers
Virginia Reel
Bridge of Athlone
Sweets of May
Tarantella
Strip the Willow
Orcadian Strip the Willow
St Bernard's Waltz
Small Potatoes
Siege of Ennis
Sausage Machine
Riverside
Rebecca's Roundabout
OXO Reel
Ninepins
Maggie's Mixer
Lucky Seven
La Pieternelle
Bransle de Moutarde
Horses' Bransle
Highland Barn Dance
Heel Toe Polka
Gay Gordon's
Fretful Porcupine
Flying Scotsman
Dashing White Sergeant
Easy Circle
Cumberland Square
Clopton Bridge
Circle Waltz
Circassian Circle
Chancellor's Farewell
Britannia Two Step
Bottoms Up
Black Nag
Four Round Four
Eightsome Reel
Reel of the 51st Highland Division
Bourees
Schottisches
Mazurkas
Andros
Hantedros
Horas
Niguns
Freylechs
Polskas
and more...
 
Tunes:
Athole Highlanders
Jig of Slurs
June Apple
Little Liza Jane
Angelina Johnson
Julianne Johnson
Babels
Grails
Back to Back
Barron of Bassenthwaite
Beck
Belo Horizonte
Black Sail
Bouree du Diable
Bouree Oriental
Charlie Mulvihills
Frank's Favourite
Chromatojig
Dashing White Sergeant
Gallopede
Scotland the Brave
100 Pipers
Cock o'the North
Cleveland Park
Various unnamed Breton Tunes
Various unnamed Irish Tunes
Various unnamed Scottish Tunes
Various unnamed English Tunes
Various unnamed Swedish Tunes
Various unnamed Klezmer Tunes
Clare Reels
Dennis Doody's Polka
Emma
Savitaipaleen
Balyhoura Polka
Price of My Pig
Geese in the Bog
Mad Mr MacPherson
Dr Lithe
Green Ship
Kendal Ghyll
Home Again
Horses' Bransle
Humours of Whiskey
Maid at the Spinning Wheel
JK Reel
La Prapoutiche
La Pieternelle
Pricey Porker
Galitzien Dance
Sawney Dear
Love Laughs at Locksmiths
The Dead Cow
Long Gone Friends
Happy Birthday
Maggie's Pancakes
Lad o'Biernes
Tobins
Scatter the Mud
Eavesdropper
March to the End
Valse de Morecambe
Ninety-Nine March
Onga Bucharesti
Otley Bal Waltz
Robin's Waltz
Padraig O'Keefe's
Paddy Fahey's No.9
Annie's Hornpipe
Plains of Boyle
Dan O'Keefe's
The Blencathra Reel
The Fishing Reel
Tarantella
Sweets of May
Siege of Ennis
Tovercirkel
Trip to Bowland
Valse Petit Dejeuner
Var Det du Eller, Var Det Jag
Zemer Atik

 

Full Biography

Ben Farmer is considered a “highly talented & versatile accordion, melodeon, keyboard, bass and ukelele-ist, music teacher and workshop leader”(AndyHornby.net), who's been playing folk music professionally since the age of 14.

He is regarded an ‘expert’ in melodeon, accordion and ukulele playing and teaching, with Folkus (Folk Arts North West), More Music and Charanga among others. “Formidable squeezing” Lancaster Jazz Festival 2014

Ben currently plays regularly with Gobble de Gook and SoLatino, as well as doing guest appearances with many others and leading the thrilling ceilidh and concert band: Sandpiper. Ben also acts as caller for the band. 

Dave Shooter, on bass, drives the Sandpiper’s sweat drenched groove-bus with funky hypnotic relentlessness.

He has held down many bass chairs, from 18 piece big bands and African dance bands to jazz combo’s and crazy Balkan bands and many points in between. Dave currently also plays bass in the Metermen (Meters and Booker T tunes), Gobble De Gook (post-Zappa French ska-pop) and co-leads the Initiative - big slabs of dirty, funky groovejazz.

He is a bit of an bass-fx pedal geek. In his spare time he teaches music and leads jazz groups and workshops for ages 8 to 80 and beyond.

Paul Ferguson plays fiddle and as well as playing with Sandpiper also plays in The Balkanics and a Lancaster-based Irish trad quintet. He learnt to play in pubs in the west of Cumbria, the west of Ireland and the west of Brittany as well as at various festivals across the UK and Europe.

Although his style is predominantly influenced by the Irish and Scottish traditions he is also interested in the rhythmic possibilities offered by the time signatures found in East European trad dance music.

Paul Beevers - guitar and bouzouki - has been active on the Lancaster folk scene for many years.

He has played guitar and bouzouki in numerous traditional ceilidh and dance bands, and currently plays bass in Baksheesh (groove-based Balkan tunes) and bouzouki/ mandolin in a new Lancaster- based trad quintet, as well as comprising part of the powerful rhythm section of Sandpiper.  He also teaches music as a day job.

Tony Harrison started on the cornet at primary school. He found the drums and from the age of 12 he was performing in hotels in Blackpool for dancing. Tony kept an open mind, and played in a wide range of styles that include swing, brass band, thrash metal, concert band and theatre pit amongst many others.

Tony has a degree from Salford University in Popular Music and Recording and spent some years working with TV stars on shows, cruises and holiday seasons. He has spent the last 18 years as a drum tutor for Lancashire Music Service whilst remaining very active on the live music scene across many genres.

Lineup

Default lineup: 5 members

5 piece: Accordion & Caller, Fiddle, Bouzouki/Guitar, Bass, Drums

Performance Times

2 x 60 minute sets


From £1176 + travel

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Prices

Price from £1,176 + travel from Lancashire

Based on 5 members performing 2 x 60 minute sets

  • Republic of Ireland From £1,026
  • Northern Ireland From £1,035
  • Wales From £1,176
  • East Midlands From £1,242
  • North East From £1,242
  • North West From £1,242
  • Yorkshire and the Humber From £1,242
  • Scotland From £1,307
  • West Midlands From £1,307

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 Sandpiper to confirm price, availability, and the provide you with a confirmed quote.

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8 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 8
  • Good
  • OK
  • Unsatisfactory
  • Poor

The Finale to a very special conference

5 stars - Sandpiper are Highly Recommended
booked Sandpiper for their event in North Yorkshire November 2023

“Ben Farmer was a pleasure to deal with both before the event and during. Very impressed. The dance floor was full from start to finish.”


Sore legs - in a good way!

5 stars - Sandpiper are Highly Recommended
booked Sandpiper for their Wedding in Cumbria March 2023

“Band was fantastic, Ben as caller for the ceilidh did a great job and was skilled at a bit of verbal "crowd control" where needed. Full 2 hours (60 minutes + 60 minutes) played, not cut off short like at some weddings I've been a guest at. Sound system and lights do a good job at "laptop DJ" in-between sets and at the end of the night. Exactly what we were looking for, 100% pleased and would recommend.”


Inclusive, hilarious and accommodating

5 stars - Sandpiper are Highly Recommended
booked Sandpiper for their Wedding in Cumbria November 2022

“We are so happy with how Sandpiper played at our wedding. Guests, even those unfamiliar loved the ceilidh and the music which was very high quality. They were very accommodating of our requests and were just overall relaxed, professional and brilliant.”


Amazing band can't recommend enough

5 stars - Sandpiper are Highly Recommended
booked Sandpiper for their Wedding in North Yorkshire

“These guys were fantastic, we really enjoyed the music and they really got everyone involved, up and dancing, great range of dances so everyone could participate somewhere. They were also super friendly and really tried to accommodate what we wanted! I don't have a bad word to say.”


I can’t recommend these guys enough

5 stars - Sandpiper are Highly Recommended
booked Sandpiper for their Wedding

“What can I say about this band. It was the perfect way to end our perfect wedding day. Those who wanted to dance, danced. Those usually too cool to dance, danced and those unable to dance, hindered by frailty or alcohol tapped their fingers and stamped their feet – everyone enjoyed themselves and everyone remarked on how good Sandpiper were. What the crowds weren’t aware of though was just how professional Ben had been in the lead up to the wedding day. Always quick to respond to enquiries and nothing was too much trouble for him. Even when a last minute panic set in over our own playlist, Ben was only too happy to assist and save the day. I can’t recommend these guys enough; if you have an upcoming soirée on the horizon, then get Sanpiper booked. Great musicians, great entertainers, great professionals! Thanks guys, truly money well spent!”

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