A ceilidh was traditionally an Irish or Scottish social gathering but these days, most people associate ceilidhs with an evening of dancing accompanied by lively fiddle driven folk music. Ceilidhs have become increasingly popular at weddings and parties over the last ten years or so, now nearly as common – and certainly more fun – than the wedding disco!
There are different types of ceilidhs and ceilidh bands so it’s important you choose the right sort for your wedding.
The Party Ceilidh
This is what we do best! Our party ceilidhs requires no prior knowledge and include our experienced and friendly caller to talk your guests through the steps. The dances are fun and lively and the music is based on the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and England – jigs, reels, polkas and hornpipes. Unless you tell us otherwise, we assume your guests want to get dancing as quickly as possible to simple but fun dances.
Dancers will be invited onto the dancefloor to form a set with some a number of other couples. Usually there will be several sets on the dancefloor. The caller will provide a quick run through of the dance. This will usually involve some galloping and some partner swinging! The the band will start and the caller will stay with the dancers all the way through the dance to keep everyone on track.
You can expect between ten to twelve dances across the course of an evening, usually with some tunes in between the dances to give your guests breather.
The Barn Dance
Barn Dances are popular on farms or for fundraising events. The barn dance is typically an American traditional event, but in England, the only practical difference is the inclusion of hay bales and checked shirts. If you are thinking of booking a barn dance, we would love to play for you! Our multi-fiddle lineup is perfect for the barndance sound and we can gear the music and dances more towards our American repertoire if required.
The Scottish Ceilidh
Think men in kilts and tartan ties with a big accordion and well known traditional dances like the Gay Gordons or the Dashing White Sergeant. Many people think of the famous scene from Four Weddings and a Funeral when thinking of a Scottish ceilidh. A Scottish ceilidh band is great when you are likely to have dancers who have been bought up with Scottish country dance classes or if you are looking for something very formal and traditional for a Scottish wedding or a burns night.
Scottish ceilidhs may also include Burns recitations, bagpipers and other traditional Scottish components.
Whatever sort of ceilidh you are booking, we’d be very happy to discuss your requirements with you and put together the perfect package for your event.