What We Do
"Ceilidh" ("kay-lee") is a Gaelic word originally
meaning a social gathering or party. Over time, especially in
England, it's come to mean an event that definitely includes
dancing, and it's is the continuation of a long tradition of dances in
village halls and big private houses. The modern "English ceilidh"
especially emphasises simple dances that don't require any previous
experience.
What makes it different from most other sorts of musical entertainment
is the caller - the MC who teaches you the dances so you don't need
to be an expert before you take to the dance floor. There are set
dances, circle dances, couple dances, dances where you change
partners and dances where you don't. It's easy and fun: we don't do
difficult dances unless we're sure you're all experts!
As for the music itself, we pick tunes that have the right sort of lively bounce to get you up and dancing, and choose the right music and speed to suit each dance perfectly and tell your feet where to go. We play mostly traditional English tunes that have evolved over the years to be perfect for this type of dancing.
We work with several callers on a regular basis, and will provide
one as part of the package or work with the caller of your choice.
We play for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, fundraisers, office and club parties, public ceilidhs - any excuse to have a good time, in fact. The pictures on this page were taken from an Amnesty International ceilidh where we played in 2005.
All you need to provide is a 13 amp power point, a space for the band and caller, and a room full of people ready not to take themselves too seriously for an hour or three. Some liquid refreshment isn't a bad idea too! You'll probably want to organise a break in the evening, and maybe serve food - but that's all up to you.
Photos from
Amnesty
International
For an alternative view of what an "English Ceilidh" is, see this not-so-serious description