UNICORN CEILIDHS -HIGH ENERGY PUBLIC CEILIDHS FOR DISCERNING DANCERS OF ALL AGES- Present on FRIDAY 27th MARCH 2009 – MR GUBBINS' BICYCLE The regular monthly ceilidh season continues its eighth year in the Ballroom at Hitchin Town Hall on Friday 27th MARCH 2009 with John Kirkpatrick's five-piece English Ceilidh Band, Mr Gubbin's Bicycle. The line-up is: John on button accordion and also calling the dances Sally Kirkpatrick on stand-up percussion of all kinds Benji Kirkpatrick on bouzouki and acoustic guitar Jobie Kirkpatrick on bass guitar Martin Britnell on trombone and low whistle The band have been going since the mid 1990's, and came together because they had all been dancing for years around South Shropshire as members of the morris teams The Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Rhoden's Tuppenny Dish. You can tell from the way they play that they all love dancing. The band's terrific drive is fuelled by John K's firm belief that English Country Dancing should be a joyful romp rather than a dull plod or an earnest waft. By combining his historical grasp of this kind of dancing with a lifetime's experience at knowing what works on the dance floor, John can not only present an unusual selection of material that is fabulous fun to do, but has behind him a dedicated band whose rock-solid tempos and easy musicianship provide a basis for sparkling improvisations that just make you want to keep on dancing. "He's in a class of his own for the life he instils into whatever issues from his squeezeboxes." (Froots) http://www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/mrgubbinsbicycle.htm Our interval entertainment this month are Whitethorn Morris, a ladies North West morris side from Harrow. The side was formed in 1977 and dance in characteristic red, white and blue kits. Their dances are predominantly from Lancashire and Cheshire and the north west of England, performed in inimitable Whitethorn fashion. http://www.whitethornmorris.com/index.html Unicorn Ceilidhs take place on the last Friday of the month at Hitchin Town Hall, Brand Street, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1HX. Doors open at 7.30 for an 8.00 p.m. start, with an 11.30 p.m. finish – entry is only £8.00 for adults and £4 for children under 14. Tickets are available at the door, or in advance from 01582 733113 / 724261 There's also a real ale bar, with a selection of beers from the Potton Brewery, and soft drinks. For more information, visit http://www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk/
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