Wow, thanks to you both the Mudcat at it's best.

I suppose we have a view of the 19C or perhaps the 18C in which lots of communities met for social dance at what we would judge to be 'Barn dances' if we could some how be there.

Is their much genuine evidence from either side of the Atlantic that this was a common phenomena?

What do we know of the bands and the instruments used?

Do or did bands like Oak and The Old Hat Dance Band see themselves as genuine carriers of a tradition?