Ceilidh Bands?

Subject: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,Londoner
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 12:55 PM

Hi there - I'm looking for some advice
We are in the process of putting together a day of traditional English activities to take place on the riverside walkway on the Thames at London's SouthBank.
I'm hoping to put up a stage and run a free Ceilidh on the walkway.

What I need is some recommendations for Ceilidh bands that are going to appeal to the rather cynical and jaundiced tastes of Londoners. Whapweasel aren't available on the date in question - but its that sort of thing - a band that uses something a bit more modern and upbeat than the conventional instrumentation and tunes.

Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 01:13 PM

It might help if you said what 'the date in question' is, to save us suggesting bands that are already booked, but how about the Committee Band?

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 01:33 PM

One band I have always enjoyed is Florida, with Martyn Harvey is calling.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 01:40 PM

What about this lot?

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 01:47 PM

The Boat Band. Ideal for riverside gigs.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 01:49 PM

Oyster Band were always good. Are they still going?

DtG

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: LesB
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 03:00 PM

Try 'Steam Chickin', or Bedlam.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 03:04 PM

If you want the names of some "bands" who will not cost the earth here are a few.
(a) Two Time Polka    (based in Cork City)
(b) Noel Shine & Mary Green ( as above )
(c) Kevin Gill & Geraldine ( as above )
(d) John Spillane & Louis de Paor ( Cork /Galway)

to be going on with.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 07:08 PM

Hekety.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,fellow londoner
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 07:13 PM

When is it going to occur - for pencilling in diary purposes.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 08:23 PM

Hmmm - a "traditional English activity", eh?

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Declan
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 08:24 PM

Beachcomber,

I'm sure any of your suggestions would be well able to civer the gig and entertaining the audience, But Noel Shine and Mary Greene a Ceilidh Band? I don't think so.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: greg stephens
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 08:51 PM

Any London passing audience would be delighted to see Twotime Polka with Tomas Dunne going at full pelt. Hardly a ceili band, as someone has already observed, and not preciely traditional English (though Tomas does own a St George's flag. because I gave him one as a wedding present). Maybe Twotime Polka and the Boat Band for the full double whammy, the Cork party experience.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,Londoner
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 04:07 AM

The event is provisionally 2nd June
I am not really just looking for names of "good" ceilidh bands - I'm sure I can find lots of them
Nor am I looking for duos from Ireland however good!! Nor am I too worried about cost - either we get funding for this or we don't.

I want a band that has something more. To get this audience dancing it needs a big sound, more interesting tunes than standard jigs and reels; fuller instrumentation (brass or wind). It would be nice to get Bellowhead as a Ceilidh Band - or something like!

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: julian morbihan
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 04:23 AM

Further to your posting today (5th) - Climax Ceilidh Band fit your criteria perfectly - and they are based in the south-east.

www.climaxceilidhband.co.uk/

Cheers

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 05:47 AM

How about a London based band such as Stomp or The Conmittee Band?

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 06:48 AM

Tigermoth? They're brassy.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 07:17 AM

But not as brassy as Brass Monkey.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 08:03 AM

Afro Celts - not trad english, but guaranteed to get the punters moving.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 11:57 AM

Bellowhead are going to cost you upward of 3 grand - if money's no object, go for it.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: greg stephens
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 12:26 PM

Three grand? Oooooooooh nooooooooo. Too much

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 04:21 PM

Try these links

Webfeet: Dancing on the Web

English Ceilidh Webring

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: fiddler
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 06:57 AM

almost any good band can get any crowd going - it is the full sound needed some of teh suggestions above are great.

Most of the Top folk circuit Bands could cope with an event like that provided you had the audience!

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 07:23 AM

Good point fiddler. Something that we have overlooked so far is that a good caller who can engage with the audience is equally important and some would say more important. The caller also might have some preferences as to what band he or she would work with.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 07:30 AM

Commiittee Band - at least they are London based - get the TV involved and many bands would want to join in.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 10:47 AM

Glory Strokes

Link

Not yer ordinary, airy fairy, band this lot

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 11:02 AM

Certainly any band with Gavin Davenport in can be recommended.

One point mentioned a couple of postings back is the importance of a caller who can engage and entertain an audience. This is particularly important if you want to grab passers-by attention and get them involved.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 12:58 PM

A Hurdy-Gurdy produces such an unusual sound that it really works to attract people, most often to find out what on earth it is. There are a number of bands who use them at times. If you can, then get one of them.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 01:30 PM

Declan, I never claimed that any of the bands I recommended were "Ceilidhe" bands, as such.
The only Ceili bands I know of were the likes of "The Kilfenora" "The Tulla" or maybe even the "Old Parish Ceili Band"
Mind you such a band would hardly suit this proposed concert in London, (or would it. ?)
Don't forget that the word Ceili (sorry I can't manage Gaelic spelling) literally means "gathering" usually with Irish dancing !

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 02:02 PM

In England the word Ceili now usually denotes an evening of folk dancing with one or two entertainment spots (singers or display dances of some kind). The dances would generally be the more lively kind.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 07 Nov 06 - 06:22 AM

Going back to the original post, if you want something more upbeat than a ceili band then why not book a salsa band?. Or do you realise just how upbeat a ceili band can be without jettisoning traditional instruments? If you want a traditional English dance band then fair enough, if you want some sort of fusion then why pretend it's traditional English activities? The South Bank will not be full of jaundiced and cynical Londoners - they will be at home watching Big Brother. It will be full of tourists looking for something English and Londoners looking for something different. And compared to mainstream music what could be more different? Music that doesn't go out of fashion next week, tunes you can whistle, tunes with more than four notes, other rhythms than 4/4. Bands where 30 isn't considered too old to be playing (after all the audience won't only be teeenagers). Instruments people have never seen - even fiddles and flutes would be considered odd by a lot of people nowadays.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,neovo
Date: 07 Nov 06 - 10:10 AM

Somebody mentioned Steamchicken - I would endorse that, innovative and "jazzy". Also what about Peeping Tom - rock n roll folkies.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Alan Day
Date: 07 Nov 06 - 01:11 PM

GIGCB is the one for you if you want a BIG band normally between ten and fifteen musicians playing English.French and Breton music.
With Chris Shaw caller.
Al

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,Cockerkneesup
Date: 07 Nov 06 - 07:01 PM

I saw Hekety play at folk in the Fall at the weekend and they were excellent. Lots of energy and youthful enthusiasm. No jaundiced south bankers either.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: SylviaN
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 12:31 AM

I can certainly endorse Steamchicken. The John Dipper Band band would also be a great choice - Michael Beak not only plays the English pipes but is also a wonderful tuba player.

Sylvia

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Essex Girl
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 08:35 AM

Contact EFDSS, they have a full list of bands and should be able to let you know which would be more suitable. But my choice would be the same as Geoffs - Florida, and they are London/Kent based.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,Jay
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 12:52 PM

I would totally recommend Glory strokes. There isnt any other ceilidh band like them! go to www.myspace.com/glorystrokes

with a line up of those musicians will never let you down.

JC

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,Cockerkneesup
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 03:55 PM

Was chatting to one of the box players (I hadn't realised there were two) from the Glory Strokes, he's also in Hekety. Sounds like they're doing Warwick FF next year.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 05:11 PM

Both Hekety (Sheffield-based) and The Gloworms (London-based) have already done South Bank ceilidhs outside the National Theatre - with Gordon Potts calling. And there really is no other band like Glory Strokes. Of others mentioned, I'd certainly endorse Stômp and Climax Ceilidh band, both of which are based in London.

It comes down to who's available - and time's getting on.

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: Mick Tems
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 05:53 AM

How about Twm Twp, the Welsh/Breton/English twmpath/ceilidh band, one of Mike James' bright schemes? Twm Twp, based in Brittany, have done several festivals (including Sidmouth and the superb Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau). They're coming for a tour in January, and one of their gigs is going to be the Cardiff Ceilidh Club at the Heath Hospital - Dave Parsons, caller extraordinaire and doyen of the club, he say Yes!

How do I describe their sound? it's part squeezebox, part brass, part drums, part keyboards, all put together with jazzy Welsh joy. I can't wait!

And yes, you can say I'm biased. Like Mike, I was a founder member of the legendary group Swansea Jack - ah, those were the days!

Subject: RE: Ceilidh Bands?
From: GUEST,Londoner
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 07:59 AM

Thanks everyone - lots of good ideas there (and only a few bad ones!)
All I need to do now is sort out the plan!
I'll let you know what happens