ceilidh band hire
The Burdock Band is an award-winning Birmingham based Ceilidh band that specialises in playing a variety of beautiful melodies to foot stomping tunes, taken from the traditional and folk music genre. Our band is made up of professional musicians from a range of styles, including folk, rock and classical backgrounds. We perform at concerts, weddings, parties, festivals, corporate functions, fundraisers, and school events.
Our goal is to provide our clients with high energy, fun and lively entertainment that will get your event popping and the people mingling. If you are looking for a ceilidh or barn dance at your event, our experienced and energetic caller will inspire and delight your guests up onto the dancefloor for a night full of fun and happiness as they learn new, simple dance routines. No prior dancing experience required.
With many years experience in this sector, we offer a professional service, with a lively, dynamic playlist and dances, giving you a truly unforgettable experience. If you are looking for a Ceilidh band for your party, wedding, or corporate event, you are in good hands with The Burdock Band. We’ve done literally 100s of parties and fundraising events over the years in every venue imaginable for every occasion imaginable from Burns Nights, and New Years Eve parties to themed events, festivals, and historical re-enactments. Our birthday party clients have ranged in age from 9 to 90, and including 18/21 year olds.
Areas We Cover
Our band is based in Birmingham, West Midlands, UK, but we are available for hire within a 2 hours’ drive of Birmingham – you can see a map of ‘our patch’ here.
As an example of the areas we cover, here is a list of towns and cities where we have played recently: we do often travel further, so worth asking.
Alvechurch
Banbury
Black Country
Bromsgrove
Burntwood
Burton
Cannock
Cheltenham
Coventry
Daventry
Dudley
Evesham
Kidderminster
Leamington
Leicester
Lichfield
Loughborough
Northampton
Nottingham
Nuneaton
Oldbury
Oxford
Peak District
Redditch
Solihull
Stafford
Stoke
Stourbridge
Stratford
Sutton Coldfield
Tamworth
Telford
Walsall
Warwick
West Bromwich
Wolverhampton
Worcester
Band Information
The Burdock Band features some of the Midlands’ finest folk musicians with years of experience playing with various bands, including The Nighthawks, Seby Ntege, The Kinks, The Destroyers, Terry & Jerry, The Bushberry’s and Last Orders among others. Our team also has a fun, energetic Ceilidh caller full of charm and charisma. We pride ourselves on providing our clients with a reliable, professional service from start to finish, which makes us the ideal band to create the most memorable events.
Size of band
The Burdock Band is made up of 5 band members: between them they have had extensive experience performing in both concert and Ceilidh settings, at events and festivals. The Burdock Band is guaranteed to leave your guests and audiences feeling entertained long after the party is over. Depending on the size of your event, budget or physical location, the band size varies from a three-piece band to our full five piece line-up, with or without a caller.
Instruments
Our Ceilidh band is comprised of several instruments, including fiddle, percussion, flute, pipes, whistles, guitar, accordion, and even a hurdy gurdy.
Ceilidh band hire with caller
Our caller takes the time to understand your audience to determine the best dances to pace things up. They then let the band know whether to do a variety of fast energetic paces, or something more gentle, stick to old favourite jams, or try something a bit more unusual.
Ceilidh band hire without caller
We also provide Ceilidh entertainment services without a caller at a reduced cost.
Set Duration
When it comes to set duration, the times vary depending on what role you envisage we play in your event. For a typical setup, we highly recommend two, 60-minute sets with a 30 to 45-minute break between them, depending on what you have planned for the break. We can play our own playlist, or your music, through our PA during the break.
Band Highlights
The Burdock Band is an award-winning Ceilidh band. We are the regional winners of the 2015 Wedding Industry Awards. We also earned the Gold Certificate of Excellence from the Wedding Awards 2018. We are verified Encore Artists and have been featured on BBC Breakfast, Hitched UK, the AMP band among others.
Repertoire
We play a wide variety of European Celtic music featuring Scottish and Irish tunes. We have great respect for the Ceilidh tradition and the continuing inspiration and creativity that keeps it alive. That is why we play long established tunes alongside more modern-day and original music with passion. Our sets feature well known popular traditional tunes, fast-paced Gaelic music and soulful waltzes.
A selection of Dances and Tunes
Depending on the theme of the event, we have a host of individually tailored dances and tunes designed to bring the day to a dramatic climax. We play some of the most diverse and energetic Ceilidh dances, including:
- Bottoms Up
- Cornish 6 hand Reel
- Cumberland Sq 8
- Dashing White Sergeant
- Drone Attack
- Gay Gordons
- Human Cannonball
- Patch Tantz
- Siege of Ennis
- Strip the Willow
- Swedish Masquerade
- The Dhoon
- Virginia Reel
- Waves of Tory
Popular Ceilidh Listening Sets
- Ballydesmond Polkas
- Bear Dance
- Farewell to Ireland
- Goddesses
- Masons Apron
- Russian Sher
- Swallow Tail jigs
- Tam Lyn and Music for Found Harmonium
Cost of Hiring The Burdock Ceilidh Band
The cost of the band is calculated on the size of band, your requirements, and on your venue distance from our HQ in Moseley, Birmingham. We also offer discounts for early bookings, so we recommend you submit the enquiry form to get a price.
Where did Ceilidh originate from?
The Ceilidh originated in the Gaelic areas of Scotland and Ireland. It was a casual gathering of family, friends, or locals for a merry social event. This gathering may have included songs, dance moves, and music for everyone to join in regardless of age or ability. A Ceilidh provided a great way to meet lots of people in a fun and informal way.
Difference between Irish and Scottish Ceilidh Music
At an Irish Ceili, the dancing is often interspersed with poetry, storytelling, and poetry. At the Scottish Ceilidh, the emphasis is put on a set of traditional dances, including the Gay Gordons, Virginia Reel, Military 2-step and Strip the Willow.
What does Ceilidh mean in English?
Ceilidh is a Gaelic word that translates to a “visit” or “gathering.”