Some local bands, dance callers and other artistes.
If you'd like to have your details listed here, please get in touch.
We play our own cooking pot of folk music with influences from Irish, English traditional, jazz, rock, indie, blues, a tinge of ska and psychodelic skiffle!!!!!!!!!
THE one to watch, we play the tunes you want to dance to. Ceilidhs, barn dances, parties, festivals...
6-piece band plus built-in Caller (Rog Wade). English-style music with squeezebox, fiddles, various woodwind, backed up with guitar, keyboards and bass plus beat-laden percussion.
Singer of traditional songs, mainly English and inevitably Scottish, though not usually Irish on the grounds of cultural imperialism. And as England is run by the Scots anyway, that's not a problem.
More often than not unaccompanied on account of dubious talent on instruments that need strumming or blowing rather than hitting, at which he is pretty good.
Often sings songs from the Hammond Brothers collection which, given that he lives in Dorset, is only to be expected.
Is rumoured to have a sense of humour.
An experienced acoustic band playing mostly English tunes, including originals, with a few French and Irish and a touch of rock influence. Melodeon, concertina, mandolin and guitar produce punchy danceable tunes and rythyms. PA and caller provided. This band plays music for dancers to dance to. Satisfactioin guaranteed.
The Casterbridge Band are Colin Thompson and Will Ferris: a small band with a big sound driven by fiddle and keyboard. All accoustic, mainly English music with strong, danceable rhythm. They will come with their own regular caller, Ruth Thompson, or one of your own choice
Ceildhs / Pub Gigs / Weddings
Jigs/Reels/Polkas/Hornpipes/Waltzes/Airs
Four piece band playing irish/scottish music.
Comprises violin, guitar, accordian, hammered dulcimer/whistle/bouzouki.
Steve has been calling for over 25 years and has experience of all sorts of events, from large festivals to small village hall hops
I've worked with quite a few local bands. These days my 'usual' band is the Rum and Kidney Band (not least because my wife plays for them), but I'm still more than happy to call for other bands as well.
Cilla Caswell on Flute and Piano Accordion.
Bill Caswell on Double Bass.
Charlie Holding on Djembe, Bodhran and anything that shakes or rattles or bangs!
Dave Mitchell on Guitar.
Graham Vincent on Fiddle.
Plus occasional appearances from others!
Caller - more often than not is Will Antell.
Fidddlestix is a band from the local area which plays irresistible Celtic toe-tapping music... fusing fiddles, accordion, flute, double bass and guitar with djembe drum and percussion. You will hear jigs, reels, hornpipes and
waltzes and we invite you to dance under the instruction of caller Will Antell.
Exciting, uplifting Celtic music. Play for village dances, celebrations, including wedding receptions, anniversaries and birthday parties. Line-up includes accordian, flute, whistles, bagpipes, guitar, mandola and bodhran. Caller included in the booking of the band. Tel 01823 461632
Robin Gray is once again very much on the scene, singing many of the songs he made popular at the Queen Vic, Priddy and the Cheddar Folk Club, back in the old days. Robin started his folk singing life at 'Folk Song at the Railway', Catford Bridge, in the 60s. He sang with the Taverners, Brothers Gray, and the Four Square Circle and made several appearances on Country Meets Folk with Malcolm Price and Wally Whyton. Many will remember his chorus songs including Men of Kent and the ever popular music hall number, Body in the Bag. Robin also plays a mean guitar and tells fabulous stories. He is available for bookings anywhere.
Ann Hinchliffe has managed to work with more ceilidh bands and morris sides than there are candles on her birthday cake. She's danced, played (Anglo concertina, percussion, guitar) and led workshops in London and East Anglia for over 30 years. Recently moved to Yeovil, she's available for barn dance or other bookings. Particular interests are historical dance, storytelling, and dance for people with learning difficulties. Phone 01935 472771
A six peice band Based in Bath. Their music is a well crafted tapestry from the traditions of Ireland, Scotland, England, France and Eastern Europe.
The line up includes Flutes, Whistles, cello, Mandola, guitars, Bodhrán and Singing.
Their music demonstrates power and sublety in equal measure.
They are available for concerts, ceilidhs and weddings.
LeDPiN are a band of four musicians (Flutes & Whistles & Vocals/Accordion & Bass & Vocals/Guitar/Bodhran & Cello. Our music is mainly of Irish origin, however we are known to throw in a few surprises along the way. See our website for booking information
Meltdown regularly plays as resident band for Halsway Contra Dance Club (with Ron Rudd, resident tutor) and ventures out to perform diverse music for various folk dance clubs (Halsway FDG, Willand, Honiton), parties and weddings. We performed at Sidmouth FolkWeek 06 & 07. Meltdown aim to play traditional style dance music with strong lift from the melody and gentle rhythm to support the caller, with our eyes on the dancers on the floor!
As many dancers have probably guessed, the idea for the current band name “Meltdown” came from the contra dancing term “gypsy meltdown”, where dancers look into each other eyes while circling and “melt” into each others arms for the following swing.
Experienced dancer, musician and caller is available as a caller for barndances or ceilidhs. Nice varied repertoire of dances. Can also call or run workshops in Breton dancing if required.
Bournemouth based celtic band, specialising in traditional Irish music, ceilidhs and general good craic!
We perform a good selection of traditional and contemporary Irish music - tunes to dance to and songs to sing along with. If you don?t know the dances, our caller will teach you. If you don’t know the songs, just tap your feet and clap your hands!
Muzeltov are a Klezmar style folk trio with Jack Maguire and Gillian Toliday (from Stromenti String Quartet) and Damian Maguire (Jazz/Latin specialist) on drums.
The style of Klezmar is from a musical tradition which parallels Hasidic and Ashkenazik Judaism. To accompany circle dances this tradition of secular music was developed by musicians called kleyzmorim or kleyzmerim who draw on devotional traditions extending back to Biblical times.
Muzeltov are available for weddings, parties, special occasions and dances.
Members
Jack Maguire — Co-leader of BSO & Violinist in Stromenti String Quartet has recently established the ‘CODA Music Fiddle Orchestra’ in aid of young/under-privileged children.
Gillian Toliday — Professional Folk violinist (Tutor with CODA Music School, Christchurch) and also in Stromenti String Quartet
Damian Maguire (BA Hons Performing Music and Business Undergraduate) — Jazz/Latin specialist with over 10 years professional experience including performing on Thompson Cruise, Caribbean and with the ‘Karin Karian Quintet’ (Age 17)
North South Collide hails from Dorset/Wilts border.They play/sing traditional and original material,with guitar and bazoukiacompaniment, and featuring the wonderful harmonies that make this duo popular and distinctive. TV and festival appearances on their CV.
The Music of Turlough O'Carolan and Traditional Folk Tunes
Ian Parfitt — Harmonica
Norma Parfitt — Violin
The lady with the lovely voice.
One woman musical variety act with lovely soprano voice, singing songs from musicals, folk, singalong, classical and novelty songs. i.e. Joyce Grenfell, Flanders and Swan. Instruments include piano accordion, guitar and harmonica.
Traditional music for barn dances, weddings, family parties. We are happy to play music and sing songs as well as play for dancing.
The Reel Thing are:
Rooting Around have been together since 2000. We play a mix of Irish, English, Scottish, Eastern European and anywhere else that takes our fancy. We are happy playing Gigs or Dances.
The Rum and Kidney band play for barn dances and similar occasions. We're based on the Somerset Dorset border. We'd like to play for your barn dance! Have a look at our web site to find out more.
I have been around the Glos, Somerset, Wilts scene for many years, and now, with greater leasure time, I'm keen to venture further afield. I am available for bookings, if anyone is prepared to take a punt, but I appreciate that people are reluctant to 'come out' for a name they don't recognise, so I am aiming more for support spots to better known acts, or the lower end of festival bills.
Traditional-style accordion and fiddle band, specialising in Scottish Country Dancing.
Contact: Kate Carpenter (RSCDS teacher)
Telephone: 01202 882858
Chris and Celia Street have played traditional folk music for many years, performing English, Irish and Scottish folk music, including a little classical music here and there, with Celia lending a vocal harmony. Chris and Celia are skilled musicians and provide excellent entertainment for small parties and functions.
Lively ceilidh band playing music from Scotland, Ireland, England, Europe and beyond. Fiddle, accordion, guitar and percussion. Available for weddings, dances and workshops.
Contact: Kate Carpenter
Telephone: 01202 882858
We provide music from Britain and the Continent for ceilidhs/concerts/incidental music. Line-up includes: Squeezeboxes,hurdy-gurdy, fiddle, mandola, bagpipes, bass
A caller with many years calling experience with all abilities catered for. Your band or hers. Mainly English style barn dancing but all challenges considered! Based in West Dorset: long distances can be a problem but always willing to discuss.
When three fellas got together in 1998 Trefellas was created! We have since played a range of gigs from social clubs to pubs, fields to village halls, dances to concerts and are still going strong in 2007.
We play a celtic mix of folk (Irish, Scotish, French) with some American and a few songs thrown in. We are now a band of 5 with banjo, fiddle, bodhran, guitar and flute as our main instruments but we add border pipes, bass, oboe, mandolas, mandolin, whistles, melodeon and shaky eggs to keep you guessing!
We can be found playing on most Wednesday nights at pubs local to Taunton. We generally play acoustic on Wednesday nights but on bookings at other times play through small amps or our PA depending on the venue.
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