ceilidh band hire

Ceilidh Bands

Showing 1-18 of 19 matching results
  • The Thirty-Nine Steps Trio

    5 stars - The Thirty-Nine Steps Trio are Highly Recommended 5 Reviews Number of members: 3 Somerset

    Making your event fun & enjoyable whilst getting everyone dancing, from experts to beginners! The Thirty Nine Steps Trio are one of the South West’s most l...

  • Hazelwood

    5 stars - Hazelwood are Highly Recommended 5 Reviews Number of members: 4 Hampshire

    Southampton based barn dance band Hazelwood are the band for your event. Hazelwood play a mixture of English,Scottish and American styles of music suitable...

  • Manic Jacks

    5 stars - Manic Jacks are Highly Recommended 9 Reviews Number of members: 5 Vale of Glamorgan

    Manic Jack's music is fun, up tempo and is a mix of Bluegrass and Irish standard songs and instrumentals mixed with popular songs from the 60’s, 70’s & 80’...

  • The Irish Ceilidh Band

    5 stars - The Irish Ceilidh Band are Highly Recommended 12 Reviews Number of members: 4 Carmarthenshire

    Introducing you to real Irish Ceilidh; guaranteed to get your feet stomping! This high energy 4-piece band features an array of traditional instruments fro...

  • The Banjo Guy

    5 stars - The Banjo Guy are Highly Recommended 7 Reviews Number of members: 1 Cornwall

    An award winning & highly experienced Banjo player providing fun & unique entertainment! From exciting foot tapping bluegrass to interpretations of Jazz, B...

  • Rabscallion

    5 stars - Rabscallion are Highly Recommended 39 Reviews Number of members: 5 West Midlands

    A ceilidh band, with a charismatic caller, who will get all the audience on the dancefloor from the word go, the onus is on fun! Dances suit all ages and l...

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  • The Cyclones

    5 stars - The Cyclones are Highly Recommended 43 Reviews Number of members: 4 Surrey

    The Cyclones set is geared very much towards keeping people on the dance floor and generating a party atmosphere, with strong harmonies, quality vocals, an...

  • Lord Strange

    5 stars - Lord Strange are Highly Recommended 3 Reviews Number of members: 3 London

    Lord Strange are a striking instrumental folk trio that perform traditional tunes from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Scandinavia, America & more! With...

  • Footfall

    5 stars - Footfall are Highly Recommended 4 Reviews Number of members: 4 Cornwall

    The band members are all based around Redruth in Cornwall and have a rich background in traditional folk, classical, and Irish-style music, having performe...

  • The Manchester Ceilidh Trio

    5 stars - The Manchester Ceilidh Trio are Highly Recommended 12 Reviews Number of members: 3 Greater Manchester

    One of the finest Ceilidh bands around, The Manchester Ceilidh Trio are a young and extremely talented trio who will have your guests dancing from the firs...

  • The New Country Band

    5 stars - The New Country Band are Highly Recommended 4 Reviews Number of members: 4 Bedfordshire

    Grab your Stetson, polish those rhinestones, and come on down for just the best party ever. The New Country Band offers a unique combination of rocky tradi...

  • Almost Dublin

    5 stars - Almost Dublin are Highly Recommended 4 Reviews Number of members: 4 Durham

    Known for their fun & celebratory feel, Almost Dublin’s live sets deliver lively Irish classics such as Galway Girl, Whiskey In The Jar, Wild Rover & many ...

  • Celtic Cello

    5 stars - Celtic Cello are Highly Recommended 3 Reviews Number of members: 1 Glasgow

    Acclaimed cellist, Celtic Cello, will bring a unique quality to your event with solo cello in Scottish / Celtic style. Also available with a looping pedal,...

  • The Haggis Chasers

    5 stars - The Haggis Chasers are Highly Recommended 8 Reviews Number of members: 3 Perthshire area

    3 piece Ceilidh band consisting of some of the most talented musicians in the Ceilidh & Traditional music scene. Repertoire includes a mixture of Ceilidh; ...

  • Jigs n Gigs Ceilidh

    5 stars - Jigs n Gigs Ceilidh are Highly Recommended 21 Reviews Number of members: 3 Fife

    One of the finest ceilidh bands around, Jigs N Gigs provide an energetic, authentic and fun Scottish ceilidh experience! With more than 30 years experience...

  • Last Tango In Harris

    5 stars - Last Tango In Harris are Highly Recommended 7 Reviews Number of members: 3 Glasgow

    Made up of graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Last Tango in Harris are a highly experienced ceilidh band who have individually performed wit...

  • The Ceilidh-oots

    5 stars - The Ceilidh-oots are Highly Recommended 24 Reviews Number of members: 3 Glasgow

    The Ceilidh-oots are amongst the UK's finest ceilidh bands. They perform the most exciting, toe-tapping ceilidhs for weddings, parties, celebrations &...

  • Vivacious

    5 stars - Vivacious are Highly Recommended 5 Reviews Number of members: 3 Highland

    Introducing Scotland's premier Ceilidh band, Vivacious! Their dynamic fusion of traditional folk and contemporary flair will ignite any event, from wedding...

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Booking Guide

Everything you need to know to hire Ceilidh Bands for your event

Ceilidh bands (sometimes also misspelt as caleigh, kaylee or kayleigh band) perform the cheery melodies of Scottish and Irish (ceili) Gaelic folk music, guaranteed to make your feet tap and get everyone up dancing!

Consisting of small groups of musicians or large ensembles, they always feature a range of instruments, such as fiddles, accordions, pipes, guitar, piano, and drums, and can be amplified or acoustic.

Traditionally, they include a ‘caller’ to teach or remind your guests of the dance routines, calling out reminders as each song progresses, ensuring you keep up with each move for the various dances.

From slow waltzes to a stomping, fast-paced ‘strip the willow’, a ceilidh is the best fun you can have in an evening’s entertainment, as well as a fantastic workout!

Read more .... "What is a ceilidh band and what do they do?"

Also see our traditional Irish and folk bands here.

They usually perform a range of jaunty, lively and uplifting traditional Scottish dance music, Irish ceili & traditional English folk music music, intermingled with slower waltzes (allowing you to catch your breath a bit!). They’re likely to play any of a range of traditional tunes, including:

  • Boston Two-Step
  • Broon’s Reel
  • Canadian Barn Dance
  • Circassian Circle
  • Dashing White Sergeant
  • Eightsome Reel
  • Eva Three-Step
  • Gay Gordons
  • Haymakers Jig
  • Highland Schottische
  • Hullighan’s Jig
  • Military Two-Step
  • Polka Medley
  • Pride of Erin Waltz
  • Scottish Waltz
  • Siege of Ennis
  • St Bernard’s Waltz
  • Strip the Willow
  • Swedish Masquerade
  • The Bluebell Polka
  • The Flying Scotsman
  • The Stack of Barley
  • The Walls of Limerick

The repertoire for each of our bands is listed on their profile page.

1. Scottish and Irish Bands

Formed of anything from 2 to 8 and more members, Scottish and Irish bands incorporate a variety of traditional instruments, usually acoustic. The music they play will range from slow waltzes to fast polkas and everything in-between. They often feature a ‘caller’ who will help get your guests through each dance with lots of gusto.

2. Ceilidh-Pop Crossover Bands (or Ceilidh–Traditional–Rock Crossover Bands)

Again, with any number of members and occasionally performing with a ‘caller’, there are several bands who perform crossover music – playing traditional Celtic ceilidh music and also offering a range of classic and contemporary rock and pop in a ceilidh style, giving your party a brilliant, fun twist. Rock and pop music covered will include tunes from artists such as Frank Sinatra, Van Morrison, The Beatles, and The Proclaimers. Many of these bands will also offer a range of other Celtic music, such as Whisky In The Jar, Flower o’ Scotland and Auld Lang Syne.

A ceilidh is usually the main evening entertainment at events, offering an engaging and fantastically fun night. They’re perfect for occasions such as:

If you’re planning a wedding, a live band can provide lively entertainment for the evening reception, and can start the party by performing for the bride and groom’s first dance, before all the guests take to the floor. Often bands can welcome or ‘pipe in’ the happy couple, to their wedding breakfast, if required too.

Ceilidhs are a common way to celebrate any occasion, and an excellent choice for a Hogmanay celebration, a private or corporate Burn’s supper or a Saint Patrick’s Day party where a big, lively event is called for.

At events where people are meeting each other for the first time, such as weddings and mixers, ceilidhs are fantastic ice breakers. They can include large or small groups of people and each dance is cyclical and very easy to pick up, so your guests can get into the swing and enjoy themselves within a few short bars.

If you want everyone on the dancefloor and to feel involved at your event, then a ceilidh – no matter how big or small – will really get you and your guests moving.

Space considerations at your event

The amount of space needed for your band will depend on the line-up you choose. It goes without saying that a ceilidh duo will need far less space than a 5-piece or an 8-piece band. If you’re limited for space at your venue, you can add or remove musicians from most bands in the Alive Network stable.

Of course, you will need plenty of room to swing your partner around on the dancefloor! A ceilidh can take place in a local village hall or a grand ballroom, depending on the number of guests who will be burling around, but it’s certainly wise to allow plenty of space for the dancing, fun and frivolities that a ceilidh will unleash!

For approximate requirements, see ‘How much space will a ceilidh band need?’, below.

Volume considerations - How loud are they?

The line-up of your chosen band, whether they play acoustically or with amplification, and the acoustics of your venue will impact the band’s volume at your event. A ceilidh – and the whooping of your guests! – can be loud and lively, somewhere in the region of 80–110 dB, so if you have your heart set on a ceilidh, do bear this in mind when you’re looking at venues. Some venues will be constrained by volume restrictions and sound limiters, so we recommend you ask your venue about their setup. For more information on sound limiters, visit our guide to sound limiters here

This table outlines the general prices of Alive Network's ceilidh bands:

Type of ArtistCost Range
Ceilidh Duos£300 - £1,065
3-piece bands£666 - £1,330
4-piece bands£540 - £1,920
5-piece bands and larger£790 - £1,265

Adding or removing instrumentalists from your band will have implications on cost. You can reduce costs further by choosing a band who are based close to your chosen venue, since their travel costs will be minimised. The location of each band is shown on their profile pages, and your Entertainment Coordinator can help by recommending a range of fantastic ceilidh musicians near your venue. You don’t need to limit yourself to local bands, however – your perfect ceilidh wedding band may be willing to travel at minimal cost!

Ceilidh groups normally perform two 60-minute sets, with many offering three 40-minute sets, or the option to play for longer. Generally, two sets work best but the band can advise on what format keeps the atmosphere lively and the dancefloor full.

Some bands also offer the option to finish after midnight, if your event calls for it.

This table gives an approximate guide to how much performance space various format bands will need:

Type of BandAverage Performance Space Required
Duos3 × 2 metres
3-piece band3 × 3 metres
4-piece band4 × 3 metres
5- and 6-piece band5 × 3 metres
7-piece band and larger5/6 × 4 metres

These rough measurements will vary, depending on the number of musicians and the type of instruments in the band you select. Your Entertainment Coordinator can discuss the options with you further.

Providing they can park close to your venue’s performance area, it can take around 60 – 90 minutes for a band to unload, set up and perform a vital sound check.

Following the ceilidh, the band usually takes around 30 – 60 minutes to pack away and load out.

Wedding Ceilidh bands usually need the following:

  • parking provision, with easy access to the venue
  • refreshments – soft drinks and hot food, depending how long you’ve booked them for
  • good lighting – particularly if they’re playing in a marquee
  • a dedicated, suitably-sized, safe, dry, and flat performance area
  • if they’ve agreed to perform outside, your musicians will need shelter from the sun, wind and rain!
  • a sturdy, armless chair for each musician
  • a minimum of four 13 amp power sockets, depending on the line-up and whether they’re fully amplified or acoustic
  • a secure, lockable changing room

Most of Alive Network’s bands can provide their own microphones, and PA sound system or amplifiers.

If your event will have 200+ guests, you may need to hire a separate PA sound system. Your dedicated Entertainment Coordinator can discuss the requirements for your short-listed bands.

Aside from finding some of the best Ceilidh Bands in the UK and getting expert advice from our friendly staff, one of the main reasons to hire a Ceilidh Band from Alive Network Entertainment Agency is security. We ensure your booking is covered 24/7 against any eventuality, so that no matter what, you can enjoy your event without worrying about whether your entertainment will turn up. If your Ceilidh Band is ill or unable to perform, our team will be on hand to source a suitable replacement even out of office hours and at short notice. Imagine having to do that yourself!?

  • Outstanding five-star customer service
  • Emergency cover 24/7, 365 days a year
  • Hand-picked Ceilidh Bands for the ultimate in quality and reliability
  • Safe, secure booking contracts for your peace of mind
  • Easy enquiry and booking process
  • Hundreds of Ceilidh Bands, Scottish Folk Bands & Scottish Dance Music to choose from
  • Trusted brand with over 110,000 previous clients & high-profile industry partnerships
  • Instant online Ceilidh Band prices & availability

Established in 1999, Alive Network has grown to become the UK's largest live entertainment agency and one of the leading online entertainment booking services in the world. We specialise in wedding entertainment, party entertainment and corporate entertainment, trusted by companies like Apple, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Coca-Cola & Nike, and we have helped over 110,000 customers to hire the perfect live entertainment for their events. We are formally partnered with BIMM, the largest and leading provider of contemporary music education in the UK and Europe, ensuring that we are able to bring you the very best new talent exclusively at Alive Network.

Find more about Alive Network Entertainment Agency here

For a more comprehensive ceilidh band booking guide please read ‘Booking a ceilidh – Everything you’ll ever need to know’.

If you have any other queries, simply visit our FAQ page.

Alternatively, our dedicated expert entertainment coordinators are on-hand to help. Simply call 0845 108 5500 or email enquiries@alivenetwork.com.

Why Choose Alive?

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Handpicked By Us

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Safe & Secure

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The Leading Ceilidh Band Agency In

Looking for Ceilidh Bands in ? Alive Network will help you hire the best local Ceilidh Band, with acts available in Bath, Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Chard, Clevedon, Cowbridge, Crewkerne, Frome, Glastonbury, Ilminster, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Minehead, Nailsea, Radstock, Shepton Mallet, Somerton, Street, Taunton, Watchet, Wellington, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Wincanton, Yeovil