Barn
dance bands, ceilidh bands, hoe down bands UK
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GOOD CEILIDH, BARN DANCE OR HOEDOWN BAND & CALLER?
If you’re struggling to wade through loads of websites trying to work out which band is the most suitable, wondering if they're any good, whether they play the style of music you like, and what their Caller is like, then please - just contact Fiona Maurice-Smith!
34 years experience of playing on the UK folk dance Club and Festival scene, as well as for thousands of weddings and private parties definitely puts Fi in a position to know very clearly what people want from a Barn Dance or Ceilidh Band, and her contacts with excellent musicians all over the UK prove invaluable. She realises that unless you already have personal contacts or recommendations for Bands playing this style of music, it can certainly be a very tricky task sifting through the results of an Internet search for a Band and Caller in your area. By contacting Fiona, all the hard work will be taken out of your search, as she’ll recommend a good Band and Caller for you.
WHY BOOK A BAND THROUGH FIONA?
The greatest benefit is that she will only offer and recommend to you a Band whom she knows as friends or colleagues, or whose music she is familiar with, and bands who are 100% reliable and professionally minded. So you avoid the risk of ending up with the wrong sort of band, or an inappropriate style of music for your function.
A ‘phone conversation with Fiona is a great way of letting her know very quickly what your exact requirements are, but it's also fine if you prefer to email her direct from this website. Please provide as much detailed information as possible so that demo samples can either be sent to you by email as mp3 files, or a demo CD can be posted out to you, along with info and quote. You can then have a virtual ceilidh in the comfort of your own home, and then get back to Fi to book the band. EASY!
"I do my very best to reply to emails within 24-48 hours. Occasionally, for reasons beyond my technical knowledge, some emails don’t reach me. So if you don’t receive a swift reply, please ring me or email me again, thanks!"
In your initial enquiry to Fiona, please provide as much as possible of the following important info:
• DATE - Ideally, the exact date for your dance, or a few possible dates if it's not yet finalised. It's impossible to check band availability without a date!
• VENUE - The name and address or at least the approximate location of your chosen venue, and whether the dance will be held INDOORS, OUTDOORS or in a MARQUEE or BARN. If the dance is to be in a marquee or outdoors, there are a number of very important aspects which will need to be discussed - i.e. flooring, space and layout, heat, power and light requirements, so do please do let Fiona know this when you first contact her.
Click on Top 20 FAQs for more info about venues
• STYLE OF MUSIC - Any preference you may have for, say, SCOTTISH, IRISH, ENGLISH or AMERICAN styles of music, or if you'd like a good general mixture of all these styles (which is what most bands offer). A few bands also offer incidental covers songs, but this is not the norm.
• BUDGET - This is not a trick question! An approximate idea of your budget is very helpful in the initial enquiry, as everyone has a different idea of what they wish to spend, and some people have more in the kitty than others - Fact! So if Fi knows straightaway of any "limits" you may have, she'll be able to offer the best possible option in your price bracket. Please click on the FAQs - Question 14 - "How much does a Ceilidh or Barn Dance Band and Caller cost"
• CONTACT DETAILS - Most important! Please provide your name and a contact telephone number. If you wish to have a demo CD posted out to you, rather than emailed mp3 files, provide address and post code too thanks.
EVEN MORE HELP IS AT HAND! Click on Top 20 FAQs!
If you’ve never booked a band and caller before, you are bound to have some questions! Please browse through the section on this site called Top 20 Frequently Asked Questions about Barn Dances and Ceilidhs, accessed from the menu, thank you
FI’S OWN BAND – JIGABIT
As well as running the Agency for Ceilidh Bands, Barn Dance Bands and Hoedown Bands, Fi regularly plays accordion in her own Band JIGABIT, playing for functions throughout the East and West Midlands areas. If JIGABIT is already booked, or the travelling distance isn’t feasible, Fi will offer you a choice of other excellent UK-based bands and Callers.
For a quick view of JIGABIT please click on the "LISTEN TO OUR MUSIC / WATCH A VIDEO CLIP" ICON at the top of the page to go to our video clip - a live recording - featured on YouTube:
Photograph by Julie Humphreys
So wherever YOU are in the UK, please don't be put off by the fact that Fiona is East Midlands based. She has wide-spread contacts with many bands. (Please note, however, that Fi doesn't tend to deal with bands in Scotland, simply because there are so many of them north of the border, and you should be able to source one very easily up there!)
THANK YOU!
A specialist for Barn dance bands, ceilidh bands, hoe down bands in the UK
