 |
|
| "Wedding Entertainment | Hire hundreds of live bands, musicians, DJs and entertainers" |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
<
Go back to previous page
Moondance
Ceilidh Irish and Traditional / Wedding Entertainment
This top class ceilidh / barn dance band has an amazing funk / rock sound and a unique approach to getting the audience involved. The musicians are some of the best in the country and line-up is very flexible to suit your budget and / or venue.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Profile
MoonDance are one of the busiest as well as one of the most experienced ceilidh / barn dance bands on the function circuit. Mentioned on the BBC Radio Two website as one of the high profile UK dance bands the band has over two decades of experience in providing dance music for wedding corporate and private functions and will ensure that your client's event runs smoothly and that everyone has a good time.
MoonDance provide a truly unique ceilidh experience. Imagine the accessibility of traditional dance music combined with power of rock and funk music. Unlike many ‘electric’ barn dance bands the band's sound is much more than just an acoustic folk band grafted onto a pub-rock rhythm section. The music has been developed as true fusion of the best of traditional and modern dance rhythms.And we don't stop the music every five minutes we keep a groove going to help the dancers during the walk-throughs which maintains the atmosphere during the whole event.
Because of this we are one of the most popular and experienced ceilidh / barn dance bands in the country and is mentioned on the BBC Radio 2 website as one of the UK's "high-profile" dance bands. The band performs at public events and festivals around the UK and overseas.
On the night our caller will select the dances to suit the mood and ability of the audience. The dances are all based on the Scottish / English / Irish social dance tradition (i.e. Ceilidh Barn Dance and Irish set dances) with a few other influences thrown in. Our aim is that the dancers have a great deal of fun rather than to produce some kind of 'proper' dance display. If you have a particular favourite dance then we will certainly endeavour to include it in the set but one of the reasons that our dance sets are so enjoyable (and inclusive) is that the caller will 'go with the flow'.
The duration of the dancing can be anything up to 3 hours - for any performance over 2 hours we will need to take a short break. This break often takes place when food is served. We can play appropriate recorded music through the PA system during any breaks. The caller will often act as a kind of MC. Basically you tell us what you want us to do and then go and have fun.
The band are fully self-contained and fully insured for public liability and all the equipment has regular PAT safety checks.
The band:
Brian Heywood (electric guitar & guitar synth)
Originally hailing from Australia Brian cut his musical teeth playing with the top Sydney band Bluetongue. Since arriving in England he has played in a number of rock and folk/rock outfits such as The Cluster of Nuts Band as well as in more mainstream rock and blues bands. Brian has appeared at many music festivals around the UK as well as releasing a number of recordings.
Tom Fairbairn (keyboards fiddle & bass guitar)
From the North of England specialising in folk jazz-rock and collaborative projects with bands in various styles. As well as work on the folk scene Tom plays in a number of original/pop groups, including Thelonius Gooo & The Cringe and Kandid (featuring French singer-songwriter Nicolas Driot), Whapweasel and with Brian in the Anglo-Australian band WoodworX of which FiddleOn magazine said: "possibly the best thing you'll hear all year...superb fiddling".
Paul Francis (Electric Bass)
Paul has worked with a wide range of musicians and bands including Paul Weller, Midge Ure, London Beat,The James Taylor Quartet, Ian Hunter, Maggie Bell & Chris Farlowe, Paul Gilbert & Producers Braund Reynolds to name a few. TV appearances have included Top of the Pops & various others around the Globe.
James Asher (kit drums & percussion)
Starting out as a classically trained violinist, James taught himself drums, percussion and keyboards and trained as a sound engineer. James has a very wide range of performance experience both live and in the studio -for instance playing percussion on Pete Townshend’s 'Empty Glass' album as well as composing and performing on many commercial and library album releases
Siân Phillips (electric fiddle)
Siân is a fifth generation fiddle player with roots back to the chapel fiddlers of the Swansea Valleys. Her professional career has seen her perform at festivals, concerts, workshops and seminars throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. She has played with Celtish, The Constitution Hillbillies, Heather Jones, Meic Stevens, Wild Welsh Women.
Mark Knight (electric and acoustic fiddles)
Mark is a recent addition to the line-up though we've known him for some time. His nick name of 'madfiddler' belies his amazingly dynamic and sophisticated playing style. Needless to say he can also 'let rip' as the occasion demands, just as well really when he's playing for MoonDance. His playing credits are far too extensive to include here but a few that you might recognise are Blue Horses, K-Passa and Tricks Upon Travellers.
Sam McEvoy (percussion)
Sam learned percussion and drums from Douglas Johnstone and Russell Gair in the Shetland Islands. He played with the young Shetland group "New Tradition" and travelled to European festivals and the Royal Festival Hall in London. Sam also plays with the jazz trio "The Antipodeans", Nordic Tone and has performed and arranged music for many theatrical productions.
Horn Section
- Lisa Heywood (soprano sax, clarinet & whistle),
- Alison Heywood (alto sax),
- Alex Heywood (trombone)
Lisa, Alex & Alison make up the 'Heywood Horns' who join the core band for larger (or at least noiser) ceilidhs. Lisa also joins the frontline on clarinet and whistle for a few numbers. The horn section can be augmented by special guests when required. Roger Watson (caller, melodeon)
Roger is one of the top callers in the UK with experience at calling dances at all levels from social functions to international dance festivals. Roger is incredibly charismatic and will the the audience dancing like experts in a very short period of time without them realising it, and having a great time as well!
Liz Scholey (caller)
Both a qualified dance instructor and dancer, Liz brings her proven skills of introducing people at all levels of skill and ability to the world of dance. A performer and producer in her own right she has performed all over the world in dance troupes and directed her own touring group - the Pink Cadillacs.
Fee Lock (caller)
The only rock chick caller on the dance circuit, Fee spices up her unerring eye for what the dance floor wants by pogo-ing up and down between cut-glass enunciations. Favourite after danceable favourite spiked with unusual new dances make for an entertaining evening. Fee gets totally into the music which leads directly to fabulously feels-good, feels-right setting for each dance
What the clients say:
"... it really exceeded our expectations and everyone is still talking about the fun we all had. We have a lot of pictures of the night ... There is not a single photo where people are not smiling. We will definitely recommend you to family and friends and should we have another party in the future." - Alison and Leigh Gates (wedding ceilidh)
"The barn dance was the highlight of the day and so many of our friends and family have commented on how good the band was and how much they loved the rocky style of your music! Roger was a fantastic caller and did such a great job of filling the dancefloor for almost every dance. Suddenly it was impossible to keep even our most uncoordinated friends away from the dance floor!" - Emma and Alex Heath (wedding ceilidh)
"Everybody I have spoken to since has raved about the high quality of music and calling . . . For our part, we sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity of working with you again on a future fundraising event" - Mike Hall, Datchworth All Saints' Church.
"Thank you all very much for doing such a fabulous job on Friday. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves" - Clare & Bernard (London).
"a big exciting sound... electric folk, jazz, ceilidh band and pure rock...all in one number" - Bucks Examiner
Previous Clients:
O2
Molly Maid
BAT (London)
John Lewis
1853 Association, Royal Russell School, Croyden
Beverley Festival
Guilfest
University of East Anglia (Faculty of Medicine)
Aldershot Officers Mess
University of Hertfordshire (International Fresher's Ball)
Two Rivers Festival
Unilever
Honourable Artillery Club
Broadstairs Festival
Set
list
Dances (i.e. with caller)
English/Celtic:
Polkas
Hop-steps
Reels
Trad. (folk) Waltzes
Square Sets
Scottish:
Dashing White Sergeant
The White Cockade
The Gay Gordons
Eightsome Reel [2]
Irish/Celtic Dances
American Barn Dances
Continental Dances
French/Playford Branles
Swedish Masquerade
plus many more . . .
Incidental instrumental music
Moon Dance (Van Morrison)
Carrillon (Sky)
Work Out Fine (Ry Cooder)
Sweet Georgia Brown
Breton Tunes (Nightwatch)
La Chapka (Le Gop)
Kerry Set Polkas (Trad. Irish)
The Dark Island (Scottish)
The Barfly (Nightwatch)
Traditional/folk songs can be added to the set by arrangement
Covers Set [3]
Everything (Michael Buble)
Rock'n'Roll Music (Beatles)
Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
I saw her standing there (Beatles)
Honky Tonk Women (Rolling Stones)
Coming into Los Angeles (Arlo Guthrie)
Somebody Like You (Keith Urban)
Black Magic Woman (Santana)
Is she really going out with him (Joe Jackson)
Evil Ways (Santana)
Nobody Wins (Radney Foster)
Come Together (Beatles)
The Joker (Steve Miller Band)
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
Wonderwall (Oasis)
Weather with You (Crowded House)
Fields of Gold (Sting)
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Van Morrison)
Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)
Summer Time (just about everyone!)
Someone Like You (Van Morrison)
Notes
1. The actual dances available on any particular night will depend on the caller’s repertoire but will contain a good range of types of dances with many having dances specifically aimed at wedding and function audiences who may have never done this kind of dancing before.
2. While the Scottish Dances are taken from the “Scottish Country Dance” repertoire MoonDance is not able to provide a full night of this kind of material. A Scottish Dance Band requires a very specialised repertoire and usually doesn’t have a caller as the audience is expected to know the dances already. However MoonDance can provide an event with a Scottish - or indeed Irish American Continental or even Australian - ‘feel’ which follows the more traditional ‘Barn Dance’ format - i.e. with a caller leading the audience through the dances.
3. This list of covers is a sample of what we can do and is subject to change. We are not a specifically a 'covers' band so we have a more limited repertoire than a dedicated function covers band. However we can perform a 1 hour set of rock and pop material ranging from the 60's through to the 90's with a memebr of the band singing.
|
|
|
 Listen
to Moondance
Songs will play on any PC with Windows Media
player.
Song title |
Play |
| Finnish Polka |
 |
| Brendas Farewell |
|
| Jamaica Jam |
|
| June Apple Set |
|
| Live Medley |
|
 |
Line-up & instrumentation
*6 piece band: caller, electric fiddle, keys, electric guitar, bass guitar and drums*
*5 piece band: caller, electric fiddle/keys, electric guitar/synth, bass guitar and drums
*4 piece band: caller/melodeon, guitar, bass and drums*
... also available as a 10 piece with horn section and extra percussionist
|
Travel availability
This band are only available in the regions
listed below.
The North
Scotland
Wales
Ireland
The Midlands
International
The South
Booking options
You can also choose to have any of the
following options added to your booking.
| 1 |
5 Piece Band: Deduct approx £-146 |
| 3 |
10 Piece Band: (Additional Horn Section + Percussion) Add approx £480 |
| 4 |
Basic Lighting Rig: (4 Parcans + Backlights) Add approx £48 |
| 5 |
4 KW line array PA, Lighting & Suitable Staging, includes sound and lighting techs. For audiences up to 3000- Add approx £828 |
|
|
|
|
|
Reviews & references
Client
name: Suzanne Henry
Client
artist rating: 
Comments: Thank you for arranging MoonDance to play at our wedding a couple of weeks ago. We and our guests had a fantastic time attempting to ceilidh! It was really good fun.
The caller was excellent and definitely required to keep us all in line, and the band were brilliant! It was a great end to a great day!
|
|
|
Client
name: Katie & Nathan Balls
Client
artist rating:
Comments: We would like to say thank you so much for making our wedding reception so much fun! Everyone enjoyed it so very much. It has been great looking at the wedding photos, because everyone has such a big grin on their face!
We made the perfect choice and are so glad we did not go down the boring disco route!
|
|
|
Client
name: Lilliane & Adrian Connell
Client
artist rating:
Comments: Just a little note to say 'Thank you' for playing at our wedding on 30th Aug 2009. We had a fantastic day, and our guests loved the Ceilidh - many of them had never experienced one before, and your energy and enthusiasm has got them hooked!
|
|
|
Client
name: Guilfest (Tony Scott - Festival Director & Founder
Client
artist rating:
Comments: "By far the best GuilFest ever! Musically absolutely brilliant - ... I thought that Farmer Giles' Barn Dance was particularly superb"
|
|
|
Client
name: Beth and Rob (St Andrew's Night Ceilidh, Piccadilly, London)
Client
artist rating:
Comments: "What a great evening!!
We have had so many calls from friends today to say how much they enjoyed last night - thank you all so much for making it such a fantastic party.
My only concern was that people wouldn't dance, but there was almost a stampede to get to the dance floor! The music was great, and Liz [the caller] did an amazing job getting everyone going, especially as there were loads of people who had never done anything like it before.
We were also very pleased that the kids joined in so much.
So please pass on our thanks to the band for doing such a fantastic job."
|
|
|
Client
name: Molly Maid Franchise Support (Carol Bader)
Client
artist rating:
Comments: Thank you for all of your hard work and patience in explaining the dances - I feel that people enjoy it most when they know what to do... and the band were brilliant. We had a lot of aching legs the next day (me included!) however the feedback that we got back was brilliant and many claimed it was our best 'surprise' yet."
|
|
|
Client
name: University of East Anglia
Client
artist rating:
Comments: "I'm writing to thank you and everyone in the band for a truly splendid evening at our Halfway Ball last night. We haven't had so much fun in ages!
The calling and music were both terrific and the choice and progression on dances were perfect. I've already been deluged with compliments (Quote: "It's my best night at University - ever!") and demands for a ceilidh at every future Med School ball."
|
|
|
Client
name: Emma and Alex Heath (Wedding Ceilidh)
Client
artist rating:
Comments: "We just wanted to say thank you so much for performing at our wedding at Upwaltham Barns on 14 March. The barn dance was the highlight of the day and so many of our friends and family have commented on how good the band was and how much they loved the rocky style of your music! Roger was a fantastic caller and did such a great job of filling the dancefloor for almost every dance. Suddenly it was impossible to keep even our most uncoordinated friends away from the dance floor!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click here to view our site map >
Entertainment
supplied and co-ordinated by Alive
Network on behalf of My Wedding Entertainment.
(c) Copyright Alive Network 2004 - All rights reserved
Some artists may appear with the kind co-operation and
consent of their respective management or agents.
|
|
|
|
|
|
