MoonDance

Intro
About
Line-Up
Song List
References
Previous Clients
FAQs
Performance Schedule
Prices

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 MoonDance sound is 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.

MoonDance is one of the most popular and experienced ceilidh / barn dance bands in the country and is mentioned on the BBC Radio Folk Awards website as one of the high profile UK dance bands as well as being chosen by Brides' Magazine to represent the entire Southeast Region of England in their Wedding Entertainment Directory. With over two decades of experience in providing dance music for all kinds of function MoonDance will ensure that your special event runs smoothly and that everyone - including you! - has a good time. The band is a long-standing stalwart of the burgeoning 'e-ceilidh' movement, a mix of English & Celtic social dance where the 'dancing' is more important than getting it 'right' and the purpose is to party - truly harmony in motion.

The band works with some of the UK's finest dance callers and can thus ensure that the audience will be in the best possible hands, an essential element if everyone is going to have a good time. The caller is well versed in running an enjoyable evening and will select dances to suit the ability of the audience.

MoonDance can also do a 'covers' set of pop and rock music from the 60s through to the 90s so you can get the best of both worlds - start the night off with a ceilidh / barn dance to break the ice and then finish off the night with a set od dancable songs for free form dancing (only available with the 5 piece and and above).

MoonDance have a number of different band line-ups available to suit your event, venue or budget. Ranging from a compact 4 piece unit to a 6 piece, with fiddle, sax and a dedicated caller. The smallest line-up (4pc) provides a more 'acoustic' ceilidh experience for smaller, more inimate venues or where you'd prefer to have a more laid back approach (it's cheaper too!). Acoustic instrumental music is ideal for situations that require high quality, accessible music that doesn't take over.

6 Piece Band - Caller, Electric Fiddle, Electric Guitar, Bass, Kit Drums and Percussion / Loops
Additional Female Vocalist for additional Rock / Pop covers set (5 piece line-up and above)
Can add a 3 piece Horn Section
4 Piece 'semi-acoustic' line up also available

English/ Celtic
Polkas
Hop-Steps
Reels
Trad. (Folk) Waltzes
Square Sets

Scottish
Dashing White Sergeant
The White Cockade
The Gay Gordons
The Flying Scotsman
Eightsome Reel [2]

Covers...
Dancing in the Streets
She Caught The Katie (Blues Brothers / Taj Mahal)
Is She Really Going Out With Him (Joe Jackson)
Black Magic Woman (Eric Clapton / Santana)
Evil Ways (Santana)
Always Take The Weather With You (Crowded House)
The Joker (Steve Miller Band)
Coming into Los Angeles (Arlo Guthrie)
Come Together (Beatles)
I Saw Her Standing There (Beatles)
Fields of Gold (Sting)
Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)
Summertime (Jazz/Funk version)
Honk Tonk Women (Rolling Stones)
Me & Bobby McGee (Kristopherson)
Nobody Wins (Radney Foster)
Somebody Like You (Keith Urban)
Someone Like You (Van Morrison)
Fulsom Prison Blues (Johhny Cash)
Take it Easy (Eagles)
Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Between the Wars (Billy Bragg)
She's not There (Santana)
Everything (Michael Bubble)
Rock’n’Roll Music (Beatles)
Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyd)
The Time Warp (Rocky Horror Show)
Listen to the Music (Doobie Brothers)
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
Moon Dance (Van Morrison)
Summer Time

...plus many more

Linda Hodson, Birthday Party
It was such a wonderful evening and was enjoyed by so many people. Your group are so good and very versatile, they really kept the atmosphere going all evening.

Carrie Bulmer, Wedding, Surrey
... thank you for putting on such a wonderful performance at the wedding. My guests absolutely had a ball!!

Mike Hall, Datchworth All Saints' Church
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.

Clare & Bernard, Wedding, London
Thank you all very much for doing such a fabulous job on Friday. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Kate Orchard, Free Form Arts Trust
... the music was great and it was a really good live acoustic sound.

With over three decades of experience in providing dance music for all kinds of functions MoonDance will ensure that your special event runs smoothly and that everyone has a good time.

Previous Clients have included;

O2
Molly Maid
BAT (London)
John Lewis (London & Nottingham)
1853 Association, Royal Russell School, Croyden
Beverley Festival
Guilfest (Music Festival)
University of East Anglia (Faculty of Medicine)
Aldershot Officers Mess
University of Hertfordshire (International Fresher's Ball)
Bath University
Two Rivers Festival
Unilever
Priddy Folk Festival
Honourable Artillery Club
Broadstairs Festival
Birdseye
Durham University Ceilidh Society
Fairbridge Festival (Western Australia)
and hundreds of satisfied newly wed couples...

What is ceilidh?
cei·lidh - noun (pronounced kay-lee)

Definition - Celtic, Irish, Scot., and Canadian (chiefly Prince Edward Island). a party, gathering, or the like, at which dancing, singing and storytelling are the usual forms of entertainment. [Origin: Ir céilidhe, ScotGael cèilidh, MIr célide, deriv. of OIr céile companion]

ceilidh or ceili (pronounced kay-lee) are celtic or gaelic words which refer to a family party or gathering where music and dancing are the main form of entertainment. In North America the same thing is called a 'barn dance' or 'Hoe down' and Australians call it 'bush dance'. The music MoonDance plays is a combination of English and Celtic influenced music and is designed for dancing, ideal to stave off the cold and wet of the British mid-winter weather. The repertoire is based firmly in the tradition with influences from all over the world, just as it always was - and should be. The music has a great feel, in fact the international world music magazine fROOTS pointed out in October 2003; "it’s often hard to tell who’s having the most fun - the dancers or the musicians". This is what dance music should be all about; dynamic movement and having fun. It's all about the dancing, not the dances.

What sort of events have ceilidhs?
Weddings, parties, anniversaries, festivals, corporate entertainment, fund-raising events and children's parties. No-one is excluded because the dances are demonstrated before the music starts, and are easy enough for everyone to do. No previous dance experience is required.

The music is so funky that everyone gets into it without feeling embarrassed or awkward. The dancing can be done to your own level, and for as long or short as you wish. If you specify exactly for whom your event is being held, we will select a caller who will be ideally suited to your audience. According to research from Brides Magazine, ceilidhs (or barn dances) are the second most popular form of wedding entertainment in the country.

What is the difference between a ceilidh and a barn dance?
Essentially not very much. Both are traditional English dance forms, using a caller and folk music to generate an evening's dancing. The caller walks the audience through the dance, then, when the music starts, calls the figures the first few times through the tune, and lets everyone get on and enjoy it.

A ceilidh tends to be more lively than a barn dance: it is not like being taught folk dances at school, but rather about enjoying yourselves. People do not walk through the dances but step through them; the bands' energy forces them to. You are likely to encounter a wider range of music at a ceilidh. Barn dances tend to mainly use jigs and reels, whereas at a ceilidh you could well hear polkas, waltzes or schottisches.

Everyone can get into ceilidhs, be they young or old. MoonDance selects our music and dances, not just for beginners', but frequently for experienced dancers at regular ceilidhs or folk festivals. But most of our work is for social functions where the lively music and easy steps are a great way to get all your guests dancing and enjoying themselves. It breaks the ice when the audience may not know each other, which is especially importantant at weddings.

MoonDance's selection of instruments mixes the more traditional sound of violin with the punchy sound of electric guitar, bass and drums and appeals to all ages from student balls to retirement parties. The music may be based on traditional English and/or Celtic tunes, but also has tunes composed by members of the band, or French, Scandinavian, American, or even Eastern European tunes.

What do you need to stage a ceilidh?
Not much, really. Ceilidhs take place anywhere there are dancers. They are normally indoors, though they have also been done in marquees, barns, and occasionally even something as seemingly unsuitable as a car park! No matter where it is, you must make sure you can provide a power supply consisting of at least one safe mains socket (13 Amp). Space to dance is also required which is level, relatively smooth and free from obstacles so the dancers don't trip over.

MoonDance is entirely 'self-contained' which means that we can provide our own PA (amplification) systems and lighting (if that is required).

Can you perform other kinds of music?
We can also perform a covers set with one of the band members singing. However, since we are not a specifically a 'covers' band, we have a more limited repertoire but we can perform a 1 hour set of rock and pop material ranging from the 60's through to the 90's. There would be an extra charge for this if it's added onto the end of our normal ceilidh set, but it's a lot cheaper than hiring another band.

Can you provide a Disco?
If you want to have some recorded music after the end of the ceilidh then, for a small extra charge, we can play a selection of your choice through our PA system. We can either connect your iPod to the mixer or use our CD/MP3 player. While we are not DJs, we can play an agreed playlist for you.

Why have live music at your wedding anyway?
Well, we would recommend that you have live music for your event wouldn't we, but it's not just us, most brides agreed that live music is best as well. Statistics* that we found on the web recently, from brides surveyed after the date of their wedding, show that this is the case.

72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment.
Almost 100% say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.
During wedding planning, Brides say their highest priority is reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities. Within one week after their reception, 78% of Brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority!
When asked 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.
"Feedback from our clients indicates that the bride and groom consider the entertainment to be between 70 and 90% responsible for the success of their receptions"
*Sources include: Simmons, USA Today, National Bridal Service, The Knot, Brides Magazine, PR Web

The duration of the dancing can be anything up to 3 hours - though for any performance over 2 hours MoonDance will need to take a short break.

This break often takes place when food is served.

MoonDance 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 the band what you want them to do and then go and have fun.

Please Note: The fees indicated below are approximate and based on a central location for each county. They are intended to provide a rough guide only and exact quotes can only be given once the date and exact location of your event have been provided.