The Hoedown Band

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

How much fun can you have with your boots on?

Grab your Stetson, polish those rhinestones, and come on down for just the best party ever. The Hoedown Band (often described by clients as fantastic!) offers a unique combination of rocky traditional and country style music to get your feet tapping.

The song repertoire draws on Country, New Country and Country Rock interspersed with 'yee haw' instrumentals to liven up the atmosphere.

Or, if dancing is more your cup of coffee, The Hoedown Band caller and all round dance expert can guide you through Square Dances, Line Dances, Party Dances and lots more. Even reluctant dancers will find it hard to resist joining in and everyone can be part of the fun; there is something for all ages and abilities.

The band has a flexible line-up with a five piece concert band for larger events, a six piece band for dancing or they can slim down to a semi-acoustic trio for smaller, more intimate events.

Cotton Eyed Joe
Jambalaya
I Wish it would Rain
Bad Moon Rising
There’s your Trouble
My Oh My
Angel from Montgomery
Wide Open Spaces
Long Time Gone
Before He Cheats
Restless
Merc - Me & Bobby McGee
Take it Easy
Redneck Woman
Somebody Like You
Country Roads
9 to 5
Honky Tonk Women
Sweet Home Alabama
Folsom Prison Blues
The City of New Orleans
Achy Breaky Heart
Will you go with me
Nobody Wins
Goodnight Irene
Wild Rover
The Reverend Sharpton
The Joker
40 Days of Rain
Cover of the Rolling Stone
The Ballad of Hiram Cater
Turkey in the Straw / Devil
Blackberry Blossom / June Apple
Bloxham / Rochdale
Coming into Los Angeles

International Tennis Federation, Christmas Party, London
We loved having you and the band at our party. It was great fun and everybody had a wonderful time.

Richard & Ann LeFlufy (NB The groom owned a ranch in Colorado and was a regular attendee of Western Dances)
The number of accolades I have received after Saturday evening's performance reinforce my own and my family's huge appreciation of the contribution you all made to the success of the wedding. You played the first 'signature' dance to perfection - and, yes, I had not appreciated till the Sunday just how expert a cowboy dancer you were playing for! He was most impressed that a 'British' band could achieve that level of 'American' playing. Thank you again for helping make my daughter's wedding such a success

Carol Bader, Molly Maid Franchise Support
A really good time was had by all!

- Woodstock at 900
- The Sands (Gainsborough)
- Regent Leisure Park, Morecombe
- Molly Maid (Francise Support)
- British American Tobacco
- O2 (HR)
- Burnham Beeches Hotel
- Birds Eye Iglo Ltd
- Guilfest
- Garrison Officers' Mess, Aldershot
- Unilever
- Avon Cosmetics (Francise support
- Honourable Artillery Club (London)
- UEA School of Medicine
- ATAC
- Radley College, Oxford
- University of Surrey (Freshers' Event)
- Harting Ltd
- Abingdon United RFC
- Central Bedfordshire Council
- Hitec Laboritories Ltd
- Calcot Manor Hotel

Plus, many weddings and parties

What is Country Music?

It's America's most famous musical export. Rooted in the folk music of the European immigrants it is a vital hyrid of styles of the cultural melting pot of the Southern and Western States mixed with Latin and African styles. Often misunderstood and put down as simple and homespun, dealing with shattered love affairs and faithfull dawgs. But it has far more to offer than that, which is why superstars such as Garth Brooks, Shania Twain other country singers are some of the biggest recording stars of all time.

What is a Hoedown?

A Hoedown is an American Barn Dance, often with a 'Wild West' Theme and is an ideal way to get the party going with a caller telling the audience what they need to do. The whole shebang started out in rural or southeastern parts of the country, particularly Appalachia when at the end of the working day the agricultural workers would literally put down their hoes, pick up a fiddle and have a gool ole' hootenanny to relax and let off steam.

What is Line Dance?

Line Dancing is great fun and the dancers don't need partners, which is something you find in Barn Dance / Hoedown events. A line dance is just a repeated sequence of steps in which a group of people dance in one or more lines or rows without regard for the gender of the individuals, all facing the same direction, and executing the steps at the same time. Line dancers are not in physical contact with each other. Older "line dances" have lines in which the dancers face each other, or the "line" is a circle, or all dancers in the "line" follow a leader around the dance floor; while holding the hand of the dancers beside them. Billy Ray Cyrus' 1992 hit "Achy Breaky Heart", helped catapult western line dancing into the mainstream public consciousness and today you'll Line Dance clubs all over the country.

What sort of events have Hoedown, Barn Dance or Line Dance Events?

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 accessible 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 / Hoedown?

Essentially not very much. Both are traditional social dance forms, using a caller and 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.

What do you need to stage a Barn Dance / Hoedown or Line Dance?

Not much, really. Events can 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 the band 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.

The Hoedown Band is entirely 'self-contained' which means that we can provide our own PA (amplification) systems and lighting (if that is required). Just make sure your guests know what they are coming to so that they can select suitable footwear, and they are sure to have a great time.

Can you perform other kinds of music?

We can also perform a pop / rock covers set of rock and pop songsranging from the 60's through to the 90's.

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 concert set can vary to suit your event but The Hoedown Band tend to be asked for either two x 60 minute sets or three x 45 minute sets.

For dancing The Hoedown Band can play anything up to 3 hours - for any performance over 2 hours The Hoedown Band will need to take a short break. This break often takes place when food is served.

If you prefer, The Hoedown Band can mix and match the concert material with the hoedown and line dancing.

The Hoedown Band can also play appropriate recorded music through the PA system during any breaks either from their library of CDs or from an iPOD supplied by you.

Also, the caller will often act as a kind of MC so you can basically you tell The Hoedown 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.