Scottish Ceilidh Bands

Welcome to our Scottish Ceilidh Band page. Below you will find just a small selection of the many exciting Ceilidh Bands we can provide for Weddings, Functions, and Parties in Scotland. Audio can be found on individual bands pages. Follow the links for each band below.

Many folks worry about not knowing the steps but that's why most ceilidh bands provide a caller to keep everybody going. Callers either call the dances during the dance or before it starts. You can even have a walk about caller to walk everybody through the steps. Learning the dances is part of the fun of the night.

A ceilidh is just perfect for a wedding, function or party as nobody is left out. Many of the dances are in groups and it is an opportunity to ask anybody to dance with you. Nobody need sit it out. The dances are so easy that even children can learn them. In Scottish schools they generally learn these in the classroom, so regardless of age or experience all can dance the night away.

If you aren't sure about have a ceilidh all night then there is the option to add on a disco so that everybody is kept happy or some of our bands also supply cover (pop, rock). We even have DJ's who can play ceilidh music and call the dances.

Popular Ceilidh Dances

Here are just some of the most popular ceilidh dances in Scotland.

Booking couldn't be easier when you live abroad. We have arranged ceilidh bands for clients based in China, USA, Europe, Japan and Canada. Each band has it's own page with audio for you to listen to online or just check out our online showcase for video footage. We will also put you in touch with your ceilidh band to discuss your requirements. This can be done by email or telephone.

Audio of each band can be found on their own dedicated page. Please click on the links below to visit the bands specific page. Feel free to contact us by email or telephone to discuss your requirements and we will try to guide you to the correct band.

Canongate Cadjers

The canongate cadjers are a unique band who can offer combinations ranging from the traditional ' box & fiddle' duo to a 'celtic' big band sound adding in guitar/mandolin and vocals. This can provide covers from acts including The Waterboys, Eagles & Steve Earle etc to give an even more varied programme. The bands fiddle player Suzanne even provides a mini highland dance demonstration (something to entertain your English or overseas guests). If all of this isn’t enough they can also provide a disco. This flexibility means that they are in a position to provide exactly the best line-up required to make your event a huge success .... everytime! Offering a mixture of traditional dances (Jigs / Reels etc) and great cover songs is a truely unbeatable combination.

Kippen Ceilidh Band

This band can work from a very reasonably priced 2 piece up to 5 members. As a three piece or more they can even provide some covers and a disco to provide something for everybody. These guys are in demand up to 2 years in advance. Having performed in every 5 star hotel in Scotland these guys really do know how to keep the dance floor busy.

The Hebrideans

The Hebridean are a long established Ceilidh Band providing quality professional entertainment to clients throughout the country and abroad including London,Vienna, Paris, Moscow, Ireland, Moscow, Israel and Greece. The band feel that they stand out from most ceilidh bands as they watch the dancers and rather than you keeping up with the band, they keep up with you.

Ceilidh Experience

Dynamic young Edinburgh based ceilidh band.

Accordion,fiddle/caller and drum kit. Ceilidh/Disco packages available. "This ceilidh crew will blow your socks off! Without a doubt one of the best young bands on the scene" Loudon Temple

"You won't hear a better button box player anywhere in the world!" - Fergie MacDonald

"Ceilidh Experience are the wild and wacky exponents of the Scottish ceilidh scene!" - Billy Brownlee

Skelpit Lug

Based in Central Scotland, the Skelpit Lug Ceilidh Band has been around for fifteen years, during which time it has built up a performance expertise which few bands can match.

With a top-class front line of fiddle, accordion and mandolin, supported by double bass, guitars and bodhran, the band offers a rich variety of sounds from gentle waltzes to rollicking reels and jigs. Add in some wonderful singing and a lot of excellent (and patient !) calling in several languages, and you have a band for all occasions.

"I just wanted to thank you for an absolutely fantastic ceilidh on Saturday night at the Winnock Hotel, Drymen. You all did ever so well at organising the dances for the various nationalities we had among our guests. All the people we spoke to thought the ceilidh was a major highlight of the day."

Phil and Sophie Lamond

"Skelpit Lug is without doubt the best ceilidh band that we have ever come across. The guests at our daughter Nicola's wedding filled the dance floor the entire evening. The staff at the Stirling County Rugby Club said they had never seen so many people dancing and enjoying themselves. We won't hesitate to pass your details to others and wish you every success for the future."

Maureen and Harry Black

Shoestring

Shoestring can provide not only ceilidh but also covers from the 50's till the present day. They are one of the only bands we know who can provide both authentic ceilidh and fantastic covers. The ceilidh sounds like a full ceilidh band and the covers sound like a covers band. A very difficult balance to achieve. The band were hired for Hogmany at Cameron House in 2007, WOW.

This testimonial says it all.

A big thank you from all Ranks at 52 Signal Squadron East Kilbride We have been running a Burns supper in this TA centre for over forty years now and as would be expected the last one was better than the one before and so on through the years.

Last year we decided to try a different angle to our burns supper so that we could move away from the traditional stag night scenario and try to make our female members and indeed our partners have a night that they could both look forward to and indeed look back and remember what a fantastic event.

Following on from last years absolutely fantastic night we decided to go again with the Ceilidh Band and chose Shoestring again for the second year running.

This was the easiest decision we had to make in the build up to the dinner night in fact several guests from last year had asked for the Band by name.

The band turned up early on the day to set up bang on the arranged time they got there sound checks completed and were away out of our way to enable us to finish setting up.

On the night they were absolutely fantastic as expected and they gave everyone who required it a walk through talk through demonstration of every set before they played.

I will no doubt be in charge of organising next years burns Supper and would have no hesitation in recommending that we again use Shoestring as the Main entertainment for the evening.

In fact we may be organising a St Andrews night later on in the year and if I have my way I will be trying for a Ceilidh band and will be asking for Shoestring.

Regards,

Chic Doyle NRPS SQMS 52 Sig Sqn (v)

Deoch'n'Dorus

This bands music contains great energy and exciting arrangements that serve well with both dancing and listening audiences. With a line up of accordion, fiddle and drums, and dances being called if required, the dynamic youthful trio will play lively music for your special occasion....weddings....birthday parties....anniversaries etc.

"Deoch n Dorus is one of the most exciting young bands in the country today . . . having taken part in and produced many recordings over the years. I must say this is one of the most impressive and enjoyable ones I have been lucky enough to have associated with"

- John Carmichael

"With musicians like this around things are going to be good for a very long time"

- Donald Black

Chitterybite Ceilidh Band

Originally formed in 1998, The Chitterybite Ceilidh Band have an established track record operating as a ceilidh collective providing top quality traditional musicians for corporate and private ceilidh dance events. The line up includes the following: caller/fiddler, caller/fiddler, fiddler, guitarist/piano & backing vocals, guitarist/piano player and singer, whistle player/percussionist, bouzouki/ mandolin & singer, accordionist. The band also provide covers to break things up a bit and give people a wee breather

Wedding at Carmichael Estate, Lanark

"Hiya Neil, Chitterybite played at our wedding in september, and it was a perfect end to a perfect day: the band were great, really enthusiastic and friendly and had no problem filling the dance floor from the very first song. Everybody had a fantastic time, including the band! Please pass on mine and Anthony's thanks to the guys, it really was exactly spot on.

Best wishes, Megan and Anthony Hagger."

Ironbroo Ceilidh Band

Iron Broo are an Edinburgh and Aberdeen based Ceilidh band, performing traditional Scottish music and are available for hire as a wedding band. With a reputaion as one of the liveliest and fun Ceilidh Bands on the traditional Scottish music scene, Iron Broo are ideal for to play your private events such as wedding or corporate events.

Dear Charlie (and the rest of the band)

Just wanted to say a big thank you for Sunday evening. Iron Broo are just fantastic. We all had a really great time dancing to your music. Several people said to me on the evening that you were the best ceilidh band they had seen and I must say I agree with that.

We loved the International Strip the Willow, especially the didgeridoo! That dance rounded off the ceilidh dancing on a real high.

If anyone asks me to recommned a band for a wedding in future, you can be sure I'll tell them they must book Iron Broo!!

Sheila
Edinburgh.