The Top 6 Best Ceilidh Bands in London (With Prices)

24 September 2020
Blog post by Adam Southall
Estimated read time: 4 minutes

London is home to some of the finest ceilidh bands in Europe...bands that perform regularly at high-end corporate events and celebrity weddings.

In this blog post, we'll list out the 6 most popular ceilidh bands for hire in London on FixTheMusic, based on the number of their confirmed bookings for 2020 and 2021.

You'll see that there is a huge range of styles and that many of the ceilidh bands offer something a bit different to make your wedding truly memorable.

Browse London Ceilidh Bands

All of these bands perform traditional Scottish ceilidh sets for dancing, and some perform pop & rock covers as well...these bands are known as "ceilidh and covers bands".

Ceilidh bands on FixTheMusic have public liability insurance and PAT tested equipment.

FixTheMusic's ceilidh bands perform in a variety of styles, from Scottish and Irish traditional dance music to barn dance and folk music.

So here's the list of the 6 best ceilidh bands for hire in London for 2020...

1. Ceilidh Twist
2. Paragon Ceilidh Band
3. Willow Ceilidh Band
4. The London Ceilidh Band
5. Keep Calm and Ceilidh
6. Ramnee Ceilidh Band

So let's take a closer look at the most in-demand ceilidh bands in London this year...

1. Ceilidh Twist
Average booking price: £1,782 (as of October 2020)
Location: London

Ceilidh Twist are a professional ceilidh and covers band based in London. Established in 2000, they have the experience to know what makes a great ceilidh!

They have several TV credits to their name, having recently appeared on BBC1 'This Week', E4 'Made in Chelsea', ITV 'TOWIE' and Channel 4 'Gok Wann's Fashion Fix'.

Ceilidh Twist regularly play at destination weddings in Europe and beyond, recently performing in France (4 times), Malta (3 times), Dubai, Portugal, Italy and Jersey.

And they have upcoming weddings in the next year in France (twice more), Rome (again), Majorca, Spain and Tuscany!

View more videos and read verified reviews of Ceilidh Twist ➡️

2. Paragon Ceilidh Band
Average booking price: £1,343 (as of October 2020)
Location: London & Sussex

Paragon Ceilidh Band is a fantastic ceilidh and covers band to hire for weddings and all other occasions!

In the 15 years since the band was born they have built up the enviable reputation of being one of the best bands on the UK function scene.

Their exceptionally wide repertoire ranges from cool, dinner jazz, themed evenings, popular party songs and styles from the 1950s through the '60s, '70s and '80s, soul, funk and disco to today’s pop hits.

View more videos and read verified reviews of Paragon Ceilidh Band ➡️

3. Willow Ceilidh Band
Average booking price: £1,249 (as of October 2020)
Location: London

Willow Ceilidh Band perform lively Scottish, Irish, English & Welsh folk music at weddings and events in London, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Somerset, Wiltshire and beyond.

With fiddles, accordion, guitar & expert caller to teach the dances, we're a young, energetic and modern ceilidh band...guaranteed to get you dancing!

The band is particularly in demand at destination weddings in Europe. They have recently performed in Tuscany, Italy and have upcoming weddings in 2020 in Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.

View more videos and read verified reviews of Willow Ceilidh Band ➡️

4. The London Ceilidh Band
Average booking price: £677 (as of October 2020)
Location: London

The London Ceilidh Band will put a sparkle into your event.

There is a vitality to our sound that encourages people to get up and dance.

Whether it's a wedding, a student social or a community fundraiser, we will give it a professional touch.

The band has performed for a variety of events in a huge range of venues from village halls to stately homes and aircraft hangars to exclusive country hotels.

View more videos and read verified reviews of The London Ceilidh Band ➡️

5. Keep Calm and Ceilidh
Average booking price: £773 (as of October 2020)
Location: London

One of the most popular, versatile, successful and affordable traditional ceilidh bands based in London, Keep Calm and Ceilidh perform live Irish, Scottish, English and American music, dance and songs throughout south east England and beyond.

They go out as anything from a duo to a six-piece amplified or acoustic, with or without a caller.

Founded by Mick (Guitar/vocals) in 1998 the band has many years success including performances for Mick Jagger and Robert Smith of The Cure.

View more videos and read verified reviews of Keep Calm and Ceilidh ➡️

6. Ramnee Ceilidh Band
Average booking price: £1,896 (as of October 2020)
Location: London

With high profile performances for the likes of HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Country Life, ITV, E4, Netflix original series 'The Crown' (2 Golden Globes) feat. Claire Foy, Matt Smith and John Lithgow and performing with celebs such as John Barrowman, the award-winning Ramnee Ceilidh Band are by far the must-have feature of any Celtic event.

We have supported Sister Sledge, Supergrass and T'Pau, as well as the cast of Made in Chelsea (who we won a BAFTA with).

We have taken celebrities James Corden, Ant & Dec, Jonathan Wilkes, Edith Bowman and even Tom Smith (Editors) through the steps of ceilidh dancing.

Renowned as a funky and exciting dance band with a wide range of influences, they have taken the key elements of Scottish & Irish tradition and moulded a new fresh Celtic blend with well-known covers...irresistible to dance to.

View more videos and read verified reviews of Ramnee Ceilidh Band ➡️

Receive quotes from ceilidh bands in London

We hope you've enjoyed reading this list of the best ceilidh bands London has to offer in 2020.

At FixTheMusic, we list top-quality ceilidh bands that have been selected by invitation only.

When you submit an enquiry, you'll receive quotes directly from available bands so you can compare them by watching their videos, reading their reviews and by asking them any questions you might have via our secure messaging system.

FixTheMusic is free to use – we're a secure platform for liaising with and booking outstanding musicians worldwide

Some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about hiring a ceilidh band for your wedding or event...

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does it cost to hire a ceilidh band?

Ceilidh bands usually charge about 300 GBP per musician, so a trio would cost roughly 900 GBP and a 4-piece ceilidh band would cost approximately 1,200 GBP. As with all musicians, price depends on several factors, not least how far they will need to travel to reach your venue. Bands will generally quote an all-in price (which includes all expenses) or quote their performance fee with expenses clearly detailed.

How long do ceilidh bands perform for at weddings and events?

They usually perform 2 or 3 sets of 45-minutes, or something similar to this. Any longer is not recommended as the live music at any event should not be overused or it doesn't have maximum effect. Also consider that performing ceilidh music (and indeed the dancing that goes with it!) is a physical activity for both musicians and guests. Breaks in between sets can be around 30 minutes.

What music do ceilidh bands perform?

They perform the standard ceilidh dances, from the Scottish and Irish traditions. Famous dances include The Dashing White Sergeant, The Gay Gordons, Canadian Barn Dance, Highland Schottische, The Military Two Step and the Pride of Erin Waltz.

Do they perform pop & rock covers like a standard wedding band do?

About half of ceilidh bands just perform the traditional Scottish and Celtic dances, but some also perform pop & rock covers...these bands are often referred to as "Ceilidh and Covers Bands". They tend to perform a set of traditional music followed by a pop & rock party set to finish the night off.

Most of my guests aren't experienced ceilidh dancers. Will the ceilidh band teach my guests the dances?

Yes! Nearly all ceilidh bands feature a "caller" who will guide your guests through the moves. The band will usually take a few minutes to explain the dances, followed by the actual performance. The caller explaining the dances is a really fun and interactive part of the entertainment, and of course, it means that less experienced guests can take to the dance floor!

Do ceilidh bands bring their own equipment?

Ceilidh bands will bring all of their own instruments, and sometimes their own PA system and lighting. However, this is not always the case, so you may need to provide a PA system and lighting based on their specifications. Most bands usually charge less if they require the client to provide some equipment.

Which musical instruments do ceilidh bands consist of?

There is a huge amount of variety in the instrumentation of ceilidh bands. Most bands will include a violin (fiddle), an acoustic guitar and a drum kit to set the rhythm. However, several other instruments are often added, including accordion, piano or keyboard, bagpipes, flute or tin whistle and bass guitar.

How much space does ceilidh dancing require?

The band itself will require about 3m by 5m area, but ceilidh dancing takes up a lot of space...much more than a typical disco dance floor, so it's best to clear away tables and chairs to provide the maximum space available.

Do ceilidh bands take requests?

There are only a handful of ceilidh dances, and bands will know their repertoire to a very high standard. It's best to leave the set list to the band's own. discretion. For ceilidh and covers bands, they may be able to accommodate some requests in their covers set.

FixTheMusic is a one-stop shop for booking outstanding professional musicians – and it's completely free for you to use.

Fill in the enquiry form to receive offers directly from hand-picked musicians. Once you've confirmed details with your preferred act, book and pay securely through our secure online checkout.

Last Updated: 24 September 2020

— Adam is a co-founder of FixTheMusic and works on everything from copywriting and marketing to design and user experience. He studied Music at Cambridge University. Adam is a keen pianist, and also learned cello and trumpet from an early age.

+44 20 7193 0615

hello@fixthemusic.com