About Seafolk Ceilidh Band – professional ceilidh band based in Edinburgh, Scotland
Performing together since 2007, Seafolk Ceilidh Band provide a fresh, modern approach to the classic ceilidh, combining traditional with the not-so-traditional.
Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, but happy to travel throughout the country as well as overseas, we mainly provide music for weddings, corporate events, parties and student events.
We're listed on FixTheMusic's 20 Best Wedding Bands in Scotland 🏆
Please take a look at our 2026 SET LIST
We can provide lighter background music as well as upbeat ceilidh and pop/rock covers music for dancing.
View our list of the UK's best ceilidh bands ➡️
We're regularly booked to perform for weddings and events at Castello di Gargonza in Italy, Kincaid House Hotel in Glasgow and Glencorse House in Penicuik, Scotland.
Our ceilidh music
In ceilidh band mode, we offer everyone's favourite dances from the Gay Gordons to the Orcadian Strip the Willow. All dances are clearly explained with step-by-step instructions, so everyone can join in on the fun.
As well as ceilidh dances, the band also offer folk-arrangements of popular pop and rock covers, ranging from Kings of Leon and ACDC to Mumford and Sons, Coldplay and Calvin Harris. A member is also an award-winning DJ if you also require a DJ set as part of your evening.
View our list of Scotland's best ceilidh bands ➡️
More details
As standard, we provide a high-quality PA system and lighting rig (all PAT tested of course) and are more than happy to set this up before the event, resulting in your evening running that bit smoother.
We aim to please with sound, ensuring quality rather than volume, so no one is left with sore lugs after a great night.
Lastly, we all have degrees in music, so a very high level of professionalism can be guaranteed.
We have put a lot of thought into what makes the perfect ceilidh, and we strongly believe that the most important element to a great wedding is that it is tailored exactly to the happy couples' specifications.
Weddings – the first dance
We offer three choices for the first dance:
A Song of Choice: Typically, the song will be played from an iPod or CD. However, as well as offering this we can provide something slightly different.
Provided we are given some prior notice, couples are more than welcome to chose 'their song' they want playing, and we will arrange a folk-version which we will play live.
This gives a more authentic, personal feeling to the first dance, and makes the night that little bit more special. We've had some amazing and whacky requests, and haven't turned one down yet!
The Grand March: A more traditional first dance, where we play folk tunes, with the guests invited to march around the Hall. This dance will be called, with ourselves providing step-by-step instructions.
Gay Gordons: Rather than a solo dance, we can go straight into the first ceilidh dance of the night, the very popular Gay Gordons.
The ceilidh
For the ceilidh section of the evening, we cover all the popular dances as well as a few lesser-known ones and are more than happy to call each one. A full run-through is given before each dance, and we're always happy to demonstrate if anyone is stuck!
As well as the main dances, if there are any special request dances, we are happy to learn them.
We can either play a very traditional ceilidh from start to finish or alternatively move on to a more modern ceilidh in the latter stages of the night, throwing in some modern pop covers from the likes of Mumford & Sons, Avicii and ACDC to name just a few.
As the night draws to an end, we love finishing off a great ceilidh with a massive Orcadian Strip the Willow which is always the big favourite of the night. After this marathon-dance, there's only one way to end the night - the Auld Lang Sang, and then a few covers if the B&G wish!
The little things
We provide professional PA and lighting equipment. Over the years we have invested heavily in high-quality equipment ensuring our gear packs the necessary punch, but doesn't overpower guests ability to talk to one another!
Our stage setup is also very eloquent and minimal. For an additional fee, we're always happy to set up earlier in the day, well before the guests arrive, so everything is ready to go and things run that bit smoother.
Guests are of course welcome to use our system for speeches – we can leave a microphone with an on/off switch ready to go. Guests are also welcome to bring along an iPod for background music during the meal or during our breaks. If requested, we are more than happy to provide this ourselves.
We fit our ceilidh around the couples' planned schedule – we are of course happy to provide adequate time for an evening buffet, a DJ set etc.
Here are just some of the locations where we have been booked by clients on FixTheMusic for weddings and events...
Gay Gordon's
Dashing White Sergeant
Virginia Reel
Canadian Barn Dance
Military Two Step
St. Bernard's Waltz
Grand March (Bridal March)
Flying Scotsman
Hooligan's Jig
Strip The Willow
Orcadian Strip The Willow
Cumberland Square 8
Circassian Circle
Auld Lang Sang
Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man
Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
The Lumineers - Ho Hey!
Green Day - Time of Your Life
Bastille - Pompeii
The Proclaimers - 500 Miles
U2 - With or Without You
Primal Scream - Country Girl
Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
Kings of Leon - Molly's Chamber
Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire
Paolo Nutini - Candy
Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
ACDC - Thunderstruck, Highway to Hell
Avicii - Wake Me Up
Eric Prydz - Pjanoo
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
Guns N Roses - Sweet Child O Mine
Dougie McLean - Caledonia
James Bay - Let It Go
Faithless - Insomnia
Daft Punk - Robot Rock
The Waterboys - Wagon Wheel
Mundy - Galway Girl
Traditional - Wild Mountain Thyme
Traditional - Loch Lomond
"Had a brilliant weddings thanks to Josh and the gang. Incredibly easy to organise everything with, super accommodating of our needs and a real crowdpleaser on the day. Everyone said to me how much they enjoyed it.
They went above and beyond to make sure everyone had the best time possible. The band was great and Josh is a fantastic caller even for beginners!
With a bit of luck, I won’t be getting married again, but if I do, Seafolk will be on the top of my list. "
"We have absolutely zero regrets about booking Seafolk for our wedding. They were amazing! Not many people had been to a ceilidh before but each dance was walked through first and even though it occasionally descended into slight chaos with the faster dances…each and every person had a blast! Couldn’t recommend highly enough to anyone considering these guys. They’re super friendly, communicate well and their mix of traditional into modern is second to none. Wish we could do the whole night again"
"They were so great, everyone loved their music and told us how good they were! I’m still amazed they managed to make so much noise and atmosphere - as our wedding was in France we were only able to bring two band members out but you honestly would have thought there were 5 of them playing! They arrived early to set up and make sure everything was ok which we really appreciated. Their mix of traditional and modern music during the ceilidh was fantastic and such a great unique touch! 10/10. Thanks again Josh and Hannah, you made our evening so special. Ewan and Pauline."
"Josh and Seafolk were amazing at our wedding at Glencorse!!! The dancefloor was pretty much full for the entirety of the night and all of our wedding guests have commented on HOW MUCH fun they had at the ceilidh and how good the band were. The first dance arrangement was also spectacular. I'm pretty sure a few of us would've stayed dancing all through the night if we could! Seafolk managed to mash traditional Scottish folk with contemporary in such a fun way. Honestly we had such a fabulous time and can't recommend Seafolk enough - it was one of our wedding highlights! Thanks, Louisa & Andy."
