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.

Please take a look at our 2023 SET LIST

We can provide lighter background music as well as upbeat ceilidh and pop/rock covers music for dancing.

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.

Contact Seafolk Ceilidh Band

More information about Seafolk Ceilidh Band

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 the UK'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...

• Castello di Gargonza, Italy
• Luxembourg
• Gran, Norway
• Château des Varennes, France
• Boreland Loch Tay, Scotland
• Glencorse House, Penicuik
• Kincaid House Hotel, Glasgow
• Maryculter House Hotel
• Fintry, Glasgow

Set List

Ceilidh Dances

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

Cover Songs

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

5 verified reviews

"Amazing! Seafolk ceilidh band were very organised, setting up in advance to avoid noise during the meal and speeches. They started promptly and got everyone on the dance floor quickly. Their music has great variety and is modern with the traditional elements that keep them suitable for a good ceilidh. They responded to us on the night when we asked to miss out certain dances that were unknown in our area and none of this was a problem or caused offence, which was great! My personal highlight was dancing Orcadian Strip the Willow to ACDC - who else can do this so well? We have had huge numbers of compliments from many of our friends and family. Thank you Seafolk!"

– Ewan and Michelle Lafferty, 14 November 2023, wedding in Sanday, Orkney

Verified booking on FixTheMusic

"Seafolk Ceilidh Band were absolutely fantastic! We didn't have to worry about a thing and they kept everyone dancing all night long! We had a lot of guests who had never been to a ceilidh before and they made all the dances extremely easy to understand and no one felt left out. They also balanced the mixture of modern and traditional music perfectly. We cannot recommend Seafolk Ceilidh Band enough! Extremely laid back and stress-free, what every couple planning a wedding needs."

– Samantha and Mike Cornish, 28 July 2023, wedding at Maryculter House Hotel, Aberdeenshire

Verified booking on FixTheMusic

"Seafolk Ceilidh Band were excellent. The variety in types of music was perfect for the audience and all guests (including husband and wife) thought it was a fantastic night. Appreciate the instructions prior to ceilidh dancing considering the number of non-Scottish guests, this appeared to be well received."

– Kirstin and Karol Mazur, 16 December 2022, wedding at Balmoral Castle, Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire

Verified booking on FixTheMusic

"Seafolk Ceilidh Band are excellent musicians and I guarantee will do everything in their power to ensure your night is a great success. Their unique blend of traditional music with a modern twist gets everybody on the dance floor - they even have the power to drag students away from a free bar! The band adapts their music to the venue & number & ability of the guests so by the end of the evening your party will be jumping and guests will be exhausted - I assure you that a Seafolk ceilidh will be remembered for months if not years!"

– Jean Adams, 29 May 2022, party at The Caves, Edinburgh

Verified booking on FixTheMusic

"You guys were absolutely AMAZING.....so many people asking for your details.....so many people commenting on how much they enjoyed it and so many fantastic memories of your unique style. You were brilliant....thanks a million for making our wedding so special xxx"

– Rachael Morrison, 30 January 2022, wedding at Glen Tanar, Aberdeenshire

Verified booking on FixTheMusic