About High Step Ceilidh – professional Ceilidh band based in Lincoln, UK
High Step Ceilidh is a Lincoln-based ceilidh band blending traditional Irish and Scottish folk with a modern twist.
Built around fiddle player Serena, our music takes the energy of traditional ceilidh tunes and fuses it with folk rock, Celtic electronica and even touches of funk and jazz.
Between dances we like to keep the atmosphere alive with a mix of styles and rhythms and for ceilidhs we tailor the music to fit the Irish and Scottish dances we call. We also bring in a few well-known covers to keep everyone on their feet and having fun.
We're regularly booked to perform for weddings and events at Riverlands in East Yorkshire.
Our standard lineup is a four-piece band of fiddle, guitar, bass and drums, but we’re flexible.
View our list of the UK's best ceilidh bands ➡️
For ceilidhs, we usually add a caller, making it a five-piece, so dancers are guided while we play. We can also strip things back to a three-piece acoustic band with caller if the venue is smaller.
For something extra, our drummer can add live bagpipes and our guitarist can sing on request.
We usually play two sets of 45 minutes, but we can adjust to fit the flow of your event.
Arriving around two hours before the music starts gives us plenty of time for setup and soundcheck, which normally takes about 90 minutes.
Our setup doesn’t require too much space, ideally a 4m x 4m area, but we can work with smaller spaces if needed.
We provide our own sound and lighting equipment and we can also offer a playlist service between or after live sets to keep the energy going.
If you’d like us to learn a special tune for your event, such as a first dance, we’re always happy to do so.
Performing outdoors is also possible, as long as there’s cover (like a marquee) and power available.
We’re fully insured and our equipment is PAT-tested, so everything is safe and reliable.
At its heart, High Step Ceilidh is about creating lively, unforgettable nights, full of music, dancing and a great atmosphere that brings people together.
5 Verified Reviews
"The first time I saw High Step Ceilidh I was taken aback by their sound... it makes you feel like you are in a traditional Irish pub with a blend of Celtic fusion music and a mix of pop music too. They are a very high energy and entertaining group. In my eyes and ears Serena is a phenomenally talented fiddle player."
Verified booking on FixTheMusic"Absolutely stunning!!!!! It really made the wedding spectacular with everyone dancing and people in the village have commented on opening their windows to hear “such lovely music” I can’t recommend highly enough and will be booking next year for my birthday! Great band great music!!!!"
Verified booking on FixTheMusic"Stunning band and wonderful musicianship. Suited our party really well, mix of styles with their unique Celtic fusion style. Perfect, set up, loved their lights and provided a friendly atmosphere. Thank you Serena and band members, would book you all again in blink! A🌟"
Verified booking on FixTheMusic"Todays The Musician Pub Mug-Shot is Serena who played at the venue with her celtic fusion band earlier this year. Serena is a terrific fiddle player, concentrating mainly on Irish music, but with the band covering a host of other genres, and even throwing in some Irish dancing. Serena is full of energy and charisma with a great stage presence as well as being a superb musician and delivered one of the best sets of the year... first class, a great gig. Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venue."
Verified booking on FixTheMusic"Thank you again. Your show was fantastic."
Verified booking on FixTheMusicSet List
Typical Dances (Irish and Scottish):
Circassian Circle – Traditional
Dashing White Sergeant – Traditional
Every Man's Chance – Traditional
Gay Gordon's – Traditional
Haymaker's Jig – Traditional
Peeler and the Goat – Traditional
Shoe the Donkey – Traditional
Siege of Ennis – Traditional
Strip the Willow – Traditional
Waltz – Traditional
Waves of Tory – Traditional
Celtic Fusion Tunes:
Arran Boat Song – Traditional
Arthur Darley's – Traditional
Atholl Highlanders – Traditional
Black Eyed Swan – Traditional
Brexit – Modern Celtic Fusion
Brenda Stubberts – Brenda Stubbert
Brid Harper's – Brid Harper
Bucks of Oranmore – Traditional
Catharsis – Hanneke Cassel
Drunken Goodbye – Modern Celtic Fusion
Dunmore Lassies – Traditional
Earls Chair – Traditional
Garech's Wedding – Traditional
Glasgow Reel (aka Tamlinn) – Traditional
Golden Keyboard – John McCusker
If You Will Not Have Me, You May Let Me Go – Traditional
Jig of Slurs – Traditional
Maggie's Pancakes – Traditional
Masons Apron – Traditional
Master Crowley's – Seán Ryan
Musical Priest – Traditional
Nightingale – Traditional
Otter's Holt – Traditional
Pachelbel's Frolics (Irish version of Pachelbel's Canon) – Traditional Adaptation
Sean Ryan's – Seán Ryan
Sporting Pat – Traditional
Superfly – Shooglenifty
Sweeney's Buttermilk – Traditional
Tommy's Tarbukas – Shooglenifty
Two Fifty to Vigo – Shooglenifty
St. Paddy's Events:
Carrickfergus – Traditional (popular by The Dubliners)
Danny Boy – Frederic Weatherly
Dirty Old Town – Ewan MacColl / The Dubliners
Fields of Athenry – Pete St. John
Fisherman's Blues – The Waterboys
Foggy Dew – Traditional
Galway Girl – Steve Earle
Irish Rover – Traditional (popular by The Dubliners & The Pogues)
Molly Malone – Traditional
Parting Glass – Traditional (popular by The High Kings)
Rocky Road to Dublin – Traditional
Star of the County Down – Traditional
Tell Me Ma – Traditional
Whiskey in the Jar – Traditional (popular by Thin Lizzy / The Dubliners)
Wild Rover – Traditional
Instrumental Covers:
Ain’t Nobody – Chaka Khan
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Children – Robert Miles
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
Despacito – Luis Fonsi
Feder – Lordly
Happy – Pharrell Williams
Havana – Camila Cabello
Insomnia – Faithless
Jolene – Dolly Parton
Moondance – Van Morrison
Rave in the Grave – AronChupa
Sandstorm – Darude
Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
Shape of You – Ed Sheeran
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Sweet Child of Mine – Guns N’ Roses
Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers