Ceilidh Bands for Hire in Essex
Looking for a ceilidh band in Essex?
We've arranged ceilidh bookings from Red Brick Barn in Rochford to a Southend wedding to a 50th birthday in Manningtree.
Ramnee Ceilidh Band, Ceilidh Storm and Paragon Ceilidh Band have all played for Essex clients.
Tell us your date and venue and we'll get quotes from Essex ceilidh bands who can be there.
Popular ceilidh bands in Essex
How it works
Ceilidh Band Prices in Essex
Quotes for ceilidh bands in Essex range from £600 to £2,515, with most landing between £700 and £1,600.
Ramnee Ceilidh Band were confirmed at £2,085 at Red Brick Barn in Rochford, Ceilidh Storm at £2,075 at a Southend wedding, and Paragon Ceilidh Band at £920 for a 50th birthday in Manningtree.
At the lower end, The London Irish Band quoted £600 for a wedding in Purleigh, near Chelmsford, and The Kent Ceilidh Band quoted £675 for a ceilidh at a church venue in Chelmer Village, Chelmsford. Keep Calm and Ceilidh quoted £710 for the same venue.
In the mid-range, Willow Ceilidh Band quoted £1,150 and Harvest Moon Ceilidh Band quoted £1,310 for a wedding in Great Wenham, near Colchester. Paragon Ceilidh Band quoted £1,600 for a ceilidh in Colchester.
The price you pay depends mostly on how many musicians you book and how far they travel.
Where Our Ceilidh Bands Have Played in Essex
Red Brick Barn, Sutton Hall, Rochford hosted a confirmed ceilidh booking with Ramnee Ceilidh Band in June 2026. The couple wanted "45 mins to an hour of ceilidh dancing with a caller" from 7pm, plus reception music from 3pm.
Stock Brook Country Club, Ingatestone, near Billericay has seen multiple ceilidh and Irish band enquiries. The London Irish Band quoted £1,200 for a wedding here.
Colchester has generated the most ceilidh enquiries in Essex. Paragon Ceilidh Band quoted £1,600 for a Colchester ceilidh, Ramnee Ceilidh Band quoted £1,310 for another, and Harvest Moon Ceilidh Band quoted £1,140 for a third.
Chelmsford venues include Church of Our Saviour in Chelmer Village, where both Keep Calm and Ceilidh and The Kent Ceilidh Band quoted for a ceilidh, and Mulberry House in High Ongar, which has attracted folk band enquiries.
Saffron Walden saw The Kent Ceilidh Band quote £830 for a ceilidh at Radwinter.
Burnham-on-Crouch and Epping have also generated ceilidh and folk band enquiries. If your venue isn't listed here, don't worry - our bands travel across the whole county.
Mention your venue when you enquire and bands will confirm they can get there.
View our ceilidh bands in Essex performing live
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Reviews from local events in Essex
“These guys were so great. They couldn't have been more accommodating to work with the flow of our wedding day.”
Booked Ramnee Ceilidh Band for a wedding at Red Brick Barn, Sutton Hall, Rochford, UK
“Would like to just say a big thank you to you and the rest of the guys you did a grand job everyone loved the music!”
“Paragon Ceilidh Band played at my 50th birthday party in Manningtree, Essex on 9th February. They were absolutely BRILLIANT - the music was superb, we all loved the dancing and Danica was fabulous at getting us all involved and steering us in the right direction (which believe me, can’t have been easy). I can’t recommend them highly enough. Thank you Paragon Ceilidh Band for an absolutely wonderful evening - the icing on the (birthday) cake.”
“Will and the band played at our wedding in May and I could not praise them enough. We had the band & DJ option and they were so well organised. They played a lot of the classics and despite some reluctance from guests to get up initially....had almost everyone on the dance floor by the end. They were so much fun and really did contribute to our amazing day. Even now people are still commenting on how much fun they had, and we both loved every second. Thank you so much for helping to make our day so memorable.”
“Huge thanks to you & the band for playing at our party. It went down an absolute storm.”
Essex Ceilidh Band FAQ
How much is a ceilidh band in Essex?
Quotes in Essex range from £600 to £2,515. The lowest quote we've seen was £600 from The London Irish Band for a wedding in Purleigh, near Chelmsford. The most expensive confirmed booking was £2,085 for Ramnee Ceilidh Band at Red Brick Barn in Rochford. At the other end, Paragon Ceilidh Band was confirmed at £920 for a 50th birthday in Manningtree. Most quotes fall between £700 and £1,600 depending on lineup and travel.
Can we have a ceilidh at a barn venue in Essex?
Yes. Red Brick Barn at Sutton Hall in Rochford hosted a confirmed ceilidh booking in June 2026. The couple wanted ceilidh dancing with a caller from 7pm to 8pm, plus reception music earlier in the afternoon. Ramnee Ceilidh Band were confirmed at £2,085. Hillfields Farm in Upper Basildon also generated a ceilidh enquiry. Barn venues work well for ceilidh because they usually have the floor space for dancing, but you may need to ask the venue to clear tables to one side.
Do any ceilidh bands in Essex also play covers?
Yes. Ramnee Ceilidh Band and Paragon Ceilidh Band both switch between called ceilidh dances and pop or rock covers during the evening. One client who booked Ceilidh Storm for their Southend wedding asked for "a lot of ceilidh dancing and some cover songs too - a good mix!" If you want both ceilidh and covers, say so in your enquiry so bands can quote with the right instrumentation.
Can we book a ceilidh band for a birthday party in Essex?
Yes. Paragon Ceilidh Band played a 50th birthday in Manningtree, Essex, and the client said: "the music was superb, we all loved the dancing and Danica was fabulous at getting us all involved." Another client enquired about a ceilidh for their 40th birthday at Upper Basildon Village Hall, looking for "an evening filled with joy, connection and an appreciation of life and love." Ceilidh works well for birthdays because the caller gets everyone involved regardless of age or experience.
Will the band bring their own sound equipment?
Most ceilidh bands quote with PA system and lighting included. The Kent Ceilidh Band confirmed to an Essex client that their £950 quote includes "our own PA/sound system." Harvest Moon Ceilidh Band told another client they "provide a full PA system, including full lighting, all relevant equipment and documentation." If your venue has its own PA system or a sound limiter, mention it when you enquire as this may affect the quote.
Can we have a short ceilidh as part of a longer evening?
Yes. The couple at Red Brick Barn in Rochford asked for "45 mins to an hour of ceilidh dancing with a caller" rather than the full two-set format, with reception music earlier in the day. Harvest Moon Ceilidh Band has told clients they "normally perform over two one hour sets" but are "more than happy to be flexible." If you want ceilidh as one element of the evening rather than the whole thing, mention this when you enquire so bands can quote for a shorter set.
Our guests have never done ceilidh dancing. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Every ceilidh band includes a caller whose job is to teach the dances on the night. The caller at Paragon Ceilidh Band was praised by an Essex client for "getting us all involved and steering us in the right direction (which believe me, can't have been easy)." Harvest Moon Ceilidh Band has told clients they "love having a room of newcomers to entertain just as much as those that are experienced." The caller adapts the dances to suit the room.
Can the band play during our wedding breakfast before the ceilidh?
Yes. One couple enquiring about St Osyth Priory in Clacton-on-Sea asked for "30 mins classical wedding style music during dinner and 2x 30mins traditional ceilidh dancing with the help of a passionate caller." Ramnee Ceilidh Band offer a package where their violinist plays classical repertoire during dinner before switching to ceilidh mode for the evening. If you want background music during the meal and ceilidh later on, mention this when you enquire so bands can quote for the extra time and instrumentation.
Can we have our first dance before the ceilidh?
Yes. A couple at Great Wenham, near Colchester asked to "incorporate our first dance somehow into" their 90-minute ceilidh set. Another at Hillfields Farm in Upper Basildon wanted "a first dance, then c. 1 hour ceilidh, followed by two hours of covers." Most ceilidh bands are happy to play or accompany your first dance before the caller kicks things off. If you have a specific song in mind, let the band know when you enquire.
How much floor space do we need for ceilidh dancing?
Ceilidh dancing needs more room than a typical disco because guests move in sets, circles and lines. A couple at Great Wenham, Colchester told us their marquee dance floor was 22.5 feet by 20 feet and asked whether that would work - it did, with room to expand if needed. If your venue has a smaller floor, ask whether tables can be cleared to one side during the ceilidh. Most bands are happy to advise on this if you share your venue's approximate floor dimensions when you enquire.
See our ceilidh band wedding guide for detailed setup and space requirements.