February 2020

Bedlam

Vibrant, pulsating and with a huge following nationally, Bedlam are without doubt, one of the most exciting and highly acclaimed dance bands on the Ceilidh scene today. Bedlam have been performing at festivals and on the ceilidh circuit across the UK since 1995.

With line up of Will Hampson melodeon and bass, Ross McKinlay percussion, Bryony Griffith fiddle and recorder, Drew McKinlay Guitar. This Foursome blend traditional British, French and self penned tunes with driving rhythms and powerful harmonies to create their unique and highly inspiring sound.

Bryony Griffith – Fiddles,recorder,crumhorn.

Drew McKinlay  – Guitars, Didgeridoo.

Will Hampson – Melodeon, Harmonica.

Ross McKinlay – Percussion.

From Huddersfield West Yorkshire, they have been playing

up and down the country since 1993. Festival appearances include, Sidmouth, Cambridge, Holmfirth, Whitby, Chester, Wimborne, Beverley, Towersey and Bromyard.

Bedlam play a fiery style of folk dance music, both original and traditional. Yet when the occasion demands they can be subtle and sensitive. They are as much at home playing for dancers as they are in entertaining a seated audience with an acoustic set.

Peeping Tom

PEEPING TOM were described recently as a “veteran folk-rock band with all the riffs and reels, National Treasures all of them”! They have been performing continuously over the last forty-five years, playing all the major festivals and dance clubs. Considered by many to be the UK’s favourite dance band they always produce a cracking dance. Peeping Tom have performed at many Warwick Folk Festivals since the very beginning.

Formed in 1972 by Ben Woodward, Peeping Tom have spent the last 40 years perfecting the art of performing high-energy music for English ceilidhs. They travel extensively, playing all of the major festivals and specialist dance clubs. They are noted for their ability to pick the right tune for the right dance, which makes them exceptionally easy to dance to. As you can imagine, their back catalogue of dance tunes is simply immense. Much of their material is written by Ben Woodward and Ian Wilson – both as a collaborative pair and individual composers. They only perform for dancing, although there have been several forays into the theatre, providing the music for Larkrise, Candleford and the Coventry Mystery Plays. Very highly regarded, they are considered by many to be the United Kingdom’s favourite dance band.

Ben Woodward – melodeon;
Ian Wilson – keyboards and cittern;
Pete Smale -guitar;
John McIntosh – bass guitar and tambourine;
Barry Malin – drums and percussion.

Whapweasel

Renowned folk dance band Whapweasel have been delighting and exhausting the folk dance enthusiasts for the last 20 years. This solid eight piece folk rock dance band have over that time notched up 6 albums of enthralling, turbo- charged dance music attracting rave reviews and packed dance floors and the accolade of Dance Band Of The Year at the Radio Two Folk Awards.