Andrew Dinan

Hello there, My name is Andrew Dinan, I am a violinist/fiddler and events organiser. I have played with all sorts of people over a 35 year career. Barbara Dickson, Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds, Cerys Matthews and Mike McGoldrick to name a few. In 1994 I became the first person from England to win the All-Ireland Senior Fiddle Championship. I have travelled all over the world playing Folk music, predominately Irish, but also all sorts of different types of Folk from Blues to Americana. I am currently making an album with Mike McGoldrick and have recently formed a band with Mat Walklate - who has been an Encore regular for many years. I have played at hundreds of weddings over the years and have been the Entertainment Manager for many of these. I can organise your special day for you - from somebody playing you into the church to organising a six-piece band for the evening's entertainment and anything in between. I am also able to organise birthdays and I am able to play whatever song you like. It is important to be able to communicate clearly about what is needed for the night, and to be flexible as weddings and other events are certain things that take longer than expected and not everything runs to time if a clear idea of what is wanted has not been properly pre-arranged. We can also provide a Ceilidh experience where someone will teach you the dance in question and then you get a chance to dance it yourself to the music afterwards. This is very popular as the dances are very easy so quick to learn and it is also a great way of everybody at the wedding to meet and socialise. The Ceilidh experience is also chosen by many companies as a bonding event. For more sombre occasions I can play music in Church ceremonies and at the graveside. I also can arrange a band for the get together later if needed. All requests about music somebody wanted me to play at their funeral would be learned in advance. I have arranged tours for bands all over the world and I have taken these skills into arranging important events. Whatever you want I will do the very best to provide and I know lots of dance teachers and fellow musicians from all over the country so we have travelled far and wide and have no problems being able to reach wherever you are.