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Bowstring

Bowstring at Hop Festival, Faversham

About Bowstring

Bringing everyone together for a fun filled evening of dance and feisty music, Bowstring will make your special event a night to remember

3 of 5 photos

Ceilidh band

Herne Bay

Public liability insurance of £10 million

Verified profile

Bowstring Barndance and Ceilidh Band, formed in 2007, is a traditional Irish/Scottish and English ceilidh and barn dance folk band based in Kent and South East England that performs regularly throughout the UK. Perfect for weddings, parties, and all occasions. Bringing together some of the most skilled and experienced performers in their field, Bowstring offers a full evening’s entertainment ideal for corporate functions, weddings, barn dances, ceilidhs, concerts, and festivals. Individually, the band members have worked all over the world, singing and playing for concerts and ceilidhs plus on Radio, TV, and Films (e.g. Chris Taylor, Top of the Pops/ Never Mind The Buzzcocks). Our caller uses humour to put the dancers at their ease whilst the band, with their astonishing array of instruments, has a full and exciting sound that drives the dancers on. Between dances, Bowstring has an excellent repertoire of songs and tunes for listening. The emphasis is very much on ENTERTAINMENT!

Encore badges

Saved the day!

Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice

Lightning fast responses

Average response time under 2 hours

Member of the Encore community forum

6th Anniversary

This act has been working with Encore for over 6 years

25 gigs

Pro: 25 bookings through Encore

Musicianship

Genres:

Folk, Bluegrass, Ceilidh, Country, Folk rock, Irish rock, Rockabilly, Traditional English folk, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk

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Types:

Ceilidh band

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Event types:

Wedding, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve

See all event types

Bowstring's Song list

CEILIDH SET LIST 2018

1 a CIRCASSIAN CIRCLE EAVESDROPPER (G)/WHEN SICK IS IT TEA YOU WANT? (D)/ DONNYBROOK FAIR (G)

1 b SNAKES AND LADDERS 3 X 3 X 3

2 a CUMBERLAND REEL} }

2 b Siege Of Ennis } NEWMARKET SET (D/A/AM) 3 X 3 X 3

2 c THE PAWNSHOP }

2 d jack’s alive

3 a HOLMFIRTH SQUARE } CALLIOPE HOUSE (D)/KESH JIG (G)/RAKES OF KILDARE (Am)/THE LEGACY (Em)

3 b 19 ninepins } 3 X 3 X 3 x 3

4 a MY LOVE SHE’S BUT A LASSIE YET } CONNAUGHTMAN’S RAMBLES (D-Bm)/PAY THE RECKONING (G)/

4 b JOLLY ROGER } MY DARLING ASLEEP (D) 3 X 3 X 3

4 C Falling Masonry }

5 a BRIDGE OF ATHLONE }

5 b WAVES OF TORY } COOK IN THE KITCHEN (G)/DUSTY WINDOWSILLS (Am)/

5 c WILLOW TREE } DINGLE REGATTA (G) 3 X 3 X 3

6 CAERPHILLY MARCH BALQUIDHER LASSES (Em)/MARIE’S WEDDING (G)/HIGHLAND LADDIE (G) 3 X 3 X 3

7 TRIP TO THE VILLAGE DIN TARRANTS (Bm)/JOHNNY I DO MISS YOU (D)/MICKY BARRY’S (?) 3 X 3

8 FOULA REEL DA GREENLAND MAN (D-G)/SCHAALDS OF FOULA (G)/christmas day in the morning (d) 3 X 3 X 3

9 MAID OF THE MILL KITCHEN GIRL (A-Am)/FULL RIGGED SHIP (A-Am) 3 X 3

10 LA BASTRINGUE LA BASTRINGUE (G/D/D) 3 x 1

11 WRING OUT THE DISHCLOTH Manche Ouest (A)/ Ouest Bretagne (D) 3 X 3

12 DROPS OF BRANDY HARDIMAN THE FIDDLER (Dmod)/A FIG FOR A KISS (Em)/foxhunters’ (d)/

kid on the mountain (em) 3 X 3 X 3 x 3

13 STOKE GOLDING JIMMY DUFFY’S NO. 1 (G)/JIMMY DUFFY’S NO.2 (G) 3 X 3

14 Six Hand Swing REDWING (G)/JUNE APPLE (A MOD)/WAITING FOR THE FEDERALS (G) 3 X 3 X 3

15 Chancellor’s Farewell CHIEF O’NEILL’S (D)/HOME RULER (D)/FAIRY HORNPIPE (G) 3 X 3 X 3

16 Down The MiddlE spootaskerry (g)/silver spear (d) 3 X 3

sally gardens (g)/brenda stubbards (am)/miss macleod’s (a) 3 x 3 x 3

17 staffordshire knot cooley’s (em)/ sally gardens (g)/castle kelly (am) 3 X 3 X 3

18 cumberland sq 8 jig of slurs (d-G)/athol highlanders (a) 3 x 3

19 waterloo dance scarta glen (g/seamus begley’s (g) 3 x 3

SONGS

CALEDONIA (D)

RIDE ON (Cm)

LET THE MYSTERY BE (F)

GALWAY GIRL (D)

WAGON WHEEL (A)

FIELDS OF ATHENRY (D)

TOGETHER FOREVER (G)

ON SATURDAY NIGHT (G)

WILD ROVER (D)

WHISKEY IN THE JAR (G)

etc. etc. etc.

TUNES

KING OF THE FAIRIES (Em)/FAREWELL TO ERIN (Am)

OUT ON THE OCEAN ((A)/PADDY CLANCY’S (D)

SPOOTASKERRY (G)/HIGH ROAD TO LINTON (A)

HASTE TO THE WEDDING (D)/ SIXPENNY MONEY (D)/MORRISON’S (Em)

ST. ANNE’S (D)/ASH PLANT (Em)/SILVER SPEAR (D)

MOUNTAIN ROAD (D)/COOLEY’S REEL (Em)

AUTUMN SKIES (D)

Bowstring's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Performance duration	Price
Up to 1 hour	£600
Up to 2 hours	£600
Up to 3 hours	£750

Bowstring

4.9 out of 5

19 verified reviews

Satisfaction

5.0

Professionalism

5.0

Communication

4.9

Punctuality

4.7

Bowstring's Reviews

5 out of 5

Brilliant band, can’t recommend them enough. Complete professionals and everyone thought they were amazing.

Reply from Bowstring

2 months ago

May I thank you for your friendly welcome last Saturday. You, Nina and your guests were a pleasure to play for and we thoroughly enjoyed playing for you. Perhaps we’ll meet again. Best wishes, Martin, Ramona, Gemma and Pip

5 out of 5

Bowstring are an excellent band, great humour in the calling and fantastic music. Made our iarty celebrations very special.

5 out of 5

We had a fantastic 50th birthday celebration. Thank you so much for making it extra special. Everyone had so much fun and enjoyment and we have received many videos from friends following the party and all you can hear is laughter and pure enjoyment! It was a fantastic celebration and your experience of calling and connecting with everyone made all the difference. Friends and family all had a fantastic evening - we've had so many messages to say how great the evening was and how much they enjoyed themselves. Fantastic calling and encouraging when we really didn't know what we were doing (especially the birthday boy!), amazing instrumentals and vocals and great communication throughout. Thank you so much.

5 out of 5

We had a great evening. Bowstring arrived well in advance and set up their equipment efficiently. They encouraged the guests, age 8-80 to get on the dance floor and Martin led us through the dance moves. Everyone enjoyed the evening enormously. We would be happy to have them again if we ever have another ceilidh.

Read all 18 reviews

5 out of 5

Great night, they got everyone up and dancing, well done and thank you Bowstring

Hi Martin Just a quick line to say a huge thank you for a wonderful evenings entertainment last night. Everyone had such a great evening and it was certainly a night to remember with much fun and laughter. Wit thanks Kind regards Georgina

Read all 3 reviews