Ceilidh band

Buchanan Ceilidh Band (BCB)

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About Buchanan Ceilidh Band (BCB)

The Buchanan Ceilidh Band comprises highly experienced musicians who are spontaneous and quirky when playing for ceilidhs/barn dances!
Ceilidh band
Brighton
Public liability insurance of £10000000 million
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The Buchanan Ceilidh Band will provide a full Scottish Dance Band traditional sound modelled on the legendary Jimmy Shand Dance Band sound. The full band comprises accordion, fiddle, guitar and bass and plays all the well-known dances one would expect for a ceilidh e.g. the GayGordons, the Dashing White Sergeant, Strip the Willow. But with other fun numbers thrown in if the mood suits e.g. the 500 Miles Dance devised by our band leader, the Paul Jones Dance (2 circles going clockwise and anti clockwise, then meeting a new partner each time for a fun dance). One of the most important requirements for any ceilidh however is to have a 'good caller' if novices are in attendance and band leader David has much experience of this having played for ceilidhs in Scotland and England now for over 40 years. David has a head-mic which allows him to get on the dance floor and show the dances/arrange the sets, (the hands free mic is key to this!). We pride ourselves on making sure everyone is engaged and knows what they are doing. There is nothing worse than folk getting disheartened if they don't know what they are doing. Our caller David will often stay on the floor for a bit and join sets if help is required! Although Scottish ceilidh is at the heart of the band's repertoire, all ceilidh dances including barn type dances e.g. the Virginia Reel, the Pattacake Polka are included in the normal set list (see below). And pops can be thrown in (see below) if the opportunity arises! Particularly during much needed breaks between the dances!

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This act has been working with Encore for over 6 years
50 gigs
Veteran: 50 bookings through Encore
Musicianship
Genres:
Folk, Ceilidh, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Scottish music
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Types:
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Event types:
Wedding, Burns night, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
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Buchanan Ceilidh Band (BCB)'s Song list

Typical Set List for a Scottish Ceilidh Night
1)Gaygordons
2) Virginia Reel
3) Dashing White Sergeant
4)Canadian Barn Dance
5)St Bernards Waltz (Scottish Waltz)
6) Strip the Willow
7) The Circassian Circle
8)Pattacake Polka
9) Military 2 Step
10)500 Miles Dance
11) Flying Scotsman
12) Britannia 2 Step
13) Eightsome Reel
14) Paul Jones Dance Set
15) The Sausage Machine Dance
Scottish Singalongs in any breaks
1) Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond
2) Skye Boat Song
3 )I Belong to Glasgow
4) The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen
5) Mhari's Wedding
6) Roaming in the Gloamin'
7) Flower of Scotland
8) The Road and Miles to Dundee
9) Mull of Kintyre
10) Will Ye Go Lassie Go
11) Donald Where's Your Troosers
12)Wee Deoch an' Doris
13) Bonnie Wee Jeannie McColl
14)I Love a Lassie
15) Auld Lang Syne
General Singalongs in any breaks (examples done this year)
1) Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
2)Daydream Believer - The Monkees
3) Take Me Home Country Roads - John Denver
4) Rhinestone Cowboy -Glen Campbell
5)Hey Baby/Hi Ho Silver Lining
6) Mr Brightside - the Killers
7) Wonderwall/Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis
8) Islands in the Stream - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
9) Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
10)Delilah - Tom Jones
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

The interaction and engagement with our audiences always comes through from reviews. We are pretty spontaneous as a band and will adapt to any situation. So if there are a lot of young children there and we are asked to play the Hokey Cokey or Baby Shark so that the kids can dance with their mums and dads and grannies and grandads, we'll play it!

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Hotels, Country Clubs, Private Back Gardens, Pub Function Rooms, Golf Clubs, Military Establishments, Restaurants.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Jimmy Shand and his Scottish Country Dance Band. And the Proclaimers!

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

When everyone has had a great night and is dancing to Auld Lang Syne, they are all high profile! Too many to mention.

Can you perform covers?

When a break is required e.g. after some serious energetic dances, we can play singalongs in between. Sweet Caroline, Take Me Home Country Roads, Mr Brightside, Wonderwall, Hey Baby, Hi Ho Silver Lining, Daydream Believer have all been played recently and gone down well!

Do you have different line-up options?

4 piece is accordion/caller, fiddle, guitar and bass/piano. We can go out as a trio too - accordion/caller, fiddle and guitar which lowers the cost. We have also been going out as a duo if the budget is lower and this can be just as effective. The key is to make sure the calling is good!

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

This has never been a problem for us. We will muck in as required to what you want. We will adapt to the situation e.g. if the wedding speeches overrun. This is fairly normal!

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Very much so. Our excellent Mackie PA system really lends itself to this and has proved really popular in the last few years. Saves on the cost of a DJ! All that is required is some playlist from you - usually on Spotify or whatever - and we plug it in and it plays! You can send to us if you prefer - Spotify allows this - and we can play it for you.

How much time do you need to set up?

We can set up in 30 mins. If a venue needs to clear away tables or whatever, we can do a bit quicker! The key is knowing beforehand the room layout, plug points, space for band to set, how to get the gear in and out. We take care of all of this with the venue. We always contact them beforehand and make sure everything is in order for a swift set up!

Do you provide a caller?

Very much so! We pride ourselves on making sure everyone is engaged and knows what they are doing. There is nothing worse than folk getting disheartened if they don't know what they are doing. Our caller David will often stay on the floor for a bit and join sets if help is required!

Can I pick the songs you play from the set list?

The set list has been tried and tested and you are more than welcome to choose what you want and to add to it! Just let us know of any special requests that you may have and we will be delighted to play them for you.

Is all of the equipment (e.g. PA) included in your quote?

All music is provided and the sound system to do so. We have spare mics for you should you wish to make speeches or whatever, sing a song etc! Our lighting is pretty basic but it can be effective. Sometimes the venue has excellent lighting which can be used, particularly after we have finished and you want the lights to be dimmed for the 'disco dancing'!

Can you learn song requests before the event?

Absolutely! Just let us know in advance. If it is too hard e.g. something like Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, I'll soon let you know! We can usually have a go at most things though!

Buchanan Ceilidh Band (BCB)'s Prices

Last updated: 2024

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

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Up to 1 hour£775
Up to 2 hours£775
Up to 3 hours£775

Add-ons

DJ Set using our PA and Speakers
+£150
Buchanan Ceilidh Band (BCB)
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5 out of 5
26 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Buchanan Ceilidh Band (BCB)'s Reviews

From Encore customers:

DW
David W
13 days ago
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5 out of 5

Best 60th party band ever..!!!! David was most helpful at every stage. Lots of compliments on the night and I can highly recommend using this band.

CP
Chloe P
1 month ago
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5 out of 5

David was brilliant and had everyone up and dancing! It was a great atmosphere and he provided great entertainment! Thank you so much David!

CL
Charlotte L
1 month ago
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5 out of 5

Absolutely great!! We would recommend to everyone looking for an authentic ceilidh event. BRILLIANT!!

CV
Clare V
4 months ago
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5 out of 5

We had about 100 people ranging from 4 to 94. Everyone joined in and had a great time ! Excellent!

Read all 26 reviews

From other customers:

S
Sept
7 years ago

Hi Dave Many thanks for tonight - superb. Really glad you got them all up dancing - you're a great front man. Best regards, Colin

O
October
7 years ago

A fantastic band!! Very friendly and great music - had everybody on the dance floor. Thanks for a super night!

Read all 5 reviews