Hire Caperbility | Ceilidh band in Braintree

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From£500

1 hour

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Ceilidh - Typical Dance Programme!

Wedding Ceilidh

Wedding Ceilidh - Caperbility

About Caperbility

We play for dance! Ceilidh, barn dance, Jane Austen/Bridgerton, Playford/Poldark . As seen on TV!

3 of 6 photos

Ceilidh band

Braintree

Public liability insurance of £10 million

Caperbility is Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer's Dance Band. Able to play for different occasions, whether a ceilidh, barn dance, Jane Austen or Bridgerton themed regency dance, American contra or Playford Ball. In blacks, checked shirts or in period costume. Available as an affordable duo plus caller, or as a larger band with guest musicians. As seen on BBC1's Holby City. Channel 4's Harvest on the Farm and ITV The Winter King We also do Maypole!

Caperbility

5 out of 5

6 verified reviews

Satisfaction

5.0

Professionalism

5.0

Communication

5.0

Punctuality

5.0

Caperbility's Reviews

5 out of 5

What an amazing night! Everyone had a fantastic time and the band were great. Very friendly and entertaining. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is planning a ceilidh.

Reply from Caperbility

5 months ago

Thank you! It was a really fun evening! Everyone danced with such enthusiasm. :D

5 out of 5

Caperbility were the ceilidh band for my wedding Oct 7 and they were amazing! Very responsive, accommodating and enthusiastic - our venue had certain restrictions (ie they don’t allow for amplification) but Vicki and Johnny were more than happy to adjust to playing acoustically for a crowd of up to 60-70 and it worked! They were also very professional and as someone with not much experience organising ceilidhs, they were very patient and helpful. I would definitely recommend them! Especially if you’re on a budget, they are great value for money :) Can’t thank them enough in making our wedding fun and memorable!

Reply from Caperbility

5 months ago

Thank you so much! It was a really, really lovely evening. Everyone danced with such enthusiasm, it was amazing!

5 out of 5

Book this band!!! Honestly, they made our wedding. They were all lovely, the caller was hilarious and so patient, the music was beautiful, their communication was fab, amd the whole experience was just fantastic. We had the best time ever. Thank you thank you thank you! If I could give 100 stars, I would. We loved you!

Reply from Caperbility

5 months ago

Thank you for having us be part of your special day. It was such fun and everyone was brilliant! Thank you!

5 out of 5

Absolutely wonderful music, the caller was great fun and managed to organise us somehow! They were responsive to questions in advance and punctual on the evening. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Reply from Caperbility

1 year ago

Thank you so much! We had a really great evening, everyone was really up for dancing and it was a lot of fun. Thank you for having us to play!

Read all 6 reviews

Thank you for making our wedding so special, it was truly a night to remember

Right from the very start, they constantly surprise and amaze everyone with an appetising feast of maggots, jigs, bourees and anything that walks – or skips – on the earth.

Encore badges

As seen on TV!

Has performed on television

5 gigs

Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore

Saved the day!

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

8th Anniversary

This act has been working with Encore for over 8 years

Encore expert

Demonstrated expertise by completing the Encore Academy

Member of the Encore community forum

Caperbility's Song list

Aulderley Edge

Barley Reel

Bridge of Athlone

Cherapeka

Circassian Circle

Circle Waltz

Clopton Bridge

Cumberland Reel

Cumberland Square 8

Dashing White Sergeant

Dracula's Supper Dance

Falling masonary

Flying Scotsman

Gay Gordons

Holmfirth Square Dance

Hooligan's Jig

Lucky 7

OXO Reel

PING!

Sausage Machine

Sir Roger de Coverly

Strip the Willow

Suicide Square Dance

Virginia Reel

Yarmouth Long Dance

Our ECD list during lockdown:

A Bruxa: Tune is Flying Sourceress

A Mover and Shaker

A New Beginning

A Trip to Paris

Alice

All Saints Day (tune: Chestnut)

Amy

An Early Frost

An Enchanted Place

Anniversary Waltz

Apley House

Apollo & Daphne

April Star

Archer (The)

Atomic (March of St Timothy)

Atossa's Gift

Ash Grove (The) Dance is Oak Grove

Ashworth for the dance Ponderosa Pines

Astoria Lass

Auretti's Dutch Skipper

Autumn in Amherst

Autumn on the River

Bar a Bar

Barbarini's Tambourine

Barham Down

Beautyberry

Before the Light (Tune is Dawn)

Bellamira

Belle of Amherst

Benjamin's Birth Day

Birthday at Brasstown

Bishop of Chesters Jigg (Purcell/Playford)

Black Jack (Black Joke)

Blue Heron Waltz, tune by Rachel Bell

Bob's Boomerang

Bonnie at Morn

Boxing Day - Good King Wenceslas

The Countryman's Hat, Tune: Bracken Rigg

Braes of Nornoch

Bransl des Chevaux

Bryon's Boutade

Changling

Chelmsford Assembly

Childgrove

The Chocolate Equation

Chocolate Round O

Christina

Cockle Shells

Cold Weather Waltz

Come with Voices Singing

Companions

Constant Lover (The)

Corelli's Maggot

Cross My Heart

Darlene's Roll Tune (Fair Jenny's Jig)

Delia

Devils Maggot

Dick’s Maggot

Doctor Vincent's Delight

Dover Pier

Draw, Cupid, Draw

Dr. Who Pirate Jig for the dance The Unknown Buccaneer, green Barnes

Dublin Bay (We'll Wed and We'll Bed)

Duke of Kent's Waltz

Dunham Oaks

Drive the Cold Winter Away

Easter Thursday

Elizabeth

Emma's Commencement

Emperor of the Moon

Epping Forest

Fair Quaker of Deal (The)

Fandango

Ffaniglen - March of the Men of Devon

Farewell Marian

Farewell to Maine

Farmer's Joy

Female Sayler (The)

Fiddlers Wife (jon Berger)

Fireworks - zoomified

Flora and Phaon

Fourpence Ha'penny Farthing

Freeford Gardens

Gathering Peascods

Gentle Soul (A)

Gentleman's Delight

Goddesses

Gold for Mahieus

Goose and Gridiron

Gray's Inn Maske

Grimstock

Halfe Hannikin

Halsway Manors

Hambleton's Round-O

Handel With Care (Bouree by Handel)

Happy Marriage (The)

The Haymakers (Highland Lilt)

Heather Towers (Seven Stars)

Heidenroslein

Helena

Hill House

Highland Farewell

Hoffed Miss Hughes "Miss Hughes Fancy"

Holborn March

Hole in the wall

Horseplay (Branle des Chevaux)

Humours of Dublin, The Barnes 1, p. 54

Hyde Park

In the Bleak Mid Winter

In the Bleak Midwinter V2

Indian Queen

Irish Howle

Irish Lamentation

Jack’s Health

Jacques Latin

Jenny Pluck Pears

Josephines Dopvals

Juice of Barley

Juniata

Kelstern Gardens

Kentish Cricketers

Kersty’s Jig (Tune is The Fair Witness)

Key to the Cellar

Kneeland Romp

La Fanatique

La Gavre

Leather Lake House

Lilliburlero

Longevity

Look Park (Tambourin)

Love Always

Love and a Bottle

Love's Triumph

Lover's Luck (The)

Maiden Lane

Merry Gentles - God Rest Ye Merry

Merry Milkmaids in Green

Mendocino Redwoods

Michael and All Angels

Michedonia

Midnight Ramble

Midwinter Maggot

Mike's Health

Mile of Smiles

Millison’s Jig

Miss Sylvie's Delight

Mister Englefields New Hornpipe (Cobblers)

Mitre, The

Monterey Plowman

Moonflower

Mount Hills

Mr. Beveridge's Maggot

Mr. Eaglesfield's Hornpipe

Mr. Isaac's Maggot

Muriel's Treasure

New Friends

New Long Room at Scarborough

Nine for the Nine Bright Shiners NIB

Nonesuch

O Hanukah

Old Wife Behind the Fire

Ore Boggy

Pat's Tradition

Peace Be With You

Pebbles

A Perfect Ten

Pines Cones

Physical Snob (The)

Play's the Thing (The)

Please release me: Tune: Southwind

Potter's Wheel

Prince of Westborough

Puck's Deceit: Tune Kettledrum

Queen's Almain

Queen’s Jig (The)

Quizzical Snob

Rafe's Waltz

Ramblin' Rosie

Rebecka Ridinghoode

Revelations

Robin A Bobbin

Room for Ramblers

Rose of Sharon

Row Well, Ye Marriners

Rufty Tufty

Saint Margaret’s Hill

Salt of the Earth

Sapphire Sea

Saturday Triad (The) (Feeling for It)

Saucy Sailor

Scotch on the Rocks

Sellengers Round

Sheebeg and Sheemore (Bonny Cuckoo)

Shepherd's Delight

Sherry at the Ball

Simone's Semicentury - D'Utrechtse Vreeden

Simple Gifts / Shaker Tune

Six for Six Proud Walkers

Slaughter House

Softly Good Tummas

Spring in Sebastapol

Star of Kintra

Star of the County Down

Stitcher's Birthday (The)

Strawberrys and Cream

Summer in Morland

Sunlight Room (The) Dance is Sweet Cream

Sunlight Through the Draperies (Judy & Jims Wedding)

Take a dance

Tango in Toronto

Mr Lane's Maggot (La Rond)

Temple Tree (Founder's Day / Old Way's Best

Ties of Love (Tune The Rose By the Door)

Top and Bottom -note, this is AABB vs AABBB

Trip to Orpington

Trip to Tintagel Tune: Kings reel

Trip to Town-O (Foxhunters)

Turn of the Tide

Turning of the Year

Tyrolean Waltz (32),

Upon A Summer's Day

Ursa Minor

Vivaldi in Paradise

Waiting for Fish (Westward Bound)

Waterfall Waltz (Cascade Waltz)

Waves of Grain to Wheat

Way to Be Happy, The NIB

Way of the World

We Meet Again

Be Well in your Hall

Whately Barn

White Wheat

Winter in Brasstown (The Dovecote)

Winter Dreams

Winter Oranges Tune: (Pluck Me a Fig)

Wive's Victory

Woodshed (Tune: Megajig)

Wooing Mairi (and Maries Wedding)

Young Widow (The)

Zephyrs and Flora

Caperbility's Prices

Last updated: 2025

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

Performance duration	Price
Up to 1 hour	£500
Up to 2 hours	£500
Up to 3 hours	£500

Customer questions

Can you perform covers?

As a ceilidh duo we don't perform modern covers as standard, but they can be requested. It is possible to request any type of dance however.

Do you have different line-up options?

Our line-up is as follows: Musician 1 - Nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle), stomp box, flute Musician 2 - Bouzouki, accordion, keys, guitar plus caller Extra musicians can be brought in to augment the lineup.

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

We always try our best to be flexible to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. If timings change slightly in the run up to the event just let us know.

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

We can provide an iPod service before and between our sets.

How much time do you need to set up?

We usually set up about 1 to 1.5 hours before the performance time.

Do you provide a caller?

Yes we do! We have a fantastic caller as part of our Ceilidh band so just let us know whether you already have one, or don't need one, so we can adjust our line-up accordingly!

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

As a ceilidh band we don't generally have a song list. It is possible to choose from a variety of dances from standard to ceilidh to Playford.

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

Our PA and lighting system is included in your quote.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

As a ceilidh band songs aren't included in the set as standard, but we are more than happy to take requests. There is a fee of £50 for this service to take into account rehearsal times etc.

What do your clients love most about your performances?

Our variety of instruments and feel. Having a fun upbeat evening.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

We have performed a lot of ceilidhs all over the country. From village halls and barns to town halls.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Melrose Quartet

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

Sidmouth Folk Week, Broadstairs Folk Week, Warwick Castle

Musicianship

Genres:

Christmas, Folk, Ceilidh, Traditional English folk, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk

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Types:

Ceilidh band, Early music ensemble, Folk band

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Event types:

Private event, Wedding, Hotel / Restaurant event, Corporate event, Cruise, Burns night, Christmas party, New Year's Eve, Charity event, Concert, Birthday party

See all event types