Ceilidh band

Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band

Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
(4.9)Read all 22 reviews
Watch
Booking protection
Secure online payments
Free 48hr cancellations
Support available Mon-Sat
Like Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band?
Watch & Listen

About Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band

Vibrant and exciting ceilidh band based in Leeds, with experienced caller, Robin Fishwick.
Ceilidh band
Leeds
Public liability insurance of £5 million
Verified profile

Formed by experienced caller Robin Fishwick, Captain Bullhead have been playing for ceilidhs together since 2014. The band consists of a number of exciting young musicians (including whistle, flute, mandolin, fiddle and guitar) who first met and played together in folk sessions in Leeds. This musical friendship, coupled with Robin's energetic calling, makes for an exciting and entertaining night with dances suitable for all levels of experience. Captain Bullhead play music you want to dance to and show you how dance to it - even if you've never done it before in your life! We play weddings, parties, festivals - and anywhere you want to dance! Recent ceilidhs include Leeds University Folk Society, Ripon Sailing Club and All Hallows' Church, Leeds.

Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
4.9 out of 5
22 verified reviews
Satisfaction
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
4.9
Professionalism
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
4.9
Communication
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
4.8
Punctuality
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
4.9

Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band's Reviews

From Encore customers:

LP
Louise P
1 month ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

We booked Captain Bullhead to play at our wedding and we had an absolute blast! The band were brilliant at getting everyone up and dancing, and we and the guests had a fabulous time. Definitely would recommend!

Reply from Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band
1 month ago

Thanks so much Louise, it was a joy to be part of your celebrations!

JP
Josie P
2 months ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
4.8 out of 5

Great band, adapted to the vibe of the room and made it easy and fun!

SC
Steven C
5 months ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Band sounded great, caller did a great job dealing with folk who didn’t know the moves and was charismatic. Brought a great vibe to our wedding, thanks guys!

Reply from Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band
4 months ago

Really glad you enjoyed the ceilidh Steven, it was great to see everyone having a good time with the dancing! Thanks for inviting us to be a part of your beautiful wedding

SP
Sophie P
5 months ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

These guys were AMAZING. Robin the caller was brilliant - helped to explain everything so clearly and was so good at getting everyone involved. We had the best time ever dancing with these guys. I would recommend 10/10 to anyone looking for a fun and inclusive ceilidh band (who can get even the most musically challenged group dancing along!!!). Thank you all so much for playing at our wedding - we had the best time and you guys made it so much fun.

Reply from Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band
5 months ago

Thanks so much Sophie, we had a wonderful time and you all did so well with the dancing, the enthusiasm was infectious! Such a pleasure to be part of your wedding day in beautiful Eyam

Read all 18 reviews

From other customers:

RD
Rosie D
5 years ago, for a Private event in Sheffield
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

For our last ceilidh of the year we were thrilled to have the Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band play for us. A spirited and lively band whose music got people out of their seats with enthusiasm. They helped to make the night one to remember!

EM
Emily M
5 years ago, for a Wedding in Warwickshire
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Sarah and I had a fantastic wedding reception using Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band. The caller was fantastic, he made sure all of our guests were involved and had fun. He was very clear with his instructions so we all knew, roughly, what to do! The music itself was gorgeous and the dances lasted the right amount of time, enough for us to feel confident with the dances but not so long that we we fell to the floor with exhaustion. We would definitely recommend them to a friend!

Read all 4 reviews
Encore badges
Top 10 booked musician of 2023
25 gigs
Pro: 25 bookings through Encore
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
6th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 6 years

Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band's Song list

Dances:
Derrada Reel
Polly's Polka
Riverside Jig
Strip The Willow
Mazurka
Cumberland Square
Dashing White Sergeant
Virginia Reel
Sliabh Luachra
Farandole
Flying Scotsman
Gay Gordon's
Thayde You Gander
Folk Classics / 'Folked up' Covers:
Whiskey In The Jar (The Dubliners)
The Wild Rover (The Pogues)
Tell Me Ma (Sham Rock)
Wild Mountain Thyme/Will Ye Go Lassie Go (The Corries)
Molly Malone (The Dubliners)
Dirty Old Town (The Dubliners)
Galway Girl (Steve Earle)
Black Velvet Band (The Dubliners)
The Boxer (Simon and Garfunkel)
Blowin' In The Wind (Bob Dylan)
Country Roads (John Denver)
Auld Triangle (The Pogues)
Parting Glass (Trad.)
Jolene (Dolly Parton)
Valerie (Amy Winehouse)
Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
500 Miles (The Proclaimers)
I'm a Believer (The Monkees)
Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash)
Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Angels (Robbie Williams)
Dancing Queen (Abba)
Instrumental tunes:
Superfly
The High Drive
Da Lounge Room
Si Beag Si Mor
Cock of the North
Hundred Pipers
Banish Misfortune
Rattling Bog
Mairi's Wedding
La Sansonette
Horizonto
Merrily Kissed the Quaker
Blarney Pilgrim
Morgan Rattler
Miss Rowan Davies
Bye a While
Sportman's Hornpipe
Silver Spear
The Banshee Reel
Salmon Tails
Winster Gallop
The Rabbit
Soggy's Slip Jig
Maid Behind the Bar
Cooleys
Miss McLeod's
Gravel Walks
Frank's Reel
AJ's
Calliope House
MacArthur Road
Charlesworth Hornpipe
Lilting Banshee
Jimmy Allen's
Fanny Power
John Ryan's
Egan's Polka
Horse Keane's Hornpipe
Wedding Reel
Rose in the Heather
Humours of Glendart
The Lisnagun
The Kesh
Seven Stars
Out on the Ocean
Lochaber Badger
The Butterfly
Lucy Farr
Gallopede
Night til Morn
The White Petticoat
Shoals of Foula
Maggie O'Ham
Morrison's
Stan Chapman's
Dearne Valley
Hesleyside
Rakes of Mallow
Bill Sullivan's
Boxing Reel
Tripping up the Stars
Dashing White Sergeant
Soldier's Joy
Muireann's
Tobin's Favourite
Miller's Maggot
Nusa
Swannanoa Waltz
Midnight on the Water
The Rolling Waves
The Frost is All Over
The Humours of Tulla
Hare in the Corn
Lark in the Morning
Billy in the Low Ground
Edinburgh Rock Reel
Behind the Haystack
Blackthorn Stick
Christy Barry's
Homer's
Horse's Bransle
Leaving Uist
Merry Blacksmith
Michael Turner's
Roddy McDonald's
Pipe Major Jimmy McGregor
Dolina MacKay
The South Wind
Three Around Three
Wind that Shakes the Barley
The Cup of Tea
King of the Fairies
Saint Anne's
Boys of Bluehill
Off to California
Inisheer
My Darling Asleep
Hellebore
Foxhunter's
Atholl Highlanders
MacLeod's Farewell
Lads of Alnwick
Catharsis
Rusty Gully
Princess Royal
Whiskey Before Breakfast
Farewell to Whalley Range
Spootiskerry
Willafjord
Green Gowned Lass
The Sloe
Bonnie Kate

Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band'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£1025
Up to 2 hours£1125
Up to 3 hours£1325
Packages
The 'micro ceilidh'! 3 musicians
The perfect option for gatherings that are small on space or numbers of guests. 2 musicians + caller, 1 x 60 minute set of dancing, full PA system provision
£850
Folk trio - background music3 musicians
Instrumental folk music for during drinks receptions, dinners and more. Up to 2 hours of music, either acoustically or amplifed (full PA provision available)
£925

Add-ons

PA hire (60 mins)
+£125
PA hire (120 mins)
+£200
Customer questions

Can you perform covers?

Yes, no problem. We have a range of covers we're happy to perform in addition to the traditional Ceilidh music.

Do you have different line-up options?

Our standard 4 piece line-up is as follows: Caller (to teach the dances) Flute/Whistle, Guitar, Mandolin. We also have a 5 piece option that includes fiddle.

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?

Absolutely. This is a really popular request and we actually offer this service for free.

How much time do you need to set up?

We usually set up about 45 minutes to 1 hour before the performance time. As soon as our PA is set up we can provide a free playlist service to help set the atmosphere and get your guests ready for our live performance!

Do you provide a caller?

Yes we do, we have a fantastic caller as part of our Ceilidh band. Just let us know if you don't need one, so we can adjust our line-up accordingly.

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

We have designated sets of traditional tunes which go with our dances and play the odd song in between during short breaks. If you'd really like a particular song, do let us know and we will squeeze it in!

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

Our PA system is included in your quote. We usually require about 5m by 3m space to perform.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

If a song isn't included in our song list there may still be a chance we already know it. If there is a special song you'd like us to learn we are happy to do this for you.

What do your clients love most about your performances?

The most common feedback we get from our clients is that they love the enthusiasm of our amazing caller! The excellent musicianship of our band and the professional way in which we carry out our work are also often praised.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

We have performed in some beautiful halls and churches around Yorkshire including St. Marks Church, Blenheim Baptist Church and Ripon Sailing Club. We have also been specially requested for weddings and holiday resorts around the UK.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

We are all huge fans of UK folk legends LAU, John Doyle, John McCusker and Mike McGoldrick and Flook. Also, Paul Brady & Andy Irvine, Planxty and the Dubliners are classics we love to draw on!

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

We have played ceilidhs for Leeds University Folk Society a number of times in the LUU's famous Riley Smith Hall.
Musicianship
Genres:
Folk, Ceilidh, Traditional English folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Traditional Irish folk
See all genres
Event types:
Wedding, 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, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types