Hire Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band | Ceilidh band in Leeds

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From£1025

1 hour

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Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band

Superfly/High Drive

Shoals of Foula/Maggie O'Ham

About Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band

Vibrant and exciting ceilidh band based in Leeds, with experienced caller, Robin Fishwick.

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Ceilidh band

Leeds

Public liability insurance of £5 million

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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

4.9 out of 5

22 verified reviews

Satisfaction

4.9

Professionalism

4.9

Communication

4.8

Punctuality

4.9

Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band's Reviews

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

23 days ago

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

4.8 out of 5

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

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

3 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

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

4 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

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!

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”.

Performance duration	Price
Up to 1 hour	£1025
Up to 2 hours	£1125
Up to 3 hours	£1325

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

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

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Types:

Ceilidh band, Folk band, Celtic folk band

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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

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