Ceilidh band

Ceòl Beag Ceilidh Band

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About Ceòl Beag Ceilidh Band

Ceòl Beag is a popular contemporary, upbeat ceilidh band. We play for all kinds of events & guarantee a great night of dancing to remember.
Ceilidh band
Edinburgh
Public liability insurance of £10 million
Verified profile

"Made our evening perfect" "Plan on using them again" (they did) "They returned by popular demand the next year and did not let us down" There's a reason people book us more than once. We love ceilidhs! And we want to make sure that you and your guests walk away having had the best time. Ceòl Beag is a contemporary four piece band consisting of fiddle/caller, guitar/percussion, piano, and bass. We pride ourselves on providing a friendly service to all of our customers and making sure we do the best we can to make your event memorable. Don't be afraid if your guests have never ceilidh’d before - we know how to get everyone up and dancing, even if it's their first time! Our experienced caller knows how to make the dances easy! We have performed for a wide variety of events including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, engagement parties, corporate events, graduation balls, charity events, as well as for holidays such as Christmas parties, Hogmanay parties, Burns’ Night, St. Andrew's Day… whatever your event, we are delighted to bring the ceilidh. We are very flexible to suit whatever your needs are and can offer various options for your event. Different options include: 2-piece: fiddle/guitar 3-piece: fiddle/guitar/bass or fiddle/guitar/piano 4-piece: fiddle/guitar/piano/bass We also provide a DJ set as an optional extra to complete the night. As a professional band, our equipment is to the highest standard and fully PAT tested. We use a professional digital PA system as well as professional lighting equipment to make the music sound great and the dancefloor look great! We are confident that you and your guests will have a fantastic night of dancing to Ceòl Beag and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Ceòl Beag Ceilidh Band
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5 out of 5
23 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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4.9
Punctuality
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5.0

Ceòl Beag Ceilidh Band's Reviews

From Encore customers:

MI
Matthew I
1 month ago
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5 out of 5

A very good band, several people at our party said it was the best ceilidh they had ever been to. Just the right amount and pace of ceilidh.

Reply from Ceòl Beag Ceilidh Band
1 month ago

Thank you for your review of our performance. We had a great time playing for Victoria's birthday party. Everyone looked like they were having a fun time.

MG
Melania R
2 months ago
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5 out of 5

We had the best experience with Ceòl Beag! They were relaxed, accomodating and created a brilliant atmosphere for our guests. We had a lot of Spanish speakers at our wedding, and they organised a Spanish speaking caller who also was a piper! We couldn't have asked for a better ceilidh, our only regret was that we didn't hire them for longer because we didn't want to stop dancing! Thank you so much!

Reply from Ceòl Beag Ceilidh Band
2 months ago

Hi Melania, Thank you for the lovely review. Your ceilidh was one of the best we’ve played for in a while. EVERYONE was keen to dance, even first-timers and at times we even had difficulty hearing ourselves play which is a good sign that everyone was having fun. You chose a great venue for a ceilidh and the staff very helpful.

GW
George W
2 months ago
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5 out of 5

Alison, Willie and their band were very friendly and put on an absolutely brilliant ceilidh, putting people who weren't too sure of the steps at ease, having fun, really really great music and knowing which dances to play and when to up the tempo. It was a really brilliant ceilidh, and afterwards they used their sound system for a disco. We very highly recommend.

Reply from Ceòl Beag Ceilidh Band
2 months ago

Thank you for your review, George. It was a privilege to be part of your wedding day to play for you. Great to hear you all had a great time. Interestingly, the hotel staff (who were great to work with) said they'd never seen so many folks on the floor ceilidh dancing before, which for us is a success!

EG
Edward G
3 months ago
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5 out of 5

They were fantastic, flexible with timings and did a great job, ceilidh was a lot of fun

Reply from Ceòl Beag Ceilidh Band
3 months ago

Thank you for your review Edward. We had a great time playing for your wedding and was lots of fun for us too.

Read all 15 reviews

From other customers:

SS
Stewart S
7 months ago, for a Birthday party in 56a Queen Charlotte St
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5 out of 5

Ceol beag ceilidh band were brilliant, they set up an hour before, happy to fit in with the plan for the evening,. Discussed dances they thought would be good, but if I wanted something slightly different they were happy to accommodate. Caller good at explaining dances and encouraging everyone. All in all great musicians and lovely people.

AJ
Alexander J
3 years ago, for a Christmas party in 1-9 Inskip Terrace
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5 out of 5

We asked Ceol Beag to come and play for an event in Gateshead where most people hadn't Ceilidh'd before. The band did an amazing job of getting everyone involved - the reviews of the evening were amazing from everyone who came. I would highly recommend asking Ceol Beag to come to your event. (10 / 10)

Read all 8 reviews
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Ceòl Beag Ceilidh Band's Song list

We have a large repertoire of tunes that we play within our programme.
Listed is a selection of some of the tunes we play:
Ceilidh dances:
Barn Dance
Bridal Waltz
Circassian Circle
Competitive Flying Scotsman
Cumberland Reel
Dashing White Sergeant
Eightsome Reel
Flying Scotsman
Gay Gordons
Lomond Waltz
Military Two-step
Orcadian Strip the Willow
Progressive Canadian Barn Dance
Sausage Machine
St Bernard’s Waltz
Strip the Willow
Swedish Masquerade
The Reel of the 51st
The Virginia Reel
Virginia Reel
Waltzes
Some of the tunes in our sets:
Aiken Drum
Auld Rattray - Gay Gordons
Balkan Hills - Barn Dance
Bonnie Briar Bush - Lomond Waltz
Bonnie Gallawa - Lomond Waltz
Bottom of the Punch Bowl - Eightsome Reel
Braes Abune Bonawe - Lomond Waltz
Bridal Waltz
Bridge of Allan Capers - Strip the Willow
Brodick Bay - Gay Gordons
Calum Donaldson - Sausage Machine
Canadian Barn Dance
Circassian Circle
Competitive Flying Scotsman
Cumberland Reel
Dancers delight - Dashing White Sergeant
Deil Among the Tailors - Eightsome Reel
Devron Reel
Donald B. McTaggart - Sausage Machine
Dovecot Park
Dr Robertson - Flying Scotsman
Drumleys
Dundee City Police Pipe Band
Duke of Perth
Edmund McKenzie of Plockton - Cumberland Reel
Eightsome Reel
Elizabeth Air - Cumberland Reel
Fidget – Flying Scotsman
Flying Scotsman
Gay Gordons
Gillian’s Waltz
Highland Cradle Song - Waltz
Highland Lassie
Hurlocks Reel - Orcadian Strip the Willow
I Loe Nae a Laddie - Strip the Willow
Ian MacIntosh of Pine House
Irish Washerwoman - Orcadian Strip the Willow
Jewel of A Hundred Years - Barn Dance
Jock MacCallum of Rodel - Barn Dance
Jock O’ Hazeldean - St Bernard’s Waltz
Joe Fosters Jig
John Donald of Coulle
John Florence of Monymusk - Gay Gordons
John Spence of Uyeasound - Sausage Machine
Johnnie Cope - Flying Scotsman
Kate Dalrymple
Kenmuir’s on and Awa - Strip the Willow
Kirkconnel Lea - St Bernard’s Waltz
Lady McKenzie of Coull - Flying Scotsman
Links of Love - Waltz
Loch Lomond - Lomond Waltz
Loch Ruan
Macrostie Park - Gay Gordons
Malcolm Ross
Manola’s Reel - Sausage Machine
Margaret’s Waltz
Masons Apron - Eightsome Reel
Merryness Reel - Orcadian Strip the Willow
Military Two-step
Miss Linda McFarlane - Gay Gordons
Miss Susan Cooper - Sausage Machine
Morpeth Rant - Eightsome Reel
Morrison’s Jig - Orcadian Strip the Willow
Mrs McLeod - Eightsome Reel
Muckin’ O’ Geordie’s Byre - Strip the Willow
My Home - Waltz
My Little Jimmy - Gay Gordons
Nettie Fraser - Military Two Step
New High Level - Eightsome Reel
North Shore - Dashing White Sergeant
O’ Dem Golden Slippers - The Virginia Reel
Oh Suzannah - The Virginia Reel
Old Rosin the Beau - Strip the Willow
Orcadian Strip the Willow
Pat Donald
Pet of The Pipers - Orcadian Strip the Willow
Petronella
Progressive Canadian Barn Dance
Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee
Rakes of Mallow - Dashing White Sergeant
Reel of Stumpie - Flying Scotsman
Roaring Jelly - Orcadian Strip the Willow
Roxburgh Castle - Eightsome Reel
Royal Scotts Polka
Ruby’s Jig - Strip the Willow
Sausage Machine
She’s Aye A Kissin Me - Gay Gordons
Sid Chalmers - Cumberland Reel
Six Twenty Two Step
Snouts & Ears
Soldiers Joy - Circassian Circle
St Bernard’s Waltz
Standing Stones - Gay Gordons
Statin Island - Circassian Circle
Strip the Willow
Swedish Masquerade
Tarry a While - Cumberland Reel
The Barrowburn Reel - Sausage Machine
The Blackthorn Stick - Strip the Willow
The Blasted Man - Military Two Step
The Crooked Stove Pipe - The Virginia Reel
The Dandy Dancer - Cumberland Reel
The Duchess of Buchleugh - Flying Scotsman
The Duchess Tree - Waltz
The Family Pride - Jigs
The Flourish - Strip the Willow
The Hardanger - Cumberland Reel
The Hills of Perth
The Honey Harbour - Gay Gordons
The Kettle Drum - Flying Scotsman
The Merry Reapers - Dashing White Sergeant
The New Brunswick - Dashing White Sergeant
The Peat Bog - Orcadian Strip the Willow
The Quarryman - Strip the Willow
The Reel of the 51st
The Rev Peter Fenton
The Rose Tree
The Skye Crofters - Barn Dance
The Swamp Lake - Dashing White Sergeant
The Ton - Gay Gordons
Thurso Wedding - Flying Scotsman
Turkey in the Straw - The Virginia Reel
Virginia Reel
Waltz for Tracey
Wee man at the Loom
Where, tell me Where - St Bernard’s Waltz
Willafjord - Sausage Machine
Winchester Gallop
Wratten’s Welcome to the Queen Mother - Sausage Machine
Auld Lang Syne

Ceòl Beag Ceilidh Band's Prices

Last updated: 2025

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

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Up to 1 hour£850
Up to 2 hours£950
Up to 3 hours£1000
Packages
Wedding ceremony2 musicians
This can include music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave (acoustic). Exact price depends on duration and number of performers
£400
Drinks reception2 musicians
Two sets (45 mins each) during your drinks reception (acoustic). Exact price depends on duration and number of performers
£400
Wedding ceremony + Drinks reception + Dinner2 musicians
- Music before & after the ceremony - Background music at the drinks reception. - Background music as dinner is being served. (acoustic). Exact price depends on duration and number of performers
£650

Add-ons

DJ set with upgraded PA
+£100
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

We love playing at ceilidhs and have great fun doing so. This translates to the dancers having a great evening. We are a contempory enthusiastic band with a full sound.

Can you perform covers?

We specialise in ceilidh dancing, with traditional instruments with a sound that is modern with a contemporary feel. We have a ceilidh caller to teach the dances, but not a singer. We don't perform cover versions of rock / pop songs, however if you have a particular popular song in mind, we will be happy allow you to play it through out PA system.

Do you have different line-up options?

Our most popular is the 3-piece line-up - fiddle/caller, guitar/percussion and bass. but we frequently add piano for a fuller band sound. 3-PIECE Fiddle/Caller Guitar/Percussion and Bass Fiddle Piano Bass Fiddle Guitar Piano 2-PIECE Fiddle Guitar (Trad Scottish) Violin Piano (Classical) SOLO Fiddle (Traditional Sottish) Violin (Classical) Gaelic singer

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

We are flexible. Timings frequently shift a little, so let us know and we will do our best for you.

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

We use a high quality digital PA system. You are welcome to connect a mobile device for background music between sets - just let us know in advance. If you wish to use our PA for an extended time before or after the ceilidh, we can usually provide this for an additional fee. We can also offer a DJ service as part of our package prices

How much time do you need to set up?

We allow an hour before the ceilidh start time to unload and set up the PA system discretely. If you prefer us to set up the PA earlier, for example because of speaches, please let us know - there may be a small additional fee if you require us to be set up earlier in the day.

Do you provide a caller?

Yes we always provide a caller who will encourage your guests onto the floor and teach them the dance steps. Our caller will encourage everyone can get involved by walking the dancers through the steps. Calling is often shared between the fiddler and the drummer and will always set the pace to suite your guests ability.

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

We are always happy to take requests. We have a large repertoire of tunes that have been carefully selected for all the popular Scottish ceilidh dances, however if you want a particular Scottish dance, that's no problem. Just let us know in advance so we can bring the music with us.

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

Yes, we will bring our own instruments, PA system and lights which are included in our quotation. All our electrical equipment is PAT tested and can supply a test certificate if required. We will need access to power sockets close to where you want the band to set up.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

We can certainly learn traditional tunes before the event, so just ask in advance. Other types of tunes may also be possible, so let us know what you have in mind. We are an instrumental only band, so songs are not an option.
Musicianship
Genres:
Ceilidh, Scottish music, Classical, Disco, Folk
See all genres
Event types:
Wedding, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Burns night, Birthday party, New Year's Eve, Hotel / Restaurant event, Charity event, Christmas party, Funeral / Memorial service, Concert, Recording session, Cruise
See all event types