Celtic folk band

The Counterfeit Celts

Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
(5.0)Read all 10 reviews
Watch
Booking protection
Secure online payments
Free 48hr cancellations
Support available Mon-Sun
Like The Counterfeit Celts?
Watch & Listen

About The Counterfeit Celts

Footstompin Irish, Country and rock n roll wedding, function and party band, guaranteed to get your guests up dancing.
Celtic folk band
Scarborough
Public liability insurance of £1 million

Introducing "The Counterfeit Celts"! 🎶 About Us 🎶 "The Counterfeit Celts" are a dynamic four-piece Irish folk rock band with a passion for igniting every event with the lively spirit of Celtic music. Comprising a team of highly experienced musicians, our band is your guarantee of a memorable, foot-stomping good time. 🪕 Our Sound 🪕 We specialize in the heartwarming and foot-tapping tunes of Irish folk rock. With our wide repertoire, we know hundreds of songs to ensure we bring the perfect melodies to your event. Whether it's classic ballads, energetic jigs, or contemporary Celtic hits, we've got it covered. 🎵 The Experience 🎵 Our talented musicians have spent years perfecting their craft, captivating audiences with their skillful performances. You can trust "The Counterfeit Celts" to provide an unforgettable musical experience that resonates with your guests. 🎤 Equipment and Reliability 🎤 Equipped with our own top-tier gear, you can count on us to deliver a seamless and high-quality performance. We take pride in our professionalism and reliability, ensuring that we set up on time and provide a stellar show, every time. 🎉 Let's Get the Party Started! 🎉 "The Counterfeit Celts" are your go-to band for events that need that extra touch of Celtic charm. Whether it's a wedding, festival, corporate gathering, or any celebration, we guarantee to get the party going. Contact us today for a personalized quote and let us make your event an unforgettable experience! 🎉🎶 We are a band of musicians with many years of experience collaborating to form an outstanding foot stomping live Irish/Country Rock &Roll band. We can and have played many clubs and big established Irish venues. Also a whole host of private function gigs. We carry professional PAT tested equipment, predominately top of the range compact Bose systems which will fit on the smallest of stages, to create the best sound for each venue. We use a hybrid electronic drum kit so we can control the onstage volume. We cater for small function rooms right up to 500 capacity seated venues. We play a wide variety of traditional Irish/Celtic standards and jigs. We play a set of popular country music hits and the usual rock & roll classics. We can play a chilled out acoustic set or a high energy performance to suit the venue’s requirements. Our singer is established in the Irish music scene for many years and is a very accomplished mandolin player for that authentic Irish sound. We can mix and match our genres to suit the event. We have headlined several country, Irish and folk festivals. Each musician in their own right has performed professionally for 3 decades in the business. We have only recently joined Encore our first online experience and hoping to become one of the most booked Irish Celtic band via this platform .We all have the dedication and love to bring our show to venues far and wide . We love to play and raise the roof !Our passion is live performance and bringing joy and happiness to our audience whist doing what we love .The Counterfeit Celts

The Counterfeit Celts
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5
9 verified reviews
Satisfaction
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5.0
Professionalism
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5.0
Communication
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5.0
Punctuality
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5.0

The Counterfeit Celts' Reviews

From Encore customers:

MG
Mona G
1 month ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Yarm had such a great time with The Counterfeit Celts! They gave us a brilliant performance with a fantastic range of songs to suit all! Highly, highly, highly recommended this band for music and entertainment!

KD
Katie D
6 months ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

We hired this band for our reception drinks during our wedding. We asked for Irish folk music and it was an absolute brilliant choice for the day time. The band was also kind enough to learn my favourite song and let a few of the guests sing, so a big thank you for that!

Reply from The Counterfeit Celts
6 months ago

Thanks Katie for your complementary review .We had a great session at your wedding reception .!Thanks so much for booking us for our first Encore gig ! Health and happiness to you both . All the best for the future The Counterfeit Celts x

From other customers:

VA
Venessa A
7 months ago, for a Concert in High St
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

We booked The Counterfeit Celts as a last minute band for the the "Pickering Rocks" event on Pickering High Street, and Im glad I did! Even though there was a massive crowd of hundreds, the Celts just took it in their stride and smashed out an hours fantastic set of classic country, Irish and Rock songs. They showed some fantastic musicianship with everything from "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" through "Free Bird" and finished with "Bohemian Rhapsody". We where honestly blown away with their music, as were our concert goers. They turned up on time with all their gear, set up in no time without any fuss and were truly professional throughout. Well recommended for any event big or small you are thinking of holding :)

LN
Liz N
8 months ago, for a Bar / Club / Venue event in BD20 8JB
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

We found the counterfeit celts online and just booked them on spec....so glad we did they absolutely RAISED THE ROOF at our country event "The Hillbilly Honkytonk Festival". Started with "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and smashed the end with "Bohemian Rhapsody"! Got everyone dancing and singing along. Also they were great to work with, stayed in constant contact, arrived on time, great bunch. Will definitely be securing them for next year! Highly Recommended.

Read all 8 reviews
Encore badges
5 gigs
Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore
Member of the Encore community forum

The Counterfeit Celts' Song list

Trad Irish
Masons Apron – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
7 Drunken Nights – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
Black Velvet Band – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
The Irish Rover – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
The Wellerman – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
(What shall we do with a) Drunken Sailor – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
Fields of Athenry – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
Dirty Old Town – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
The Lonesome Boatman – The Fureys
Morrisons Jig – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
Star of the County Down – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
3 jig - The Irish Washerwoman etc
Whiskey in the Jar – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
Wild Rover – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
Tell me Ma – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
Country/Country Rock
The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
House of the Rising Sun – Trad – Arr. C. Celts
Fulsome Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
Freebird – Lynard Skynard
The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
Bad Moon Rising – Credence Clearwater Revival
Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry
500 Miles – The Proclaimers
Others
Galway girl – Steve Earl
Losing my religion - REM
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Bohemian Rhapsody (Yes!) - Queen
Whisky In The Jar (arr Thin Lizzie)
Brown Eye Girl (Van Morrison)
This is the Life (Amy Mconald)
Zombie (The Cranberries)
Boys are back in Town (Thin Lizzie)
Sound of Silence ("Similar to" disturbed)
I will always Love You ("Similar to" Kenny Rogers version)
Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles
Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash)
On the Road Again (Willie Nelson)
Dublin in the Rare Auld Times (Trad)
Green Fields of France (Trad)
Carrigfurgus (Trad)
We also offer "Bandeoke", which is karaoke with a live band! We encourage people to get up and sing (or even play) with us! Great for breaking the ice. Too many songs to list, but a selection of hundreds! Here are just a few...
Mamma Mia - Abba
I will survive - Gloria Gaynor
Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Bed of Roses - Bon Jovi
Black Velvet - Allanah Miles
Sweet Child of Mine - GnR
Dont Stop Believing - Journey
Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
Valerie - Amy Winehouse
Who Knew - Pink
Stand By Me - Ben E King
You Oughta know - Alanis Morisette
Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus
Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf
Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens
Shake Senoria - Harry Belefonte
On My Way - Rusted Root
No Woman no Cry - Bob Marley
3 Little Birds - Bob Marley
I just wanna - Etta James
Whole Lotta Rosie - AC/DC
Alright Now - Free
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zepplin
La Bamba - Los Lobos
Dance the Night Away - The Maverics
You Got the Look - Prince
Purple Rain - Prince
Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones
Whats up - 4 Non Blondes
Ive Got a Feeling - Black EyedPeas
Lip up Fatty - the Specials
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynard Skynard
Under the Bridge - Red hot Chilli Peppers
Wish you were here - Pink Floyd
Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd
Our group consists of a core of central members, shared roles, and understudies (this way we ALWAYS make the gig). One of our guitarists is also a fine singer, and has these songs on his set.
Folsom prison
Maybe baby
I doesn’t matter anymore
16 tonnes/hit the road jack
Big river/hey porter
Ob la de
Blame it on me
On the road again
Wagon wheel
Boy named sue
You are my sunshine
Run around sue
I’ve been everywhere
Sweet Caroline
Beneath the piano
That’s alright
12 bar medley
I will wait
Little lion man
Get rhythm
Ring of fire
Everyday
Oh boy
Honky Tonk woman
Rock and roll man
Forget you
Zombie
Wellerman
50 ways to leave your lover
Shotgun
Budapest
Boxer
Bad habits
Shivers
A team
Pumped up kicks
Wake me up
Lone pine hil
You need me
Stand by me, Oasis
Set an on the Dock of the Bay
Me and my car
Stand by me
Knocking on heavens door
One more night in Brooklyn
Lala blues
Central pacific
Central time
Post war blues
Unlock doors
You’ve got a friend in me
Homeless
Hurt
Black and gold
Ain’t no Sunshine
Well, all right
Don’t be cruel
Guitar man
Wild rover
I’ll tell me Ma
Seven. Drunken nights.
Galway Girl
Luther played the boogie Woogie
Disappear
I think we’re alone now
Working 9 to 5
Castle on the hill
Brown eyed girl
Old number seven
The plank
Hey mister
All shook up
Smells like teen spirit
Wonderwall
Let the rain come Down
Love me, do
Hide your Love away
I’m yours
Knocking on heavens door
Son of a Preacher man
Twist and shout
Unchain my heart
All along the watchtower
Personal Jesus
What do I know?
Pencil full of lead
I got stripes
Cocaine blues
For what it’s worth
Moving
Yesterday
Palisade
Fat man
Lucky man
Run it
Good things
Bitter sweet sympathy
Dreams
Peggy sue
Hold my girl
Redemption song
Love yourself
Bad moon rising
Jail house rock
Money game
Hi ren
Blueberry hill
Give my love to rose
Symphony. Of the Devil.
These boots are made for walking
Saw her standing there
Fly me to the moon
Oh Lala
Step on
Everlong
Sweet child of mine
Fields of Athenry
Caledonia
Take it easy
Dreaming of you
Are used to love her
Paint it, black
Chalk outlines
Life is funny

The Counterfeit Celts' Prices

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

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Up to 1 hour£800
Up to 2 hours£900
Up to 3 hours£1000
Packages
Wedding ceremony4 musicians
This includes music before the service begins, music during the signing of the register, and music as guests leave.
£187.50
Drinks reception4 musicians
Two performances of up to 45 mins each during your drinks reception
£250

Add-ons

Bandeoke!
+£100
DJ set
+£300
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

The fact that for an Irish band, were not stuck in one Genre. Yes we play some trad Irish tunes/songs for variety, but also modern Irish stuff like Thin Lizzy, The Cranberries, the Undertones etc. Also our country stuff always goes down well....country music is just Irish music played by emigrants after all...

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Weve played a great number of Irish bars in different cities, but were just as comfortable with a normal bar. Weve also played at and headlined both normal and folk festivals, as well as stalely homes. Irish music is loved everywhere.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Were very diverse. The Dubliners were every Irish bands influence obviously, but also The Pogues, The Levellers, The Irish Rovers, Floggin Molly. With the country stuff, Cash, Parton, Rogers etc.

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

Probably when they turned Pickering high street into a massive music festival. Our video of us performing Bohemian Rhapsody there is on our profile.

Do you have different line-up options?

Our lineup as a four piece is vocals, backing vocals, mandolin, guitars, bass an electronic drums (not loud!) . We can also play as a 3 piece electric, 3 piece acoustic, a duo or solo if you require. We use modern compact equipment, and we've managed to fit on the smallest stages as well as the biggest ones in Yorkshire.

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

We always fit in around whatever event you have booked us for. All our members are either full time musicians or self employed, so other work commitments aren't a problem. Just let us know and we will turn up bright eyed and bushy tailed!

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

No problem if you would like this. We can play some music thats appropriate to our set, or a playlist of your choice... just send us the details of what you require and can make it happen.

How much time do you need to set up?

We like about 40 minutes to get it right, though weve had it down to 22 minutes in the past! We can set up very discreetly and only need about a minute to check that the sound is right, so we wont disturb your guests with lengthy soundchecks.

Can you roam around while you perform?

Never been asked! We're up for anything though!

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

Absolutely! He who pays the piper calls the tune as they say!

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

All of our equipment is included in the price. Despite being a folk band, we use very modern, compact and unintrusive equipment. The electric drumkit we use means we can play at any volume thats needed, and we can fit into a space around two dinner tables if required.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

Weve over a century of experience playing in all kinds of bands, so the chances are we will know it! If you need something specific (a first dance or "special song") then let us know and we will work something out depending on the complexity. You can even sing it yourself with us if you like!
Musicianship
Genres:
Irish rock, Folk, Country, Folk rock, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Acoustic, Americana, Covers, Karaoke, Vintage, Rock, Classic rock, Scottish music
See all genres
Event types:
Bar / Club / Venue event, Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Burns night, New Year's Eve, Christmas party, Birthday party
See all event types