Hire John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling | Ceilidh band in Aylesbury

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From£600

1 hour

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Milly's 18th birthday ceilidh

Adam & Yvonne Wedding Ceilidh in Tetbury (July 2023)

Wedding Ceilidh for Phil & Hannah (April 2023)

About John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling

One of the most experienced callers in the UK, running large reeling/ceilidh events as well as 'calling' at private events of all kinds.

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Ceilidh band

Aylesbury

Public liability insurance of £5 million

John is a highly experienced ceilidh caller with over 350 successful events to his name, and he is capable of delivering an unforgettable Scottish dance experience for your guests. From intimate weddings to large Burns Night Suppers, private parties, and even a royal engagement at Buckingham Palace, he has a proven track record of success. John's calling skills are unparalleled and his carefully curated playlist of the best ceilidh tunes will have your guests dancing the night away. His streamlined setup eliminates the need for an additional band, and he has experience of entertaining groups from 40-400 in size, regardless of age or experience. With his upbeat, inclusive, and relaxed style, John guarantees to get everyone involved and having a great time. He will expertly guide your guests through the most popular ceilidh dances and end the evening on a high note with a rousing Strip the Willow that's sure to be remembered. John would be honoured to bring his skills and experience to your event. Please don't hesitate to contact him to discuss how he can make your ceilidh an unforgettable experience.

John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling

5 out of 5

17 verified reviews

Satisfaction

5.0

Professionalism

5.0

Communication

4.9

Punctuality

5.0

John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling's Reviews

5 out of 5

John was absolutely amazing!! He was so clear with his instructions and made it so fun! Would definitely recommend! 10/10 Ellen & Richard

Reply from John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling

2 months ago

Thanks Ellen, it was a wonderful occasion in a fantastic venue. Thanks so much for having me along 🙏

4.8 out of 5

John was absolutely brilliant. He was flexible when we ran behind, extremely friendly and the ceilidh was so fun and was accessible for everyone from age 3 to 70-something, including a guest in a wheelchair. The groom said it's the most fun (and exercise) he's ever had at a wedding reception. It was mad, hilarious and entertaining. It was also a lot of fun to watch for those who didn't have the energy to join in. As the bride I was so sad to not have the energy (chronic fatigue sufferer) as it looked SUCH fun, but it was wonderful seeing everyone having such a whale of a time. We couldn't have asked for a better ceilidh caller – thank you so much, John, for a fantastic evening!

Reply from John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling

3 months ago

Thank you Rachel, what a wonderful wedding with such enthusiastic guests! :-)

5 out of 5

Absolutely fantastic ceilidh caller. John called for our wedding in June this year. He is very professional and experienced. John got everyone on the dance floor despite most people never having ceilidhed before. Would highly recommend his services!

Reply from John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling

4 months ago

Thank you so much, Olivia! It was an absolute pleasure calling at your wedding alongside the Frank Reid Band, and I’m delighted everyone enjoyed the dancing. Wishing you both all the very best for the future!

5 out of 5

John was great at my 30th Birthday. He managed to work with 100 guests in a crowded marquee, with the rain pounding outside, seamlessly. We all had a fantastic time, there wasn’t a face without a smile on it. Thanks so much John! I’m sure you’ll receive a booking again from us soon.

Reply from John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling

5 months ago

Thank you Sam - it was my pleasure to call for you and your guests, even despite the terrible weather!

Read all 17 reviews

John has been the 'caller' at a number of major London ceilidh & reeling events I've hosted for the "We're here for the Dance" group in recent years, and has been instrumental to their success. Making an evening so much fun whilst transforming complete beginners into seasoned reeling pros is no easy challenge, but he achieves it every time. If you're planning a ceilidh or evening of reels, get John on board!

John was our first choice of caller for our school's annual Caledonian Ball, as we knew we could rely on him to guide our enthusiastic (but inexperienced) pupils and parents through an evening of ceilidh and reeling dances. It was huge fun, and he delivered above and beyond our wildest expectations. Our guests are already queueing up for next year, so we will be sure to ask him to MC again. Great job!

Read all 8 reviews

Encore badges

10 gigs

Experienced: 10 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

John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling's Song list

John has a tried & tested repertoire of dances that he 'calls' for events, depending on the age/ability/experience of his guests. Typical examples include the following, but he has many more dances up his sleeve too!

CEILIDH DANCES

Circassian Circle

Dashing White Sergeant

Virginia Reel

Flying Scotsman

Gay Gordons

Canadian Barn Dance

Dunedin Festival Jig

Cumberland Reel

Strip the Willow

REELING DANCES

Dashing White Sergeant

Eightsome Reel

Foursome Reel

Hamilton House

Duke of Perth

Duke & Duchess of Edinburgh

Inverness Country Dance

Speed The Plough

Mairi's Wedding

Posties Jig

Machine without Horses

Reel of the 51st

OTHERS

Johnnie Walker

Hurlingham Quadrangle

Cumberland Square Eight

John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling's Prices

Last updated: 2025

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

Duration	Price
Up to 1 hour	£600
Up to 2 hours	£600
Up to 3 hours	£600

Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

What do people like about my calling? Super clear instructions, my ability to select the right dances to fit the audience. My ability to make the whole experience fun, fun, fun, I never get stressed or angry or frustrated. And my playlist, which is the best music for ceilidhs ever recorded, is hugely enjoyable to dance to

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

I have run over 350 ceilidhs but most notable venues include: Buckingham Palace Houses of Parliament Hurlingham Club Royal Caledonian Club Battersea Arts Centre St Columba's Church, Pont Street Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and many more

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

In the world of calling for ceilidhs and reels, I've had to forge my own path. I'm always learning and tweaking my performance to make it better and better as a result

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

The Reel Thing, a Scottish dancing event for 500 guests at the Battersea Arts Centre in London

Can you perform covers?

N/A

Do you have different line-up options?

N/A

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

No problem at all, just let me know and I'm likely to be able to help as long as it's not a major change

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

Yes I bring my own PA system with excellent quality speakers and have all the adaptors to connect to android phones or iPhones.

How much time do you need to set up?

30 minutes as long as I can park close to the venue. I need to make 3 trips to and from my car to move everything, that's the most time-consuming bit

Do you provide a caller?

Yes, I'm the caller! And which ever band you book, it's worth noting that getting a good caller is your most important decision. As the saying goes "combine a mediocre band with an excellent caller and you can have a very successful evening, but combine a superb band with a poor caller and the evening can be a disaster"

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

If you want to choose a dance from those I normally include, that's absolutely fine. If you want me to call a new dance that I've not called before, please give me plenty of advance warning

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

Yes, my PA system with top of the range speakers, amp and mixer, all my music, and all calling is all included

Can you learn song requests before the event?

N/A

Musicianship

Genres:

Ceilidh, Traditional Scottish folk

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Types:

Ceilidh band

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Event types:

Wedding, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Corporate event, Private event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Charity event, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve

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