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From£500

1 hour

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Ceilidh in Hampshire (Dec 2022)

St Patricks Ceilidh (March 2023)

Ceilidh in Cambridge, Aug 2022

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.

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Saved the day!

Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice

5th Anniversary

This act has been working with Encore for over 5 years

5 gigs

Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore

Musicianship

Genres:

Ceilidh, Traditional Scottish folk

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Types:

Ceilidh band

See all types

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

See all event types

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!

Dashing White Sergeant

Circassian Circle

Virginia Reel

Flying Scotsman

Gay Gordons

Canadian Barn Dance

Dunedin Festival Jig

Strip the Willow

Eightsome Reel

Foursome Reel

Duke of Perth

Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

Reel of the 51st

Prices

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

Performance duration	Price
Up to 1 hour	£500
Up to 2 hours	£500
Up to 3 hours	£500

John Carver Reels & Ceilidh Calling

5 out of 5

2 verified reviews

Satisfaction

5.0

Professionalism

5.0

Communication

5.0

Punctuality

5.0

Reviews

5 out of 5

John was brilliant. We had such a wonderful time at our wedding. John arrived on time, brought all the equipment. The dancing was so much fun and all our guests loved it. We had a lovely time. Thank you very much.

5 out of 5

John Carver was a delight - he coped very well when faced by a large group of English , French and German teenagers , none of whom had done it beforel. But a mixture of charm and clear exposition meant he had them in the palm of his hand almost straight away , They loved it!

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!

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