Ceilidh band

The Brogues

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About The Brogues

The Brogues are a UK-based ceilidh band who met in Glasgow and now play all over the country. #lovetoceilidh
Ceilidh band
Glasgow
Public liability insurance of £1 million

The Brogues love to ceilidh - they’ve been doing it for years, and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. And they’d love to help you with your next one. With a history of organising dances and concerts for visitors on the Isle of Skye (home for two of them), they’ve since moved further afield, and have been involved in leading events across the UK and beyond. Active in writing their own tunes, the band’s sound is grounded in Scottish traditional folk music, with a modern feel. They’re a versatile bunch, though, adept at throwing in the odd fun quirk every now and then, and they’ll happily sing you a song or two (English or Gaelic) - just ask! In days gone by, almost every township or village in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland would have had a ‘ceilidh house’ - a place where people felt welcome, and found good company. It was here that folk shared the gift of entertaining each other in song, dance and story. It’s a custom that’s made Scotland famous throughout the world, and it’s this kind of atmosphere that the Brogues seek to create wherever they go. So whatever your event - big or small - get in touch and we’ll see what we can do. It would be our joy to help.

Encore badges
7th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 7 years
5 gigs
Experienced: 5 bookings through Encore
Musicianship
Genres:
Folk, Ceilidh, Folk rock, Traditional Scottish folk, Originals, Acoustic, Covers, Americana, Disco, Contemporary Christian, Christmas, Easy listening, Light music
See all genres
Event types:
Wedding, Wedding proposal, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve, Church service
See all event types

The Brogues' Song list

Ceilidh dances:
Altogether
Canadian Barn Dance
Circassian Circle
Cumberland Basket
Dashing White Sergeant
Flying Scotsman
Free Waltz
Foula Reel
Gay Gordons
(Highland) Strip The Willow
Highland Schottische
Hooligan's Jig
Military Two Step
Orcadian Strip The Willow
Riverside Jig
St. Bernard's Waltz
Swedish Masquerade
Virginia Reel
Waves Of Tory
Upbeat covers:
Accidentally In Love
Believe (Cher)
Blinding Lights
Brown Eyed Girl
Champagne Night
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Dance With Me Tonight
Dancing In The Dark
Dancing In The Moonlight
Dancing Queen
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
Don't Stop Believin'
I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
I'm A Believer
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
I've Had The Time Of My Life (Dirty Dancing)
I Won't Back Down
Laura
Levitating
Loch Lomond
Love It When You Call
Man! I Feel Like A Woman
Mr Brightside
My Life
Proud Mary
Reach For The Stars
September
Shake It Off
Shotgun
Shut Up And Dance
Stuck In The Middle With You
Summer Of '69
Sweet Caroline
Uptown Girl
Valerie
Waterloo
Why Don't We Just Dance
9 To 5
Chilled covers:
Auld Lang Syne
Bless The Broken Road
Budapest
Caledonia
Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Fields Of Gold
Hey Jude
Hey Soul Sister
High
Hit Me Baby One More Time
Hold Back The River
I'm Yours
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free
Kiss Me
Just A Kiss
Lucky (Britney Spears)
My Funny Valentine
Take It Easy
Take Me Home Country Roads
Thinking Out Loud
Time After Time
To Make You Feel My Love
Wildflowers
Wild Mountain Thyme
Wonderful Tonight
Christmas songs/carols:
Adore
All I Want For Christmas Is You
Angels' Carol
Angels We Have Heard On High
Away In A Manger (3 different melody options)
Bethlehem
Born That We May Have Life
Carol Of The Bells
Christmas Day
Coventry Carol - Lully Lulla (2 different melody options)
Deck The Halls
Ding Dong Merrily On High
Emmanuel (From The Squalor Of A Borrowed Stable)
Gabriel's Message (The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came)
Glory In The Highest
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Hark Hark
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
He Shall Reign Forevermore
Infant Holy Infant Lowly
In The Bleak Midwinter (2 different melody options)
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle Bells
Joy To The World
Last Christmas
Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow
Little Bilberry
Midnight Clear
My Lord Has Come
My Soul Magnifies The Lord
Noel
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Come Let Us Adore Him
O Come O Come Emmanuel
O Holy Night
O Little Of Bethlehem (2 different melody options)
Once In Royal David's City
Rocking Around The Christmas Tree
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
See Amid The Winter's Snow
Shepherds In The Fields Abiding
Silent Night
Sleigh Ride
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting)
The First Noel
The 12 Days of Christmas
Unspeakable Joy
We Three Kings
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Wexford Carol
What Child Is This
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
White Christmas
Winter Wonderland
And any requests you have, with a few weeks' notice!
Customer questions

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Boturich Castle Brig' O' Doon Comrie Croft Dalswinton Estate Fingask Castle Grand Central Hotel House For An Art Lover Isla Gladstone Conservatory Lews Castle Loch Lomond Shores Mar Lodge Mount Druid Oran Mòr Portavadie Marina Sherbrooke Castle St. Andrews In The Square Strathpeffer Pavilion The People's Palace UK churches/country houses/town & village halls

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Arthur Cormack Beoga Brian Finnegan Bruce Guthro Capercailie Cara Dillon Damien O'Kane Donnie Munro Dreamers' Circus Duncan Chisholm Emily Smith Flook Frigg Ingrid Henderson James Graham John McSherry John McCusker Julie Fowlis Kathleen MacInnes Karen Matheson Lau Meantime Mike Vass Nickel Creek Patsy Reid Paul McKenna Punch Brothers Runrig Saltfishforty

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

A wedding at Bob Dylan's private mansion in the Scottish Highlands!

Can you perform covers?

Yes, we can include some covers as part of our performance - see our song list for some examples. We tend to recommend at least a 50/50 split for covers at a ceilidh, with perhaps a few more ceilidh dances to keep your guests happy!

Do you have different line-up options?

Yes! We can perform as a duo, trio or quartet. Our line-up depends on band availability, and we most often perform as a 3-piece band, but we can also check if our 2-piece & 4-piece line-ups are available for any enquiry. 2-piece: piano & fiddle; 3-piece: piano/guitar, fiddle & drums; 4-piece: piano, guitar, fiddle & drums.

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

We always try to be as flexible as we can to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. We know these things are subject to change, especially if the booking is made far in advance! So if your 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?

Yes, absolutely! This service comes included in our price. We can use your playlists or our own, with folk/ceilidh tunes, classic DJ rock/pop/soul favourites, ambient/chilled background music... whatever the occasion requires.

How much time do you need to set up?

We need around an hour to setup and soundcheck immediately before the live music & dancing starts. As soon as our PA is set up, we'll put on our playlist to help set the atmosphere and get your guests ready!

Do you provide a caller?

Yes we do! We always have an experienced caller with us at ceilidhs to guide the dancing clearly & confidently, so you don't need to worry about finding one.

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

Our set lists are crafted from countless performances and learning what works best to ensure guests dance and have an amazing time. However, we're definitely happy to chat it through and make sure we find what works for your event.

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

Yes, everything is included in our quotes - PAT-tested sound equipment & lighting. We need access to mains power (via plug sockets or generator extensions).

Can you learn song requests before the event?

We're happy to take requests, as long as we have the finalised songs by 6 weeks before your event!

The Brogues' Prices

Last updated: 2024

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

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Up to 1 hour£715
Up to 2 hours£790
Up to 3 hours£865
Packages
Evening party/reception2 musicians
- Evening entertainment - ceilidh band with experienced "caller" to guide the dancing - 2-piece (fiddle & piano with male & female vocals) £615 - or 3-piece (plus drums) £865 - or 4-piece (plus guitar) £1115 evening band - different line-ups subject to availability - Spotify DJ disco set to finish your evening - requests in advance or on the night! - Covers set + £125 for 2-piece, £285 for 3-piece - Setting up & down, and 1x 30-minute break during evening party - Travel & accommodation NOT included - this will be added onto package price and included in your final quote, depending on your venue - Extra charge for early setup (e.g. before dinner) or finishing after 12am midnight
£615
Dinner + evening party2 musicians
- Background music during all courses of dinner - 2-piece band for daytime (dinner background music): fiddle & piano/guitar with male & female vocals - Evening entertainment - ceilidh band with experienced "caller" to guide the dancing - 2-piece (fiddle & piano with male & female vocals) £865 - or 3-piece (plus drums) £1115 - or 4-piece (plus guitar) £1365 evening band - different line-ups subject to availability - Spotify DJ disco set to finish your evening - requests in advance or on the night! - Covers set + £125 for 2-piece, £285 for 3-piece - Setting up & down, and any necessary changes between venues/rooms within venues throughout the day, and 1x 30-minute break during evening party - Travel & accommodation NOT included - this will be added onto package price and included in your final quote, depending on your venue - Extra charge for early setup (e.g. before dinner) or finishing after 12am midnight
£865
Drinks reception, dinner + evening party2 musicians
- Background music during drinks reception - Background music during all courses of dinner - 2-piece band for daytime (drinks & dinner background music): fiddle & piano/guitar with male & female vocals - Evening entertainment - ceilidh band with experienced "caller" to guide the dancing - 2-piece (fiddle & piano with male & female vocals) £1090 - or 3-piece (plus drums) £1340 - or 4-piece (plus guitar) £1465 evening band - different line-ups subject to availability - Spotify DJ disco set to finish your evening - requests in advance or on the night! - Covers set + £125 for 2-piece, £285 for 3-piece - Setting up & down, and any necessary changes between venues/rooms within venues throughout the day, and 2x 30-minute breaks; one during afternoon reception, one during evening - Travel & accommodation NOT included - this will be added onto package price and included in your final quote, depending on your venue - Extra charge for early setup (e.g. before dinner) or finishing after 12am midnight
£1090
Full day: Wedding ceremony, drinks reception, dinner + evening party2 musicians
- Any songs/hymns/pieces during the ceremony, including music for signing the register, your chosen song for couple leaving the ceremony, + pre & post-ceremony background music - Background music during drinks reception - Background music during all courses of dinner - 2-piece band for daytime (ceremony, drinks & dinner background music): fiddle & piano/guitar with male & female vocals - Evening entertainment - ceilidh band with experienced "caller" to guide the dancing - 2-piece (fiddle & piano with male & female vocals) £1215 - or 3-piece (plus drums) £1465 - or 4-piece (plus guitar) £1715 evening band - different line-ups subject to availability - Spotify DJ disco set to finish your evening - requests in advance or on the night! - Covers set + £125 for 2-piece, £285 for 3-piece - Setting up & down, and any necessary changes between venues/rooms within venues throughout the day, and 2x 30-minute breaks; one during afternoon reception, one during evening - Travel & accommodation NOT included - this will be added onto package price and included in your final quote, depending on your venue - Extra charge for early setup (e.g. before dinner) or finishing after 12am midnight
£1215

Add-ons

Covers set
+£125
Late finish
+£190
Early setup
+£190
The Brogues
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5 out of 5
16 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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4.7
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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4.7

The Brogues' Reviews

From Encore customers:

AS
Alisdair S
7 months ago
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5 out of 5

Great tunes and dance selection. Good caller with a nice sense of humour.

Reply from The Brogues
7 months ago

Thanks Alisdair! We had a lot of fun :)

GD
Gillian D
11 months ago
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4.5 out of 5

Great time had by all.

Reply from The Brogues
10 months ago

Thanks for having us Gillian, and for the kind review! We had a lovely time ceilidhing with you.

MG
Marie G
11 months ago
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5 out of 5

The Brogues were absolutely brilliant at our wedding at the Oran Mor last week. Couldn’t rate them highly enough and everyone has been singing their praises since. We had many English guests who haven’t ceilidh danced before and the band did such an excellent job of explaining the dances and breaking them into small chunks before building it up to the whole thing. I haven’t stopped watching and laughing at the videos of everyone’s attempts! Communication in advance was also brilliant and all members of the band so friendly. One of our best decisions for the wedding - thank you so much!

Reply from The Brogues
10 months ago

Thank you for such a lovely review Marie! We had a lot of fun at your wedding, so we're thrilled that you and your guests did too.

From other customers:

T&
Tom S
1 year ago, for a Wedding in Wollaton Rd
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5 out of 5

"Huge thanks to all of you for helping make our wedding on Saturday so memorable! The ceilidh was everything we hoped it would be and more and our guests haven't stopped talking about it! The auld lang syne was a magical moment which we will never forget!"

EC
Ewan C
1 year ago, for a Corporate event in 18 Holyrood Park Rd
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5 out of 5

"Many thanks for last night... it was bouncing when I left. Great stuff. Many thanks to you all... The music was great, Grace called the dancing very well, getting everyone up dancing. It was very relaxed and at just the right pace allowing those who were completely new to ceilidh dancing to have a fantastic evening. The room was buzzing."

Read all 13 reviews