MoonDance

» Profile

MoonDance is a six piece band and is one of the most popular and experienced ceilidh / barn dance / hoedown bands in the country. MoonDance were recently mentioned on the BBC Radio Folk Awards website as one of the most high profile UK dance bands with over two decades of experience in providing dance music for wedding, corporate and private functions. They will ensure that your event runs smoothly and that everyone has a good time.

While not a traditional Scottish ceilidh, Irish Ceilidh band or American hoedown band, the material is a mix of traditional Scottish, Irish, American and other British and Celtic music/dances. As well as covering all the 'traditional' dances like Strip the Willow, Dashing White Sergeant, Gay Gordons, Bridge of Athlone, Siege of Ennis, The Virginia Reel the dance repertoire includes lesser known ones like the Flying Scotsman and the Boston Tea Party.

The band's approach to calling, and the mix of dances, is ideal for audiences who may be not be familiar with ceilidh or barn dancing. MoonDance has been successfully playing at Burns' Nights, St Patrick's Night and American Hoedown themed events for a number of years and have often had return bookings.

The band's instrumental line-up features a dynamic front line of fiddle, guitar, sax/keys and one of the best rhythm sections in the business. The music ranges from modern arrangements of traditional tunes from both sides of the Atlantic, with a smattering of eclectic contemporary material and 'fun' numbers. The band works with some of the UK's finest dance callers and can thus ensure that the audience will be in the best possible hands, an essential element if everyone is going to have a good time. The caller is well versed in running an enjoyable evening and will select dances to suit the ability of the audience.

MoonDance can provide a truly unique ceilidh or barn dance experience. Imagine the accessibility of traditional dance music combined with the power of rock and funk music. Unlike many electric barn dance bands, the MoonDance sound is more than just an acoustic folk band grafted onto a pub-rock rhythm section. The music has been developed as true fusion of the best of traditional and modern dance rhythms.

"a big exciting sound... electric folk, jazz, ceilidh band and pure rock...all in one number" - Bucks Examiner

» Dance Song List

• *english/celtic*
• Polkas
• Hop-steps
• Reels
• Trad. (folk) Waltzes
• Square Sets
• *scottish*
• Dashing White Sergeant
• The White Cockade
• The Gay Gordons
• The Flying Scotsman
• Eightsome Reel [2]
• *irish/breton Celtic Dances*
• Seige Of Ennis
• Bridge Of Athlone
• The Kerry Polkas
• *american Barn Dances*
• The Virginia Reel
• The Boston Tea Party
• Battle Of New Orleans
• *other*
• Continental Dances
• French/playford Branles
• Swedish Masquerade
• And Many More!

» Incidental Music

• Moon Dance (van Morrison)
• Carrillon (sky)
• Work Out Fine (ry Cooder)
• Sweet Georgia Brown
• Breton Tunes (nightwatch)
• La Chapka (le Gop)
• Kerry Set Polkas (trad. Irish)
• The Dark Island (scottish)
• The Barfly (nightwatch)
• Summertime
• And Many More!

» Testimonials

"Just a short note to reiterate my heartfelt thanks for a superb evening last night. I knew I was engaging one of the best bands around but you all surpassed yourselves last night. The idea of an evening of traditional dancing had been met with some resistance but I persevered and with your help the result was one of the most successful events the 1853 Association has held. There are a lot of aching legs and faces this morning and it is all your fault !!!"
- Mandy Wright, (1853 Association, Royal Russell School, Croydon)

"We had an absolutely fantastic day and everyone thought the ceilidh was brilliant. We have had so many comments from our guests afterwards saying that they really enjoyed the dancing (they have all said it was so much better than a disco!) and someone even told me today they'd been looking up local ceilidhs on the internet! The amount of people that were dancing was really brilliant- more than I'd hoped seemed to be really getting into it - and it was fun to dance with so many different people."
- Cressida (Wedding in Rickmansworth)

" Just a quick note to say a big thank you for the band's efforts in making our evening such a memorable event, neither of us have ever seen as many people on the dance floor at a wedding before, you all helped create a day that will be remembered for a long time by us and our guests, many many thanks"
- Terry and Helen Skuse (Wedding Ceilidh in Rugby, Jully 2006)

"I'm writing to thank you and everyone in the band for a truly splendid evening at our Halfway Ball last night. We haven't had so much fun in ages! The calling and music were both terrific and the choice and progression on dances were perfect. I've already been deluged with compliments (Quote: "It's my best night at University - ever!") and demands for a ceilidh at every future Med School ball."
- Amanda Dalcassian (University of East Anglia, Feb 2006).

"What a great evening!! We have had so many calls from friends today to say how much they enjoyed last night - thank you all so much for making it such a fantastic party. My only concern was that people wouldn't dance, but there was almost a stampede to get to the dance floor! The music was great, and Liz [the caller] did an amazing job getting everyone going, especially as there were loads of people who had never done anything like it before. We were also very pleased that the kids joined in so much. So please pass on our thanks to the band for doing such a fantastic job."
- Beth and Rob (St Andrew's Night Ceilidh, Piccadilly, London)

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank yourself & the band for the fantastic entertainment at our wedding reception on 1 August. Everyone had a really great time & it was wonderful seeing all of our family & friends up & dancing. The caller that we had on the evening was absolutely fantastic (especially during the last dance when she jumped in to make up the numbers). A number of our party had never been to a dance of this kind before & because of her were old hands at it by the end of the night & others who have held dances themselves kept telling me how good they felt you were. If I ever need to book a function again you will be first on my list of people to contact, I will also be recommending you to others."
- Sarah Bennett (the bride)

"You really caught the spirit of the evening and got everyone on their feet. Thank you also to the wonderful caller."
- Barbara Macintosh (a fund raising ceilidh in Harpenden)

"Everybody I have spoken to since has raved about the high quality of music and calling . . . For our part, we sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity of working with you again on a future fundraising event"
- Mike Hall, Datchworth All Saints' Church.

"Thank you all very much for doing such a fabulous job on Friday. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves"
- Clare & Bernard (London)

"I would like to write and say thank you to and your band Moondance, for the wonderful evening we had when you played at our wedding on the 14th June at Water End. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and it was a great success for us."
- Gemma & Andy (Surrey)

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