St. Patrick's Day Musicians All you need to know about hiring live music for St. Patrick's Day...

Live entertainment for St. Patrick's day is often accompanied by Celtic Music Groups, Acoustic Bands or Irish Music Bands which provide a lively and raucous atmosphere to complement the Guiness and whisky!

About St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate Irish tradition and history, by donning a shamrock and wearing colours of green and gold. Celebrated each year on 17th March, traditionally the day is reserved for spiritual renewal and honouring Ireland's patron Saint Patrick.

The entertainment you are looking to hire depends on what style of event you intend to host. Whilst many events tend to be fast paced with music encouraging guests to dance, it is also possible to hold a St. Paddy's Day which is relaxed and incorporates the whole family.

Ceili / Celtic Groups

Whilst it's known as a ceilidh in Scotland and a ceili in Ireland, there are very few differences. A ceili is a folk band with a caller, who guides the audience through different traditional dances.Whilst Irish ceilis often include dances such as The Walls of Limerick and The Waves of Tory, a successful St. Patrick's Day ceili incorporates both Scottish and Irish dances. It is not unheard of for ceili bands to also perform more contemporary folk songs to suit a wider audience.

Doctor Fauster's Tumblers

Ceilidh/barn dance band with stomping rhythm and stirring arrangements

Doctor Fauster's Tumblers are a distinctive ceilidh and barn dance band based in Sheffield, renowned for their energetic performances and unique arrangements. Their stomping rhythms and stirring melodies create an engaging atmosphere, making them an excellent choice for St. Patrick's Day celebrations seeking something both lively and unconventional. Whether you're hosting a traditional Irish gathering or a themed party, their dynamic sound and engaging presence ensure a memorable experience for all attendees.

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Fiddle and guitar duo

Often known as a celtic duo, both the fiddle and guitar feature heavily in traditional Irish folk music. Hired with or without singing, this folk ensemble can perform either background music, making them suitable for family events or whilst guests enjoy Irish cuisine or perform as the core entertainment, providing upbeat music suitable for singalong and dancing. Popular songs performed by fiddle and guitar duos include Dirty Old Town, Star of Munster and Whisky in the Jar.

Banish Misfortunes

Traditional Irish Fiddle & Guitar Duo

The duo have been playing together on a regular basis for over ten years. They also form two thirds of the electric barn dance band D'Arcy Spice.

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Acoustic bands

Since acoustic/folk music made a revival in the UK charts, acoustic bands have become increasingly popular and make a great addition to a St. Patrick's Day gathering. Many acoustic bands are able to perform a wide selection of folk songs, both contemporary and traditional and will also happily learn new songs specifically for you event.

For those organise St. Paddy's day events on a budget, an acoustic band can also be incredibly versatile. A band could potentially play a stripped down set of songs during the day for a family event and then again in the evening to accompany the pints of Guinness and dancing.

Irish bagpipes

Irish bagpipes, also known as uilleann pipes are often hired to take part in St. Patricks Day parades.

Providing a sweeter, quieter sound than their Scottish counterparts, Uilleann pipes are usually played sitting down in social environments. Pipers tend to perform traditional Irish jigs and reels such as The Wild Mountain Thyme, Return from Fingal and Easter Snow.

Time scale

Good bands and musicians tend to get booked up by the previous September so early booking is advised.

History

Credited with bringing christianity to Ireland, St. Patrick denounced the British mistreatment of Irish christians and described himself as a 'most humble minded man' in his autobiography, the Confessio. St. Patrick is best known for cleansing Ireland of its snakes, commonly thought to be figurative speech for paganism. To celebrate the Irish, many pubs, hotels and other venues choose to hold St. Patrick's Day events, hiring entertainment to perform traditional Irish music to serenade guests.