Review Centre: Celtic Groups & Ceilidh Bands

"Stuart, thank you for a sterling evening on Saturday - everyone had a great time as was witnessed by the amount of dancing (despite the age of some of the participants.  Thank you very much for supporting us and doing the Address to the Haggis as well as the Selkirk Grace - it is very much appreciated (especially as you have such a passionate delivery of the words).  Thanks go to Jill as well as she is the perfect caller for a group like ours where many are novices and the rest of us forget the steps from one year to the next. I'm sorry I didn't catch the name of your keyboard player, but she is to be commended too as you 3 make an extremely professional team. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Charlotte, Richard and Tony saved the day when the caller we had originally booked was taken into hospital shortly before the date of our party. A great time, lots of fun, laughter and enjoyment. A lovely group. Thank you so much."

Reply by Charlotte Oliver Barn dance/ceilidh caller
It was a pleasure, a lovely crowd to work with. Cheers, Charlotte Oliver (Tight Squeeze Ceilidh Band)

Rating: 9 / 10 Share this review:

"Black Velvet Band Ceilidh Trio / Multicultural Ceilidh / May 2025 Many thanks to Black Velvet for the fab barn dance for my husband’s 60th. We set them the challenge of providing all-age, muslim-friendly dances for a multicultural community; Our guests included friends and neighbours from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Somalia, South Africa and Cameroon. Mike and his band rose to the occasion with single sex sets, non gendered calling, and a clever choice of dances (including one with no physical contact at all!). We were so impressed with the attention to detail that enabled everyone to take part. Here are quotes from two of our younger guests: “That was the best evening of my whole life,” Radman, aged 8 “Please can you invite me to your next birthday party when you are 61,” Rayan, aged 8"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"The band was booked to play at our fund raiser event at Farringdon Village Hall, East Devon. We had organised a village Barn Dance / Social in order for parishioners to gather from around the extensive parish, and to raise funds for the village hall. Wow! How great were these guys!!!??? Simply brilliant. Three very laid back, no fuss, no nonsense musicians who worked wonders in getting everyone dancing to some great tunes. Even die-hard 'non-dancers' were dancing. A friend and neighbour found this band and recommended that we use them. What a great choice. We would certainly recommend Blue Jewel to anyone considering hiring a professional local Ceilidh band. Thank you very much Blue Jewel; you certainly helped make the night a great success."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We wanted to say thank you to The Northern Reel Collective for our fantastic wedding reception. We thoroughly enjoyed it. There were many there who had never taken part in a ceilidh before and said how much the enjoyed it. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Hi Aly, Just wanted to say thank you so much to Aluinn Ceilidh Band for performing at our wedding last weekend. It was absolutely brilliant and we and the guests loved it. Sorry we couldn't record a video on the night, but please feel free to use the following comment for marketing: " Aluinn Ceilidh Band were excellent and we would not hesitate to have them come play for us again. There were professional and very friendly and it was a delight to have them ceilidh at our wedding. They were able to cater the dances to our needs and were flexible on the night helping make the night a really enjoyable time. Thank you Aluinn Ceilidh Band!" Thanks so much Aly! Best wishes, Cat & Sam"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Davie, I just wanted to contact you to say, ‘thank you VERY much, indeed’ to you and your band members for performing last Friday evening at the annual Grange Dyvours Tennis Club ‘Snow Ball’ and making it the tremendous success that it was. I have been to many weddings, ceilidhs and parties over the years and danced to many bands and I can tell you, without a shadow of a doubt, that ‘The Big Shoogle’ stands head and shoulders above the rest. Who would have thought that weaving in Pink Floyd and Deep Purple tracks in the middle of a Dashing White Sergeant would have worked but it did! You were an absolute pleasure to deal with, before our event; you all drove a considerable distance to arrive, at exactly the time requested, to set up all your equipment then, after our dinner, you returned to put on the most amazing performance. Some of our (non-Scottish) members had never danced some of the dances before but you made sure to talk everyone through what was expected, as a warm up, before the mayhem began. My face was sore laughing, at the end of some of those dances. Just brilliant. Our ‘Snow Ball’ on Friday evening was an astounding success and we have you to thank for that. Absolutely first class. P.s. Also, thanks for taking our booking for our ball, next Christmas. I wanted to get in quick to secure you as I know how much in demand you are! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Black Velvet Band Ceilidh Trio / 08/04/2023 / Ceilidh for Eastercon 2023 (Sci Fi enthusiast's convention) We had a fun-filled, joyous ceilidh, thanks to the amazing, talented Black Velvet Band.The band members are great fun. Alan had us laughing so much with his warmth and humour when calling the dances. The booking process was straightforward and professional. When I talked on the phone to Mike in advance, I was assured that these guys knew their stuff. When I requested non-gendered calling, that was no problem. The band are very versatile - they added a little Star Trek and Dr Who music, seamlessly, into the ceilidh tunes, to give us an extra-special thrill! I would have no hesitation in recommending these fabulous musicians. Noelle, from the Glasgow 2024 Worldcon team at Eastercon 2023, Birmingham "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Black Velvet Band Ceilidh Trio – Katherine’s 50th Birthday Ceilidh – April 2025 I booked Black Velvet Ceilidh Trio for my wife’s 50th Birthday barn dance. The booking process and communication was great. On the night, from the off, everyone was up dancing. The instructions were great and they really got us all into the spirit. Lots of comments from our friends about how good they were. Thanks to all for an amazing night of music and dance. Would definitely recommend."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I would just like to say thank you to yourself and both of your beautiful harpists who helped at our open days."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"You were highly recommended before the event so I had no worries anyway but we couldn't have asked for more understanding and helpful people, not to mention talented musicians of course! As so many of our guests were from England you performed the Scottish ambassadors role brilliantly."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so very much for a smashing performance last night! We thoroughly enjoyed dancing to your band again after far too long. The music was inspiring and everyone seemed to be having a whale of a time."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Dear Kellys Heroes, Thank you so much for playing at our wedding. You were brilliant and so patient with us! So many of our guests have remarked how much they loved it- from the 20 year olds to the 70 year olds, all loved it and joined in, which is exactly what we wanted. Even the hip-hop fans who normally grumble at anything else were up having a whale of a time. We appreciated you expertise and advice and would recommend you to others. We hope you enjoyed playing and we're sorry the rugby score was not better!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

" I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Ruby! Ruby came to perform for us at Fountains Care Home for our VE Day celebrations and she filled our home with so much joy and fun. It was our residents first time hearing live music since last year and everyone had a wonderful time singing and dancing along too.It was a perfect way to celebrate VE Day & we can’t wait to have Ruby back with us at Fountains!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Great music for my birthday party."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: