Welcome to Blue Jewel Ceilidh Band!
We are one of the most sought after and experienced quality ceilidh and barn dance bands in Devon. Our reviews speak for themselves, as does our *average* rating of 9.9/10 from over 110 reviews.
We play mostly Irish tunes, some English & Scottish, and the odd European tune, like the Horse's Bransle (see the video) and Troyka (have a listen to the mp3), that people love! We play as a trio (caller/bodhran/fiddle, fiddle, guitar/mandolin), 4-piece (plus bass guitar), or 5-piece (plus bass guitar and drums).
Our caller, Kip, is relaxed and clear, and makes it all easy and fun. From novice dancers to the more experienced, children to the silver-haired, we can guarantee you'll have a great time, and a party to remember...! Steve, our fiddler, is also an excellent caller, giving us strength in depth!
"This is the 3rd year we have had the Blue Jewel Ceilidh Band play for our event. They really add to the event in terms of the atmosphere, structure and fun they bring. We were sold out of tickets in the lead up to the event as people eagerly anticipated our annual ceilidh. The band are professional and talented. They brought some great dances which we had not seen before and some old favourites. We are already talking about next year's event with them!" - Friends of the Guildhall (FroGs), Plympton St Maurice (Irish party night - charity fundraiser) 10/10
Please get in touch and tell us your venue location, and we will give you quotes for 3-piece and 4-piece line-ups.
Based in Totnes, Devon
Glenside Polkas
Dennis Murphy’s, Bill o Sullivan’s (polkas)
Britches Full Of Stitches - Marie’s Wedding (polkas)
Bellydesmond polkas
Kesh - Tobin’s Favourite (jig)
Moocoin - Frost Is All Over (jigs)
Haste to the wedding, Saddle the Pony (jigs)
Banish Misfortune (jig)
Atoll Highlanders (jig)
Dusty Windowsills, Blarney Pilgrim (jigs)
Killaloe Boats, Tripping Upstairs (jigs)
Seven Stars, Smash the Windows (jigs)
Oyster Girl, Tenpenny Bit (jigs)
Sweets of May (jig)
Rocky Road to Dublin - Foxhunter’s (slip jigs)
Soldier’s Joy - Bonaparte’s Retreat (reels)
Father Kelly’s – Merry Blacksmith (reels)
Cooley’s – Silver Spear (reels)
Planxty Irwin (waltz)
Ashokan’s Farewell (waltz)
Shebeg Shemore (Waltz)
Rights of Man - Boys of Blue Hill (hornpipes)
Harvest Home, Off to California (hornpipes)
Trumpet Hornpipe
Troyka (brilliant Eastern European dance/tune)
Nigun Atik (beautiful Middle Eastern wedding dance)
Horses Bransle (superb fun French dance)
Whiskey In The Jar (song - Irish trad.)
Log Cabin Home In The Sky (song – Incredible String Band)
Sea Fever (song – lovely setting of the famous John Masefield poem)
Star of the County Down (song, Irish trad)
We provide our own PA. Just need a power socket. We have Public Liability Insurance up to £10m. All our electrical equipment is PAT tested.
We provide our own PA, but no lighting.
Is it indoors, or a marquee.
We can play recorded music during our break. We do not offer a DJ service.
We just need one power socket, and space to set up.
We have played at countless wonderful wedding receptions, with guests buzzing, having great fun dancing and enjoying our lively music.
We just love the high energy of Irish tunes, which give a wonderful kick to our smorgasborg of fun English country dances, with one or two great dances from Europe for a bit of spice.
We have been playing together for 10 years. Two of our members have been playing together for 30 years.
We love playing at weddings, giving people a fantastic, fun, participation event, which brings the two families together through our many 'mixer' dances, where you change partners each time through the dance.
We play lively, high energy Irish tunes.
We need 1/2 hour to set up.
Performance times can be negotiated, but typically we play 2 sets of about an hour for dancing, with a break in the middle.
Since we are using electrical equipment, we can only perform outside if the weather is absolutely guaranteed dry.
We have a set repertoire of tunes and dances, but will consider special requests for one or two specific dances - we can't guarantee we will be able to do them. If you would like us to play a specific song for a wedding first dance, we charge to arrange and rehearse the music, POA.
See our reviews for what clients say about us.
We find that two sets of about an hour, with a break in the middle, works really well. Enough dancing that everyone has had a great time, not so much that the energy starts to fade at the end - leave everyone buzzing on a high!
Melanie Eclare - birthday party.
Richard and Kate - wedding.
Andrew and Donna - wedding.
MS - 60th wedding anniversary.
South Devon Healthcare Trust - work social.
Dart Music Festival
South Brent Folk Festival
Sharpham Trust
Teignmouth Folk Festival
Exmouth Folk Festival
Beesounds
Stoke Gabriel Boating Association
Quest Festival
"Silver Tree Nights", Exeter
Totnes Festival
Bridget Somerville - Birthday Party
Amanda and Simon - Wedding
Derek and Valerie - Wedding
John Sullivan - Wedding Anniversary
Royal Plymouth Corinthian Yacht Club - Burns Night
Dartmouth Yacht Club
Paul Zorichack - surprise 50rh birthday for Tracey
Edukid - charity anniversary celebration
Mr & Mrs McCulloch - wedding
Sheila Mackintosh - wedding
We have played at most of the wedding venues across Devon, and quite a few in Cornwall.
Wedding
Birthday Party
Private Event
Corporate Event
Hotel / Restaurant Event
Funeral / Memorial
Burns Night
Christmas Party
Ceilidh
PAT tested
Instrumental
Public liability insurance