Moondance

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Moondance are one of the busiest Ceilidh / Barn Dance bands in the UK who regularly perform all over the country at festivals, public dances, weddings and private events.

MoonDance provide a truly unique ceilidh experience. Imagine the accessibility of traditional dance music combined with 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.

The band line-up is usually a six-piece featuring the fiddle of Tom Fairbairn, the electric guitar of Brian Heywood, percussion and loop meister Sam McEvoy, world famous world beat producer James Asher on drums and Chris Page on bass guitar along with a top caller. But they can field up to a ten piece or slim down to a four piece as required.

They 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.

"Exciting and innovative, MoonDance guarantees a great night's dancing every time" - Kim Headley (Broadstairs Folk Week)
"Surely one of the best Ceilidh bands in the UK" - Fiddle Festival of Wales 2010

"Certainly not a traditional sound, but the music was great to dance to, and the band were obviously very well-rehearsed, and very together." - Unicorn Ceilidhs (Blog)

"It's always a pleasure to work with a band who keep their sound completely unique from any other on the circuit, yet play very danceable music firmly rooted in the ceilidh scene. MoonDance are one of these bands and are a very refreshing alternative to some of the 'same old' bands you may hear so much of the time." - Pete Rees (one of the new breed of young callers on the folk dance scene, after working with MoonDance at Poynton)

"... one of the best White Horse Ceilidhs yet." - Graham Hubbard (Organiser)

"they bring dance music bang up to date...MoonDance are THE ceilidh band for the 21st century - top stuff!!" - Keith Kendrick (after seeing MoonDance at Broadstairs Festival)

" I've been wanting to have a really good high-energy ceilidh band at the festival for a number of years now, to remind people how much fun bush dancing can be when done to a rocking band. You certainly filled the bill and I was delighted with the audience response." - Steve Barnes Fairbridge Festival 2008 Artistic Director (Western Australia)

"Just loved the way this band did a 'rolling start' for all the dances (see the video). Never seen a ceilidh caller and band do that before.
It's the way to go - we were all dancing proper before we realised it!!" - Paul Asher (gigsremembered.com, about the Broadstairs FolkWeek LNE)

"By far the best GuilFest ever! Musically absolutely brilliant ... I thought that Farmer Giles' Barn Dance was particularly superb" - Tony Scott (founder of GuilFest) referring to the MoonDance contribution

"Absolutely loved it!!! We poked our heads round the door on the Saturday with no intention of getting involved and before you know it, we were being hurled around in sets. Thanks to everyone who asked me to dance, had a cracking time and hope to see you back next year........one, two, three and kick....one two three and bump......." - GuilFest 2008 Forum

"...many thanks to Brian and MoonDance for a spectacular evening" - Peter Crowther (Poynton Ceilidhs)

"I can thoroughly recommend them to English Ceilidh enthusiasts" - Mike Courthold (Dance Director, Chippenham Folk Festival)

"I'm pretty sure we set records last Friday for both the number of dancers who came along ... More importantly, everybody I spoke to enjoyed dancing to MoonDance as much as I did. Thanks for a great night, & I daresay we'll be seeing you again." - Chris Broan (Phoenix Ceilidhs, Manchester)

"I think the band were fab last night. A massive thanks to them. Also, Liam Robinson was a superb caller. An utterly memorable evening - thanks guys" - Holly (Hastings) [Hastings Old Town Ceilidhs Guestbook]

"On the Saturday, I spent most of the evening in the Moondance ceilidh. I'd never heard them before, but was very impressed by the energy they had and how original they were. I'm not generally a funk fan, but when you put traditional folk tunes on top of it, it just seems to just work somehow and also given that a lot of ceilidh bands I've seen seem to either stick with the traditional folk or go down a more rock based path, it was quite nice to have something different for a change. Also, as the funk gives the rhythm a greater focus it really suited Roger Watson's calling style in the same way Boka Halat do. Will definitely be keeping an eye out for them in the future." - Owen Barritt (Two Rivers Festival Review