A trip to the Isle of Man
It’s been a busy couple of months for Splann. Being busy is always good for a ceilidh band. One of the high points recently was the Splann 5 piece ‘Big Band’ being invited to the Isle of Man to play at Shennaghys Jiu festival. Shennaghys Jiu means ‘tradition today’ in the Manx language and Splann […]
A trip to Wales
Three of Splann have just got back from playing / performing for Cornish dance team Kemysk at the superb Cwlwm Celtaidd festival in Porthcawl, Wales. It is a great festival and the first of many interceltic festivals during the year featuring artists from across Cornwall, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Brittany. What makes these festivals are […]
Are ceilidh and barndance bands the future of boys bands?
We’ll let you decide with this photo of Splann taken just prior to a wedding barndance at the beautiful Buckland House in North Devon. You will see that Splann have opted for a timeless and slimming all black ensemble. Despite this designer styling, I think it is fair to say that One Direction have very […]
What’s the difference between a ceilidh, ceili and a barn dance?
The answer is nowadays not that much – all involve social dances set to traditional tunes, sometimes using a caller to explain the dances to the uninitiated. So why the different names? Traditionally the term ‘ceilidh’ was used in Scotland whilst the term ‘ceili’ was used in Ireland. The term ‘barn dance’ can be used […]
Four top tips for holding a Ceilidh or Barn Dance
1. The Band Ceilidh bands come in all shapes and sizes. The most important thing is that you use experienced musicians who can guarantee that they will make your evening go with a swing. If you haven’t heard a particular band that you are interested in play before – check their website for sound samples […]
Going to your first ceilidh? What to expect.
Ceilidhs go back centuries and continue to provide a popular party option. A good ceilidh band will make your wedding or event extremely memorable. Things can take a while to get going at parties, particularly wedding receptions. Often you have a room full of people but they don’t all know each other very well. For […]