THE MONSTER CEILIDH BAND is on something of a crusade to bring a powerfully modern and un-‐ patronising approach to ceilidh music – dance music which has its feet in the heritage and tradition of the British Isles.
Their music, ‘brilliant and exhilarating’, has its roots in tradition, but the combination of their talents has produced something innovative, contemporary, fresh and dynamic.
Monster Ceilidh Band are 4 full-time professional musicians with extraordinary credentials:
accordion maestro Amy Thatcher (Kathryn Tickell Band, The Shee) and the Scottish
Borders fiddler Carly Blain (Border Fiddles) blaze their way through traditional
and modern tunes underpinned by the unique rhythms of Kieran Szifris on mandocello
and the dub-heavy electric bass of David de la Haye (Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies).
They’ve entertained generations new and old all over the world, from the fields of
Glastonbury to 8000 people at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo, with
their cross-genre ceilidh music
ICKNIELD WAY MORRIS MEN are enthusiastic & accomplished performers of traditional dances from Oxfordshire. IWMM are nationally known & highly regarded for the quality of their performances. Cotswold Morris at its best - light and lively!
ARMALEGGAN is a Border Morris side with added Grrr…They are a mixed side – mixed genders, mixed ages, a mixture of tradition and innovation, and they do not mind mixing their drinks. They practice at Cumnor Village Hall just outside Oxford, and dance all over Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds and beyond.
CORNUCOPIA is a group of dancers and musicians based in Wantage, Oxfordshire who perform Appalachian Step Clogging and British Clog Dancing to a variety of American, Irish and British acoustic folk music (jigs, reels and hornpipes). The dancers are energetic performers who are entertaining to watch and the band is great to listen to.
CRY HAVOC are a mixed morris side from Botley in Oxford, performing mainly Cotswold dances. They dance for fun, whilst also raising money for charity, a new one being nominated each year.
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ROSE HIPS is a folk bellydance troupe based in Oxfordshire. They dance to live music, as performed by their wonderful band, and they dance in a variety of bellydance styles (Egyptian, American tribal, cabaret) to music from all over the world, including traditional English and Arabic music.
