The Plump Hill Barn Dance and Ceilidh Band

The band on stage at Woodside Hall

The musicians and the music:

We come from a variety of musical backgrounds - blues and jazz, folk, rock, piano and violin, choral - which means that our music is not confined to a single type. We draw from the British Isles, America and Europe and we respect and enjoy the tradition which underpins ceilidh, but we like to range beyond. For example, we love old favourites like The Dashing White Sergeant, but listen carefully and you may hear a bit of Rossini, something from the music halls, and even Lonnie Donegan. Let us know if you have a special request for a tune or a song and we will do our best for you. We can sing between dances if you decide that this will suit the occasion.

Peter

The caller for the dancing. Peter also contributes vocals and guitar when we are called upon for songs.

Tim

Accordion - Tim’s introduction to music was via membership of the Gloucestershire Schools Choir and piano and violin, neglected from late teens until a friend lent him a squeeze box years later. He realised the potential of this instrument – portable, versatile, noisy and therefore handy for things like pub singalongs and barn dances - and stayed with it.

Rob

Harp, accordion, bouzouki, vocals - At School they told him "music is a fine hobby my boy, but it's not really a proper living" Sigh. Thirty years later, the youngest son said he'd like to play the harp. At the harp-maker's workshop he became enchanted, rashly decided he had to have one - and bought his first stringed instrument. Fifteen years further on, retired, and no one to tell him what he can and can't do. Or for that matter, his harp technique is all wrong.

Tim (another one)

Electric and double bass, mandolin, bodhran

Alan

Rhythm guitar - Alan took up the guitar in his youth (a few years ago now) in the mistaken belief that it would make him more attractive to the opposite sex. It doesn't seem to have worked but, of course, there's no way of telling how bad it would have been without the guitar.

The instruments:

Guitars, mandolin, accordions, bodhran (the Irish drum), Celtic harp, all held together by the strong rhythm of the electric bass guitar. Our sound is amplified, but by using high-quality equipment we can make sure that we do not deafen you.