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Ceilidhs 

Dance all day, every day with ceilidhs and dances throughout the town.

Sidmouth has a great range of fun, energetic ceilidhs programmed across the festival, with some brilliant bands lighting up the dancefloors at The Bulverton, Blackmore Marquee and The Anchor.

Bars at Blackmore and Bulverton will be serving a range of beers from local breweries – Branscombe, Exeter, Hanlons and Powerkeg  – cider from Sandford plus zero and low alcohol beers, spirits, wine and soft drinks

PROGRAMME

The first names for our programme of leading ceilidh bands from around the country includes

3 STICKS
Highly regarded favourites on the UK Ceilidh and festival circuit play a wide range of music from the British Isles and Europe on fiddle, guitar and percussion

BROWN BOOTS BOOGIE BAND
Punchy & energetic dance band with Will Allen on melodeon and Martin Clarke on fiddle plus Will Chamberlain on piano and Paul Quarry on snare drum.

CHRIS WOOD & ANDY CUTTING
The much-loved pairing of Chris Wood and Andy Cutting making a rare and extra-special appearance for dancing.

COCK & BULL BAND
continue to be one of the most exciting dance bands on the circuit

FOLK CAMPS PARTY BAND
An exciting multi-age ceilidh band drawn from all parts of the Folk Camps spectrum that attends several festivals a year to show off the essence of Folk Camps.

GRANNY’S ATTIC
With exceptional musicianship and boundless energy,  this concert trio play lively music for dancing

MELROSE QUINTET
With the addition of Nigel Holmes on Bass, this is a ceilidh with a difference, as the band use singing as well as instruments dancing, to great effect!

MONSTER CEILIDH BAND
A ceilidh band with big riffs and great musicianship.

OLD SWAN BAND AND FRIENDS
The backbone of the English Folk Dance scene for 50 years this year!

OYSTERBAND
The mighty English folk-rock band going back to their (dancing) roots.

POLKAWORKS
Ceilidh supergroup featuring great players for dancing: Sue Harris (Hammer Dulcimer), Jeannie Harris (Melodeon), Nina Hansell (Fiddle), Katie Howson (Melodeon And Mouthorgans), Fi Fraser (Fiddle) And Gareth Kiddier (Piano)

Joining festival favorites MRS MIDNIGHT’S,  THE BARBER BAND, JIGFOOT and many more still to be announced, including a STEPPING CEILIDH.

CALLERS so far include BARRY GOODMAN, FEE LOCK, JANE BIRD, ERIN MANSFIELD, IAN NICHOLS, NANCY POTTS, ALISON ROWLEY, NICK WALDEN, & GORDON POTTS. Look out for more details of calling workshops and the New Callers Showcase in Spring.

Special thanks to the Anchor Inn, hosting two ceilidhs a day alongside their outdoor bar with a huge range of local beers and lagers, and the Blackmore / Bulverton Volunteer Bars for keeping dancers lubricated!

Like dance? – check out our other programme strands for display dance events & workshops, LNEs, folk dance and even more dance workshops from Bhanga to Zulu!