ABOUT THE BAND

Shropshire based Cuckoo Ale Band provide lively English folk dance music for ceilidh dancing. Resident caller Bev Langton's instructions are clear and ensure that everyone has a great time. The band play mainly english folk dance tunes with a few Irish and Scottish thrown in for good measure as well as a number of tunes composed by band members.

Why Cuckoo Ale?

Over 30 years ago when we moved to Shropshire we discovered that farm labourers would listen out for the first sounds of the cuckoo. As soon as the cuckoo was heard the farm owners would declare a holiday which was called the 'Cuckoo Ale'. Apparently free drink was supplied to all the workers and music, dance and song were the order of the day. We felt that this was a tradition that should be kept alive-hence the "Cuckoo Ale Band".

Where does the word Ceilidh come from?

Many people tend to think of Irish or Scottish dances when the term 'Ceilidh' is used. However in England for many years our style of dances were known as Barn Dances-though the term was also used for American square dance events as well. Recently the term Barn Dance has been taken over by groups who put on any sort of dance in a barn-mainly disco style so the 'English Ceilidh' (or eceilidh) title is now used to differentiate it from these Barn Dances. The English Ceilidh style is based on English Folk Dance Music, usually played in a bouncy style that encourages people to 'step' to the music rather than walk. There is always a caller who walks each dance through before the music starts and keeps calling to prompt the dancers until it is clear they know the dances well enough to continue without the call.

Comments from our audiences

"I've never done this before, its awesome! Do you have to stop at one o clock couldn't you be persuaded to go on to two?"

"Not just and ordinary band, an extraordinary band"

"We had a great evening-the band were obviously enjoying themselves and so did we!"