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MEET THE BAND
Between us we have many years of experience performing, dancing and calling barn dances and ceilidhs. We are proud to call ourselves a 'fusion' ceilidh band as we pull together tunes and dances from all over the globe, fusing them with our own unique influences to create vibrant harmonies, completed with irresistibly toe-tapping rhythms!
Nai - caller & fiddle
Jo - whistles/Irish flute
John - whistles/Irish flute
George - guitar
Sophie - double bass
Amy - percussion
NAI - fiddle + caller
Nai's country dancing days started in primary school and she started playing her fiddle for barn dances age 13. Regularly gigging with one of the very best callers in the South - Pete Hendy - she learned everything she now puts into practice calling. Moving North to study violin at the RNCM she discovered that the same set of dances were now called a Ceilidh, but her love for the music, playing and dancing were just the same!
Founder and band manager of High Peak Ceilidh, Nai now lives in Glossop, on the edge of the Peak District, with her hubby and 3 young children, and when not ceilidh-ing will most likely be found sewing or on the top of a hill!
JO - whistles + Irish flute
Raised on classic back-of-the-car Irish trad as a child, Jo came to Sheffield and the Peak District aged 11. Since then they have been rambling, camping and cycling across the peat bog and sandstone, playing a selection of wind instruments along the way. Jo brings jigs and reels on whistles both high and low to High Peak Ceilidh.
JOHN - whistles + Irish flute
John began playing whistles and flutes in Manchester Irish pub sessions back in the 1970s. He has played in various ceilidh bands over the years, and is really chuffed to be a part of this young and very talented band. When not playing jigs and reels, you might find him playing medieval and renaissance music, or just enjoying a lazy retirement!
GEORGE - guitar
George is a multi instrumentalist originally from Stratford Upon Avon. Having moved to Manchester to study music at university in 2018, he quickly fell in love with the city and surrounds, and their trad music scenes. Aside from ceilidhs, he also plays klezmer, as well as a busy portfolio playing pop, jazz and metal. He can most commonly be seen at a cricket ground, up a hill, or writing about himself in the third person.
SOPHIE - double bass
Sophie started playing the violin aged 7 but when she reached the age of 15 she realised she’d made a mistake and swapped to the double bass and never looked back! She moved to Manchester to study music at the university and stayed to do a Masters degree in composition where she was heavily influenced by the folk and world music she enjoyed studying in her undergraduate degree. Sophie played with many ensembles in many styles, including folk and jazz as well as orchestral. Since graduating, she enjoys a busy playing career including many musical theatre pit band credits, an award-winning Klezmer/Irish folk fusion theatre show, folk album recordings and international jazz festival appearances. She also enjoys knitting, sewing, baking and walking her dog!
High Peak Ceilidh is not an agency - these are our musicians and we will strive to have them at every booking. Very occasionally one member might not be available and we will hire another trusted musician with equally excellent skill. Booking High Peak Ceilidh also means that all of your money will go directly to these musicians, and not be swallowed by a third party agency.
