got a booking coming up and they would like some scottish country music or jigs,asked them to get back to me with some sort of idea of what they want, but can any of you name a few tines that would come under this catagory.
thanks andy

I think they probably mean the Gay Gordons and Jim Shay type music.

These cd's are cheap and can be picked up for a couple of quid.

jimmy shand - bluebell polka ect

By pure chance I was given some Ceilidh cd's the other day by a guy who has DJ'd a couple of ceilidhs. I haven't listened to them yet but the kind of thing that's on them is the Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow, Dashing White Sargeant and Highland Schottische (pronouned Scoteesh I think).

What I remember from years back is that you should always play two of the same type together, then move on. Can't actually recomend any particular artists but I do remember that there are a few different Schottisches and they are a riot to dance.

The CDs that I was given are Scott Harvey Ceilidh Band - Traditionally Scottish and Gordon Pattullo's Ceilidh Band - Ceilidh Dance Party

Matt

Learn the moves to the dance, no doubt there will be people there in need of instruction and they will look to you for advice.

If you are playing Scottish Country Dance, you should really be calling the dances as well i.e. explaining the dance beforehand and then 'calling' out the moves for the first two or three times, depending on the dance. The most well known will be:

Dashing White Sergeant - Two groups of three (MFM or FMF)

Gay Gordons - Couples, in a circle, males on inside

St Bernard's Waltz - Couple, in a circle, male on inside, slower tempo so good for 'a wee breather'

Strip the Willow - Couples in sets of four or for simplicity, and more fun, Orcadian Strip the Willow.


The comment about two songs in a row is not strictly correct. If your song is 2 mins or less then doing it twice is ok, but certain dances, like the Eightsome Reel, last about 6-8 minutes so once is sufficient.

Something you can now do, if your equipment allows it, is to have a 16 bar loop at the end of the song, which you allow to play so that everyone has a turn (with set dances) or if you feel that they've had enough and are slowing down, just end the loop and finish the song.

You might find this a useful resource, or if you'd prefer to have the music as well as instructions, try this