The year so far

The third weekend in Jan brought a repeat booking for a Burns Night ceilidh at Whitefield with High Jinks, then another regular event, the Sealed Knot banquet as part of Holly Holy Day in Nantwich where I called Playford dances from the 17th century, with the old instruments of the Forlorn Hope band. We enjoyed the whole of Holly Holy Day - the Forlorn Hope performed in the museum in the morning, there was a battle re-enacted in the afternoon but we opted for a music session in a pub instead.
In April I enjoyed calling with a band  I'd not met before, Devils Fire.
And the usual club nights, dancing and calling.

That's the way to run a ceilidh

Although Kelsall is an inland village it has an RNLI fundraising group. And last night they held a Barn Dance. They'd started selling tickets well before Christmas and had persuaded various groups that it would make a good new year's social event. I put the event on various folkdance websites and newsgroups and advertised it at the dance clubs I attend.
The hall was packed, and quite a few of those present had danced before; the rest were either quick learners or excellent at faking. The sets were full for every dance and there was even a spontaneous Bouree when the band thought they were playing a warm-up tune after the supper break.
I was calling with the Black Cat band so three of us were within 2 miles of home and the rest quite near. A sensible choice  at this time of year, why risk a distant band with such excellent musicians on the doorstep. Actually it didn't snow till we were tucked up in bed.
After testing another hotpot recipe (excellent) we carried on dancing. Although a few left early the floor was still full well after 11 as the band played till their fingers dropped off and the dancers stripped the willow.

Seeing the new year in

I was with White Knuckle Ride at Croft for a NYE ceilidh. Dancing from 8 - midnight, so I needed to remember more dances than I thought I knew. It was a good evening, I think some of the dancers were tiring by midnight!

October - Harvest hotpots.

October was a busy month, I was out calling for 3 Harvest Suppers and a family party.
I am now an expert hotpot taster. They come in all varieties - too much potato / nice and meaty / good flaky pastry etc.
November gave us a chance to dance and some excellent bands and callers to dance to.

Stockton Heath Folk dance club join with Stockton Heath Festival

 Stockton Heath Festival is July 3 -6 this year.
I dance at Stockton Heath Folk dance club on Monday evenings, and we are organising a Pre Festival Ceilidh on Friday June 27th. I will be calling with the White Knuckle Ride playing.
Come and join us.

The Callers matter too

There are some great callers around and this year I've danced to Rhodri Davies, Andrew Swaine, Lisa Heywood, Bob Morgan, and Dave Jolly. Look forward to dancing to them again, and all the others.

So many favourite bands

Since the beginning of the year I've called with the Black Cat band, Forlorn Hope, Fiddlesticks, Fiddlestrum, High Jinks, the Black Cat band, and the Dragon Slayers (including two members of the band formerly known as Three-point-turn). Weddings, Anniversaries, family parties and the  Family Ceilidh at Chester festival. I'm looking forward to ceilidhs with White Knuckle Ride and the Millstone band later in the year.They are all great musicians, a privilege to work with.

I also danced to  the Time Bandits and Albireo at the Festival, Vertical Expression at Poynton Ceilidh (wow, I'd not heard them before but I'll watch out for them in future) and, at dances organised by the dance clubs we attend Pendragon and Maplewood.

All that talent to set our feet tapping.