We were on for a couple of hours before the main act of the evening, a gentle beat combo going by the subtle name of Gun Law. They were much closer to the expected volume levels at a biker rally than our dear selves.

I don’t think I have ever struggled so much to get folk onto the dance floor… they just weren’t up for dancing. Ach well! We managed a few dances and then just resorted to playing some uptempo tunes for them. Looks like things warmed up later on though…. not for the eyes of children!

Stephen’s Nightly Dance Quota – 0 (what can i say?)

The number of folk attending was low so we couldn’t manage the larger set dances, but the dancers that were there were keen to be on the floor. We had a few guests up to sing a song and a special performance of an impromptu dance routine from a couple of eager little dancers. The night seemed to be a success (even though i didn’t win anything in the raffle) and we hope to be involved when the Zambian musicians visit Scotland in August.

Stephen’s Nightly Dance Quota – 3 (hurrah!)

It was our first ceilidh in the new Seil Island Village Hall on the island of Seil, North Argyll. There was a good turnout and we had dancers on the floor for every dance. The guests worked up a head of steam and we finished with a good-going, up-tempo Orcadian Strip the Willow.

We were aware before hand of the problems with the acoustics in the new hall and although we did our best to tweak the sound it really didn’t do us any favours. I am continually disappointed that the architects of many of the new halls in Argyll pay little, if any, attention to the acoustics of the spaces they design. Music plays it’s part in every community space and should be given a higher priority in the design and building of village halls and I am sure it costs more to fix after the build rather than being incorporated in the initial budget. (oh and how about some sprung floors! )

Thanks to all involved in booking us and laying on such a fine party.

Stephen’s Nightly Dance Quota – 0 (I did manage a wee post ceilidh boogie to some classic 80′s cheese)

I (Stephen) lived on Easdale Island for 11 years until only a few weeks ago, so it was a wee bit strange to go back and play for a dance (which i have done often) but not as a resident. I had guests staying so I had to leave after the gig, which was a pity cause it looked like the party was going to carry on into the wee small hours.

This was a fairly early ceilidh for Argyll as the tidal conditions meant that the last ferry off the island was at 11pm, so we started before 8pm and finished just before 11pm. Easdale residents are notoriously difficult to encourage out early, so when we started playing just before 8 it was a bit worrying to have a quiet hall with only 5 adults and loads of kids, but when we struck up the first chord of the first dance the people appeared like magic. It was a great pleasure to play for a ceilidh where the floor was full for almost every dance, even the less familiar dances that i called.

Stephen’s Nightly Dance Quota – 0 – atrocious (not one dance… boohoo! )

The Ardanaiseig Hotel is, and I quote, “a wildly romantic old country house Highlands hotel. It sits alone overlooking Loch Awe in deeply wooded gardens teeming with wildlife.”

An amazingly oppulent small room was the venue for the dancing. The room had lovely acoustics and gave the band a warm sound with very little effort. The narrowness of the room made some dances a bit tight but we managed. This was quite a small wedding so to give the dancers a chance to catch their breath we played quite a few ‘listening’ pieces. When we did play for dancing the guests were right up for it and on the dancefloor with very little encouragement.

I (Stephen) like to leave the stage whenever I can and join the dancers, so this is where I start to record the number of times I abandon the band and prance around the floor.

Stephen’s Nightly Dance Quota – 1 – poor (I only managed a schottische )

One piece of advice to the hotel, don’t leave the keys in the golf buggy next time!!

At the start of the gig everyone was afraid of the dance floor so we ‘made like gypsies’ and wandered amongst them playing acoustically. It took folks a wee while to get warmed up, but once they started dancing they kept on till the end.

The Victory Hall a rediculously high stage (you wouldn’t want to fall off this one) and the acoustics are quite difficult. The sound really bounces off the back wall and leaves everything sounding muddy.