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So, what should you expect from an Easy Weasel Ceilidh?.
Well, first of all, what is the difference between a Ceilidh and a Barn Dance? Several theories exist, but this is ours. Barn Dances tend to be a little more reserved than Ceilidhs - the band maybe of a more conventional line-up, sometimes sitting on the stage, and playing mainly traditional tunes. Some people associate Barn Dances with American style hoe-downs, which are more like Country & Western events, but an English barn dance uses mainly British country dance tunes. A Ceilidh is generally regarded to be a more lively affair, with a few songs and tunes maybe thrown in. Ceilidh bands usually stand (or even dance!) on the stage, the tunes are frequently self-penned or up-tempo arrangements of traditional tunes, and the sound is a bit more 'electric'. All the above variations are great fun, the dances themselves are similar, it's just a matter of personal choice. Easy Weasel concentrate on the English Ceilidh style. If you want an American hoe-down, don't book us. If you want an Irish evening, don't book us. But if you want to have a lively, fun dance then get in touch. The format of an evening is obviously up to you. Generally speaking, we would start between 7 and 8 o'clock, and go on to 11 to 12 o'clock. We like to have 20-30 minutes break halfway through the evening to recharge our batteries. We usually do two dances in a row and then give the audience a longer rest of 3-4 minutes - we find this works well, it gives people chance to rest, have a chat, get a drink etc. Martin will (unless he knows he has an expert audience!) start off with easier dances to give people confidence, and learn a few terms, conventions etc., but soon, he will have everyone on the dance floor, working up a sweat! The emphasis is always on making it fun, though - we don't mind if you go wrong or fall over, and we try to get as many people involved as possible. Martin wears a headset radio microphone, so he can leap(?) on to the floor and drag people up to dance. You should bear in mind when considering booking Easy Weasel, that we are not a small, shy band! We have a full drum kit, electric guitars and keyboards, amplifiers, microphones and loud speakers. We are not unduly loud, but we do need enough space to feel comfortable in! We do have a minimum volume we have to play at, because of the drums, and because it simply isn't our style to play quietly! So we would not be suitable for a very small venue, but we are always ready to have a chat about possibilities. We do offer you an exciting energetic evening though! |
