Celtic Music

THE BLACKTHORN BAND

TUNES, SONGS & CEILIDH DANCES
from Britain & Ireland

Ceilidh Dance
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Irish Music Band
Ceilidh Band Scottish Ceilidh Band Irish Ceili Band Band Folk songs Band Celtic Folk Band
Sarah, Kat, Alex, Mannie & Fergus

  • "Focused and accomplished, this is dignified Anglo Celtic music of the first order" fROOTS
  • "This lovely album" Irish Music magazine
  • "Every tune played becomes a real delight and the biggest surprise is that the band is little known" Keltika (Italy)
  • "inexplicably undersung...Present-day bands playing Celtic repertoire don’t come much better than this." Netrhythms
  • "The music produced is quite exhilarating and a toe-tapping certainty." Fiddle On
  • "Extremely accomplished." Folk London
  • "Musicianship of such a standard deserves recognition and success" The Folk Mag
     Read all Far From Home reviews
    Read all The River That Runs Below reviews

Irish, Scottish and English Ceilidh and Folk song band
Blackthorn is an established 5 piece traditional folk band available for all types of public and private event. We have a wealth of experience in ceilidhs, barn dances, parties and corporate functions too. If you are looking for lively, melodic Celtic tunes and a good singalong or ceilidh for your wedding or party give Blackthorn a call.
If you need an experienced, professional high quality act for your arts event, Blackthorn have become a popular choice for folk and arts festivals, clubs, and venues such as the Royal Albert Hall (ignite series). Based in Southern England the band also travels further afield for public events.
All the band are multi instrumentalists, with a life-long passion for traditional music and dance and a provide an enthusuastic, varied and authentic feel to the music. Blackthorn's music is led by strong flute, whistle and fiddle melodies, backed by guitar and bouzouki rhythms, and contrasted with the sounds of concertina and their many other instruments.
The band has released two albums, Far From Home (2003) and The River That Runs Below (2008). Both have received much acclaim in the music press. The live gigs have received overwhelming positive feedback too. Seered.co.uk wrote about Sidmouth Folkweek ceilidhs "Blackthorn were one of the best bands on offer during the whole week. ..Have them back next year!" In 2007 Sarah McQuaid wrote about Blackthorn's Sidmouth concert "Do send me a copy of your new CD when it's out and I'll be delighted to review it for Hot Press. If it's anything like as good as the live act I'm sure it'll be favourable!" More comments
  • Mannie McClelland - Concertina, Bodhran, Dance calling
  • Fergus McClelland - Vocals, Bouzouki, Fiddle, Mandolin
  • Alex Percy - Guitar, Fiddle, Bass pedals
  • Sarah Mooney - Flute, Low Whistle, Guitar, Bass pedals
  • Kat Hurdley - Fiddle, Whistle, Flute, Guitar

Please call or e-mail to book or discuss the options.
CALL: 01273 455202
pete@blackthornband.org

Join the Blackthorn mailing list and stay in touch with us. You'll receive occasional updates with gig lists and new releases and can unsubscribe at any time (we only mail 3 or 4 times per year)

Demo CD available - call or e-mail if you're thinking of booking
Listen to Blackthorn tracks on the Music Player 		Download two free tracks from the Far From Home album:
Dance of the Honeybees | Mna na h'Eirann/The Legacy
Available For

CONCERTS * WEDDINGS * PARTIES

We enjoy playing for weddings and private parties. Listen to Traditional tunes from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales - Jigs, Reels, Hornpipes, Polkas, Waltzes, Planxties and Airs. Sing along with well known songs like the Wild Rover, and the Leaving of Liverpool. Or get up and dance! We can arrange a complete ceili, barn dance or ceilidh evening for you.

Visit the Blackthorn YouTube channel!

Visit our MySpace page!