Hire Irish, Ceilidh, Folk & Country Bands

Irish music is an extremely versatile and varied collection of genres of music that includes traditional Irish music to modern Irish pop. When talking about Irish music, most people mean traditional music that includes instruments and styles that are unique to Ireland and the British Isles. These could include tin whistles, Uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes), Bodhran (Irish drum) and much more. 

Irish folk music has a long and diverse history linked to storytelling, folklore, old Irish religion and culture. The modern understanding of Irish music tends to refer to a band of traditional musicians playing the two main types of rhythmic tunes: jigs and reels. 

The word Ceilidh (pronounced “kay-lee”) descended from the Gaelic word for ‘gathering’ or ‘party’. Ceilidh is commonly referred to as a party with Scottish or Irish folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling. To put it simply, Ceilidh Bands perform folk music perfect for this kind of social gathering. However, many have modernised their repertoire to offer fusions of classic folk songs and modern pop.

Irish, Ceilidh, Folk & Country genres are synonymous with each other. Ultimately, Folk is classed as the overarching genre, with Country falling under one of the many sub-genres of Folk. In recent years, there has been more of a cultural distinction between the two, with Folk commonly associated with either very traditional music or more modern English bands such as Mumford & Sons. Whereas, Country is often related to American Country and Western music. Otherwise, Folk and Country are much the same as both have roots in singing story-telling traditions.

Yes! Of course, as Folk and Country music is influenced by local traditions, many regions across the globe have their own unique styles. We have American Country and Western bands, Greek folk bands, Swedish folk bands, Bavarian acts and many more. Check out our dedicated Bavarian category to explore this specific style.