First Scottish Dance Band online concert series to launch this month

The first ever Scottish Dance Band online concert series is set to launch this month under the watchful eye of musician and BBC Radio Scotland presenter Gary Innes.

Article Source: The Ceilidh Craic & Culture Club
Last Updated: 16 June 2021 10:46

Entitled The Ceilidh Craic & Culture Club, this concert series will showcase the top Scottish Dance Bands on the scene today, alongside some of the best Scottish traditional musicians.

Filmed in Coda Studios in Glasgow, the online show will include a one-hour set from a different Scottish Dance Band each month, an ‘interval floor spot’ from a duo on the Scottish traditional music scene, alongside an on-the-sofa ‘in conversation’ chat between presenter Gary Innes with the various musicians that are performing on the night.

The first online concert in this series is set to take place on Thursday 24th June 2021 with Leonard Brown and his All-Star Band taking to the screens, along with the musical pairing of Ewen Henderson (Mànran) and Ewan Robertson (Breabach)
An online concert will be broadcast each month in full HD, with the very best Scottish Dance Bands and traditional artists on the scene today performing as part of each night’s entertainment offering.

Each event will be broadcast online across the world using the MyPlayer platform which will allow individuals to pay £12 to watch the live concert. The content will then be available to keep so it can be watched an unlimited number of times afterwards.

Gary Innes, Series Producer, said: “I can’t wait to bring this new and unique series of shows that celebrate Scotland’s music to the wider world.

“I have been presenting BBC Radio Scotland’s longest running music programme, Take the Floor for the last 5 years and during that time I have become very aware of the huge following that Scottish Dance Band music has not just at home here in Scotland but across the world.

“It is a musical genre that is rarely picked up on television or onscreen and I feel that this is an exciting opportunity to offer people watching at home the chance to enjoy the music visually with an online concert. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to create a monthly series that showcases a traditional six-piece Scottish Dance Band on a regular basis, the only show of its kind at this time!”

The line-up of Scottish Dance Bands for the initial year-long concert series includes Liam Stewart and his Scottish Dance Band, the legendary John ‘Iky’ Carmichael, the Lomond Ceilidh Band, Nicol MacLaren and the Glencraig Band, Alasdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band, Tom Orr and his Scottish Dance Band, Simon Howie and his Scottish Dance Band, The Seamus O’Sullivan Experience and Robert Nairn and his Highland Dance Band.

Representing the traditional music scene will be Siobhan Miller, Mohsen Amini and Charlie Galloway, Kim Carnie and Innes Whyte, Ali Hutton and Ross Ainslie, Ingrid Henderson and Iain MacFarlane, Donald Shaw and Charlie MacKerron, Robert Robertson and Ross Wilson, Kathleen MacInnes and Mike Vass, Megan Henderson, Anna Massie and Jenna Reid, Alec Dalglish plus Iona Fyfe and Michael Biggins.

After two successful pilot events for the Ceilidh Craic and Culture Club in late 2019, Gary has worked with Creative Scotland to bring this event to life with a commitment to a full year’s concert series.

Scottish Dance Band is a very popular genre of music, as can be seen with over 70 box & fiddle clubs across Scotland and the north of England alone - not to mention the societies scattered across the world. However, in the last five years the only platform on which a traditional six-piece Scottish Dance Band would be showcased or get the opportunity to perform in full is on BBC Radio Scotland’s, Take the Floor as part of their Saturday night programme. This monthly series will be the only place that fans of the Scottish Dance Band genre will be able to watch a visual performance of a traditional six-piece Scottish Dance Band perform together.

For more information or to buy tickets please go to www.ceilidh.tv

The Ceilidh Craic & Culture Club is supported by Creative Scotland.

Got a story to share? Send us an email at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk

Latest Edinburgh News

Peppa Pig Casting Announced

Fierylight, in collaboration with Hasbro, are thrilled to announce the cast for the upcoming ‘oinktastic’ UK tour of Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show, coming to Edinburgh Playhouse in March.

Edinburgh Christmas Parties & Activities 2025

With Christmas just around the corner, there's never been a better time to start thinking about your Edinburgh festive celebrations.

Bongos Bingo Christmas Cracker and Big Fat Bingo of the Year

This festive season at The O2 Academy, Bongo’s Bingo is transporting everyone back to the time when coloured tree lights and flammable tinsel ruled supreme.

Casting for MAMMA MIA! Announced

Full casting is announced for the sensational feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! which comes to the Edinburgh Playhouse for the festive season playing from Tue 9 Dec 2025 - Sun 4 Jan 2026.

Women lead the way in the National Galleries of Scotland 2026 programme

National Galleries of Scotland announces an unmissable programme of free and ticketed exhibitions set to take over the National, Portrait and Modern galleries in Edinburgh throughout 2026.

Flight Club is giving out hundreds of prizes on the streets of Edinburgh in October

The team behind the home of Social Darts is embarking on a nationwide charity tour in celebration of its 10th birthday and dishing out treats to its fans along the way!

Scottish Building Society brings communities together for largest walking rugby event in Scotland

Scottish Building Society hosted Scotland’s largest walking rugby festival last month, bringing together players of all abilities for a celebration of sport, community, and accessible active living.

Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy joined Sir Tom Hunter to lead out Edinburgh Kiltwalk

Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy joined philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter to lead out 8,500 Kiltwalkers at the Edinburgh Kiltwalk (Sunday September 14) raising £1.5 million for 800 charities.

Edinburgh school kids team up with Kabin Crew to create a new rap song in Irish and Scottish Gaelic

Young musicians from Edinburgh and Cork are breaking new grounds with a unique hybrid international hip-hop collaboration led by Cork’s Kabin Crew.

Capitals Bartenders Cast Their Vote As Edinburgh Bar Awards Reveal Finalists

Edinburgh’s top bartenders have had their say, as the Edinburgh Bar Awards today (Thursday, 11th September) reveal the 2025 finalists across 11 categories.

Take to the skies with Daredevil Photographer Alfred Buckham at the National Galleries of Scotland

This autumn at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh, take to the skies and see the world from above the clouds through the remarkable work of Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer.

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.

Scottish International Storytelling Festival Programme Announced

With support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival launched its 36th festival programme.

Mindroom Fundraising Heroes Drive Charity Support Forward

Mindroom is celebrating a series of extraordinary fundraising activities, led by charity co-founder 81-year-old Robin Dow, living with stage 4 cancer, as his 25-mile walk raised a huge £70,000.

Fresh deals for freshers

Calling all students in Edinburgh! Britain’s biggest craft brewer, BrewDog, has announced some fresh new deals for freshers and returning students to toast the new academic year.

Carol Main MBE FRC appointed Chair of National Centre for Music

The development of a new National Centre for Music has reached another key milestone, with the appointment of Carol Main MBE FRC as Chair.

Eat Spain Drink Spain returns for a Culinary Fiesta across Edinburgh

Get ready to embark on a culinary journey as the "Eat Spain Drink Spain" campaign makes its much-anticipated return to Edinburgh.

Haggis the pygmy hippo to say goodbye to Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo has announced that Haggis the pygmy hippo will be moving to another zoo as part of the breeding programme for the Endangered species.

Spooky Season Arrives at Dynamic Earth this October

This October, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, Dynamic Earth invites visitors of all ages to step into the shadows and uncover the science behind the spookiest stories ever told.

Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025

Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!

Edinburgh bridal expert shares her top trend prediction for Taylor Swift wedding

Now is the time to shop for that perfect dress, as Rachel Scott Couture has announced it will be hosting a one-off, three-week long sample sale at its Queensferry Street boutique.

Marcos unveils first of its kind interactive karaoke room

Whatever kind of music you’re into, the brand-new interactive karaoke room at Marco's is the place for uninhibited singing, selfies and self-expression.

Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on

Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.

Divino Enoteca launches September tasting menu and free wine tastings

This September, Edinburgh’s Italian wine bar Divino Enoteca, is offering plenty for food and wine lovers to explore.

September offers for Freshers Week at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh

Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh is giving students an extra reason to head out this semester with 20% off food, non-alcoholic drinks and merchandise when they show a valid student ID.

Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie

Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.

Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour

Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.

Dynamic Earth partners with Scottish Water to deliver Water Cycle Workshops

Dynamic Earth is to join Science Centres across Scotland to deliver Water Cycle Workshops as part of Scottish Water's Generation H2O education programme.