We can provide a fun-loving troupe of players for events and celebrations of all shapes and sizes. From private house parties, gardens and pubs, to festivals, fetes and community events, and even a miniature train…. No event is too small (or too big!):
What happens at a ceilidh?
Ceilidhs (pronounced kay-lays) have been taking place across Scotland and Ireland for centuries, and it’s guaranteed feel-good night.
After the band has set up, we’ll play a few rousing tunes to get your party in the mood for a traditional dance.
Our experienced caller will then talk your party through the simple steps of a traditional group (or “set”) dance. Once everyone in the room has (more-or-less) learned the steps (takes around 5-10 minutes) the fun really begins.
The band strike up and everyone has a go at dancing the steps they’ve learned, prompted by our caller. Chaos ensues, but before long everyone’s dancing with confidence, or at least enjoying themselves(!)
After 5-10 minutes we give everyone a short break to get their breath back (and have a well-earned drink!) and then off we go again with a new dance, learning the steps and then putting them into practice.
We’ll finish the ceilidh with a few more tunes so that everyone can enjoy some free dancing.
Want a ceilidh or barn dance?
We LOVE to put on a ceilidh.
We recommend hiring us for 2 hours to include 2 x 45-min periods of taught dancing plus a few tunes for free dancing.
It’s possible to run a successful ceilidh in 1 hour, including 1 x 45-min period of taught dancing. But we guarantee it won’t feel like enough!
We will provide one or two people to call the dancing (callers) plus 4+ musicians to play the tunes.
Due to the merriment of a ceilidh, it’s a noisy business, so you’ll want us to plug into a PA system. We can provide one if you need us to.
Contact us to chat through your requirements.
Need some musicians to play tunes/songs at your event?
We’re just as happy providing background trad vibes as we are on stage performing to a captive audience. Whatever the size and style of your event we can provide musicians to match. We can match our repertoire to the type and style of event, and even prepare specifically requested tunes (within reason). For a traditional sound at small or intimate gatherings we can play acoustically, or for larger events we can plug into a PA system, or bring our own. Contact us to talk to us about your event.
What does it cost?
Well, that depends. We’ll match our pricing to your needs. The cost of hiring The Conquering Heroes will depend on:
Size of band: the number of players you need (unlike a rock band there’s no set lineup, sometimes only 3 players is all you need, sometimes it’s over a dozen).
Playing time: the amount of time you’d like us to play.
Performance type: playing for dancing (which is a bit more involved) or playing a set of tunes/songs
Travel: Our base is in London’s SE19, but we’re happy to travel.
Set-up: Acoustic (suitable for small or intimate gatherings, or where we’re playing as background music) or with PA system (for ceilidhs, larger parties). We can provide a PA system for an additional fee.
Contact us to chat through your requirements and we’ll find a set-up that suits your needs and your pocket.
How do I book the band?
Contact us for an informal chat about your requirements.
We’ll ask you about your plans, and the sorts of things you might want us to do.
If you want to go ahead and book the band we’ll ask you to confirm the details.
We’ll then approach the other Conquering Heroes musicians and put together a suitable band for your event.
We’ll confirm the details in writing before asking for a modest up front non-refundable deposit to secure the booking.
Full payment will be required on the day of the event.
What about Charity and Community events?
We are pleased to make ourselves available for local charity and community events where possible for which we make no charge, or charge basic expenses only. If you’re a charitable or community organisation operating local to West Norwood or Crystal Palace, then Contact us for a chat..
What else do I need to know?
We carry full Public Liability Insurance, so you can book us with confidence.
We can provide a full PA system for the band at an additional cost, or we can plug into an existing PA at your event.
You can find testimonials from previous events here, and photos and videos here.