Meet The Crew...

DEBS, our Caller has been a dancer all her life, and has accumulated a vast amount of knowledge over the years. She can call for novice and experienced dancers alike, and has called for Wedding Ceilidhs at some of the South West's most prestigious Country Houses. She has even called for a Ceilidh at a converted Napoleonic Fort! At the other end of the scale, she is equally at home calling for Birthday Ceilidhs or Barn Dances at local village halls.

She has a comprehensive knowledge of Folk music and Dancing which is put to good use in her duties as a Committee Member for the Annual Teignmouth Folk Festival. Should you have any queries about Ceilidhs, English, Scottish, or other wise, she is the Caller to speak to.

LYNNETTE has a classical background with Violin and Viola. She has performed with Orchestras all over Europe, and is no stranger to London's Festival Hall and The Royal Albert Hall. About 6 years ago she decided to swap her Violin for a Fiddle because Ceilidh and Folk Music was more fun! She also plays Flute. Along with John, Lynn is jointly responsible for our arrangements. Lynn quite likes playing in barns for Ceilidhs and Barn Dances, but not when it is so cold that the propane heater cylinder is covered in white frost!! Brr!!
Lynnette now has a much coveted 'Bridge' 5 string Electric Fiddle which she has lovingly named 'Calvin'. This effectively combines a Viola and a violin into one electric instrument. And what a versatile instrument it is. Mind you, one has to know how to play it to get the best out of it and boy, can she play !!

MEL, well he just plays Guitar. But it’s his driving rhythm that you find your feet moving to. Mel doesn't really read music and plays mainly 'by ear', but he doesn't let that get in the way of a good tune. His motto seems to be "You lead, and I will follow".
He likes to think he is in charge, but Lynn, Debs and John know better.

JOHN moved into the area a few years ago from Kent. Having trained at the Royal College of Music, he has played Keyboards, Accordion and Bass Guitar in a variety of Bands for most of his life. He has also played in many Venues across Europe. Possibly his biggest Venue to date has been playing with Moondance for the late night Ceilidh at the Guilfest Festival a couple of years ago, although he has also played at a number of the Queen's Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace. He has a vast repertoire of tunes to entertain and get you dancing. As above, John keeps us supplied with sheet music and tune set arrangements. Both John and Lynn have an extensive knowledge of musical theory.
John also has a varied and comprehensive repertoire of easy listening music which he can play on Keyboards, should you wish a contrast in background music at your Function. For instance, he recently played as the Guests arrived at the Reception of a rather large Wedding, as they assembled for Champaigne, Hors d'œuvres and Speeches, with the rest of the Band joining him for the Ceilidh after the Wedding Breakfast.

MARK, our sound engineer has over 30 years experience and has worked with leading musicians such as Martin Carthy, Liza Carthy, Dr. Faustus, and John Kirkpatrick to name but a few.

He doesn’t like to name drop……but I do!

You may wonder, if you have seen us before, what the quiet one is doing in the corner. He doesn't seem to do much, but its his keen ear and delicate tweeking of the sound desk that makes the Band's job a lot easier, often resolving a problem before anyone else realises that there was in fact a problem.

I am a great believer in having a dedicated sound engineer so that the band can concentrate on playing without having to worry about how good they sound, or dealing with any glitches that may arise. This of course also means that you will hear us at our best all night long.

Just to put the record straight, our Name :- The Dawntreader Ceilidh Band was not chosen because of the recent upsurge in the interest in the Narnia Chronicles and the current film 'The Voyage of the Dawn Treader'.

The name Dawntreader has been used by Mel for various ventures he has started during his long and varied life. This goes back to when he was a young lad and used to surf, often paddling out before the sun had fully risen to catch those early morning 'glassy' waves before the crowds and the onshore winds arrived in the lineup : 'Treading the Dawn'.
Having been an avid reader of the Narnia Chronicles as a boy, the nickname Dawntreader was an obvious choice. So when this Band was formed,
The Dawntreader Ceilidh Band was chosen as the name to continue the connection.

WHAT IS A CEILIDH?

Originally, a ceilidh was a social gathering of any sort, and did not necessarily involve dancing. Céilidh music may be provided by an assortment of fiddle, flute, tin whistle, accordion, bodhrán, and in more recent times also drums and electric bass guitar. The music is cheerful and lively, and the basic steps can be learned easily; a short instructional session is often provided for new dancers before the start of the dance itself. In Ireland the first céilidh band was put together in 1926 by Séamus Clandillon, Radio Éireann's director of Music, in order to have dance music for his studio-based programmes

Dancing at céilidhe is usually in the form of céilidh dances, set dances or couple dances. A "Set" consists of four couples, with each pair of couples facing another in a square or rectangular formation. Each couple exchanges position with the facing couple, and also facing couples exchange partners, while all the time keeping in step with the beat of the music. However, about half of the dances in the modern Scots céilidh are couple dances performed in a ring. These can be performed by fixed couples or in the more sociable "progressive" manner, with the lady moving to the next gentleman in the ring at or near the end of each repetition of the steps. In Ireland, the similar style of dance is called céili dance or fíor (true) céili dance. Some of the dances are named after famous historical battles and events, others after items of daily rural life. The "Siege of Ennis", "The Walls of Limerick" and "The Stack of Barley" are popular dances in this genre.

These days, a ceilidh or barn dance is simply a dance party with traditional folk music. It is suitable for all ages and, although the dances are generally quite lively, there will be some suited to the very old or young. The movements may often be made by walking, but it's more fun to dance/step to the tunes. The dancing does not require any experience because a 'caller' explains or demonstrates each dance first — it's easy !

That's why a ceilidh is so good for weddings or gatherings where people are brought together and wish to share a "fun" experience.

Wikipedia has a more detailed explanation of the meaning of 'Ceilidh'.

Contact dawntreadermusic@btinternet.com or info@dawntreadermusic.co.uk or Tel: 01626 770238