MOONCOIN CEILIDH BAND
The Band...Mooncoin
has been in existence since 1985. Originally founded by Barry, the band
has featured various members over the years.
We have several reserve members and the line-up may vary depending on
who is available, however it usually consists of 4 players + caller.
The current usual lineup is:
Barry - melodeon, concertina, harmonica, whistle,
percussion- as well as band leader and booking
co-ordinator.
Barry's interest in folk music started when as a teenager he would
travel to Barn Dances and Ceilidhs in the west country. At one such
event he bought an old concertina, and he has been playing for dancing
ever since. His melodeon or concertina playing provides the basic
driving melody for the band, varying that on some numbers with
harmonica, whistle & percussion. Barry's long experience and
joyful enthusiam for country dancing has provided him with an excellent
understanding of how to play music for it. His wryly humorous
introductions to some of the tunes and dances are also an integral part
of the Mooncoin experience !
Emerald - caller.
Emerald is our congenial and lively caller, expert at encouraging
people to dance and teaching them the steps and moves. She started
ballroom dancing at school, before joining a Morris Dance side and then
moving on to ceilidh dancing and calling. Emerald uses a headset radio
microphone, so if necessary she can get onto the dance floor and assist
dancers in need of help, while calling the dance.
Bill - guitar, vocals. Bill Nelis complements the
band well with his bilingual bar-room ballad singing between the
dances,
sometimes laced with spontaneously humourous lyrics- as well as his
subtle rock-solid rhythmic guitar playing in the dance tunes.
Chris
- Fiddle, whistle,
low D whistle, saxophone (+ occasionally
bouzouki, electric Mandocaster, Celtic harp). Steeped in Celtic music, and with 31
years as a full-time professional musician and 22 albums behind him,
Chris
provides a rich mixture of lead melodies and harmonic
counterparts on his
instruments, which can range from magical slow airs to fast intricate
Irish reels and foot-stomping
Appalachian fiddle tunes.
(Note: Please ask on booking if you require the Celtic harp).
Graeme - mandolin, tenor banjo, stomp box,
(+occasional octave
mandola & bowed psaltery). Graham's melodic mandolin and banjo
lead
playing blends well with the other melody instruments in the band; on
other numbers he provides a strong, driving mandolin or banjo chord
rhythm- as well as rhythmic foot-percussion on stomp-box.
