Try before you buy … Listen to audio clips of the Dark Horse Ceilidh Band in action
Scroll down for examples of some of the different styles of dance tune that you're likely to encounter at a ceilidh: jigs, reels, hornpipes and more … as well as a taste of the music that we might play between dances. When we play for dances, we often play several tunes in a 'set' – these clips are shorter to give you a taste of what we play.
We also have a small number of videos on YouTube. These are recorded live, so the audio is not of the highest quality, but hopefully they will give you a idea of what you might expect from a ceilidh with us.
(This page may take a few moments to load if you have a slow internet connection.)
Video from Pine Street Allotments, Harrogate,
2022
Video from St Wilfrid's Church, Ripon,
July 2022
Jigs: A Night on the Gin &
The Bedbreaker, both by Ian Wilson
Reels: Shepton Mallet &
In The Toy Shop
Hornpipes: Sailor Boy, by Dave Howes &
Borobridge Hornpipe
Slow Air: Crianlarich, by Ray Black
Polkas: Andy Boyes', Denis Murphy's & John Ryan's.
We wouldn't play these tunes quite this fast for dancing.
Zycanthos (or Zakynthos) Jig, by Roger Watson
Short clip from from the Coniston Hotel,
July 2019
Dancing the 'Gay Gordons' at the Cairn Hotel, Harrogate,
January 2016
Jigs: The Kesh Jig &
Fair Jenny's Jig
Reels: The Old Grey Cat &
McLennon's Reel
Hornpipes: President Garfield's Hornpipe, Alexander's Favourite &
Admiral Dogsbody, by Peter Norman
Waltzes: Margaret's Waltz &
Farewell to Devon, both by Pat Shuldham-Shaw
Dill Pickles Rag, by Charles L. Johnson:
a cheerful ragtime tune for between dances
Slip Jigs: Barney Brallaghan &
The Rocky Road to Dublin