Well Dressed Band

This is the website of the Well Dressed Band.  We are a community band based in the Peak District and we play for ceilidhs and barn dances in the local area including South Yorkshire.  The band also gives an opportunity for aspiring folk musicians to learn to play for dances in a friendly atmosphere.

The Band in Lockdown

During the lockdown for Covid19 the band have had to find other ways to practise.  On Tuesday evenings, when we would normally meet to practise, we have been having a virtual practice via Zoom.  It is not possible to play along on Zoom, because of the inbuilt delay, but we have been muting our sound and playing along at home, either to a lead player or a recording of the band.  Another way of hearing other band members has been to create virtual recordings.  A master track is created and circulated. Band members then record themselves playing along to it.  All the recordings are then collated to create the final full band recording. The response from band members has been amazing.  Not only have we created some great music but it has been a valuable learning opportunity for people to listen to themselves playing.

We have created five sets which were used for a virtual Home Grown Ceilidh on 20th September.  The plan is to hold another on Sunday 22nd November.  Further details will be put on the website and our Facebook page in due course. We are also in the process of creating some further virtual recordings for future use.

The five sets finished so far are:

Jigs - Fiery Clockface, St Georges Day

Polkas - 3rd January, Old Time Polka

Reels - New Road to Alston, Will's Way

Set Dance - Buttered Peas, Curry Polka

Waltzes - West Leyden Peek-a-Boo