The World's Rockiest Ceilidh Band. For over 20 years The Big Shoogle have been renowned for their high-energy, rocky ceilidh tunes, cheekily mashing up rock riffs and anthems with the jigs and reels, electrifying fiddle melodies, rocky accordion and guitar licks underpinned with infectious drum rhythms. All that, and juxtaposed with haunting Scottish airs and flowing waltzes keeps it full of surprises. They’ll have you birlin’ round the dancefloor like experts to all the classic ceilidh dances. Even if you don’t know the difference between a Dashing White Sergeant and a haggis supper – have no fear – The Big Shoogle are here!
The band is renowned for engaging with the crowd and encouraging guests onto the dancefloor, and with their unique, tongue-in-cheek approach in teaching the dances, ensure that the dancefloor is full every night.
And if you'd like a break from the ceilidh dancing, the band can play some rock and pop cover songs later in the evening. These are all played 100% live. However, we are mainly a ceilidh band..
The core band is a 4 piece, comprising accordion with midi bass/keyboards, guitar, fiddle, drums, 2 vocals and dance caller.
We work with some excellent DJs so can incorporate that into the package if so required. A popular combination which works very well is to have the ceilidh from the start of the evening from the first dance up until the evening buffet/tea/coffee, thereafter the DJ plays background music through the system during the buffet and when all the sausage rolls are scoffed and everyone's ready to hit the dancefloor again, the DJ cranks up the tunes until the end of the evening.
You'll KNOW when you've been officially Shoogled!