Music and Dance

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I have been playing percussion in a barn dance and ceilidh band for over 20 years. I also now work as a dance caller, originally with The Bang On The Wall Band, but now with various bands including The Four Foot Four, The South West Ceilidh Band, etc... I was a founder member of The Poppy Folk Club in West Bridgford, Nottingham and still attend various folk clubs, singarounds and music sessions. I dance with a number of Morris sides, and have held the roles of squire, bagman and foreman. I have run workshops in Morris and folk dance, both for complete beginners and for experienced dancers.

Barn Dance and Ceilidh
Morris Dancing
Singing and Playing
Composition

Phil calling for a barn dance and playing percussion.

Barn Dance and Ceilidh

I call the dances and play percussion with The Four Foot Four, The South West Ceilidh Band and with a few other barn dance and ceilidh bands here in The South West of England. Contact me if you are organising an event, or looking for somewhere to go for a dance.

I work as a dance caller for ceilidhs and barn dances, so if you are organising an event, whether it be a party to celebrate a birthday or wedding, a pta, church or village dance, a festival or corporate event, please do get in touch. I have recently moved from Nottingham to Somerset, so I mainly work in the East Midlands and the South West, but am available to travel anywhere in the country.

The Bang On The Wall Band

The Bang On The Wall Band is a barn dance and ceilidh band based in the East Midlands. Martin Wildig and I formed the band in 1997 after the previous band (The ACME Dance Company) that we both played in folded. The band works with a number of different dance callers. Our main regular caller for many years was Laz Gilbert, but nowadays I usually call the dances myself.

The Four Foot Four

The Four Foot Four is a new barn dance and ceilidh band based in Somerset. I am the dance caller, which means I choose which dances people are going to do, I explain the dance before we start, and call the figures during the dance until everyone knows it well enough.

The South West Ceilidh Band

The South West Ceilidh Band is a new barn dance and ceilidh band based in Somerset. I am the dance caller, which means I choose which dances people are going to do, I explain the dance before we start, and call the figures during the dance until everyone knows it well enough.

Poppy Folk Club

The Poppy Folk Club meets once a month at the Poppy and Pint in the Lady Bay Area of West Bridgford, Nottingham. We have a nice big room upstairs at the pub. Generally we alternate each month between a songs and music session and a concert night where we have a guest artist to perform, followed by a singaround for anyone wanting to stay afterwards to sing or play.

I have been bagman, squire and foreman for Anstey Morrismen, and foreman for Sergeant Musgraves Dance. I also occasionally dance with The Bunnies From Hell. My first side though was, and still is The Hinckley Plough Bullockers.

Dance Tuition and Workshops

I have been foreman (dance teacher and choreographer) for Sergeant Musgraves Dance and Anstey Morrismen and have taught dances for The Bunnies From Hell. I have led workshops at Chippenham Folk Festival, Folk East Festival, Barefoot Festival and Nottingham World Music Festival. I also ran classes in morris and folk dancing at Deda dance studios in Derby.

Barn Dance and Ceilidh

I call the dances and play percussion with The Four Foot Four, The South West Ceilidh Band and with a few other barn dance and ceilidh bands here in The South West of England. Contact me if you are organising an event, or looking for somewhere to go for a dance.

I have been bagman, squire and foreman for Anstey Morrismen, and foreman for Sergeant Musgraves Dance. I also occasionally dance with The Bunnies From Hell. My first side though was, and still is The Hinckley Plough Bullockers.

Singing and Playing

I play percussion and tin whistle with The Bang On The Wall Band. I also play a little on the Anglo concertina. I enjoy singing traditional and not so traditional folk songs. I started, and still help to run The Poppy Folk Club in the Lady Bay Area of West Bridgford, Nottingham. I also attend a number of music sessions and other folk clubs, singarounds, etc.

I am not a prolific composer, but I have written a number of songs, dances and dance tunes as well as the odd poem and story.

Barn Dance and Ceilidh

I call the dances and play percussion with The Four Foot Four, The South West Ceilidh Band and with a few other barn dance and ceilidh bands here in The South West of England. Contact me if you are organising an event, or looking for somewhere to go for a dance.

I have been bagman, squire and foreman for Anstey Morrismen, and foreman for Sergeant Musgraves Dance. I also occasionally dance with The Bunnies From Hell. My first side though was, and still is The Hinckley Plough Bullockers.

Singing and Playing

I play percussion and tin whistle with The Bang On The Wall Band. I also play a little on the Anglo concertina. I enjoy singing traditional and not so traditional folk songs. I started, and still help to run The Poppy Folk Club in the Lady Bay Area of West Bridgford, Nottingham. I also attend a number of music sessions and other folk clubs, singarounds, etc.

I am not a prolific composer, but I have written a number of songs, dances and dance tunes as well as the odd poem and story.

Event and Gigs list

Here is a list of gigs and other events that Phil is involved in:

I work as a dance caller for ceilidhs and barn dances, so if you are organising an event, whether it be a party to celebrate a birthday or wedding, a pta, church or village dance, a festival or corporate event, please do get in touch. I have recently moved from Nottingham to Somerset, so I mainly work in the East Midlands and the South West, but am available to travel anywhere in the country.

The Bang On The Wall Band

The Bang On The Wall Band is a barn dance and ceilidh band based in the East Midlands. Martin Wildig and I formed the band in 1997 after the previous band (The ACME Dance Company) that we both played in folded. The band works with a number of different dance callers. Our main regular caller for many years was Laz Gilbert, but nowadays I usually call the dances myself.

The Four Foot Four

The Four Foot Four is a new barn dance and ceilidh band based in Somerset. I am the dance caller, which means I choose which dances people are going to do, I explain the dance before we start, and call the figures during the dance until everyone knows it well enough.

The South West Ceilidh Band

The South West Ceilidh Band is a new barn dance and ceilidh band based in Somerset. I am the dance caller, which means I choose which dances people are going to do, I explain the dance before we start, and call the figures during the dance until everyone knows it well enough.

Poppy Folk Club

The Poppy Folk Club meets once a month at the Poppy and Pint in the Lady Bay Area of West Bridgford, Nottingham. We have a nice big room upstairs at the pub. Generally we alternate each month between a songs and music session and a concert night where we have a guest artist to perform, followed by a singaround for anyone wanting to stay afterwards to sing or play.

Dance Tuition and Workshops

I have been foreman (dance teacher and choreographer) for Sergeant Musgraves Dance and Anstey Morrismen and have taught dances for The Bunnies From Hell. I have led workshops at Chippenham Folk Festival, Folk East Festival, Barefoot Festival and Nottingham World Music Festival. I also ran classes in morris and folk dancing at Deda dance studios in Derby.

I am fairly active on Facebook although nowadays it is mostly just posting my daily Wordle results. I should probably use Twitter and other sites more for promoting gigs etc... but I have got out of the habit of doing this since lockdown. I seem to be doing fairly well for gigs at the moment though, so perhaps it isn't necessary. I also have accounts at Twitter, Instagram, Discord, Twitch, Linked In and YouTube.