Though not uncommon at Reel Time, we had another very busy week recently with 5 Scottish band events in just 3 days. 2 events were for one incentive group, our stage show and rock band Tartanium performed twice, there was ceilidh dancing and a wedding. All of this took place at some great venues for entertainment in Edinburgh and St Andrews.

First up were the Scraggly Cats, accompanied by 3 mini-kilted Highland Dancers, at the Kimpton Hotel in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. The rocking ceilidh band entertained an Incentive group of Americans from Spectra DMC, fresh off of a long haul flight from the states. As they relaxed and unwound from the travel, the Scraggly Cats played background pop covers during dinner, sort of like a live lounge. This was our first of two events with this group. At the second event, we’d be doing a full on ceilidh with them. In preparation for that, we introduced them to Scottish dancing with a brand new service we offer clients: Strictly Come Ceilidh Dancing. The 3 mini-kilted dancers and the band helped teach guests some dances, then couples and group were judged by the professionals – the Highland Dancers – and non-professionals i.e. a panel of senior members of the company. A fun and novel way to get to grips with ceilidh dancing, and not too taxing an evening on the heels of a long day of travel.

At the same time, just a few streets away, the 5 piece Tartanium band entertained a top-secret corporate client at a gala dinner event. The band – bagpipes, drums, guitar, keyboard, and a singer – plus three mini-kilted Highland Dancers, put on their raucous stage show for some after-dinner entertainment at the National Museum of Scotland. They were followed by a Pipeband, who emerged from one of the museum’s galleries and marched in procession through the main hall to surpise the guests with ‘Beat the Retreat.’

The next night, Tartanium was back on the road for a function at the Eden Club in Pittormie Castle, near St Andrews. Reel Time provided all sorts of entertainment for The Founders Dinner of a Private Members club. The Members had enjoyed golfing during the day on the Old Course, then returned to the Eden Club for dinner, during which Reel Time provided a Guitar and Accordion Duo and Roddy the Piper performed the Haggis Address. Then a 6-piece  Tartanium, adding a fiddle to the previous night’s setup, plus 3 mini-kilted dancers performed their whirlwind show.

On the third day, at the Assembly Rooms on George Street in Edinburgh, the Reel Time Ceilidh Band performed for the same Incentive Group of Americans hosted by Spectra. Having had a taste of ceilidh dancing, they were ready for the full event, this time without the pressure of judges.

And, finally, the Scraggly Cats were in St Andrews for a wedding. The Happy Couple both went to St Andrews University, where they met, and shared a love of ceilidh dancing which they later incorporated into their wedding. They left a lovely review here.

A busy week of Scottish Band Events for our bands, who were shortly back out in force for 5 scottish events in just one night!

If you need help finding the right band or for your Scottish Event or wedding, get in touch!

 

In Glasgow Ceilidh news this summer, we have been fortunate to secure a great run of events with Merchant Square. At the epicentre of Glasgow’s happening bar and night-life, Merchant Square also has another side to its events: the conference event takeover!

Glasgow Convention Bureau do a great job of attracting large conferences to the city. And by good job, I mean they have been named top conference bureau in the UK 12 years running by the Meeting and Incentive Travel Awards. 

Over the course of each summer, conference organisers are looking to find a venue that can easily accommodate a conference audience of up to 1500 people. 1500 people that descend at once, sit down for dinner, and then watch Scottish culture come alive through music and dancing, as a highlight of the conferences Social Program, which are often at the Scottish Event Campus.

Merchant Square’s range of dining establishments closes for the night to allow for the conference events. Black Box Pro Audio set up a stage, lighting and PA system.

The band who have been asked back time and time again are the rock-and-pop Ceilidh band Scraggly Cats. Their simple ceilidh dancing walk-throughs work well for uninitiated ceilidh clients. This is especially relevant with conference audiences, where the band deals with up to 1500 ceilidh rookies at the same time. 

To vary the entertainment and allow for a mix between Scottish cultural dancing and pure pop and rock, then band then plays a set of pop and rock classics. This is a specially curated mix of tunes that are recognised worldwide!

The 2019 conferences at Merchant Square are:

12th June – Offshore Mechanics & Arctic Engineering (OMAE), 1000 guests

10th July – CAP Partner – Federation of European Microbiologists (FEMS) 2019 Congress of European Microbiologists, 800 guests

18th July – International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe (ISMPMI), 1300 guests

1st Aug – International Nuclear Physics Conference (INPC) 2019, 800 guests

4th Sept – European Conference on Applied Superconductivity (EUCAS) 2019, 1000 guests

8th Oct – The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)’s International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS) 2019, 1000 guests

5900 people from 36 countries over 6 nights in Glasgow Ceilidh dancing. Strangers coming together in an embrace of Scottish culture across disciplines, nations, and languages. Resulting in 8 spectacular nights.

Thanks to Black Box Audio for the amazing sound and light for the events, and to Jenni and the Merchant Square Team for putting the conference events on.

 

We had a great time at ceilidh number 5, the EUCAS conference on the 4th September. The attendees were enthusiastic and great fun. Without much ceilidh dancing experience, they got stuck in and danced their lab coats off. Check out some of the fun from that night below: