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A céili (pronounced Kay-Lee) is the traditional Gaelic social dance in Ireland, Scotland and Atlantic Canada. An informal social gathering at which there is Scottish or Irish folk music and singing and folk dancing and story telling
The Camden Ceili Band is a venture dreamt up by award-winning Scottish fiddler Jamie Smith. Having toured and performed professionally for ten years, Jamie decided in 2008 to create a music agency specializing in Irish and Scottish music for weddings and functions. What makes Camden Ceili Band a unique agency is that it’s run by a musician, for musicians.
Many music agencies are run by non-musicians. But Camden Ceili Band can provide a far superior service. Jamie will often be doing the gigs himself along with his band members from The Long Notes: accordionist Colette O’Leary and banjo maestro Brian Kelly, two of London’s top folk musicians. When otherwise engaged, Jamie hand-picks his function bands from a pool of only the very best Scottish and Irish musicians in the UK. They’re all friends Jamie knows well, and musicians he respects. This ensures the quality of music at your event is second-to-none.
Camden Ceili Band is a flexible agency. We can provide a wide variety of entertainments: from solo fiddlers, accordionists or banjo players, to duets, trios and full four and five-piece ceili bands. We can tailor your ceili to include Scottish or Irish tunes and dances depending on what you like best. If songs are important to you, we can ensure there’s a quality vocalist in the band who can sing all your favourite Irish and Scottish songs. We’ll take requests for any songs (within reason) given enough notice.
The best thing about Camden Ceili Band is that you’ll be in direct contact with Jamie from the very outset. This ensures complete confidence and peace of mind.
Jamie Smith - fiddle
Twice all-Britain champion and finalist in the 2002 Radio Scotland Folk Musician of the Year. Two albums to date, one with award-winning band Beneche and in 2006 his debut album, which has received critical acclaim and radio play in the UK and abroad. Jamie can be seen playing the kalimba on the latest Sony Walkman advert.
Colette O'Leary - piano accordion
Virtuoso accordionist from Dublin who found fame touring with Sharon Shannon's sister Mary Shannon in all-girl Irish folk supergroup the Bumblebees. Colette has also toured and played regularly with Fairground Attraction singer-songwriter Mark Nevin as well as jazz singer Mary Coughlan.
Brian Kelly - banjo and mandolin
London's jimi hendrix of the banjo, Brian has won countless all-Ireland finals on both banjo and mandolin and has released two solo albums to date He's had a top-ten hit in the Irish charts with celtic-dance crossover group Dance to Tipperary, and has toured around the world with the legendary Shane McGowan and the Popes.
Liam O’Sullivan – button accordion
Liam began the button accordion at the age of 12, winning five all-Britain titles in his teens. He’s toured and recorded with award-winning trad Irish band Mise, and is featured in the opening credits of the Irish Music Channel. Liam’s also toured with two sell-out stage productions - Gaelforce Dance and Irish Nights – taking him throughout Europe and as far away as Taiwan, Thailand and Tasmania.
Tad Sargent – bodhran, bouzouki
Tad was introduced to Irish music by his parents at a young age. He started on the piano, moving on to the bodhran and the bouzouki in his late teens. Tad is a well-known session musician in London, regularly performing with many of the best musicians in Town. He has also worked with the BBC, Claire Tchaikwoski, and has performed on stage at the Royal Albert Hall. Tad is the resident bodhran teacher at the Hammersmith Irish Cultural Centre.
Sam Proctor – fiddle, bodhran
Sam Proctor is one of the most in-demand fiddle players on the Irish music scene. Originally from Nottingham, Sam took up the fiddle at the age of 8, immediately showing a great aptitude and affinity for traditional music. Sam completed a degree in sound recording at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 2001. He spent the year following his degree touring the USA, Asia and Australia with dance show 'Spirit of Ireland'. Sam has performed extensively throughout the UK, including at the Camden and Hammersmith Irish centres, the Return to Camden Town, Liverpool and Wimborne Festivals, at the Leeds Gathering, and in Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations.
Paddy Gallagher - guitar and vocals
Guitarist Paddy Gallagher is one of London's musical treasures who brings a vast knowledge of tunes and years of experience playing with most of the great musicians who have spent time in London, including Tommy McCarthy, Brian Rooney and John Carty.
