Black Isle Ceilidh Band

We're a ceilidh dance band based on the Black Isle near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.

Our friendly band is Kenny Fraser (fiddle), Hugh Marwick (whistle) and Chris Rasdale (guitar). We're long established on the Scottish music and ceilidh dance scene and our sound is authentically traditional, with a repertoire of Highland pipe tunes, Scottish country dancing and session tunes.

We play at ceilidh dances, weddings, functions, traditional music sessions and community events around the local area of Fortrose, Rosemarkie, Avoch, Cromarty, Munlochy and North Kessock. We'll also travel to Inverness, Dingwall, Nairn, Forres, Tain and further into the nether regions of the Highlands...

We play for the Dashing White Sergeant, Strip The Willow, Gay Gordons, Canadian Barn Dance, Highland Schottische, Virginia Reel, Eightsome Reel, Military Two Step, St Bernard's Waltz and other popular ceilidh dance favourites. We have some fun dances for families with children and some dances you may not have done before - we'll talk you through those! We also have a a few songs up our sleeve.

Black Isle Ceilidh Band

Next ceilidhs

Inverness, Eden Court Theatre

Black Isle Ceilidh Band silhouettes

We're playing another two ceilidh nights at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness:

The dances start at 7.30pm and finish shortly after 10pm. Tickets are available here now from the Eden Court box office. Standard tickets are £12 / £18 with reduced price tickets for under-18s (£7 / £13) and low income (£5.50). Tickets may also be available on the night. We played the first of this series of ceilidhs on Friday 29th September.

Black Isle Ceilidh Band

Black Isle community

We'll be playing for the North Kessock Village Hall New Year's Day fundraising dance again, on Monday 1st January 2024, and a Burns-themed night at Rosemarkie Gordon Memorial Hall on Saturday 20th January.

Private functions

We have private functions lined up in 2023 and 2024 in and around Inverness, at the Royal Highland Hotel, Loch Ness Country House Hotel, British Legion Club and Inverness Creative Academy. We'll also be playing at Munlochy Hall, Drumnadrochit and Roybridge.

Black Isle Ceilidh Band

Where have we played recently?

We've played in recent years for local functions, community and charity events around the Black Isle and Inverness area, as well as further afield in the Highlands.

We've played for Black Isle community ceilidh dances at North Kessock Village Hall, Resolis Memorial Hall and Rosemarkie Gordon Memorial Hall.

We've also played for private functions at the Kingsmills Hotel, Lochardil Hotel, Bogbain Farm, Glen Mhor Hotel and Corriegarth Hotel in Inverness, the Ben Wyvis Hotel in Strathpeffer, Munlochy Hall, Rosemarkie Gordon Memorial Hall, Black Isle Yurts, Avoch and Poyntzfield on the Black Isle, Boat of Garten Community Hall, Alvie near Kincraig, and Gairloch Sands.

"We've finally come back down to earth after all the celebrations and clear up etc and I just want to say a massive thanks to you and the band for Saturday night. We were told by multiple people that it was 'the best ceilidh ever'! I think the fact that the dance floor was so packed the entire ceilidh was testament to how much everyone was enjoying themselves. Really appreciate all that you did, it really made the night. There were several ceilidh newbies who are total converts now, so I think that proves the success..."

E&J - Black Isle - September 2023

"A big thanks to you, Chris and Hugh for delivering a great evening - the mix of new and familiar dances was just right and many said they had a most enjoyable night..."

TP - Speyside - September 2023

End of Summer Ceilidh poster

In September 2023 we played for a community ceilidh at Rosemarkie Gordon Memorial Hall for Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council.

In July 2023 we played for the Coigach Gathering dance at Coigach Community Hall.

In August 2022 we played for the Summer Festival Ceilidh at Brodie Castle.

During Winter 2021 we played at the Botanic House live music venue in Inverness for popular ceilidh dance nights.

Cool Ceilidhs For Kids

Cool Ceilidhs For Kids were free ceilidh dance workshops we organised for Black Isle families with primary-age children between June and October 2022 - supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland. We're hoping to be able to provide these again soon.

Black Isle Ceilidh Band