Celebrating 10 years of folky fun, Tatterdemalion are bringing their popular family ceilidh to the Corn Exchange once again.
For 10 years, Tatterdemalion, the Band of the New Hardy Players, have bounced around stages, bringing traditional tunes known to Dorset people 200 years ago to life, and led many people in many a merry jig all over the county. And they’re celebrating their first decade of dancing with a big ceilidh for everyone to enjoy at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange in September.
Since their formation to provide music for The New Hardy Players’ productions, before branching into their own career, many newly-weds have enjoyed the strains of the band’s fiddles for their first dance as a couple; many charities have benefitted from their fundraising prowess; and many new folk dancers have had their first experience of the art at the celebrated Kiddies’ Keilidhs.
Band leader Alastair Braidwood reminisces: ‘It was a strange beginning. A group of people who didn’t really know each other very well brought together to play music, who then realised they were on to a good thing. We were asked to play some tunes for a bit of dancing at a party, and then someone else asked if we’d play for a fundraiser and it all took off from there.
We’ve become friends over the years; indeed, the number of married couples in the band has lately doubled!’
Recent EFDSS gold badge winner Tim Laycock, folk singer and musician, has much to answer for; he provided the first tunes and gathered the musicians together. His wife Angela is the primary caller for the group, and brings her extensive knowledge, warm manner, and unwillingness to take ‘no’ for an answer to all their gigs.
Mr Braidwood said ‘All of our tunes come from two manuscripts of folk tunes which were being used for dancing and enjoyment in Dorset in the 1820s and ‘30s. We’ve updated them a little, with a beat and some fun harmonies, but the traditional tunes would be still be recognisable to Thomas Hardy, whose family tunebook is one of our sources.’
Over the last few years, Tatterdemalion’s seasonal ceilidhs with Dorchester Arts have proved very popular, especially with the introduction, at the behest of then-Mayor of Dorchester Gareth Jones, of the Kiddies’ Keilidh, with specially-designed dances for those with little legs, to encourage youngsters to try folk dance.
On Saturday 13th September, Tatterdemalion will be back once again at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester, bringing their favourite tunes for dancing. No experience or partner necessary, and the bar will be open for the whole evening. Tickets via Dorchester Arts are £13 for adults or £7 concessions (under-18s and low-wage) for the evening ceilidh, or £3 per person for the Kiddies’ Keilidh, available through their website or box office. Book early to avoid disappointment, as previous ceilidhs have sold out!
Tatterdemalion, the Band of the New Hardy Players, perform traditional folk music in a fun and modern way for dancing at weddings, fundraisers, parties and more. For more information, please email TatterBand@gmail.com.
Tatterdamalion
Some members of Tatterdemalion performing in Cornhill, Dorchester.