Northern Tasmania:

Black Wattle: celtic/bush music and dancing. Contact John McPhee, 03 6424 6243 or Guy Carey, 03 6427 9685.

The Bottom Pub Ceilidh Band: bush/Scottish/…. Contact Mark Phillips, 0447 342 773 or John Roden ceilidh@activ8.net.au, 0488 642 648

Rough Bark: Bush Dances, Weddings, Concerts, Community Events, PA provided Contact: Eddie Tuleja, 03 6369 5126, 0407 971103, edtuleja@hotmail.com

Southern Tasmania:

Buttongrass Serenade: bush dancing/Tasmanian. Contact Steve and Marjorie Gadd 03 6266 3446

Dancers’ Delight: Celtic Ceilidh band. Contact Malcolm Fielding, 03 6297 8565.
Dancers’ Delight is a four piece band that play predominantly celtic music from traditions including Scottish/Shetland, Irish, Cape Breton, Quebecois, with a little spice of Balkan. Featuring a two strong fiddle section, this band has a characteristic driving intensity and lift in the music. Mandolin/whistle complements the fiddles and accompaniment on bouzouki provides a strong and balanced sound overall. The band loves to play for dances as well as in concert sets.

Harlequin: Medieval/middle eastern, peasant music. Prepare to travel back in time, and experience the rhythm, instruments and magic of the medieval era.
“Circle dances for village squares” Tenille & Harry – 0439 393 242
Joana: 0423 047861 harlequintas@gmail.com

Hobart Old Time String Band (HOT String Band): Hillbilly, traditional, American old-time and rootsy music and songs, for listening or for dancing, including bush dancing.
Contact Cathy, 03 6273 2127 cathleen.hutchinson@gmail.com

Rakish Paddy: traditional Irish and contemporary.  Dance music a speciality, including bush dances. Contact Roy Newman, 0458 932 839, roynewman3@bigpond.com.

Shake Sugaree: Old time blues and bluegrass – American in its origins, Tasmanian in its character. Contact Steve Gadd, 03 6266 3446, woden@bigpond.com.

Steptoe Bush Band: dances and music from many cultures. Contact Paul Calvert-Smith, 03 6239 1495, 0407 123 410.

Tasmanian Heritage Fiddle Ensemble: Tasmanian music, collected and contemporary. Contact Marjorie Gadd, 03 6266 3446

VerandahCoots: traditional Australian dancing. Contact Stuart Graham, 03 6239 1517; Julie Edwards, 03 6266 4566; Dave Meikle, 03 6227 2277

Xenos: inspiring Balkan/Breton music and dancing (Macedonian, Moldavian, Greek, Turkish, …). Contact Rob Bester, 0418 865 498, robbest@xenosmusic.com

Learning the Dances

All of the above bands teach dances, and there is no substitute for live music with your dancing, so the best way to learn is to hire a band or go to one of their dances.  Attending one of the regular or special dance events/groups listed on our Forthcoming Events or Dance Groups and Regular Events pages is a good way to learn and have fun at the same time.