Tumbling Tom - Ceilidh Band


2018 - December - Yet another Christmas ceilidh for Crook Morris, our 10th in a row: we must be doing something right! From small beginnings in Kendal Parish Hall, the ceilidh has grown into a major event held in the lovely venue of Kendal Town Hall. Another sell out before the event, Martyn had a long waiting list to manage. Some lovely comments from people attending - From Lynne - And thanks to Tumbling Tom and the Big Band section for a very fine show and good calling - as usual! From Colin - A great evening with lots of great dances! Thanks very much to Tumbling Tom, Crook Morris, the Revellers and all who organised it From Cathy - What a fab night! Thanks so much to the organisers, band and sound person! From Crook Morris - Well this years ceilidh went down a storm. The bar was busy, the dance floor was full, we had a good number of new people, a wide range of ages, and the band were in fine form.

As usual, our two caller/musicians took it in turns to call the dances. Here is Fiona calling the dancers the first couple of times through the dance, before returning to play her keyboard.

The Tumbling Tom Big Band includes a three piece horn section, and here are Claire, Debbie, and Rose on alto sax, tenor sax, and trumpet respectively.

Its great playing for a group of people who have come to dance, and many people danced every dance. It really makes the evening when the dancers are so enthusiastic.

The Revellers again provided two song spots, and demonstrated how they have grown from small beginnings into a really effective small and friendly group of singers. Well done Jen and all the Revellers.


November - The Kendal Mountain Festival held each November and based on the Brewery Arts Centre is a major event in the outdoor world. Tumbling Tom were asked to play the late night ceilidh on the Saturday night and what a great lively event it was.
	The band, minus Fiona, and with Dan calling.
The dance floor was packed the whole evening with lots of energetic dancers who were great to play for.

October - One of the great things about playing for ceilidhs is in helping other people celebrate. This time it was to help Joyce celebrate a major birthday and her retirement. A good turn out for Joyce, and excellent enthusiasm in the dancing, helped make a very enjoyable evening. Thanks for asking us Joyce, and best wishes for your retirement.
	Here is Joyce leading the ladies line in the dance Double Gloucester
The dancers getting to grips, and having a laugh in the process, with the dance Wring out the Dish Rag.
September - The band are busy this month rehearsing with our horn section for the annual Christmas ceilidh in December. There will be some new tunes and dances, including a dance to a triple time hornpipe, and an opening song called Turning of the Year written by Jon Harvison. We're also starting to think about playing at the Poynton Ceilidh for which we've just received the poster below.

August - The month is traditionally a month off for the band, giving time to visit festivals and have holidays etc, and Womad, Sidmouth, Whitby, Towersy, and Shrewsbury were all visited by various members. Below is a photo of Fiona and Hugh with others playing in the flash mob ceilidh at the bandstand in Whitby.

July - Once again, the big band were booked to play at the Furness Tradition Festival in Ulverston, making it three years in a row - we must be doing something right! As usual, the dance was held in the lovely and spacious Coronation Hall, allowing lots of space for the dancers. All images of the Festival are copyright Trev Eales.

	The caller for the evening was the nationally recognised Martyn Harvey, who is no stranger to the band - see our Early Days section of the Blog.
Apart from the concert spots, the floor was packed with dancers throughout the evening, a great testament to both the bands playing and Martyn's calling.
	Here is a photo taken by Claire, our alto sax player, looking across the stage at the rest of the band.

May - Its always great fun to bring out the Tumbling Tom Big Band with our three piece brass section, and equally good to play for a room full of enthusiastic dancers, so the trip down the M6 to Adlington near Chorley for the Phoenix Ceilidh's made for a great evening. The ceilidhs run once per month and always attract a good following. Thanks again to our wonderful sound man Ben Farmer for producing a great sound from the eight musicians. One of the organizers, Murray Riggs, said afterwards - Please can you pass on our thanks to all of the band members for a fantastic evening last night. We had lots of excellent feedback from our regulars. As I said last night we have our bands for 2019 virtually confirmed but in January we will be able to book the hall dates for 2020 so I’ll be in contact after that to try to sort out a suitable date. Another dancer told us Great job last Friday - we (my wife and our two friends) thoroughly enjoyed the ceilidh on Friday night. Good tunes - some not so well known and some well known. Mostly new dances (to us) and you sang as well!! Good arrangements between yourself, the guitarists, mouth organ and the brass section. We also liked the changes of caller - helps to keep the variety going. We'll ask the powers that be to book you again.


March - St Thomas's Church in Kendal is a great venue for a ceilidh, and this one for the birthday of Roger. We've played ceilidhs before for Roger and his wife and always had a great time, and this ceilidh was no exception. Lots of people, lots of dancing, great food from Wilfs, and entertainment from the Westmorland Cloggies and Yon Lot Cloggies: what could be better! Roger said afterwards - Very many thanks to you and the band for giving us a great evening last night.
	Roger with his family.
Dancing underway with the Circle Schottische
	Massed step dancing from the Westmorland Cloggies and Yon Lot
Roger playing in the band for the step dancing with his wife dancing at the front
	The church alter which doubles as the stage for functions.

February - We first played in Lindale Village Hall in 1989, booked by Ian Sissons. Imagine our surprise to receive a phone call from Ian 28 years later to play again, this time for his wife Diane's birthday. The hall is a square shape, making a change from the usual rectangular badminton court shaped hall. A great crowd of people, and tasty food made for a great evening. Happy birthday Diane!


The next ceilidh in February was the following week, when we helped Roger and Cress and their friends celebrate Rogers 60th birthday. Happy birthday Roger, and we hope you get that new bike! Cress said later: Please pass on my sincere thanks to all band members for ensuring that Roger's 60th party was a great success. The only people not to dance were those with injuries!
	Dancing the Sloe Polka
Rogers son giving a great speech
	Cress and Roger with the cake

Band Blog - 2018

Tumbling Tom Band 'the ceilidh roots dance band for people out there'