Why not organize a Ceilidh for your event?

Auckland’s most experienced Celtic Ceilidh Band, Twisty Willow is a Duo in demand for functions in Auckland and the North Island.

Wes and Barb each have over 20 years’ experience as dance callers (an extra “caller” is not required). With modern, compact sound gear, stage lighting, and quality, self-created backing tracks, Twisty Willow provides a tight, professional entertainment package.

They perform a mix of Irish and / or Scottish songs and tunes - traditional and contemporary, sing along songs, and softer ballads. The style ranges from Dubliners to Pogues, Chieftains to Van Morrison, Corries to Proclaimers, Mark Knopfler, Mary Black, Fureys, Waterboys and more!

Barb’s Celtic fiddling features lively jigs, reels, polkas, hornpipes and waltzes for a repertoire of over 30 Irish and Scottish Ceilidh (or Ceili, pron: kay lee) dances - Strip the Willow, Walls of Limerick, Haymakers, Virginia Reel, Dashing White Sergeant, Gay Gordon and many more…. Great for mixed audiences – something different. These sorts of dances are sometimes called Barn dances, Bush dances or Colonial dances.
Barb has an energetic, expressive fiddle style and adds a clear female vocal presence.
Wes’ strong bodhran playing provides Celtic rhythm and depth and his singing adds an extra vocal dimension.

Twisty Willow's performance is sure to set a crowd singing and dancing. The special nature of a Celtic party breaks the ice, mixes people and creates a fun atmosphere for all ages and backgrounds.
Twisty Willow can help with your planning.
Require background Celtic music for a shorter time?

Twisty Willow Now reside in Waipu so are locals for Northland as well as retaining their links to Auckland. They are however happy to travel throughout the upper North Island


Ideal for: Celtic dance music for wedding, anniversary, party, corporate function, conference, fair, show, music in parks, pub or club, dance, concert, event, themed occasion (Irish, Scottish, medieval, barn dance, ceilidh), called dancing is a specialty.

IRISH

Songs:
Belfast Mill
Black Velvet Band
Brown Eyed Girl
Come by the Hills
Danny Boy
Dicey Riley
Dirty Old Town
Down by the Sally Gardens
Fairy Tale of New York
Fields of Athenry
Fisherman’s Blues
Flight of Earls
Galway Girl
Granuaile
Gypsy Rover
Hills of Donegal
Holy Ground
Ireland's Call
Irish Eyes are Smiling
Irish Rover
Leaving of Liverpool
Molly Malone
Mountains of Mourne
Nora (or Maggie)
Parting Glass
Rare Old Times
Red Rose Cafe
Sally MacLennane
Spanish Lady
Star of the County Down
Streams of Whiskey
Sunny Side of the Street
Tell Me Ma
Unicorn Song
Voyage
Whiskey in the Jar
Wild Mountain Thyme
Wild Rover

Instrumentals:
O’Carolan’s traditional tunes
Slow Airs
Jigs
Reels
Polkas
Hornpipes
Waltzes
Foxtrots

Called Dances:
Twisty Willow version of the River Dance
Maggie May
Walls of Limerick
Haymakers
Siege of Ennis
Waves of Torey
Virginia Reel
Lucky Seven
Patacake Polka
Circle Waltz
Pride of Erin
Barn Dance
Riverside Jig

SCOTTISH

Songs:
Auld Lang Syne
Bonnie Lass of Fyvie
Bunch of Thyme
Caledonia
Come by the Hills
Comin’ thru’ the Rye
Five Hundred Miles
Flower of Scotland
I Belong to Glasgow
I Love a Lassie (Medley)
I’m on My Way
Loch Lomond
Mingulay Boat Song
Mull of Kintyre
Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen
Peggy Gordon
Piper to the End
Road Tae Dundee
Skye Boat Song
Westering Home
Wild Mountain Thyme
Ye Banks and Braes

Instrumentals:
Airs
Jigs
Reels
Polkas
Strathspeys
Hornpipes
Scottische

Called Dances:
Grand March
Gay Gordons
Strip the Willow
Dashing White Sergeant
Cumberland Square 8
Riverside Jig
Witches Reel
Willow Tree
Virginia Reel
Borrowdale Exchange
Highland Barn Dance
Military 2 Step

WEDDING SONGS / INSTRUMENTALS
(For before, during and leaving the ceremony)

Usually acoustic outside or in the venue.

Give Me Your Hand
Wild Mountain Thyme
O’Carolan’s Concerto
Annie’s Song
Deer Hunter theme
The Voyage
King of the Fairies
Fanny Power Waltz
Si Beg Si Mor
Numerous lovely Celtic fiddle tunes.
Twisty Willow may be able to prepare a special song of your choice if it suits their instruments, style and there is sufficient notice

Hi Pete, Twisty Willow ie Wes and Barb were amazing. The party was a fabulous success and really all due to them. Everyone danced and danced, young and old. It was a really lovely night and I have had such good thank you’s afterwards. Cheers, Mary
Birthday Party

Hi Pete,
Thanks for following up. We loved having Twisty Willow, they were great. Thanks very much for organizing.
Kirsty
Wedding
Baylys Farm, Waitangi

Hi Pete.
Twisty Willow was great.
A fine time had by all
Thanks
Damian

Absolutely first class ! Great couple did me a fabulous job
Thank you
Tracey Smith
50th Birthday

Hi Robyn
Twisty Willow was more than satisfactory.  We thoroughly enjoyed their performance and many of our guests commented that they had never had s much fun in a ages.  The selection of music they played was perfect for our 40th wedding celebration. We would highly recommend them to other people.
Thank you,
Anne and Ross Faulkner.

Dear Pete,
Excellent evening. Great rapport with the dancers. We had lots of fun. Thank you.
Iain

All good 
Regards
Tim Warren FICE
MD for CE (NZ) Ltd. and ICE AP Council Member 

Hi Robyn
We were extremely happy with Twisty Willow’s performance and everyone had a great time.
Thank you
Ngā mihi nui
Cate
Cate Jessep |  Sustainable Schools Advisor
Infrastructure & Environmental Services
Auckland Council

Hello,
All fabulous. Huge thanks.
Lythan Chapman
Anthony Harper

Thanks They were amazing. Recommending them to someone else now.
Alastair Maclean

twisty willow were great. very professional, on time and very friendly. Music was great quality and they interacted with the crowd even when the crowd was shy and did not know irish music. overall it was a great performance. thank you for your service.
kind regards
Hazel Nelson

Hi There,
The band were great. Lovely people to deal with.
Cheers
Dave Smith
Duo

Hi Robyn
We were extremely happy - just what we wanted - very talented, and very nice people.
Charles Brown

Hi there Robyn,
We were delighted with Twisty Willow, they went down really well at our burns night. Not only were they fantastic musicians but the were really nice helpfull people too.
I have requested Pete to see if they are available for next years burns night.
Cheers
Dave Smith

Twisty Willow were brilliant - can't recommend them highly enough.
Regards
John

All excellent thanks.
Matthew Flynn

Hello,
Yes the entertainment was excellent, all thoroughly enjoyed the band and they added wonderfully to the occasion.
Adrian Keane (wedding)

HI,
thanks, everything was really good. The band were great, everyone loved it. They were really professional and there on time etc.
thanks!
Emma Gray

Hi Pete
Thank you for your follow up. Twisty Willow were excellent. The audience we had was not that easy to work with. I felt they pitched their performance to involve those that wished to, and for those that didn’t, they provided toe tapping themed music. Our client was very happy.
We would recommend them and use them again.
Regards
Julie Coney
coneystanleyEvents (Ireland rugby football team event)

Thank you again for your services the entertainment provided
was professional and right on the money!!!The event
was a great success and Twisty Willow received a raving
review from the public and staff.
Thank you once again
Kind regards
Maurice Banse
Operations & Events Manager
ARTNL Britomart Ltd

Pete,
Twisty Willow were absoluely fantastic for our wedding !. They really read the crowd well, getting everyone on the dance floor doing circle dances, the lot!. We LOVED their music.They were friendly, professional and looked happy to be there!. I would certainly recommend Twisty Willow to anyone wanting a bit of celtic sounds for their wedding. Our guests cannnot stop talking about them!.
Thanks again for all your help.
Please pass on our thanks to the band.
Regards
Robyn
wedding

Hi Wes, John and I just wanted to thank you and the band for a fantastic performance last Saturday. The music and calling was great and all of the audience had a wonderful time depite a few suspicions about what this scottish dancing was (I think we have a few converts!).
All the best.
Kind regards
Rebecca & John
wedding

Hi Pete,
The Band was fantastic. They were all really well received by our guests who thought that they were wonderful. They provided what we expected and we would have no hesitation in recommneding them.
Thank you also for your help in recommending the band to us.
Kind regards
Rebecca (wedding)

Hi Pete
The night was fantastic- thoroughly recommend Twisty Willow to anyone and would certainly use your service again.
Regards
Anna 
Alphabet Soup function

Hi Pete
Twisty Willow were brilliant. Everyone had a great night and were still commenting on them the next day. They got everyone able bodied up dancing and knew just how much dancing we could handle and how to pace the night. Those that couldn't get up had a great time listening. It was great to have them look after us so well.
Murray
Wedding,

Hi Pete.
They were fantastic... A great blend on up close and personal songs and of course the great celtic group dances, which everyone – I mean everyone danced to, we couldn’t get enough of them.
Thanks for recommending them and yes, the day was fabulous.
Kind regards
Kirsty Ferguson-Cowney
wedding

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