The Big Shoogle is a high-energy ceilidh and covers band with a rocky twist, with over 25 years’ experience playing at countless weddings, corporate events, Caledonian Society events, Hogmanay, Burns nights, parties, graduation balls, school proms, and festivals at home and overseas including headlining the Ceilidh Tent at the famous T in the Park festival on a few occasions. They play regularly at the top ceilidh venues in Edinburgh, as being one of the house bands at The Ghillie Dhu, regulars at the ceilidhs at Stramash, and at the Edinburgh Ceilidh Club.

Comprising Accordion (with midi bass/keyboards), Electric and Acoustic Guitar, Fiddle, Drums, 2 vocals and ceilidh dance caller, they have a quite unique approach to the traditional tunes with occasional mashups of rock songs and riffs in amongst the jigs and reels while keeping it rooted in the Scottish tradition. It’s full of surprises. As well as having an extensive repertoire of traditional jigs, reels, marches, waltzes and so on they have a collection of rock and pop cover songs which they often play in the latter part of the evening if so required.

You'll know when you've been Shoogled!

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Services offered

Their ceilidh repertoire includes all of the most popular ceilidh dances including The Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant, Strip the Willow and many more but also a couple of more unusual dances which are real showstoppers! To add to that, on request, they will play for some of the most well-known Scottish Country Dances like The Duke of Perth, Reel of the 51st and Hamilton House if the guests present know the steps.

Guests are talked through the steps of all ceilidh dances by their excellent dance caller so that everyone can participate and nobody is left out. No previous ceilidh experience is required! Davie has over 25 years’ ceilidh-calling experience and takes great pride in making sure that the dance floor is full and that everyone has a great time! Davie says - "It's always fun getting folks through some of the dances and it’s even more fun when they mess up!" As well as their sets with rock tunes and riffs mashed up with the traditional jigs and reels they also have a repertoire of rock and pop covers that they can play later in the evening if required.

How they work

The emphasis is always on having fun and with a sense of humour. When "calling" the dances it's always done in a very informal and fun way which encourages lots of interaction and banter between the band and the guests/audiences. Although they don't take themselves seriously they're serious about making sure that everyone has a fantastic night and the dancefloor full.

They have their own PA/sound system which is adaptable to suit small, intimate venues all the way up to the large ballrooms. They have their own LED and laser stage lighting system. They have playlists of background music on iPods that they play during any breaks, and if guests decide that they want to dance to that they’ll crank up the volume a tad to create a more disco-type atmosphere. If a bride and groom, or an event organiser has a playlist of their own, the guys are more than happy to connect their device to the sound system. They carry a selection of the most common adapters to facilitate this.