Jump the Gun

Planning a ceilidh

ceilidhband — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:39:56 +0000

This is your event …
… we come to give you pleasure.
You want your event to succeed as do we, so planning is important. We will try our best to fit in with what you want. The best way is to be sure from the beginning that we all know what is required and then to map out the best way to achieve this.

An evening dance often requires a break for food.
A fund-raiser often wants money raising games included.
A wedding requires a bit of tactful foreknowledge to make it a really memorable event for the happy couple.
There may be limitations on times in the terms of the hall letting.
Do you want the caller to M.C. the event, or will you do it?

We want you to enjoy your event. We want to use the best tunes for the dances, and the best dances for the participants. The members of the band and the callers are all experienced dancers themselves, but equally are sympathetic to those who are less experienced. The caller will often begin by walking you through relatively simple moves, and will continue to call the moves as the dance starts. Often when everyone has ‘got it’ he can then desist and leave you to enjoy the dance and the music. Many of the dance moves, such as star, do-si-do, arch, will reoccur as the evening goes on. We use a variety of formats such as longways set, square set or circle, and a variety of rhythms such as jig, polka, step-hop, waltz.

We use a P.A. system to balance the instruments and the caller’s microphone. It is important that all the dancers can hear the music and what the caller is saying, but we like to set the amplification at a moderate level, so that those who are not dancing can hear each other too. . We can also play CDs and DVDs of your choice in any breaks. Organisers are welcome to use the microphone to make announcements and call the raffle …

How to book

ceilidhband — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:39:28 +0000

If you would like further information, or to see if Jump the Gun are available for an event, Ged is the best person to speak to.

Telephone 01524 761889,
email: Send me an email

Musicians & Callers

ceilidhband — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:38:34 +0000

Pauline plays keyboard and melodeon. She is a classically trained pianist and teacher of dance and piano. She dances and accompanies with local dance groups in the Kendal area, in particular the Westmorland Step and Garland Dancers, with whom she is a longstanding member.

Ged plays electric violin and electric mandolin. He has a long history of playing in folk song groups in Cornwall and Teesside, and men’s and women’s Morris and Clog dancing in Cumbria. As a primary school teacher, he shared his enthusiasm for melody and rhythm with successive groups of pupils.

Tony is a skilful guitar player who joins the line-up in several diverse folk oriented and festival bands. He has a musical history which includes playing other stringed instruments (banjo, mandolin), rock and roll, jazz, and recordings with bands in Manchester and Cumbria.

Chris has been calling for about fifteen years with several different bands and always enjoys the atmosphere of a really good night’s music and dancing. The emphasis is on fun and enjoyment; he chooses dances which suit the occasion and leads the evening in a relaxed and informal manner where everyone can feel comfortable and included.

Pete’s provenance as a caller commenced in London with teaching children’s, youths’ and adults’ folk dance groups to levels of international acclaim. As a caller in London and Cumbria and at national and international festivals, fiestas and functions, Pete has refined a repertoire of UK origin dances to suit any audience. He believes any tune has a good dance within it.

PaulineTonyChrisPete

Music & Dances

ceilidhband — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:37:18 +0000

Music is the first consideration of the band and caller. We have collected our tunes over many years, and have made great efforts to choose ones with great melodies, catchy rhythms and clear phrases. There will be several tunes for each dance, chosen to follow on seamlessly. They have names like ‘Wellington’s Advance’, ‘Galopede’, ’Old Noll’s Jig’. We pay particular attention to the chords we use to harmonise the melodies. The music comes from the British Isles, America and Scandinavia, and is mostly traditional, but with some modern tunes in the folk genre. The melodies we play for listening include airs for the violin, ragtime for the mandolin, and one or two interesting C17 English tunes.

American Reels: 1) Chinese Breakdown 2) Thingy

Step Hop Polkas: 1) Cochon Chine 2) Auvergne Polka

New England Polkas: 1) Louie’s First Tune 2) Marching Down Broadway

Scots Reels: 1) Miss Mcleod’s Reel 2) The Wind That Shakes The Barley

Scottish Air: My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose

C17 Rhythmic Curiosities: 1) Red Lyon Hornpipe 2) Presbyterian Hornpipe

Jigs: 1) Wellington’s Advance 2) Elsie Marley

About the band

ceilidhband — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:22:49 +0000

The band has been together since the last millennium, and is based in South Cumbria working locally in Kendal and Lancaster, but also as far afield as the rest of Cumbria and North Lancashire.

We play at PTAs, village socials, weddings, private parties for birthdays, retirements, and any other event where folk dances will help people to enjoy themselves.

The third member of the group at every dance is our caller who explains the dances. The band also has a repertoire of music for listening, which allows people to get their breath back, and helps the evening along.

Sometimes if Pauline is not available, Ged will accept a booking with either Tony or Andrew (see Musicians and Callers).

: The Band

Playing an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary folk tunes for dancing with good rhythms and clarity, Jump the Gun is a two piece English Ceilidh band. Although the musicians both have classical training, they have spent many years playing and dancing in the folk genre.The band has been together since the last millennium, and is based in South Cumbria working locally in Kendal and Lancaster, but also as far afield as the rest of Cumbria and North Lancashire.We play at PTAs, village socials, weddings, private parties for birthdays, retirements, and any other event where folk dances will help people to enjoy themselves.The third member of the group at every dance is our caller who explains the dances. The band also has a repertoire of music for listening, which allows people to get their breath back, and helps the evening along.Sometimes if Pauline is not available, Ged will accept a booking with either Tony or Andrew (see Musicians and Callers).