The Swanage Folk Festival Ceilidh
The ceilidh is one of the most fun and welcoming parts of the Swanage Folk Festival. Think live folk music, a packed dance floor, laughter, spinning couples and organised chaos in the best possible way.
You don’t need experience, special clothes or even a partner — the caller explains each dance before the music starts, and within minutes complete strangers are dancing together. Some people come every year just for the ceilidh atmosphere alone. So get your tickets, head over to the Swanage School and enjoy yourselves.
The Ceilidh costs £15, concessions are available for dancers with wrist bands.
A bar will be available, cash only – so bring some money. Some parking is available, although dogs are not allowed in this venue (sorry, but it’s not our venue).
“Very good fun with a good caller. Experienced and less experiened ceilidh goers knew what to do.”
“Such a welcoming atmosphere, great music, good instructions – but the atmosphere is lovely.”
Murphy’s Lore are a Dorset-based ceilidh and barn dance band performing Irish, English and Scottish traditional music for dances, weddings and community events.
The band typically appears as a four-piece with an experienced caller, combining accordion, fiddle, guitar/mandolin and driving rhythm to get people dancing, with traditional songs sometimes included between dances.
They’re known across East Dorset and West Hampshire for friendly, inclusive calling that mixes dancers of all abilities and creates lively, sociable dance floors.
“Loved the ceilidh, good caller, and good music. It’s a nice venue but a shame the school is a little bit out of town. Also I’d have liked draft ale, not cans – but suppose it’s difficult to arrange.”
“I live locally but had never been to the festival ceilidh before. We realy liked the music, and how we could understand what to do. We were shattered afterwards though!.”
