presents
CEILIDH
CONNECTIONS
Strengthening Communities through dance
CEILIDH CONNECTIONS
CEILIDH CONNECTIONS
High-craic, low-skill – Ceilidhs Connections channel the raucous spirit of the Scottish (and sure, why not the Irish!), bringing folk together for a jumping, swinging, sliding, clapping endorphin-generating belter of a party.
Not to be confused with your socially awkward school bush dances or the sometimes stale and starched community dances, Ceilidh Connections hold truely modern and inclusive events for the kilted and non-kilted alike – a chance for all people of all backgrounds, races, ages, abilities, and sexual identity to gie it laldy!
In the safe hands of the irrepressible Graeme McColgan, aka The Scotsman, you will be guided through the simple and repeated steps of couples and group dances and will be shoogling in no time. So gaun yersel, get gallus and get in touch. It’ll be pure dead brilliant, aye!
GRAEME "THE SCOTSMAN" MCCOLGAN
Sean Connery. Ewan McGregor. Sam Heughan. Graeme McColgan.
Prepare to have your hearts melted and socks blown off by Scotland’s most braw entertainer, singer and ceilidh caller, known simply as “The Scotsman”.
From the brooding Highlands to sunny Sydney, Graeme has been teaching punters to swirl, twirl and spin for over 20 years. Since 2021, Graeme’s youthful take on the ceilidh tradition has enlivened weddings, corporate events, festivals and bespoke hootenannies in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.
No other Scot has brought as much craic to our Australian parties since James Boag.
FAQs
Ceilidh Connections FAQS
Here are a few of the most common questions Graeme get’s asked about ceilidhs.
If you can’t find an answer here you can fill in your own questions below and we will come back to you faster than you can shout “FREEDOM”
Ceilidh (pronounced “Kay-lee”) is the Gaelic word referring to a social event that involves music and dancing to traditional folk music. They are much like an Aussie bush dance.
Ceilidhs are the perfect social icebreaker – people of all ages and backgrounds come together in an informal friendly atmosphere to dance to a live band playing traditional music.– they often arrive as strangers and leave as friends.
Celebrate your special event with a traditional, exciting, and fun night. Ceilidh Connections are some of the most inclusive, lively, and engaging ceilidh events in the business.
A ceilidh is a great way to break the ice: as with so many events (particularly weddings) many of the guests don’t know each other, and a ceilidh is the perfect way for people to mingle, dance, and get to know each other in a really exciting, fun way.
We do a mix of live music and dancing to best suit the event.
A typical event would run as follows
- 7-7.30 – live welcome music
- 7.30-8 – ceilidh dancing
- 8-8.30 – break with live music
- 8.30-9.30 – ceilidh dancing
- 9.30-10.15 – live music
- 10-10.30 – Auld Lang Syne/final ance
Absolutely not! Graeme has performed for many events where there haven’t been any Scottish people in the room, and they’ve all still had a great time.
Graeme’s experience means he is an expert at explaining dances in a fun, engaging way so that everyone is up dancing within minutes even if they have never tried it before.
A Ceilidh Connections event is a social event, not a dance display or competition.
Unlike some other ceilidhs, our emphasis is on fun and social interaction rather than accuracy.
Doing the odd wrong move midway through the dance is not only to be expected but are part of what makes it so much fun.
Brush it off, get in position and start again!
You can contact Ceilidh Connections by telephone, email, or by using the online form on our Contact Us page. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
If you want to proceed, we just need a confirmation in writing along with a deposit to be paid (normally 25-50% of the total fee). The remaining balance should be paid one calendar month prior to your event.
Scottish Words
You might hear a few Scottish words and phrases at Ceilidh Connections you’ve never heard before.
Here is a wee explanation of what they mean!
Something is lovely, great or beautiful.
In a sentence: “It’s a braw day for a dauner.”
In English: “It’s a lovely day for a walk.”
You’ll know it from the proclaimers song. Haverin’ is talking rubbish.
In a sentence: “He disnae stap havering when he gets steamin’”
In English: “He talks a lot of rubbish when he gets drunk.”
When something is just wonderful or the best!
In a sentence: “That ceilidh was pure dead brilliant.”
In Aussie: “that dance was heaps good.”
To do something with great energy and enjoyment
In a sentence: “They were giein it laldy at the dancin.”
In English: “They were dancing with vigour at the nightclub.”
Someone has had one too many whiskies and is very drunk.
In a sentence: “he couldnae dance, he wis steamin’”
In English: “he could not dance, he was far too inebriated.”
Young children or babies.
In a sentence: “shut they weans up, I’m trying tae watch the fitba’”
In English: “please ask the children to keep the noise down, I’m trying to watch the football.”
DANCING
BOOK
CEILIDH CONNECTIONS
Available for bookings throughout Australia
Weddings
Parties
Festivals
Corporate Events
Complete the form or send us an email at ceilidh@thescotsmanmusic.com
Parties
Festivals
Corporate Events
ceilidh@thescotsmanmusic.com
PHONE
+61 476 565 062