This experienced and professional Irish band entertains audiences far and wide with their lively mixture of Celtic and Gaelic songs and tunes.
“It’s an assured and well-crafted performance that will entrance and enthrall…”
Continuing a time-honoured tradition, Banish Misfortune will transport your guests back in time to an era before computers, TV, film and radio had come into being – back to a time when country (and city) folk entertained themselves and each other with songs, storytelling, dances and tunes! Banish Misfortrune keep this tradition alive with their enthusiastic renditions of Irish and other Celtic songs, melodies and dance-tunes.
Grab an earful of these guys at work and you’ll soon realise that Banish Misfortune is aptly named! If needed, the band can include a seasoned professional ceilidh-caller who will come down onto the dancefloor to organise groups and demonstrate the different steps and moves for each dance, thereby ensuring everyone, complete novices included, is up on their feet – a great icebreaker for party-guests meeting for the first time.
Stylish fiddle carries each catchy melody while rhythmic guitar and bass accompaniment underpins and drives the music along. If a session or two of ceilidh-dancing is required, all abilities and experience levels will be catered for so that everyone can get involved and really jig the night away together! Banish Misfortune brews an infectious concoction of jigs, hornpipes, polkas and reels that will have everyone out of their seats.
It’s an assured and well-crafted performance that will entrance and enthral audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Banish Misfortune’s wealth of evocative songs and jaunty tunes is sure to fill the dancefloor, and will generate a real Celtic feel-good atmosphere at your celebration event.
- Experienced, dynamic ceilidh and Irish band
- Can include a specialist dance-caller
- Flexible line-up, suitable for any occasion
Video
Audio
Repertoire
Sample Repertoire
- All For Me Grog
- Arthur McBride
- As I Roved Out
- Banish Misfortune
- Black Velvet Band
- Brown-Eyed Girl
- Carrickfergus
- Dennis O’Reilly
- Dirty Old Town
- Dixieland
- Fairytale Of New York
- Fields Of Athenry
- Fisherman’s Blues
- Follow Me Up To Carlow
- Galway Shawl
- Green Fields Of France
- Hillbilly Train
- Lakes Of Ponchartrain
- Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)
- Marie’s Wedding
- Mary And Her Gallant Soldier
- McAlpine’s Fusiliers
- My Match It Is Made
- Parting Glass
- Raglan Road
- Ride On
- Sally Gardens
- Sally MacLenane
- Sam Hall
- Seven Drunken Nights
- She Moved Through The Fair
- Spancill Hill
- Spanish Lady
- Star Of The County Down
- Step It Up Mary
- Streams Of Whiskey
- Sugar-Foot Rag
- The Belle Of Belfast City
- The Irish Rover
- The Rare Old Mountain Dew
- The Rocky Road To Dublin
- Town I Loved So Well
- Whiskey In The Jar
- Wild Colonial Boy
- Wild Rover
- ….and plenty more….
Sally Hopper –
90th Birthday Party in Chingford – June 2024
I hired Banish Misfortune for my Dad’s 90th birthday and it is fair to say they absolutely made the party. They put a lot of effort into liaising with me beforehand and were very good at responding to my requests, including special songs I wanted in relation to my Dad’s life. They arrived promptly, were personable and friendly with all our guests, made my Dad feel like a million dollars and most of all they are just so talented and brought the party alive. I would recommend them without hesitation and will look to hire them in the future for such special occasions.
The Manager, The Audley, Mayfair London –
Banish Misfortune Irish Band – St Patrick’s Day Celebrations – March 2024
Thank you so much for a great session yesterday! We’ve had wonderful feedback from everyone that attended / was working!.
Alison Royston-Lee –
Banish Misfortune Irish Hoedown Band – Alice’s Wedding – October 2021
I booked Banish Misfortune as my wedding band and they were great! From the beginning they were so helpful and friendly, adding in more country songs (as I knew our audience would love it!), learning a new song for our first dance and ensuring they did reels for my auntie to showcase the ‘brush dance’ ! On the night the dance floor was packed, and my guests loved it! Great music, lovely people, highly recommended!
Jason Drew –
Banish Misfortune Irish Trio – 21st Birthday Party – July 2021
From the beginning everything about booking the band was carried out in an extremely professional manner. The agent was very helpful and it didn’t take long for everything to be confirmed for the big party- my daughter’s 21st. A few weeks before the event Ruth contacted me to discuss music ideas. Straightaway I sensed her enthusiasm and enjoyment for what she does and we couldn’t wait for the music on the night.
On the night everyone turned up as arranged and the band was left to set up. Then the best bit!! The music was absolutely amazing. It was impossible not to be toe tapping and bopping throughout the set. The age range was wide from 6 to 65 and the band had them all up dancing and smiling. The line dance caller was doing a grand job explaining all the moves and shouting out encouragement- and rescuing the ones who got a bit lost!! The band played 2 one hour sets (Kindly covering for me after the first set as the food wasn’t quite ready!!) and also performing the Christmas song Fairy tale of New York in the middle of summer as it’s my daughter’s favourite song!! Everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the massive amount of positive feedback from them all really makes you know that the party went well. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone- you won’t be disappointed.
Claire Banner (General Manager) –
St Patrick’s Day Celebrations – March 2020 – The Royal Oak, The Street, Poynings, West Sussex
Just wanted to let you know that Banish Misfortune were amazing!
We really loved having them at the pub, and will definitely hire them again.
Michael O’Leary –
Irish Night at The Owl, Camber Sands, near Rye – December 2019
I would like to thank you for the fantastic performance at our event last Saturday.
Every guest absolutely loved Banish Misfortune. They have been doing events at the Owl for the 12 years I have lived there, and they told me this was the best band they have ever had.
Really, a top class gig, which is greatly appreciated. I hope we can do another one in the coming year, and would love you to do it.
Best regards and thanks again.
Charlotte Prior –
St Patrick’s Day Celebrations – March 17th 2019 at The Water Poet, Shoreditch, London
Banish Misfortune were an absolutely fabulous band that had our customers dancing around the garden from start to finish on our St Patrick’s Day celebrations. They were a pleasure to work with and we would love to have them back!
Abby and Nick –
Abby and Nick’s Wedding Ceilidh – Canterbury – September 2018
“We just wanted to say thanks so much for playing at our wedding. We had so much fun and all our guests loved the music and dancing. It was absolutely perfect for us and we couldn’t be happier.”
Jason Drew –
21st Birthday Hoedown – August 2018
“From the beginning everything about booking the band was carried out in an extremely professional manner. The agent was very helpful and it didn’t take long for everything to be confirmed for the big party- my daughter’s 21st.
A few weeks before the event Ruth contacted me to discuss music ideas. Straightaway I sensed her enthusiasm and enjoyment for what she does and we couldn’t wait for the music on the night.
On the night everyone turned up as arranged and the band was left to set up. Then the best bit!! The music was absolutely amazing. It was impossible not to be toe tapping and bopping throughout the set. The age range was wide from 6 to 65 and the band had them all up dancing and smiling. The line dance caller was doing a grand job explaining all the moves and shouting out encouragement- and rescuing the ones who got a bit lost!! The band played 2 one hour sets ( kindly covering for me after the first set as the food wasn’t quite ready!!) and also performing the Christmas song “Fairy Tale of New York” in the middle of summer as it’s my daughter’s favourite song!!
Everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the massive amount of positive feedback from them all really makes you know that the party went well. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone- you won’t be disappointed. ”
Jo and Jamie –
Jo and Jamie’s Wedding at Hedingham Castle, Essex – July 2018
“We wanted to say a huge thank you to you and the band for playing at our wedding last weekend. You were absolutely brilliant!! You played some of the family favourites just beautifully and absolutely filled the dance floor for our (ahem – unofficial) ceilidh. We had so much fun dancing the night away. I understand one of the 3 year old cousins asked you to play one of the tunes again – I suspect that is a moment that will go down in family history.
Also – thank you so much for all your help before the wedding – I’m notoriously bad at returning phone calls and you were fantastic at staying in touch and keeping on top of communication – I really appreciated that!”
Hannah and Will –
Hannah and Will’s Wedding: July 2017
We had such and amazing time on Saturday and wanted to convey our thanks for your wonderful playing at our wedding. All of our guests had a great time whether they danced or just listened to you play and we couldn’t have asked for a better band to create the wondeful atmosphere for the evening. We will definitely be recommending you and we hope you all had a great evening too
Jackie Williams –
Jackie Williams’ Daughter’s Wedding: May 2017
Thank you all so much for adding to the enjoyment of the reception following my daughter’s recent wedding. It was wonderful to see so many of our guests up on their feet joining in – even so called ‘non-dancers’! We are delighted to have booked you for our Ceilidh and would be happy to recommend you to others. Well done!
Tora Hallet –
Couldn’t have been more friendly and obliging. It was really nice talking to them. Their music was beautiful – we enjoyed the mix of dancing and singing. They were very welcoming and good at making us all feel relaxed.
Tora Hallet (August 2016)
Mary Block –
The band played at my daughter’s wedding reception on Saturday (14 May 2016) and really made the evening go with a swing. All the communication in the run up to the event was good – what music we were looking for, arrangements about set up, timings, etc. Musically, they are an excellent band.
Mary Block (May 2016)
David & Susan –
The band were fantastic – can you pass our thanks on to them as they made the party.
Bob & Caron –
I just want to pass on a HUGE thank you to the guys for making a good night into a great one! The party went on to 6 in the morning – you left them high and they rocked on! Please thank all the guys for a brilliant night – it was one which will go down in the history books.
Dave Watts MP –
I would like to thank Banish Misfortune for a wonderful evening’s entertainment. I was very impressed by your band’s professionalism and exuberant performance. We very much enjoyed John’s singing and Jason’s fiddle playing along with your excellent bass playing. We are also grateful for the way that your band went out of their way to engage with all our family and friends. The whole of the wedding party had a wonderful time, thanks to your efforts, and I have no hesitation in recommending your band to anyone, or in booking you for future events.