At Barnbuskers, we love a good ceilidh or barn dance. We love playing the music and providing the caller for special birthday parties, anniversaries and weddings throughout Somerset and Devon. We love seeing the enjoyment it brings. Our band leader and organiser Judy also loves running her Minehead Ceilidh Classes in West Somerset every Wednesday and these are increasingly popular which is great fun.
As children and adults, we’ve always enjoyed playing the cheerful folk music that lies at the heart of ceilidhs and barn dances and participating in this wonderful social form of country dancing. It’s in our blood and a huge part of our lives.
So it’s a matter for great excitement when the Sidmouth Folk Festival arrives each year. It’s a date with folk music and dance that we would hate to miss. It’s a time to to drag ourselves away from our lovely bookings and catch up with our many folk music and dance friends spread around the country. It’s a time to participate in the many informal music sessions and perhaps learn a few new folk music tunes. It’s a time to wander around and just enjoy the ambiance of so many people from all around the UK doing what we love which is folk music, folk dance and everything folk.
Above all, it’s a chance to actually dance ourselves. Of course, band leader and fiddler Judy often joins in with the dancing at her Minehead ceilidh and barn dance classes, especially if there are people wanting to dance but haven’t a partner. But participating in a proper full length ceilidh or barn dance where there is real country dancing in all its many forms as dancers is something we rarely have the opportunity to do.
So, where’s Barnbuskers favourite place to dance at Sidmouth Folk Festival? Without any doubt, it’s behind the Anchor Inn at Sidmouth town centre. The bands are great. The dance callers are some of the best in the UK. Entrance is free and there is lots of beer, burgers and whatever else you like to drink and eat. The dancers range from highly knowledgable folk club dancers to absolute beginners so the callers, of course, arrange the dances accordingly. The atmosphere is absolutely wonderful. Even if it rains, (it is a car park after all), the dancing often carries on. Throughout the Sidmouth week there are usually two dances a day. Over the weekend, bandleader Judy will definitely be there on the dance floor, quite possibly partnering fiddler daughter Laura, and resident Barnbuskers Blogger and band wind player Robin will be bursting to join in if he can after a recent knee operation.
So, if you are looking for a ceilidh barn dance for the Sidmouth Folk Festival 2025 weekend (1st – 3rd August 2025), perhaps we’ll see you there. If you would like Barnbuskers to provide ceilidh and barn dance music with caller for your special birthday, anniversary or wedding celebration, our band leader Judy would love to hear from you via Barnbuskers contact page. We love followers and it’s easy to find us on Barnbuskers social media so please visit. If you are in Minehead or West Somerset and would like to join Judy’s Minehead ceilidh and barn dance classes, contact Judy through Barnbuskers message page linked above. Above all, ceilidh barn dancing is all about enjoyment and we look forward to sharing the fun with you!
Barnbuskers 