Based not far from Southampton, in southern Hampshire, the Bursledon Village Band are known and loved throughout the UK and beyond for the danceability of their music, played in a relaxed southern style.
Specialising mainly in southern English tunes, the Bursledon Village Band have been one of the U.K.’s favourite barn dance or ceilidh bands since 1977.
About The Bursledon Village Band
The Bursledon Village Band was formed in early 1977, mainly to play for local barn dances but also to keep Dave Ingledew, then the melodeon player out of mischief. Bursledon is a little village just to the East of Southampton in Hampshire and the initial rehearsals were held in the local pub, “The Jolly Sailor”. At that time most of the band lived in Bursledon and played village music, hence the name.
Since their initial barn dance for a Church Social in Bursledon Village Hall they have played for well over 3000 dances in places as diverse as village halls, pubs, marquees, school halls, hospitals and even the South Bank Centre in London.
They have also appeared on Television and local and national radio. The Bursledon Village Band has done a great many Folk Festival performances including Sidmouth, Chippenham, Whitby, Bognor Festival, Gosport, Isle-of-Wight, Winchester, Wimborne and Towersey festivals, as well as smaller local festivals and have worked with all the leading callers.
Their choice of tunes has always been biased towards the Southern English repertoire as they find them so much more interesting, but they don’t pass up a good tune if it comes from some other part of the world. If it’s good to play and to dance to then just like the old musicians, in whose footsteps they tread, they add it to the repertoire.
Over its 40 years various band members have come and gone but Joyce Ingledew on Fiddle has provided the core melody since the band started. Currently she is augmented by Andrew Purkiss on Accordion and Keyboard, Paul Johnston on Drums and Pete Theobald on Keyboard and Tuba.
Advance tickets for this wonderful night of music and dance will cost £11.00 – On the door on the night they will cost £12.50
