Barn dance and ceilidh band of Dorset and surrounding area. Hambledon Hopstep is a fun, lively, popular folk group with many years experience playing for community dances, private parties and weddings.
We have a reputation for having a fun time in a relaxed and friendly way. We play music to well explained dances that everyone of all ages and abilities can enjoy.
The band formed in 1985. Tim and Angela are the original members.
Our music is drawn from the Celtic tradition of the British Isles and France, plus many original compositions written by the band. The music and dances are a mix of jigs, reels, hornpipes, waltzes, polkas, slow airs and more. Some of the dances have been created by our caller Angela. Our aim is to have everyone laughing or smiling while they are dancing or at least tapping their feet if they are watching from the side!
The main emphasis is on having fun and being willing to have a go, lack of experience is not a problem as our caller will lead you through the steps and the moves. If you are experienced dancers, we will do more challenging dances.
So many people have said that they have not been to such a wonderful dancing evening for years.
Mike and Sue Lofthouse
The band normally plays for 3.5 hours with a short break in the middle, cut-off is 11.00pm. We also provide entertainment between dances while you get your breath back!
A 2 year old, her mother and her grandmother all enjoying the dancing at Durweston Hall.
THANK YOU for last night. You were all as amazing as I knew you would be and it was really good to see Mum and dad (and everyone else!) really enjoyed the night and loved you all, with a comment being made that it was possibly the best party yet...
Hayley, Lynne and Julie xx
Thank you so much for playing at our wedding at Gants Mill. The music was wonderful, your caller was enthusiastic and encouraged everyone to dance.
Helen and Chris
Below is an mp3 file sample mix taken from our last CD, but it was before our current fiddle player Martine had joined us - so we now sound even better!
Below is a clip of a fundraising ceilidh at Ebbesbourne Wake, taken by a guest on a phone camera. The sound quality isn't high, but it gives a flavour of an evening of dancing and fun.
Tim and I wanted to say a massive thank you for playing at our wedding.............I can honestly say we couldn’t have found a more brilliant band! Thanks for getting everyone up dancing - it was the perfect way to get everyone dancing and enjoying themselves. There was a lot of laughter. People kept commenting how great it was.
Rosie and Tim
We have received many compliments about the band and you did a terrific job. The hall was full of smiling faces which is what it is all about.
Rosemary in Durweston
Thank you all so much for the fantastic barn dance last weekend. Everyone seemed to have a great time and enjoyed the dancing. We are still awaiting exact figures but we think we have raised around £1900 for the church roof appeal. We are so pleased, it makes all the work worthwhile!
Thanks again,
Jenny
To make an enquiry please go to our contact page and get in touch with the details of your intended event, we will respond as soon as we can. In the case of the band already being booked for your proposed date we know other bands that might be able to help.
We had a brilliant time at the Ceilidh and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Everyone we spoke to at the time and subsequently has said the same thing: they loved it, had a really fun time, re-discovered the fun of dancing, and generally had an evening to remember. We couldn’t have wanted anything better, and the enthusiasm and smiles of the guests was plain to see.
The Band did us proud, and you certainly lived up to all the high expectations which we had based on others’ recommendations. Thank you so much for giving us a special evening and the pleasure to all our friends. We shall need to find some other occasions to celebrate!
Chris and Suzanne Mar. 2019