In 1998, the South Riding Folk Network made an attempt on the Guinness Book of Records by assembling the World's Biggest Ceilidh Band. On that occasion, 124 musicians played together and a good time was had by all. We didn't get into the book, though.
A new attempt will take place during the afternoon of the Kelham Island Folk Festival (formerly known as Mayfest). The monster band will again be led and directed by Robin Garside, who is putting together three sets of tunes for the event. All musicians are asked to join us in this venture! We're asking participants to pay a registration fee of £5.00, which includes a tape and/or printed music for the tunes, and a day ticket for the Festival. Players of all ages are welcome: registration for under-16s and concessions is £3.50, and there's no charge for under-10s.
Normal admission charge for the museum is £3.50 (adults), £2.50 (concessions) and £2 (children). The additional £1.50 or £1.00 per person should just about cover our costs.
We already know that 124 musicians playing for dancing is perfectly feasible, but we want to go well beyond that this time. We've asked Guinness for details of the existing record, so we'll soon know what target we're aiming for.
If you'd like to take part, there's a registration form here that you can print out. It's in pdf format, so you'll need Acrobat Reader; if by any chance you don't already have that, it can be downloaded free from http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
Ceilidh Band registration form
If you prefer, you can phone Ron Day for forms: 0114 247 0099
Update #1
We're still receiving enquiries in the run-up to the event (scheduled for 2.30 pm). There isn't time to send music by post now, so we've put a printable pdf of the staff notation here for you:
World's Biggest Ceilidh Band: the tunes
Update #2
World's Biggest Ceilidh Band: the pictures
Very nearly the Biggest Ceilidh Band in the World: May 1998
The following article appeared in the Sheffield Telegraph on Friday 8 May 1998:
Appropriately for a ceilidh, it could well end up in the Guinness Book of Records. Sheffield's bid to stage the biggest ceilidh in the world ended up with 124 musicians playing together at a festival at Kelham Island Industrial Museum on Monday night.
Organisers are optimistic that their official application will secure a place in the record books. "We are hoping it will be in the next edition," said Ron Day, who chairs the South Riding Folk Network.
"The record doesn't exist yet, but we've been in touch with Guinness and they say there's a good chance of it becoming a record as long as we can properly document the people taking part."
Organisers were taken aback not only by the turnout of musicians, mainly from the Sheffield region, but by the quality of what they played.
"I though it would be ragged because they were people who had never played together before," said Ron. "I couldn't believe my ears. They worked so hard and they were spot-on. The rest of the audience just danced. It was amazing."
Musicians who gathered in the exhibition hall of the industrial museum as part of a two-day Mayfest ranged in age from six to the late sixties, playing six recognisable tunes including local favourites such as the Sheffield Hornpipe.
The idea stemmed from musician Robin Garside's comments at the size of the ceildh band at last year's festival.
"It's all my dad's fault," agreed Ruth Garside, who was one of a dozen or so children in the band.
Dad said: "It sounded very good, considering. We all got a great buzz out of it."
And if it is confirmed as a record-breaker? "You never know, we might have to find a band of a thousand next year."
Photo caption: Youngest player Sarah Noyce, aged seven, preparing for the Ceilidh band world record with one of the oldest players, Jim Wainwright, 68, watched by Sarah's sister Hannah, 10.