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Tartan Rocks

Overview

A world-class ceilidh band that rocks as well as it reels

There are ceilidh bands, and there are Tartan Rocks. Scotland's greatest export since single malt whisky, and probably the most fun you can have with your clothes on, they're one of the very best Scottish ceilidh bands in the world.

Tartan Rocks are a four-piece from Glasgow, with drums, fiddle, accordion, guitar and male vocals. They play a full live ceilidh with every dance called, plus rock and pop with a tartan twist, from The Beatles, Queen and Johnny Cash to Status Quo, The Pogues and Paolo Nutini.

Two bands in one

Finding a ceilidh band this good that can also play rock and pop is a big ask. Plenty of ceilidh bands play some pop, but it's usually noticeably weaker than the ceilidh. Not so with these lads. And while lots of great pop bands will throw in a short ceilidh set, you'll struggle to hear much more than a Gay Gordons or a Dashing White Sergeant. With Tartan Rocks you can have it all. You need to hear it to believe it, and you might find yourself doing a ceilidh dance to Johnny Cash.

Scotland is the world centre for ceilidh musicians, and the four lads in the band are among the very best in the country, which makes them world class. They have a busy international schedule too, performing regularly in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal.

Whether your guests are ceilidh experts or have never been to one in their lives, the band call every dance, with plenty of jokes and banter to get even the faint-hearted up dancing. Couples with guests from overseas often tell us it was the highlight of their day.

What you get with Tartan Rocks

  • A four-piece line-up with drums, fiddle, accordion, guitar and male vocals, or a three-piece without the fiddle
  • A full live ceilidh with every dance called, plus rock and pop with a tartan twist
  • A performance from 8pm to midnight with a 30-minute break, with other timings available on request
  • Your first dance, learned and played live
  • An extended ceilidh set if you want even more dancing
  • Their own PA system and stage lighting
  • Early arrival and a late finish after midnight available as add-ons

A band this versatile is understandably very busy. They're based in Glasgow but will perform anywhere in the world, even Edinburgh! Get an instant quote and check availability now by clicking the Check Availability and Price button.

Tartan Rocks are part of a hand-picked roster of Scotland’s top wedding bands, exclusively represented by Hireaband. To explore the full selection, visit the Wedding Bands Scotland page for available acts and instant quotes.

Listen

Set list

Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
Dakota - Stereophonics
Walk Of Life - Dire Straits
I Saw Her Standing There - The Beatles
Can't Buy Me Love - The Beatles
I Feel Fine - The Beatles
Help! - The Beatles
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
Honky Tonk Women - The Rolling Stones
You Never Can Tell - Chuck Berry
You're The One That I Want - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Pencil Full Of Lead - Paolo Nutini
10/10 - Paolo Nutini
Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
It's All Over Now - The Rolling Stones
Hi Ho Silver Lining - Jeff Beck
Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis
Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
Teenage Kicks - The Undertones
Caledonia - Dougie MacLean
Wild Mountain Thyme - The Silencers
Oh Mary Don't You Weep - Bruce Springsteen
Highway To Hell - AC/DC
Galway Girl - Steve Earle
The Irish Rover - The Pogues
Dirty Old Town - The Pogues
Rockin' All Over The World - Status Quo
500 Miles - The Proclaimers (Tartan Rocks' own version)
Loch Lomond - Runrig (Tartan Rocks' bluesy version)

Reviews (19)

Tartan Rocks was such an amazing band and definitely the highlight of our whole wedding day! We had so many guests asking us to "repeat" our wedding again in a year, just so that they could see them perform again.
Half of our guests were German and had never been to a Ceilidh before, but the band's calling was excellent and everybody had an amazing time an so much fun, regardless of any previous experience or not. They played for 4 hours, with just a very short break in between, and managed to keep the dancefloor really busy throughout.
An absolutely outstanding band, can't recommend them highly enough!

Good Evening Dave and all the band, what can Neil and I say but wow. Thank you for such an amazing evening at our reception everyone had a great night. We would highly recommend you to anyone we know who are tieing the knot soon.

Tartan Rocks were incredible for our wedding reception. The Ceilidh calling was fantastic and the mix of Ceilidh folk and rock/pop beats was just amazing. The entire dance floor filled so fast! Not only were the Ceilidh tunes good the band also played some brilliant Beatles covers near the end after my wife and I spoke to them about how much we loved the Beatles. We now have lifetime memories on the dance floor from our wedding. Thank you so much to Davie and the guys from Tartan Rocks, you are awesome!

Tartan rocks were amazing on Saturday night at my daughters 21st birthday party. The music was exactly what I was looking for and better- ceilidh music with a twist !! Just a bit different from normal straight forward ceilidh music. Everyone of all ages loved them. They were so friendly and patient - sometimes trying to explain new dances to the chatting students was like herding cats !! I would definitely use them again and highly recommend them.

Excellent band and a great performance. I'd never danced a ceilidh dance to Johnny Cash before but hopefully, it won't be the last time I do.

Very good entertainment provided by the band which added to the success of the evening. Our daughter was delighted with her 21st birthday celebration.

Many Thanks
Joan & Chris Kendall

Excellent and talented band, thoroughly enjoyed by the wedding guests. They did us proud!

Gaye in your office is an absolute star & goes out of her way to ensure everything you need is provided.
Communication between ourselves, the office & the band was easy & straight forward & everything went according to our (unorthodox) demands!
The band were brilliant, full of jokes & banter to encourage even the faint hearted to get up & dance. Music was awesome & really made an already fun day in to something extra special.

Just a quick note to say thanks very much to Hireaband and Tartan Rocks for making this weekend a memorable one for my guests. Everyone enjoyed the band a lot and had only positive things to say.

Thanks again and kind regards.

I would definitely use Hireaband again as it was very easy to use. Tartan Rocks were fantastic. They turned up on time, were set-up well in advance of the agreed time and their performance was enjoyed by everyone at our event. Lots of people commented on how good the ceilidh was which was thanks to the band.

We would like to thank you again for playing at our wedding last week - the ceilidh was incredible! We had an amazing time and our guests had an amazing time too. We were impressed with how Tartan Rocks enthused the many German guests with the spirit of ceilidh dancing, even though none of them had ever seen anything like it before! So many of our guests mentioned to us afterwards how much fun they had at the ceilidh too so many, many thanks! You guys are great!

Thanks again Tartan Rocks, you guys were awesome and it was great having you playing for us!!

Guys you made our wedding reception so much fun and memorable not only for us but also our guests from home and Germany! Thank you so much for keeping the floor FILLED the entire night!

Hope you and the guys got home safely last night. Davie, what can I say, you guys are the most amazing team, the whole night was absolutely fantastic, couldn't have asked for anything better. Only problem was I ran out of steam and had to get a breather and realised I was missing more while I was outside, what a bummer! Please be assured that I will be giving out loads of Tartan Rocks recommendations, and I hope very much to hire your services again at some time in the future! All the very best to you all for the future.

Nicky and I are just back from a trip up north and have only now got 'connected' to the outside world again. Just a wee note to thank you and the rest the Tartan Rocks for an amazing ceilidh at our wedding at Lunga. We loved it and everyone else did too, more than a few folk took your cards and are trying to think of an excuse to have their own ceilidh and book you guys for it! We'll keep an eye on the local ceilidh clubs and if you’re playing in this part of the world again and we'll get ourselves along to it. Thanks again.

Dear Tartan Rocks, I might try to gatecrash your next gig just to hear you again as you were absolutely fantastic!!! All the guests have been raving about the band and quite rightly so. You were a real delight to do business with and we are all convinced that Laura and Mark definitely made the best choice when they picked your band! Good luck with your future gigs and hope to hear you again in the future. Thanks a million again and best regards

Just a quick note to say thank you very much for playing at our wedding last month. We absolutely loved the music and the dancing, in particular the Cumberland Square 8, as did all our guests! It was great to you as part of the day and we will definitely recommend you wholeheartedly to others. We look forward to seeing the Tartan Rocks at an event sometime soon!!! All the best.

Fantastic evening’s entertainment at my daughter’s wedding, best ceilidh band ever! Ceilidh meets Pink Floyd, SUPERB!!!

Well, went along to the Clutha benefit gig in The Classic Grand, there were such a choice of great bands to choose from on 2 floors, The Mrs & myself were downstairs as it was mostly rock bands and we had a seat, so the bands changed again & again until I heard the next band was a Ceilidh band, quite a few were looking around sort of laughing as if how’s this gonna fit in with the night, so there's now quite a few people sitting down waiting, so on comes as expected the usual accordion,fiddle,drummer & guitarist set up, and then it began, the accordion started then in came the fiddle then this electric rock guitar and ass kicking rock drum beat, and low and behold before you know it everybody's on their feet standing poking their heads up and down to see who the hell was making this amazingly blended sound of rock & Scottish folk, the accordion player’s fingers were impossible to track as they rolled up and down the board, and the fiddle was just about glowing to match, topped off with a great guitar and drums, with bits of Pink Floyd through to Miley Cyrus flung in, hard to believe but true, and all served up for your ears to savour at 100 mph, the whole place became electric, it was amazing to listen to and stunning to watch, I can’t say enough how much we enjoyed this band, We got talking to David (the accordion player) and his family afterwards and found him such a laugh & such a nice family, highlight of the night, so thanks to Tartan Rocks, your time & talent is very well spent and it shows.

Venues

Some of Our Previous Venues

Achnagairn House

Archerfield House

Ardoe House

Ardwell Glasshouse

Atholl Palace

Auchen Castle

Backhouse Rossie Estate

Balbirnie House

Balgeddie House Hotel

Ballathie House

Banchory Lodge Hotel

Barony Castle

Black Watch Castle & Museum

Blair Castle

Boclair House

Boswell's Coach House

Boturich Castle

Bowhouse, Balcaskie Estate

Bunchrew House

Cairns Farm Estate

Cambo Estate

Cameron House

Carberry Tower

Cardney Steadings

Carlowrie Castle

Carmichael Hall

Carnbooth House

Civic House

Clunie Village Hall

Colstoun House

Coo Cathedral

Cornhill Castle

Cornhill House

Creebridge House Hotel

Crieff Hydro

Cromlix House

Crossbasket Castle

Crutherland House

Dalgarven House

Dalhousie Castle

Daviot Steadings

Drumossie Hotel

Drumtochty Castle

Dumfries House

Dundas Castle

Dunglass Estate

Dunkeld House Hotel

Easterbrook Hall

Edinburgh Corn Exchange

Enterkine Country House

Fasque Castle

Fingask Castle

Fonab Castle

Gilmerton House

Glasgow Accies Rugby Club

Glasgow Cathedral

Glazert Bank Country House

Gleddoch House Hotel

Glenapp Castle

Glenbervie House

Gleneagles Hotel

Glenskirlie Castle

Glenskirlie House

Greenock Town Hall

Haddo House

Hetland Hall

High Wards House

Hopetoun House

House for an Art Lover

House of Elrick

Huntingtower Hotel

Inglewood House

Inglis Memorial Hall

Keavil House

Kelburn Castle

Kilconquhar Castle

Killearn Village Hall

Killmardinny House

Kilmardinny House

Kincaid House

Kingshouse Hotel

Kinmount House

Kirknewton Stables

Lindores Abbey Distillery

Linlithgow Burgh Halls

Lochgoilhead Village Hall

Lochgreen House Hotel

Lochside House Hotel

Lodge on Loch Lomond

Logie House

Mabie House Hotel

MacArthur Manor

Magungie House

Mansfield House Hotel

Mar Hall

Maryculter House Hotel

Megginch Castle

Meldrum House

Melville Castle

Moffat Manor

Myers Castle

Neidpath Castle

Netherdale House

Newhall Estate

North West Castle Hotel

Norton House Hotel

One Devonshire Gardens

Oxenfoord Castle

Paisley Town Hall

Park Hotel, Montrose

Piersland House Hotel

Pittodrie House Hotel

Pollockshields Burgh Hall

Pollokshields Burgh Hall

Prestonfield House

Raemoir House

Riverside Lodge Hotel

Ronachan House

Roseberry Steadings

Rosslea Hall

Rowallan Castle

Royal Yacht Britannia

Sherbrooke Castle

Signet Library

Silverwood Lodges

Solsgirth House

Sorn Castle

Soroba House

Springkell House

Teasses Estate

Thainstone House Hotel

The Eagle Lodge

The Merchant's House

The Rhynd

Trades Hall

Trump Turnberry

Tynecastle Stadium

Upper College Hall, St Andrews

Wedderburn Castle

Wedderlie House

Western House Hotel

Winton Castle

FAQs

What makes Tartan Rocks two bands in one?

Tartan Rocks are a top-class ceilidh band that can also play rock and pop just as well. Most ceilidh bands' pop sets are noticeably weaker, and most pop bands only manage a short ceilidh. With Tartan Rocks you get the best of both, with a tartan twist.

Who is in Tartan Rocks?

Tartan Rocks are a four-piece with drums, fiddle, accordion, guitar and male vocals. A three-piece line-up without the fiddle is also available.

Do our guests need to know the ceilidh dances?

No. The band call all the ceilidh dances, so even guests who've never been to a ceilidh can join in. They're known for plenty of jokes and banter to get everyone up.

What kind of rock and pop do Tartan Rocks play?

Expect The Beatles, Queen, Johnny Cash, Status Quo, AC/DC, The Pogues and Paolo Nutini, plus their own versions of 500 Miles and Loch Lomond. They've even been known to call a ceilidh dance to Johnny Cash.

Can we have a longer ceilidh?

Yes. An extended ceilidh set is available as an add-on, so you can have as much Scottish dancing as you like.

Will Tartan Rocks learn our first dance?

Yes. The band will learn your first dance, so let us know your song in good time.

What are the performance times?

Tartan Rocks usually play from 8pm to midnight with a 30-minute break. Early arrival and a late finish after midnight are available.

Where are Tartan Rocks based?

Tartan Rocks are based in Glasgow and perform all over Scotland and beyond. They'll play anywhere, even Edinburgh!

What equipment do Tartan Rocks bring?

The band bring all their own equipment, including PA and stage lighting. They hold public liability insurance, use PAT-tested equipment and can work with venue sound limiters.

Are Tartan Rocks good for guests from abroad?

Definitely. Their calling is clear and fun, and couples with guests from overseas often tell us the ceilidh was the highlight of the day.

How do we book Tartan Rocks?

Click Check Availability and Price on this page for an instant quote.

Are Tartan Rocks suitable for corporate events?

Absolutely. Tartan Rocks are one of the busiest corporate entertainers in Scotland and a firm favourite with household-name companies and the media. A called ceilidh is a brilliant way to get colleagues mixing and visiting guests from overseas joining in, and with rock and pop to follow, you get two bands in one for Christmas parties, conferences, awards dinners and client events.

Further Info

Line-Up

  • Default Line Up
  • 4 piece band - drums
  • fiddle
  • accordion
  • guitar
  • male vocals

Performance Times

Booking Add-ons

  • Late Finish (After Midnight)
  • Smaller Lineups Available
  • Early Arrival
  • Extended Ceilidh Set

Provided by the Act

  • PA System
  • Public Liability Insurance & PAT Tested Equipment
  • Live Ceilidh Set
  • Stage Lighting
  • Able To Work With Sound Limiters
  • Can Perform Your First Dance

Check availability and price for Tartan Rocks

To find out if this act is available and what it would cost to hire them, please fill out the form.

To ensure the quote is as accurate as possible, remember to tell us the postcode or nearest town to your venue. Good Luck!