BLACKTHORN BAND

2016 "Dear Pete,
I just wanted to say thank you for playing at my 30th birthday. We had great fun dancing the night away! .. were wondering whether you're available ... to play at our wedding reception with the 5 piece band?"

2016 "Thank you so much for your hard work and Andy and I were thrilled with how well everything went and how many people danced at our wedding. We can't wait for the photos. Couldn't have been better. thanks once again"

2016 Organisation: St Patrick's Night Rating: 10/10 Review: "The band were excellent on Thursday night & we received many a compliments about the event, largely due to them! Thanks for helping organise it!"

2016 "Hi Pete,
Thanks very much for last night! It was a great night & everyone loved the band, so hopefully we can definitely do something again in the future!"

2016 "Hi Pete,
You were great - everybody had a fantastic time. We will be in touch for future bookings, - we made just over £1,000!" and to our agent: "Everybody commented on how good the band was, particularly the caller. Please pass on our thanks.

2015 "Hi Pete,
We hope that you are well! :-) We just wanted to say a massive thank you for your performance on the 19th. It was such a special day and we want to sincerely thank you for all the effort you put into to making it so perfect and such a memorable event. Your performance was just incredible, you had everyone on the dance floor and commenting on it! Your friendliness and help throughout the whole process was just fantastic and we will be recommending you to everyone we can! Thank you again for making our evening so perfect!"

2015 "Pete,
Thanks for your set last week. We (and pretty much all of our guests that we've spoken to about it) had a great time, and Mannie's calling was right on the money for the crowd. We also thought you were friendly and professional throughout the process. Is there somewhere online you'd like us to leave a review? We certainly wouldn't mind recommending you."

2015 "Hi Pete,
Thank you for a great evening. All our delegates really enjoyed your music and the calling was excellent and really engaging too. All the very best, "

Rating: 10/10 Review: Band arrived on time and were very efficient at setting up. Music was great, the caller did a fantastic job of getting people interested and motivated. Thank you to the band for a great time!"

2015 "Hi Pete,
We have been to two friends weddings where the band have played and they've been fantastic both times and really added to the day."

2015 "Hi Pete,
Thank you so much for coming to play at our wedding. You guys were brilliant and we had so many guests say that the ceilidh was one of their favourite parts of the whole day! We also really appreciate your help with our first dance, it was so brilliant that you were able to play it and get everyone else involved! We will certainly be recommending you to our friends (many of whom are now at the getting married stage) but if you would like us to give a full testimonial for your website we would be more than happy to. Alternatively we are happy for you to pass our email to anyone who is interested in booking you if they want to hear our thoughts. Thanks again for such a wonderful time!"

2015 "Hi Pete,
I just wanted to drop you a short email to say thank you for providing such lively entertainment at our Burns Supper on January 30th. I wanted to let you know that we raised £2,300.00. Everybody had a great time."

2014 "Dear Pete,
I just wanted to thank you so much for playing for us last night and creating such a lively atmosphere. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and I’ve had numerous messages today saying how fantastic the evening was. I hope we weren’t too challenging and also hope you managed to have some food and drink, as I’m not sure I was much of a host!! Thank you again"

2014 "Dear Pete
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for playing at our wedding last weekend. Everyone had so much fun attempting to learn the dances and it was a fantastic ice breaker! I did feel for Mannie trying to control us rabble, I think she summed it up by saying what we lacked in finesse we made up for in enthusiasm! We had a brilliant night and everyone we've spoken to has commented on how much fun and different it was to have had the celeidh. Cheers for the craic! Best wishes,"

2014 "Dear Pete
Thank YOU Pete! We had a marvellous time, you were perfect for the occasion. Everyone I have seen since has commented in how much they enjoyed the ceilidh and what a great idea it is for a wedding. Really inclusive and fun! Many thanks again for making our day so special. Hope to see u again soon too."

2014 "Dear Pete
Thank you very much for playing on the 9th August, we had a great time and everyone enjoyed the Ceilidh. It is such a great way to include all generations and dance abilities! We will have you in mind for any future celebrations. Best wishes"

2014 " We really enjoyed the night and thanks for doing a great job."

2014 "Dear Peter,
I just wanted to drop you a quick email to thank you very much for playing at our wedding a few weeks ago- it was brilliant to have you there - everyone loved it! Thank you as well for managing to marshal a rather rowdy crowd most of who didn’t have a clue what they were doing- I couldn’t believe how you managed to get us all moving in the right direction! Thank you also for your patience with timings and your flexibility. It really made the party. Best wishes"

2014 "Hi Pete,
Thanks so much for your email! We've been meaning to send a message to thank you but were waiting for our photographs so we could send you a few (now attached) - Blackthorn were absolutely fantastic on the day. You were so well organised and totally took the pressure off us, everyone enjoyed the ceilidh, the music was a great mix, the caller judged the ability of everyone there perfectly, and feedback from all the guests couldn't have been more positive. Couldn't have wished for a better experience, and we were really lucky to find you. I'm hoping we'll have another event that necessitates a ceilidh sometime soon, just so we can see you all again! I was wondering whether there was anywhere you'd like us to write a review of Blackthorn for other people to see. Let me know if there are any particular websites, etc, and I'll make sure I submit something to them. Equally, if you ever has a customer in need of a testimonial before they make a booking, feel free to give them my email address and I'd be happy to put their mind at rest! All the best, and thank you again."

2013 "Dear Pete
Just a note to thank you very much for playing at our party on Saturday. Everyone really enjoyed themselves, and thought that the music and dancing were fantastic....thanks again."

2013 "Dear Pete,
I just want to say 'thank you' for the excellent entertainment you gave us all last Saturday evening. I have had such a good response from guests and two have asked me for your contact details - I certainly hope I have an opportunity to attend another event where you are playing as I just want to be a guest and spend the night on the dance floor ! ;) May I say also, that I greatly appreciated your personal approach in the planning of the event. You were always mindful of my wishes but combined this with good advice and recommendation when requested. I was left feeling empowered but not floundering! Please pass on my thanks to Mannie and the others. Very kind regards"

2013 "Hey Pete,
Thank you so much for making the journey up. I hope the venue treated you well. Everyone loved the ceilidh, I just wish I could have spent more time dancing! ... Take care and thanks again"

2013 "Hi Pete,
Just wanted to say a big thank you to you all for Friday night. The Barn Dance was a huge success and the members loved it - and we managed to get some money for charity too so all good! Many Thanks,"

2013 "Dear Pete,
Just a note to say thank you tremendously for your contribution to the celebrations on Saturday. It must be quite difficult knowing what music to include/how to balance things, and I noticed how flexible you were being - although having said that I hardly managed to dance at all as I was rushing round a bit! It's a shame it was so hot - although I guess it could have been worse!Thank you for arranging the archway for Lizzy and Chris - it completed the day in a very magical way. The photographer has already said that the day ran the smoothest of any wedding they've done to date, so we have a lot to be thankful for! Hope things were ok from your side! Many thanks again. Kind regards"

2013 "Hi Pete,
A big thanks from all at St. Joseph's for the great night on 16th March. Everyone had a really enjoyable time and the word is spreading that these evenings are not to be missed. Can you pass on my thanks to all the band members? I gather it was my better half who requested the Rochdale Coconut again! We would like to book you again next year."

2013 "Pete,
We both really enjoyed the ceilidh and, from what I've heard, so did everyone else! And the rendition of Auld Lang Syne at the end was a great bonus.Thanks to all four of you for helping to make our wedding day so special."

2013 (to our agent) "Hi Sarah,
We were more than happy with the band. It was a great experience for the guests and host, everyone commented on how good they were. They were well suited to the venue and created a great atmosphere. It started to snow which meant that some people went home earlier than we would have liked but this is no reflection on the entertainment, we would be more than happy to recommend Blackthorn and your service in the future, Many Thanks,"

2013 (from the organiser) "Hello Pete,
First of all thank you very much to you & Blackthorn for bringing the beat to our Burn's Night event. You were great and I hope we will have another event where we can use and hear you again."

2013 (from an agent who dropped in to check us out) "Pete,
Really enjoyed the gig in Hackney on Saturday night. Good to see so many people up and dancing. I'll firm things up with the client then get back to you."

2012 "Hello
A friend of mine recently attended a wedding where you played and she has been raving about you ever since! For some reason she thought you might be based up our way near Coventry but on closer inspection I see that you are based a lot further south! "

2012 "Hello to all the blackthorn band,
Thankyou so much for playing at our wedding. You were so good and everyone loved you. We all had fun. And the barn came to life with you playing in it. We will never forget you. And will keep you in mind for any other barn dances will might have in the near future. Thanks again. We hope you enjoyed yourselves X x x."

2012
"My sister recommended you, she went to a wedding where you played and said how great you were!"

2012
"Thanks for making the evening a great success."

2011
"Many thanks for making the evening a wonderful event. Everyone had enjoyed themselves thoroughly and had a fantastic evening. Your band really made a difference and was the cherry on top of the event."

2011 (to our agent re Westbury Festival) "Dear Sarah-Jane,
Just a short note to say that Blackthorn were absolutely excellent! ...... they played brilliantly and really connected well with the audience. All excellent musicians and great performers and were thouroughly enjoyed by all who came. Worth every penny ! I hope they will consider joining us again next year."

2011 "Hi Pete,
First of all, thank you all very much for a wonderful night on Friday. Everyone had a fantastically good time, and I have had so many comments about how good the music was. The lady who did the calling was very good, and sufficiently bossy to get everyone up dancing, something necessary as few had ever done that kind of thing before. We are used to parties where people don't hit the dancefloor until 10.30! I also really appreciated you doing the Mull River Shuffle."

2011 "Pete
I am afraid that I never thanked you for the wonderful evening of music you provided at my 70th party on the Hove Bowling Club. I missed you leaving on the evening, and am most sorry not to have got in contact before. Anyway, many, many thanks. .... hope the band goes well, best wishes."

2011 "Dear Pete and band
My apologies for the delay in contacting you to say a big thank you for the great night at the Royal British Legion on March 18th. It was phenominal success and has now being entered into the diary as an annual event! I hope you enjoyed playing for us as much as we enjoyed listening to you. "

2011 "Pete,
Many thanks for a brilliant gig at Grayshott Folk Club.

Many thanks for the gig on Saturday night. It was great to have a decent-sized audience and I think they really enjoyed themselves. You've raised the bar for us ... I thought your performance offered something for everybody and those that came to dance got their chance too. I hope you continue to get as many bookings as you would want"

2010 "Pete,
What can I say? Absolutely fantastic, you completely made the party. Everyone is absolutely raving about you. Even some talking about an annual folk festival! Many many thanks, we had a great party and you were brilliant. Best wishes,"

2010 "Hi Pete,
.... I know a lot of time has passed, but I wanted to say that you guys did an amazing job! Everyone was really impressed and I had lots of comments about how good you were."

2010 "Dear Pete and the Blackthorn Band,
We are sorry this is horrendously late. but we just wanted to say a huge thank you for the absolutely fantastic job the band did playing at our wedding in April. The band performed brilliantly and made the evening of our wedding so much fun! It was fantastic that you got so many of our friends and family, from 7 to 70 years old, up and dancing. Everyone seemed to have a whale of a time and didn't want the music to end! We really appreciate the long set you played and honestly feel that the evening was perfect thanks to you guys. Best wishes, "

2010 "To the Blackthorn Band
We wanted to say an enormous thank you for playing at our wedding. The ceilidh was great - Mannie was an excellent caller and everyone had a lot of fun! The music was fantastic and we're just sorry we couldn't ask you to do a longer set! Thanks for having us on your mailing list - we'd definitely love to join you at one of your gigs in the future. "

2010 "Hi Pete
Thanks for a great evening last night - everyone has said how much they enjoyed it. "

2010 "Dear Pete
Just to say that it was really great having you guys play at our Medieval Fete! It added that important ingredient of atmosphere - it was SO great to have the live music. What you provided was exactly what I was looking for. .... It was a perfect day and you guys were the icing on the cake! Thank you!!!"

2010 "Dear Pete, Mannie and the rest of Blackthorn Band
Just a quick note to say a massive "Thank You" for playing at our wedding at Northease Manor. It really provided a perfect finish to a perfect day. We really appreciate you learning "My Lovely Rose of Clare" for our first dance and thought it sounded beautiful. The ceilidh itself was a fantastic success and everyone was wishing they could carry on dancing all night (ourselves included!) We are very glad we chose you to play on or special day and hope we have many more occasions in the future with dancing and music like this. Kind regards...."

2010 "I can also recommend the band we hired, Blackthorn, as they put on a really good night."

2009 2 comments on a gig in Henfield
"Thank you very much for last night - you were truly great."
"I thought you were all brilliant at the Henfield Gig! ...your music was excellent and I really enjoyed it."

2009 "Hi Pete
Just wanted to say how great it was to have Blackthorn Band play at our wedding! We were so surprised at how many people were dancing all night. We absolutely loved the music although I struggled with some of the moves in my dress! Thanks to all of the band, and we loved the archway for us to leave under. Such special memories. Thanks again and we will totally recommend you to friends in the future!"

2009 "Dear Blackthorn
Thanks for another great performance at Rhythm & Muse! Best Wishes"

2009 "Dear Pete
Just wanted to say thank you to you and the rest of the Blackthorn Band for their great music and singing on Saturday night last. The feedback was great and everyone really enjoyed themselves. On behalf of the Women's Group of Our Lady of Lourdes Church ! Many Thanks. "

2009 "Pete etal,
I just wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for our S. Patrick's evening last Saturday. Everyone felt that it was a great evening and that the band were amazing! So well done and thanks again for a lovely evening. Fr. Stephen Gallagher,"

2009 "Hi Pete
I wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you all for Saturday night. Everyone had a brilliant night and loved the music and dancing. You were great so thank you very much!"

2008 "Dear Pete
I would like to thank you for helping to make my birthday celebration on 15th Nov such a wonderful night to remember. The music was excellent and together with Mannie calling made dancing hard to resist. Those who didn't venture onto the floor said how entertaining they found the whole evening. Stuart & I are delighted to have discovered your band. We will be on the lookout for any live performances in and around London. Please pass on our thanks to the other members of the band."

2008 "Pete and other members of Blackthorn
I just wanted to thank you so much for such a fabulous evening at our wedding at Winchester House, Putney on 13th September. You exceeded every expectation and managed to pack so much life and enjoyment into the evening despite the late start. I hadn't imagined that so many people would want to dance and you coped brilliantly - there were family and friends dancing that have never been seen anywhere near a dance floor before. All the messages from our guests have said how much they enjoyed the music and dancing. We had a number of folk fiddlers and ceilidh veterans in the crowd so consider that praise indeed. Once again many thanks and hope to come across you somewhere in the future. Best wishes"

2008 "Hi Pete
I just want to say thank you so much for the wonderful music played by Blackthorn at mine and Ronan's wedding. I was in a dream all morning...until I entered the building and then it suddenly all became real when I heard the music being played. It was perfect! I remember saying 'the band are here! and they're playing!' I don't know why - as I hadn't thought you wouldn't turn up - but it just suddenly dawned on me that it was actually the wedding day and all my preparations had come together. The music outside was so lovely too and completed the beautiful (yet surreal) setting that we were in. (felt like I was on a film set of a period drama with the music and people all dressed up and playing croquet!). I am just sorry that I didn't have a chance to stop and listen to the music properly - we were being whisked off here there and everywhere and it was all a bit of a whirlwind - but we heard you playing in the background throughout and the atmosphere in the walled garden was better than I could ever have imagined. Everybody else has commented that the music was wonderful and added an extra special touch that many weddings lack. I am so pleased that you came to play at our wedding and cannot thank you enough for helping to make our day so special. I am sorry that we didn't get a chance to speak to any of the band members on the day - I wanted to say thank you in person and let you know how appreciative we were, but we were whisked off before we had a chance. ........Many thanks once again for everything! Words are not enough!"

2008 "Hi Pete
It was lovely to meet you all last night and thank you again for coming to play at our Barn Dance last night. We have received many favourable comments from the people present about your music and playing and everyone certainly seemed to enjoy the dancing !"

2008
"We would like to thank you and your band for your efforts at the wedding, it was the icing on the cake. The music was great and everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We found you to be friendly and very professional, absolutely ideal for the occasion, we would certainly recommend you. Wishing you every success, thanks again."

2008 "Dear Pete
We arrived back from a fantastic honeymoon yesterday, certainly with a bang but are still enjoyingall the chat about what was a truely magical day. I just wanted to thank you for making it extra special we have had endless letters of thanks all mentioning what fun it was and how the band were simply great. You certainly did a great job of getting everyone on that dance floor, I don't think there was a moment when it wasn't packed and I for one certainly spent most the evening on it!! Thank you again and again to you all."

2008 "To Pete and the band
Thank you so much for your performance at our wedding... It was hilarious seeing all our guests trying to do Irish dancing. We thought the music was perfect and really enjoyed the whole experience. Thank you. "

2007 "Dear Pete,
We would like to thank you and the band for the terrific performance on Saturday evening at our Wedding. Many guests have said very kind words about your music, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity for a good dance! On a more personal note, we found the first dance very moving and felt it was a lovely performance of that song - thank you. You came highly recommended to us and we will certainly be recommending you to others. We hope we have the opportunity to meet you again in the future (maybe our 10th Wedding Anniversary?)! Kind regards,."

2007 "Hi Pete,
Just a few words of thanks for a magnificent performance by the Blackthorn Band at the Irish Centre in Hammersmith. I received many comments, both on the evening and the days following, regarding how distinctly the guests appreciated your band, their selection of music and exceptional talent. I personally want to thank you for accommodating my requests and also for your patience with us during the middle of the evening when the tributes were being given. Please give my best regards to Mannie, Philippe, Alex and Sarah, - a sterling job done by all."

2007 "Hi Pete,
Just wanted to say thanks for making our wedding reception totally fantastic. Everyone had a good time and thought the band was great. Please extend our gratitude to the rest of the band and best of luck with everything. We've already recommended you to others"

2007 "Hi, Blackthorn Band
I just wanted to say how thrilled I was to see you all perform in Sidmouth this year--you were all absolutely brilliant. ..... Hopefully you will be playing some what close so I can come and hear you all perform. Take care and thanks again for your great music..."

2007 comments by Sarah McQuaid on our Sidmouth Folkweek performance
"Do send me a copy of your new CD when it's out and I'll be delighted to review it for Hot Press. If it's anything like as good as the live act I'm sure it'll be favourable!"

2007 "Hi Pete,
Now that Zish and I are back from our honeymoon we wanted to say "Thankyou" yet again for the fantastic job you did on our wedding night. Zish and I both really enjoyed it, and loads of people have complemented us on our choice - you did a great job of getting people onto the dance floor. Even people who asked me if I was mad having a ceilidh turned around and told me how glad they were to have been proved wrong, and I know about 2 of the Irish guys surprised everyone by getting up to dance when normally they say "Over my dead body"! Some of Zish's colleagues suggested making ceilidh dancing a regular team event! Thanks so much,"

2007 "Pete,
Just a short note to pass on our thanks for Saturday night. All concerned said how much they enjoyed the band, even the ones who didn't dance. Many thanks to you all"

2007
"I just wanted to thank Mannie, Fegus, Sarah and Philippe for such a brilliant performance at the launch of Rhythm & Muse - everyone really enjoyed their music and I was delighted that they encouraged us to dance to the Irish Rover at the end! You definitely make music that should be danced to!"

2007 "Hi Pete
Had to email to say how much we enjoyed the Band on Saturday - Under the very difficult circumstances you did a great job. We've had many calls and notes thanking us for the evening and saying how much they enjoyed the music. I do hope your journey back was not too long and hope to see you again soon. Please pass our thanks on to the rest of the Band. Best wishes"

2007
"Thank you for making the evening such a success"

2007 "Dear Pete
We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on Friday night and thank you to you all for making it such fun! Thanks once again...."

2006 "Hi Pete
Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed performances by Blackthorn at this summer's Sidmouth folk week!"

2006 "yeah I caught you guys at the ham in sidmouth... (I stewarded the door) you rocked !!"

2006 "Pete
Just wanted to drop you a line to thank Blackthorn so much for giving us a great night's entertainment at our wedding. What a great evening and just how we both imagined it would be! It was good to see a band so much enjoying what they are doing and i have had so many positive comments from our guests saying how good you were and how much fun the evening was. A lovely band, lovely people and wonderful to see so many people dancing together. Just what a wedding reception should be! Please pass on our thanks to all the band and we hope you managed to have a good time too despite the long journey! At least the food was pretty good!! All the best for the future"