Maggoty, a six-piece ceilidh band

was formed in 2011 with three members from the experienced band Madcap who celebrated 30 years on the road in 2014 based in the Manchester & Cheshire area. Mike Billington, Paul Woods and Bill Pook have been joined by Colin Froggat and Nicola Smalley to form this new band which will use music from the Playford dance collection as well as from other sources. Fiddle player Willy Simpson has joined the band from May of 2018. He will team up with Nicola to enhance the sound of the band with harmony fiddles. Willy has depped for the band on numerous occasions in the past and so is no stranger to our stage appearances.

Mike played for many years with the band REBEC. The first REBEC album is due for a summer release. Mike and Bill currently play in the duo CORVUS and their first album gloves of the skin of a fish is currently available on the Epona label and can be ordered from the Corvus website www.corvus.org.uk or from www.eponarecords.com

The six members of Maggoty are experienced musicians, performing for weddings, private parties, corporate functions and folk events throughout Manchester, Cheshire, the North West and beyond in the various line-ups they have played in.

Maggoty usually appear as a six piece band and the instrumentation includes melodeon, concertina, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, mandola, rauschpfeife, shawm, crumhorns, curtal, recorders, oboe, bagpipes, and percussion.

The band plays English, Scottish, Irish and French dance music, and you can be sure of a lively evening.

Maggoty provides a full PA system and a caller to explain the dances so no previous experience is necessary. We cater for all abilities from the absolute beginner to the experienced "ceilidh goer!"

All you need do is provide a venue and willing dancers. We'll do the rest!

Contact Mike for details of availability/fees etc.

m.billington90@btinternet.com

01618810936