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James McCafferty

Acoustic Guitarist / Vocalist

(6 Reviews)

Also Performs As: Wedding Musician, Guitar Singer, Voice Over Artist, Carol Singers, Barn Dance / Ceilidh Band
Country: United Kingdom
Based In: Milton Keynes, South East
Performs: Worldwide
From: £100

Songs and music with a Celtic flavour. Specialising in the almost-forgotten traditional folk songs of the British Isles and Ireland, James accompanies the songs on acoustic guitar, cittern and dulcimer, with additional dance tunes on the melodeon.

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Description

I specialise in the traditional songs and music of the British Isles and Ireland, and for most bookings I play acoustic guitar, cittern and melodeon, usually without amplification. Since many of the traditional songs in my repertoire are well-known "old favourites" (those lovely old songs remembered from primary school days), I usually invite the audience to join in the singing with me, and I can easily provide words if that would help.
If the event is relatively informal, I can surprise the audience by getting them to sing a couple of pieces with me in three or four-part harmony - yes, ev ... en those who've never sung before! And if the mood is right I sometimes throw in a couple of ballads (the old meaning of the word, as in stories told in song), either comic or gruesome....!

Set-List

The Parting Glass
The Fields of Athenry
Scarborough Fair
Greensleeves
The Skye Boat Song
Ye Banks and Braes
The Water is Wide
The Sweet Nightingale
The Raggle-Taggle Gypsies
Wild Mountain Thyme
Over the Hills and Far Away
High Germany
The Star of the County Down
The Trees They Do Grow High
Martin Said to His Man
Twa Corbies
The January Man
The Banks of the Sweet Primroses
The Ash Grove
Dancing at Whitsun
Just as the Tide Was a-Flowing
The Shores of Avalon
Down in Yon Forest
The Marigold
How Can Ye Gang, Lassie?
Little Red Bird
The Massacre of Glencoe
Bread and ... Roses
Softly Come Morning
Adieu, Sweet Lovely Nancy
Serving Girl's Holiday
The Boar's Head Carol
Bread and Roses
The Chastity Belt (bawdy!)
Long Lankin (ballad)
The Rose
Plaisir d'Amour
Annie's Song
Lady Mary
Guardian Angel

Biography

James McCafferty first picked up a guitar in his teens and discovered a lifelong passion for the traditional folk music of the British Isles and Ireland, particularly the music of the Celtic heartlands. He taught himself to play the recorder and slowly built up a collection of reconstructed early instruments from the Medieval and Tudor periods, including cittern, dulcimer, crumhorn, cornamuse and psalteries. He founded the unaccompanied folk song group Solstice and the early music group Milady Clare's Musicke, with whom he recorded the albums Minstrels Gallerie and Pastymes. He danced with W ... inchester's international folk dance display team Woodfidley, played melodeon for King John's Morris of Southampton and founded the boys' morris dance team the Fryern Morris Minors. Under the banner of Early Music in Schools www.earlymusic.co.uk, he continues to take his demonstrations of early musical instruments to schools and community groups. He is the author of Live Recorder 1 – 3 www.liverecorder.co.uk, a series of three workbooks and CDs designed to teach basic musical literacy to complete beginners. James accompanies his singing on guitar, cittern, dulcimer and melodeon.

Reviews (6 Reviews)

James McCafferty - Barn Dance / Ceilidh Band - Milton Keynes, South East Event Location: Huntingdon Event Type: School family barn dance 9th March 2024

James was the perfect caller for our school's family barn dance. He was warm and funny and had everyone on the dance floor, young and old, confident or shy, all laughing and having a fantastic time. These kinds of events have the potential to be very awkward if you don't have the right person up front, but he made everyone feel relaxed and we all had a fantastic evening. Thank you so much for a great time James!

Reviewed by: Nicola Beth

James McCafferty - Acoustic Guitarist / Vocalist - Milton Keynes, South East Event Location: Radcliffe Centre, Buckingham, UK Event Type: Concert 6th December 2018

Thank you for the lovely concert on Thursday evening – it was really enjoyable and I’m very glad I came. There were several carols I hadn’t heard before – from France mainly I think – and I particularly enjoyed meeting those, plus the instrumental pieces you introduced which added great variety. It’s good stuff and gets better every time I see it.

Reviewed by: Elaine Chisholm

James McCafferty - Acoustic Guitarist / Vocalist - Milton Keynes, South East Event Location: Ashbern, Buckinghamshire Event Type: Concert 25th April 2017

Well what a wonderful evening you gave us last night! Your programme of music and comment were very special and suited the audience so well. I had never heard, let alone seen, some of those instruments you played so beautifully, and your singing accompaniments were magical. So much talent displayed in your knowledge and obvious love of what you do.

Reviewed by: Susan Rand

Suitable for

Anniversary Party Bar / Bat Mitzvah Birthday Party (Adult) Casinos Christening Christmas Party Cocktail Party / Drinks Reception Concerts / Tours Corporate Event Dinner Party Private Party