The Reel Thing ceilidh band
Probably Iceland´s best ceilidh band! We are an enthusiastic, high energy international ceilidh band based in Reykjavík!
The band has lots of musical experience from folk tradition, through theatrical performance to classical orchestral and choral works but loves to play folk music, loves to dance and has a great time providing music for others to have a great time dancing to.
Come to one of our ceilidh dance nights or hire us for your event. The band callers help you through all the dances so no need to have tried this before and before you know it you´ll be dancing like a true Celt.
Who we are?
Our most regular members consist of drums, fiddle, concertina, keyboard and flutes with occasional star appearances of like-minded friends... so, in alphabetical order:
Iveta
Iveta must have some love of the north as she has been gradually moving north for the past few years, spending some time in Scotland, teaching, conducting choirs, playing music and making jewelery and is now based in Iceland. She plays the piano, clarinet, recorder and whistle among other instruments and loves singing.
Joddi
Joddi loves playing folk music and blues and used to play with the band Lítið Eitt which released two very successful records. His favourite guitar was made here in Reykjavík, very close to the part of town we now meet in for sessions.
Jón Örn
Jón Örn is a seasoned traveller and enjoys playing musical instruments and folk music from all around the world. He most often plays bodhran, a drum from Ireland and Scotland, but also sometimes brings along his didgeredo.
Kate
Kate is from Scotland and moved to Iceland a few years ago because of the excitement of being in a country with volcanoes and glaciers. She is planning to stay at least until the next eruption. She plays the flute and whistle and she calls the dances.
Keith
Keith - theatre musician, conductor, Scottish ceilidh band player - is active in Hugleikur as well as with The Reel Thing. He lived for years in Edinburgh, where it is hard to get English football on TV, so he is always delighted that he can watch Tottenham play in Iceland. He plays cricket, sax, clarinet and piano.
Orri .. plays drums and gets your feet tapping out the beat. Originally from the east of Iceland he played with the band Búalfar. He is a little shy just now, picture and more info coming!
Ragnhild
Originally from Norway, Ragnhild once lived on a small island in
Scotland for 5 years and arrived in Iceland 3 years ago after traveling and hitchhiking around the globe. She plays the concertina, which she taught herself, the flute, whistle and wants to learn the ilean pipes.
Óli
Óli picked up a tin whistle aged 16 after a trip to Scotland, ordered a fiddle from Reykjavík over the phone aged 19 and travelled the high mountain roads of East Iceland in all weathers in devotion to fiddle classes. He has been addicted to folk music, especially celtic music, ever since and played with the band Búalfar. Always fascinated with new instruments and tunes, he is learning the great highland bagpipes.
What do we sound like?
We´ll put some mp3s here in time but until then come along the Highlander Bar on Wednesday evenings where we mostly all play at a folk music session from 8.30pm. Feel free to join in.