Hi

There are many worthy bands out there that deserve respect and praise. But my experience with a particular band, was a nightmare. This band is called 'All Blacked Up' and they are a Ceilidh Band based in Shropshire. I hired this band for some entertainment at my venue. But, I was shocked at their appaling attitude. Their main band member, 'Barry Parkes', was racially abusive to some of my punters and he was dis-respectful to some of my staff.

This is the worst band that I have hired at my venue. I thought they had a decent reputation....but they were just a complete sham. They did not even perform the set number of pieces that they agreed and that I paid them for. Barry Parkes is a disgrace to Ceilidh music and a racist. He offended some of my punters and I am considering to take some possible action against the man and even the band.

I never knew that hiring a band could be such a hassle. I hope no one else has to go through this stress.

Mike Gittins.

Well nobody will hire them in America, now that you posted this. Panbient, should this be moved to the promo-section? It's some kind of promotion, for sure hehe.

it's hardly promo although it's the impression the thread title provides.

shitty deal that a promoter got burned. it's usually the other way around. bad for the local scene too if he becomes hesitant to book other acts. if the other mods want to move it it's their call. otherwise it'll fall off soon enough.

as far as action against the band i think it would be dependent on the contract if there even was one to be signed. otherwise if it's all verbal it'll become a my word vs. your word battle. if there's paperwork and they failed to live up to their end of the bargain i wouldn't pay them.

on the other hand this is only one side of the story.

That's true...

Hey Mike, could you get those All Blacked Up guys to post their view of things on here so we can this settled?

A few things about this don't make any sense.


1. Who would hire a Ceilidh band to perform to "punters" in what I would have to think is a bar? The purpose of a Ceilidh band is to get to people to dance and not entertain people drinking in a bar.


2. I am pretty sure this particular band is one of the biggest Ceilidh bands. Not exactly the type to be playing in anything small enough as this place sounds or anywhere near were the customers are called "punters". Ceilidh bands play in dance halls or if they're this big at festivals.

3. I doubt there are many Ceilidh bands that even bother with contracts....let alone agreeing to any particular amount of songs in a set list.

4. If this was true the owner/promoter would have already been in contact with a solicitor at the very least.


5. I can't speak to the accusations about racism....but considering how dubious the rest of this story happens to be....

You know Richard Lewis came up with that from hell bit