Ceilidh Caller

Annie Bolt

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About Annie

Ceilidh Caller and Folk Musician with an infectious high energy in both calling and playing.
Annie Bolt's profile picture
Ceilidh Caller
Manchester
Public liability insurance of £10 million

Annie has over ten years of ceilidh calling and folk dance music experience: she was one of the regular callers for Manchester Ceilidh since arriving in Manchester as a student, and has worked regularly as a caller in the North of England for weddings, birthdays, society events, and more. In August 2023 she made her festival calling debut on the Bulverton stage at Sidmouth Folk Festival, calling a Late Night Extra ceilidh with The Canny Band, before going on to call multiple festival ceilidhs during the 2024 folk festival season. Known for an infectious high energy, Annie has worked with a number of highly regarded ceilidh bands, including Monster Ceilidh Band, Folk Camps Party Band, Banter, and her own ceilidh band, Chimera. She has a wide repertoire of dances, and caters to the room’s ability, ensuring that everyone is included and able to have a great night. In the classical world, Annie has worked as a choral singer for 15 years, with experience as both an alto and soprano, after training at Wells Cathedral School, and completing undergraduate and masters degrees at The University of Manchester. She has recorded with choirs on the Naxos and Decca Classical labels. If you are looking for a ceilidh caller who is able to source musicians for your event, Annie is able to provide access to a ceilidh duo with calling for events with budgets that can't stretch to a larger band.

Annie
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5 out of 5
5 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Annie's Reviews

From Encore customers:

JL
Josh L
13 days ago
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5 out of 5

Annie and the band were great!! Responded quickly to messages, and brought the exact vibe that we wanted for the party. Very professional and would love to hire them again

Reply from Annie
13 days ago

Thanks Josh, we had a great time at your event - we couldn't stop smiling the entire way home!

From other customers:

JC
Jen C
8 months ago, for a Bar / Club / Venue event in Shrewsbury
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5 out of 5

Every ceilidh I've been at with the glorious Annie Bolt calling has been a riot of infectious joy and the best fun you can have! She's supremely in command of a room and delivers the most spectacular atmosphere, with something for everyone in the dances, and excellent ability to read a room. She's a flipping goddess!

KB
Kira B
8 months ago, for a Bar / Club / Venue event in Sidmouth
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5 out of 5

Annie Bolt is a fun, energetic caller, sharing a mix of much-loved classics and innovative dances she has written herself. Her big stage presence plus deep understanding of both folk and teaching means that everyone can get involved and you can't leave one of her ceilidhs feeling down! I appreciate the gender-free calling and inclusivity which allows you to experience the ceilidh in the way you want to, with a welcome focus on silliness and joy while being expertly guided through the dances. Unpretentious, enthusiastic and knowledgeable, Annie is my favourite kind of ceilidh caller!

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8th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 8 years

Annie's Song list

Ceilidh repertoire includes (but is not limited to!):
- English Ceilidh Classics from throughout the tradition
— Twelve Meet
— Cornish Six Hand Reel
— Ducking for Oysters
— Boston Tea Party
— Buttered Pease
— Clopton Bridge
— Quarndon Hill
- Scottish Country Dances
— Gay Gordons
— Flying Scotsman
— Dashing White Sergeant
— Borrowdale Exchange
— Petronella
— Circassian Circle
— Canadian Barn Dance
- Self-composed Dances
— Broken Toe Polka
— A Pint of Daffodils
— The Gargoyle
— The Bulverton Bus Stop
— Clover Fields
- Requests in advance are welcome!

Annie's Prices

Last updated: 2025

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Packages
Ceilidh Caller
My flat rate for calling a ceilidh is £170 (plus encore fees), and doesn't scale with longer hours, unless you are wanting more than five hours. This is for calling ONLY.
£212.50
Caller + Live Music
If you are looking for a caller with live music, but do not have the budget for a full band line-up, this is your option. £360 (plus Encore fees) will get you a caller plus live duo, complete with PA equipment and lighting for your event.
£450

Add-ons

Party music
+£125
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

I bring a high energy to every ceilidh that I call or play, and the infectious quality of this energy spreads to the dancers. I am often told by dancers that my energy has kept them coming back to the floor, even when they are too tired to dance.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

I have been influenced by a number of callers in the English ceilidh scene, including (but not limited to) Fee Lock, Gordon Potts, Lisa Heywood, and Erin Mansfield.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Highlight gigs include calling a Late Night Extra Ceilidh at Sidmouth 2023, the Friday night ceilidh at Towersey Festival 2024, and the Saturday Late Night Ceilidh at Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2024. These are some of the best dance stages in the English festival scene, and I have been very fortunate to perform on these stages so early in my career.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

As a caller, I'm very happy to change the timings of an event (within a reasonable margin) to make sure you get the full value from your booking.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Of course! My PA equipment can take inputs from most standard devices, and I'm happy to run the party lights into the space to give people the chance to have a bit of a boogie between ceilidh sets. If you would like non-live dance music to continue after the end of the ceilidh, this would come with an additional charge of £100 for the use of the equipment.

How much time do you need to set up?

One hour is usually sufficient for a sound check; as long as I have access to the venue with an hour to go, everything can be set up and ready with no problem.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Absolutely! If you have any specific dance requests, you're welcome to ask me to call from the dances listed in my Encore setlist. If you'd like to request something not in that list, that's no problem, I would just need a week's notice to make sure that I have learnt the dance correctly in time for your event!

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Absolutely; as a caller, I come with a full set-up of PA equipment, and can provide that for any ceilidh band I am booked to work with.
Musicianship
Genres:
Ceilidh, Folk, Traditional English folk
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Concert, Wedding, Church service, Private event, Corporate event, Recording session, Burns night, New Year's Eve, Christmas party, Birthday party, Bar / Club / Venue event, Charity event, Hotel / Restaurant event
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Other skills:
Composer, Arranger, Actor, MC, Fluent sight-reader
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