Gig List
Upcoming gigs
2024
- Saturday 24th February 2024
- Poynton Ceilidhs with caller Rhodri Davies
- Saturday 9th March 2024
- London Barndance Contra, Cecil Sharp House, London, with caller Louise Siddons
- 21st-23rd June 2024
- Lichfield Folk Festival, King Edward's School, Lichfield
- Friday 2nd-Monday 5th August 2024
- Sidmouth Folk Festival
- Friday 22nd November 2024
- Alcester Contra, Greig Hall, Alcester, with caller Liam Binley
- Saturday 23rd November 2024
- Leeds Contra with caller Rhodri Davies
Past gigs
2023
- Friday 3rd March 2023
- Alcester Contra with caller Mark Elvins
- Saturday 11th March 2023
- London Barndance Contra with caller Lynne Render
- Sunday 7th May 2023
- Contra dance in Sheffield with caller Cis Hinkle at Crookes Social Club, Sheffield.
Also see the Facebook event - Friday 26th-Monday 29th May 2023
- Chippenham Folk Festival, Wiltshire
- Saturday 10th June 2023
- Ian & Charley Roberts (duo gig) at Lancaster Contra with caller Rhodri Davies
- Saturday 30th September 2023
- Nottingham Folk Dance Group Contra with caller Seth Tepfer
- Sunday 8th October 2023
- Alcester American Dance Weekend with caller Ivan Aitken
- Saturday 28th October 2023
- Exeter Ceilidhs with caller Jeremy Child
2022
- Saturday 22nd October 2022
- Leeds Contra, St Chad's Hall, Leeds, with caller Rhodri Davies
- Saturday 8th October 2022
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Rhodri Davies
- Sunday 28th August 2022
- Towersey Festival, Claydon Estate, Buckinghamshire, with caller Bob Morgan
- 20th-26th August 2022
- Whitby Folk Week, Whitby, with caller Lynne Render
- 23rd July 2022
- Warwick Folk Festival with caller Mike Courthold
- Saturday 9th April 2022
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with callers Mark Elvins and Charlie Turner (Charley & Ian duo)
- Friday 8th April 2022
- Alcester Contra, with caller Mark Elvins (Charley & Ian duo)
- Friday 25th February 2022
- IVFDF 2022, University of Sheffield, with caller Charlie Turner (Charley & Ian duo)
2021
- Saturday 12th June 2021
- London Barndance, on Zoom, with caller Geoff Cubitt
- Friday 16th April 2021
- Alcester Contra, on Zoom, with caller Lynne Render
2020
- Saturday 12th December 2020
- London Barndance, on Zoom, with caller Rhodri Davies
- 23rd August 2020
- Zoom contra for Whitby@Home 2020, with caller Lynne Render
- Saturday 11th July 2020
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Lynne Render (on Zoom)
- Friday 3rd April 2020
- Alcester Contra, Alcester Grammar School, Alcester, Warwickshire with caller Nicola Scott (on Facebook)
- Saturday 7th March 2020
- IVFDF 2020 Nottingham with caller Rhianwen Davies
2019
- Saturday 14th December 2019
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Bob Morgan
- Saturday 14th September 2019
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Adam Hughes
- Sunday 7th April 2019
- Contra Holiday in Medieval England, Ely (private event)
- Friday 8th March 2019
- Alcester Contra, Alcester Grammar School, Alcester, Warwickshire with caller Nicola Scott
2018
- Saturday 10th November 2018
- Paris Contra Dance, Mairie du 14e, Paris, France, with caller Geoff Cubitt
- Saturday 3rd November 2018
- Hawk Green FDC, St Peter's Parish Centre, Hazel Grove, with caller Geoff Cubitt
- Saturday 27th October 2018
- Leeds Contra, St Chad's hall, Leeds, with caller Charlotte Rich
- Saturday 13th October 2018
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Kathy Anderson (USA)
- 7th-9th September 2018
- Bromyard Folk Festival
- August Bank Holiday
- Shrewsbury Folk Festival
- 3rd-10th August 2018
- Sidmouth FolkWeek with callers Rachel Wallace and Lynne Render
- 25th-28th May 2018
- Chippenham Folk Festival
- Saturday 12th May 2018
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Adam Hughes
- Friday 20th April 2018
- Alcester Contra, St Benedict's School, Alcester, Warwickshire, with caller Jen Morgan
- Friday 13th April 2018
- Unicorn Ceilidhs, Baldock, Herts. (caller TBC)
- Saturday 17th February 2018
- Sheffield Contra Dances, Heeley Hall, Birkdale School, Sheffield, with caller Rhodri Davies
- Saturday 27th January 2018
- Poynton Ceilidhs, Poynton Civic Hall with caller Andrew Swaine
2017
- Saturday 9th December 2017
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Rhodri Davies
- Monday 2nd-Thursday 5th October
- Halsway Manor American dance week with caller Carol Ormand
- Sunday 1st October 2017
- Brummie Contra with caller Carol Ormand
- 12th-19th August 2017
- Broadstairs Folk Week (exact dates tbc)
- 21st-23rd July Summerfestival in Denmark 2017
- with Carol Ormand and Geoff Cubitt
- Friday 14th July 2017
- Alcester Contra with caller Bob Morgan
- 16th-18th June 2017
- Lichfield Folk Festival
- Sunday 11th June 2017
- Gate to Southwell Festival with caller Geoff Cubitt
- Saturday 10th June 2017
- London Barndance with caller Lynne Render
- Saturday 6th May 2017
- Sheffield Contra with caller Andrew Swaine
- Sunday 2nd April 2017
- Contra Holiday in Medieval England, Ely (private event)
2016
- Saturday 31st December 2016
- Vertical Expression's New Year's Eve Contra Dance Party with callers Bob Morgan and Jake Wood
- Saturday 17th December 2016
- Sheffield Contra with caller Lynne Render
- Saturday 12th November 2016
- ICBINI (I Can't Believe It's Not IVFDF)/Exeter Contra
- Saturday 24th September 2016
- Leeds Contra with caller Lisa Heywood
- 27th-30th May 2016
- Chippenham Folk Festival
- Sunday 15th May 2016
- Leeds Contra with caller Cis Hinkle
- Saturday 14th May 2016
- London Barndance Contra with caller Cis Hinkle
- Saturday 5th March 2016
- Hawk Green Spring Dance, Hazel Grove, with caller Martyn Harvey
- Friday 15th January 2016
- Alcester Contra, St Benedict's School, Alcester, Warwickshire, with caller Jake Wood
2015
- 31st December 2015
- New Year's Eve Contra, Harbury Village Hall, near Leamington Spa, CV33 9JE, with callers Bob Morgan and Jake Wood
- Friday 6th-Sunday 8th November 2015
- Tommerup square and contra dance festival, Denmark
- Saturday 31st October 2015
- Leeds Contra with caller Geoff Cubitt. Note the date: Halloween-themed fancy dress strongly encouraged!
- Friday 9th October 2015
- Alcester Contra, St Benedict's School, Alcester, Warwickshire, with caller Brooke Friendly (USA)
- Sunday 4th October 2015
- Brummie Contras, Newman House Catholic Chaplaincy Hall, Birmingham B15 3QS, with caller Mary Devlin (USA)
- Saturday 26th September 2015
- Paris Contra Dances, France, with caller Andrew Swaine
- Saturday 29th August 2015
- Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
- Friday 31st July-Friday 7th August 2015
- Sidmouth FolkWeek with callers including Tom Hinds, Lisa Heywood and Bob Morgan. More details and updates on our Facebook event.
- Saturday 27th June 2015
- Bakewell Day of Dance, Bakewell, Derbyshire, with caller John Brown
- Sunday 12th April 2015
- Contra Holiday in Medieval England, Ely, with caller Adam Hughes
- Saturday 14th March 2015
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Linda Leslie (USA)
- Saturday 7th March 2015
- Sheffield Spring Contras, Walkley Community Centre, Sheffield, with caller Linda Leslie (USA)
- Saturday 28th February 2015
- Inter-Varsity Folk Dance Festival (IVFDF) 2015, Exeter University, with caller Linda Leslie (USA)
- Sunday 25th January 2015
- Brummie Contras, Newman House Catholic Chaplaincy Hall, Birmingham B15 3QS, with caller Jake Wood
2014
- Saturday 13th December 2014
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Geoff Cubitt
- Friday 28th November 2014
- Sheffield University CeilidhSoc, The Edge, Endcliffe Student Village, Sheffield, with caller Andrew Swaine
- Saturday 25th October 2014
- St Albans Friday Folk special event, St Albans, with caller Kathy Anderson (USA)
- Sunday 24th August 2014
- Towersey Festival, Towersey, Oxfordshire, with caller Andrew Swaine
- 25th-27th July 2014
- Sønderjyske Sommerfestival, Denmark, with callers Geoff Cubitt and Bev Bernbaum
- 23rd-26th May 2014
- Chippenham Folk Festival
- Friday 16th May 2014
- Alcester Contra, St Benedict's School, Alcester, Warwickshire with caller Seth Tepfer
- Saturday 26th April 2014
- Sheffield Spring Contras, Walkley Community Centre, Sheffield, with caller Geoff Cubitt
- Saturday 12th April 2014
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Rhodri Davies
- Saturday 22nd March 2014
- Poynton Ceilidhs, Poynton Community Centre with caller Andrew Swaine
- Saturday 1st March 2014
- Inter-Varsity Folk Dance Festival (IVFDF) 2014 Edinburgh with caller Rhodri Davies
2013
- Tuesday 31st December 2013
- New Years Eve contra dance party with caller Andrew Swaine
- Friday 27th September 2013
- Alcester Contra, St Benedict's School, Alcester, Warwickshire with caller Mike Courthold
- Saturday 14th September 2013
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Rhodri Davies
- Saturday 7th September 2013
- private booking
- 9th-16th August 2013
- Broadstairs Folk Week, Broadstairs, Kent with callers Cis Hinkle and Andrew Swaine
- April 2013
- USA tour
- Saturday 12th January 2013
- Red Fox Ceilidhs, Church of the Martyrs Community Hall, Leicester, with caller Andrew Swaine
- Saturday 5th January 2013
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Lynne Render
2012
- Saturday 17th November 2012
- private party
- Saturday 6th October 2012
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, with caller Lynne Render
- Sunday 3rd June 2012
- Gate to Southwell Folk Festival, Southwell, Notts, with caller Andrew Swaine
- Friday 18th May 2012
- Alcester Contra,
- Saturday 26th May 2012
- private party
- Saturday 3rd March 2012
- Inter-Varsity Folk Dance Festival 2012 with caller Rhodri Davies
2011
- Ian and Charley with Gareth and Linda of English Contra Dance Band:
- :Friday 25th November 2011: Alcester Contra with caller Ian Wilson
Saturday 10th December 2011: London Barndance with caller Rhodri Davies - Friday 10th June 2011
- Alcester Contra with caller Geoff Cubitt
- 28th-30th May 2011
- Chippenham Folk Festival
- 12th March 2011
- London Barndance with caller John Meechan
2010
- Friday 24th September 2010
- Alcester Contras, Alcester, Warwickshire, with caller Geoff Cubitt
- Saturday 8th May 2010
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, London, with caller Rhodri Davies
- Sunday 4th April 2010
- Mumpers, Derby, with caller Bob Morgan
- Saturday 6th March 2010
- IVFDF 2010, Durham, with caller Adam Hughes
2009
- Friday 6th November 2009
- Alcester Contras, Alcester, Warwickshire, with caller Rhodri Davies
- Saturday 24th October 2009
- Leeds Contra, Leeds, with caller John Turner
- 31st July - 7th August 2009
- Sidmouth Folk Week, Devon, various events with callers Wendy Graham and Rhodri Davies
- Saturday 14th March 2009
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, London, with caller Lynne Render
- Friday 9th January 2009
- Phoenix Ceilidhs, Horwich, with caller Rhodri Davies
2008
- Saturday 11th October 2008
- London Barndance, Cecil Sharp House, London, with caller Andrew Swaine
- Saturday 1st March 2008
- IVFDF 2008, Sheffield, with caller Andrew Swaine
2007
- Saturday 24th November 2007
- Leeds Contra, Leeds, with caller Rhodri Davies
- Sunday 26th August 2007
- Towersey Village Festival, Towersey, Oxfordshire, with caller Andrew Swaine (workshop 10am, dance 3:15pm)
- Sunday 3rd June 2007
- Mumpers, Derby, with caller Geoff Cubitt
- Saturday 3rd March 2007
- IVFDF 2007, Edinburgh, with caller Rhodri Davies
Before 2007...
Some time in 2004, Ian and Charley were asked by their friend Grace if they could put together a scratch band for a couple of contra dances she was hoping to run in Sheffield, with a view to trying to establish a regular contra series.
They had a think about who else to ask, and decided Ian and Margaret would be a good choice, if they were interested. They were, and the at-first-unnamed band played for quite a few dances in Sheffield.
This was the first version of a Sheffield Contras dance series. Unfortunately interest dropped off after a while and there weren't enough dancers to keep the events going.
Then a few months later, we got an email from the organisers of IVFDF 2007 in Edinburgh. Somehow Scotland had heard about us and wondered if we'd like to come and play for a contra dance at IVFDF. Why not, we thought. Let's dust off the set list and have another go, it sounds like fun. The rest all went from there...
Vertical Expression's first ever gig: