27 hand-picked acts — ceilidh bands, DJs, pipers and string ensembles for every part of your day.
27 musical acts found in Edinburgh
One of Edinburgh's most in-demand ceilidh bands, HotScotch is a dynamic trio of accordion, fiddle and drums who have been packing dance floors at Scottish weddings since 2006. They specialise in calling lively, accessible ceilidhs that get even the most reluctant guests up dancing, and offer a combined ceilidh and DJ package to keep the party going all night.
Led by accordionist and broadcaster Norman Mackay, The Ceilidh Experience has spent over two decades reinventing the Scottish ceilidh — blending traditional reels with modern energy and slick production, including electric fiddle and accordion-triggered samples. They're long-standing resident band at Edinburgh's Ghillie Dhu, and offer integrated ceilidh-and-DJ packages with full lighting and sound.
A beloved Edinburgh ceilidh institution playing for dancers since 1995, Da Hooley line up two fiddles, accordion-and-caller and guitar for a rich, full-bodied traditional sound, scaling up to a six-piece with percussion when needed. They're known for clear, patient calling — making them a favourite for couples whose guests are new to ceilidh dancing.
Performing since 2005, Reel Time bring a rocking modern Scottish edge to the ceilidh tradition — perfect for couples who want the dance floor energy of a function band with the joyful chaos of a proper Highland fling. They also operate as Reel Time Events, providing pipers, DJs and discos for the full Scottish wedding package.
A foot-stomping Edinburgh ceilidh band assembled from some of Scotland's finest traditional musicians, Ceilidh Fire deliver high-octane dance music with deep musicianship. Their callers are warm and patient with first-timers, and they tailor sets to the size and energy of the room — from intimate barn weddings to full castle halls.
A leading UK entertainment agency representing award-winning wedding DJs, sax-and-DJ acts and live bands across Edinburgh and beyond. Their handpicked roster covers everything from chilled afternoon Ibiza-style sets to high-energy floor-filling evening parties, with sleek setups and live-remixing DJs tailored to each couple.
A long-established Edinburgh DJ and PA hire service with over thirty years entertaining weddings, corporate events and parties across Scotland. Alongside mobile discos and MC services, they offer professional audio and front-of-house sound hire — a practical, experienced choice for couples who want a straightforward, well-equipped evening party.
Pipe Major Roderick Deans — Edinburgh-based, award-winning and playing since the age of six — offers the full Scottish wedding piping repertoire: piping guests in, walking the bride up the aisle, playing the couple out, and leading on to the reception. Choose from traditional No. 1 Highland dress, No. 2 dress with waistcoat and kilt, or a contemporary tweed kilt outfit. He also delivers a traditional Gaelic toast on request.
One of Scotland's foremost wedding string quartets, the Edinburgh String Quartet draws on a repertoire of over 3,800 arrangements — spanning baroque, classical and romantic traditions through jazz, tango and modern pop reimagined for strings. Beautifully understated and reliably elegant, they're a long-standing favourite for ceremonies and drinks receptions at Edinburgh's most prestigious venues.
Stravair are an elegant acoustic guitar-and-violin duo — Aaron (guitar) and Laura (violin, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) — performing pared-back arrangements of contemporary pop, jazz, classical favourites and traditional Scottish tunes. Their warm, intimate sound is well-suited to civil ceremonies, drinks receptions and the quieter moments of a wedding day, and they can also bring a caller for a ceilidh later in the night.
A fiddle-led Edinburgh and Glasgow ceilidh band playing weddings across Scotland since 2003, available as a three-, four- or five-piece with a professional caller who teaches the steps as you go. They round out the night with an integrated DJ disco and pop-rock covers, so couples can book a single act for the full evening.
A seven-piece Edinburgh jazz band specialising in 1930s and 40s swing — a four-piece rhythm section of drums, bass, guitar and piano under a front line of trumpet/vocals, clarinet/trombone and saxophones. Their repertoire draws on Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald, and because the players are themselves swing dancers they're a natural pick for couples planning a vintage drinks reception or dance-led evening.
An Edinburgh-based hot string jazz band drawing on Django Reinhardt-style gypsy jazz, the Great American Songbook and swing-era arrangements of modern pop. They've held a Sunday residency at the Sheraton Grand since 2016 and have performed at Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Callander Jazz Festivals — a natural fit for cocktail-hour drinks receptions and stylish vintage-themed evenings.
A Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate with over sixteen years of performance experience, Charlotte won the Scottish Wedding Awards harpist category in 2022 and has played hundreds of weddings across Scotland — from castles to rustic barns. She offers five tailored packages covering guest seating, ceremony entrance and exit, register signing, drinks reception and the wedding meal, with a repertoire of over 250 pieces that she'll happily extend on request.
An Edinburgh small-harp player with over twenty-five years of performance experience, Robert Douglas Kerr plays weddings, ceilidhs and Burns Suppers across the Lothians, Borders and central Scotland. His repertoire balances traditional Scottish tunes, classical pieces and customised arrangements of couples' chosen songs, and he'll happily add vocals or perform as a duo where the moment calls for it.
An Edinburgh-based bagpiper with over thirty years' playing experience, Glyn Morris covers the Lothians, Borders, Fife, Perth & Kinross and the Highlands for weddings, vow renewals and Scottish celebrations. He performs in full Piper's No. 1 Highland dress, also offers Scottish small pipes, traditional announcements and toasts, and — unusually — is qualified as a wedding celebrant if you'd like piper and officiant rolled into one booking.
An Edinburgh classical ensemble offering string quartet, string trio, flute quartet or flute trio line-ups for weddings, civil partnerships and corporate events across Scotland and northern England. Their repertoire spans classical, modern songs, Scottish tunes and film themes, and the line-up flexibility makes it straightforward to match the sound to the space — from intimate ceremonies to grand receptions.
An award-winning Edinburgh DJ service led by Paul, with over twenty years' experience and the Prestige Award for DJs Scotland 2023/2024. Every booking includes a professional PA, lighting rig and wireless microphone, and the client list spans wedding venues like Dundas Castle and Manderston House to long-running corporate residencies — a safe, well-equipped choice for the evening dance floor.
John Rae has been Edinburgh's most sought-after wedding piper since establishing The Pickled Piper in 2007, drawing on a career that included the Scots Guards and Edinburgh Police pipe bands, televised performances at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and engagements for HM The Queen at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Royal Yacht Britannia — as well as for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. He's Honorary Pipe Major at Prestonfield House and the designated piper of choice for several of Edinburgh's top venues, including Winton Castle, Carlowrie Castle and Edinburgh Castle.
Kenneth McBride brings 45 years of piping experience to Edinburgh weddings, including 23 years as Pipe Sergeant and Pipe Major with Lothian and Borders Police, performances at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Pope's Christmas Concert in Rome, and regular engagements for the Royal Company of Archers — playing for Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Based in the Lothians, he offers two Highland dress options (full feather bonnet regalia or kilt with jacket and tie) and can arrange additional pipers, drummers and Highland dancers for larger occasions.
An Edinburgh-based professional piper with 15 years of Grade 1 competitive experience, Rachel Gray teaches at the City of Edinburgh Music School and is the first woman to hold the post of piper to the Chancellor of the University of St Andrews. She covers the full wedding repertoire — guest arrivals, processional, register signing and recessional — and uniquely offers Scottish smallpipes and low whistle as quieter alternatives to the Great Highland bagpipe for more intimate ceremonies or indoor venues. She is LGBTQ+ affirming and welcomes all couples.
An award-winning professional string quartet whose members are active players with the RSNO, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Opera — some of Scotland's most demanding orchestral chairs. They offer quartet, trio, duo, solo violin and flute-and-strings configurations, with a repertoire spanning Bach, Handel and Vivaldi through Bridgerton, Hans Zimmer and Lady Gaga, as well as specialist Bollywood and Jewish repertoire for multicultural weddings. Three-time finalist at the Scottish Confetti Wedding Awards and winner of the Global Business Awards 2025 and Prestige Awards Wedding Entertainment of the Year 2023/24.
Formed in 2007 by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduates, the Cairn String Quartet are working session musicians who have recorded and toured with over 300 artists — including Paul Weller, Frightened Rabbit, Twin Atlantic and Echo and the Bunnymen — and whose repertoire runs from Bach and Ravel to Radiohead, Bowie and Muse. That breadth of real-world performance experience gives their wedding sets a musical intelligence and spontaneity that conservatoire-only ensembles rarely match, and they travel freely between their Glasgow and Edinburgh bases.
An Edinburgh-based harpist with a First Class BMus from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and a Master's from the University of Edinburgh, Tsvetelina Likova is resident harpist at The Balmoral Hotel and Surgeon's Hall Museum — two of Edinburgh's most prestigious settings — and has previously held residencies at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai and Gloria Hotels in Turkey. She performs on both acoustic and electric harp, covering classical, jazz, blues, folk, film and contemporary repertoire, and tailors every programme to the couple's preferences.
An Edinburgh pianist with over twenty years of performance experience, three piano diplomas and a music degree from the University of Aberdeen, Timothea Salisbury brings her own stage piano and transport to weddings across Scotland — meaning she's as comfortable playing an outdoor terrace as a grand hotel reception room. Her ceremony packages cover pre-ceremony guest arrival, bridal party entrance, register signing and recessional, with a repertoire that blends classical pieces and contemporary favourites tailored to each couple.
One of Scotland's most celebrated ceilidh acts, Whisky Kiss hold permanent resident spots at Edinburgh Castle and Dundas Castle and were the first ceilidh band to reach number one on iTunes. Their caller provides the voiceover for Visit Scotland's global campaigns, and the piper has Oscar-winning credentials including a collaboration with Hans Zimmer on the Dune soundtrack. The result is an extraordinarily polished evening — expert calling that brings first-timers to the floor instantly, powerful live music and a level of showmanship that's genuinely rare in the ceilidh world.
An Edinburgh-based ceilidh band with over 200 venues to their name — from village halls to Edinburgh Castle — Òr bring a richly textured sound combining fiddle, guitar, tin whistle and both Highland and Border pipes, with a warm and experienced caller who puts first-time ceilidh dancers immediately at ease. The band are as comfortable leading a grand reeling sequence at a castle wedding as they are playing an intimate drinks reception, and they travel freely across Scotland and beyond.
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