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A barn dance is one of the most popular events that can be run.
The Famous Potatoes have two experienced barn dance callers within the group and can give you a thoroughly entertaining and exciting evening, even if none of your guests have barn danced before! Our caller will explain the dance first, giving you the chance to walk through the steps and get used to how the dance goes, then will continue to call the steps while you are dancing to the music.
Our usual pattern for the evening is to have a couple of dances, then a short break to allow the dancers to regain their energy (during which we continue the entertainment with songs and tunes) followed by another couple of dances and so on. This is flexible and we will adapt as necessary to suit the circumstances.
We've found from experience that the best time to hold the barn dance is to start at 8 p.m. and finish at 11.30 p.m., with a break in the middle (of half an hour or so) for food. Of course, we will do our best to fit in with any other times or preferences. If you are having a raffle or similar, that can be held either during the second half or in the interval.
During the half-time interval, and before and after the dance, we provide taped music.
We supply our own public address system. For the technically minded, this consists of two large Peavey loudspeakers, four small Bose monitor speakers, a brand new 20-channel Yamaha mixer/amplifier, and a small Fender M-300 amplifier to drive our monitor speakers. We can also bring extra loudspeakers for when we play in really big barns. If you have your own P.A. which you want us to use, please note that as we have a large number of acoustic instruments, we need a minimum of eight microphones.
Our prices include a barn dance caller, travelling expenses and full P.A.
To see where we've played before, and to get some more details about us and our history, check out the About the Band page.
don't worry! We can give you advice about the sort of hall to hire, what sort of food to have (and can recommend suppliers of both if the event is taking place anywhere near our home base of Leigh-on-Sea, south-east Essex) and other suggestions if it's a fund-raising evening. After that, all you need to do is get a hall full of people on the night and we will do the rest.
If it's for a wedding or birthday celebration, etc., we recommend that the guests know they're coming to a barn dance. We do a large number of wedding events and they're very popular with all ages.
"One of Britain's best barn dance bands" (Andy Kershaw, BBC World Service)
"It became clear to me how much fun the Famous Potatoes could be... More enjoyable than several bigger name acts" (John Tobler, Country Music People magazine)
"Excellent musical entertainment" (Southend-on-Sea Borough Council)
"Splendid cabaret" (Tony Benn - former M.P. and Father of the House of Commons, after booking us for a private party)
“I would like to extend my gratitude by saying a big thank you to you and your band for playing. The feedback I got from all my family and friends was that of a great evening and how much they enjoyed your band with a good assortment of dances and songs. It was nice to see everyone get up and dance and take part throughout the evening and I was amazed at how many people did. Your experience within the band obviously showed as the party had such a relaxed atmosphere.” (A hirer, quoted with their permission)
please e-mail paul.mcdowell@easynet.co.uk or ring (01702) 474255.
Jump Back (devised by Keith Baxter – can’t remember what it’s based on)
Three couple long set – line of 3 people facing partners
A1
Hold one hand with partner and face up the set. March four steps forward
then jump back four steps. Repeat all that.
A2
Centre boy does right elbow swing with bottom girl followed by a left
elbow swing with top girl.
B1
Centre girl does right elbow swing with top boy followed by a left elbow
swing with bottom boy.
B2 All cast out forwards and down own sides. Top couple forming an arch under which other two couples duck and walk forward, ready to start sequence again.
Kon Tiki Square Dance (devised by Keith Baxter)
A1 Ocean wave feature – boys face in, girls face out, all holding hands in ring. everyone steps forward, back, then couples turn 180 degrees. Repeat forward, back, couples turn 180 degrees. Girls do extra turn so all facing in.
A2 Lead couple separate, make their way around outside remaining couples till they get back to their starting gap.
B1 'Birdie in cage' - they go through gap into middle of circle. Remaining couples dance round them circling left then right. Couple in the middle can swing!
B2 All couples wagon wheel -promenade hold with boys making left hand star then couples turn and return with girls making right hand star.
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This page was last updated on 15 October 2007