DIY Ceilidh are a Newcastle based folk-dance collective. Their wild ceilidh nights have become a

firm fixture of Newcastle’s vibrant nightlife, and have grown to become one of the biggest regular

ceilidh nights in the country. With a focus on inclusivity and self-expression, DIY Ceilidh creates a

unique celebration wherever they go. We are delighted to be once again bringing our unique

approach to Saltburn Folk Festival!

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DIY Ceilidh features gender neutral calling and a varied repertoire, bringing in your beloved ceilidh classics alongside less known European folk standards, creating a dynamic dance night that flows between the old and new.

 

Meet the band:

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Frankie Insley (She/Her)

Frankie is your caller! A multi-instrumentalist and morris dancer, she will guide you through a

packed repertoire of ceilidh bangers! Frankie loves the shared values between folk and punk —

when she’s not playing fiddle and melodeon for ceilidhs, she’s playing bass and guitar in her punk

bands Bitchfinder General, Varnish and Ceramic. She’s an ecstatic ball of energy, and is excited to

share some ceilidh chaos with you!

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Sam Baxter (He/Him)

Sam Baxter is a fiddle player and singer from the High Peak. Now based in Newcastle, he is

gaining a reputation for his work with traditional and contemporary folk music. Also a sought-after collaborator; he can be found playing with folk-singer and song-writer Catch the Sparrow and in duo with Scottish violinist Merle Harbron. Sam has also toured in Norway with the Synneva Gjelland Band and works with electronic music producer Jen Mac in her project Heen.

 

Beccy Hurst (She/Her)

Beccy Hurst is a whistle and Anglo concertina player from the Isle of Man, now living in

Newcastle. Beccy has performed throughout the UK and further afield playing in various bands,

as an actor-musician in Fisherman’s Friends the Musical (2022/23) and as a musician for various

Manx dance teams. Beccy has also been writing and performing solo music which combines both Irish and English styles of Anglo concertina playing.

 

Merle Harbron (She/Her)

Merle Harbron is a fiddler player and singer hailing from the North East of England and the West

Highlands of Scotland. Merle has married her interests in traditional folk music and early music

with contemporary influences. She plays in an Anglo-Scottish fiddle duo with Sam Baxter, folk trio

Holly & The Reivers and eclectic Cosey's Ex Collective, as well as playing for ceilidhs across the

country.

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Zak Younger Banks (He/Him)

Zak Younger Banks is a guitarist and singer-songwriter from Newcastle upon Tyne. With roots in

the traditional music scenes of the North East and Scotland and strong influence from folk revival

songwriters, Zak’s work includes various collaborations in traditional music, jazz, and theatre,

alongside an ongoing solo project.