West Midlands based Rack and Ruin Ceilidh Band play lively jigs and reels mixed with upbeat, traditional, folk instrumental music and contemporary, original folk-rock songs – great for weddings and parties!
Please note on the night the Rack and Ruin Ceilidh Band may include some different musicians to the ones shown here – but you always get Mick Bisiker!
![]() | Mick Bisiker Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandola & bouzouki Mick has been an active part of the Midlands folk scene for many years. He first received critical acclaim for his album ‘Bisiker & Romanov’ (1989), with gypsy fiddle player Al Romanov which won the Music Retailers Award for best folk album. He subsequently recorded: • Home Again (1991), a solo venture • One More Curtain Call (1994) with Davey Slater • Ball & Chain (1996), Both Ends of the Street (1999), Hard Times (2000), Gone To… (2005) and On The Road To… (2019), all performed with Rack and Ruin. |
![]() | Jen Martin Fiddle, backing vocals. Originally a classically trained violinist Jen had played in a folk fiddle style for many years with Warwickshire based folk rock trio Firedaze. She joined Rack and Ruin in November 2021 and brought her distinctive playing style to the band's music. |
![]() | Deb Gomme Saxophones, vocals, whistles, guitar Before joining Rack and Ruin Deb was a member of Napton based singing group Soul Sisters. Although already an accomplished musician she only started singing and playing live with us on "just a couple of songs" a few years ago. Since then her musical role has expanded and she now relishes the opportunity to showcase her many musical talents on vocals, saxophones, whistle and guitar. |
![]() | Chris Radley Bass guitar, vocals, occasional foot percussion, recording engineer When not playing bass with the Rack and Ruin Ceilidh Band Chris is playing bass and writing songs in original folk-rock duo Firedaze where he plays alongside singer and guitarist Steff Hutchinson. His other main love is recording - he engineered, produced and mastered both the Gone To... album and the recent On The Road To... album for Rack and Ruin in his Dmusic recording studio in Leamington Spa. His studio is available for local singers and musicians to hire for recording projects. |
![]() | Alex Stott Drums Before joining Rack and Ruin Alex played in a number of Coventry rock bands. He also has experience playing in pit bands for local theatrical shows. His first gig with us was a few years ago. We were playing on the back of a lorry in the corner of a massive, freezing cold, windswept, hangar-sized building used during the day for horse show rehearsals, Our audience were a load of drunken showjumpers and horse riders there for an evening ceilidh at a national equestrian centre in the midst of remote, rain drenched, darkened countryside. Not your typical gig - actually not your typical ceilidh either! Undeterred by this initial experience he has continued to provide us with his drumming skills ever since. |
![]() | Fiddle dep For ceilidhs our deps currently include our previous fiddle player Nigel Ward (left), Lauren South and Johan Beavisberry. |
![]() | Rack and Ruin's fifth album "On The Road To... is now available. Buy and download on Amazon or iTunes or you can listen on Spotify You can also buy as a CD at any of the band's gigs, or by emailing band@rackandruin.co.uk |