| Description | Price |
| 3 piece band with Accordion, guitar & caller | £600 (GBP) |
| 4 piece band with above plus drums | £800 (GBP) |
| 5 piece band with above plus fiddle | £1050 (GBP) |
A folk rock ceilidh band playing traditional, cover & own composition tunes from the British Isles & around the world. We are experienced in playing for both novices & experts and as Ceilidh dancers ourselves, we feel we have an empathy for what dancers want.
Rufus Return was formed in 1986 by Andrew Purkiss.
The name of the band came from his surname, "Purkiss", being written on the Rufus Stone (a memorial to William the Conqueror's son, situated on the edge of The New Forest) and "Return" because Andrew had just returned from Avery Hill College in London to Southampton.
The original line-up of the band was Andrew Purkiss on accordion, Phil Wood on drums, Sandy Auber on flute and Peter Atkinson calling.
In 1988 Andrew met his now wife Lisa Reeves, who joined the band playing flute and recorder. In 1992 following the birth of their first child, Lisa's brother Brendan joined the band playing acoustic and bass guitar. In 1994, child number 2 was on its way (who now plays a stand in roll for our drummer - Phil), so Nina Barrell joined the band playing violin.
By this time, Rufus Return were playing regularly with 4 musicians and 1 part time. So Lisa decided to have a try at calling and became the regular caller for the band.
In August 2000, the Purkiss family moved to Qatar in the Middle East, so Andrew was replaced by Danny Harmer on accordion - whom Andrew had taught since the age of 5! This made Phil, our drummer, the only original member of Rufus.
In 2007, Nina left the band and her place was taken by Polly who plays a Bridge Violin.
Our main line-up is Danny on Accordion, Brendan on Guitar, Phil on drums & generally Tom calling. There is the option to book us as a three piece without Drums or a 5 piece to include fiddle.
Rufus have performed at festivals such as Sidmouth, Towersey, Chippenham, Winchester and The Isle of Wight and also at regional ceilidhs including Cecil Sharp House, Reeling in Ealing and M27 Megabops.
= areas covered (up to 80 miles)
= free travel (up to 40 miles)
Various traditional tunes from all over the world along with some original compositions. We can also throw in some Traditional Irish songs:
Tell Me Ma
Irish Rover
Wild Rover
Black Velvet Band
Streams of Whiskey
Dirty Old Town
Fields of Athenry
Sally Maclamann
Baby and the Band
Boady of an American
Copperhead Road
Drunken Serenade
El Fusilado
Fairytale of New York
Fiddlers Green
Galway Farmer
Galway Girl
I Usta Lover
If I Ever Leave This World Alive
Jig of Death
Miners Lifeguard
Molly Malone
Mountain Dew
South Australia
New York Girls
Nothing Ever Happens
Rattling Bog
Seven Drunken Nights
Sound of Silence
Star of the County Down
Blue Cockade
The Fox
Whiskey in the Jar
Ouch. There goes my Banjo String
Mr Kelly Welly
The Howl
Tinnie Run
Don't Piss In My Pocket and Tell Me It's Raining
He Likes To Play The Drums
Sayonara Mr Craig!
The Floundering Bismark
He's Got a Vibroslap
Catharsis
Ned Belly
Dick Gossip
Cumberland Square Eight
All The Rage
Banks of the Allen
Leakage
Calliope House
Rocky Road to Dublin
What Have You Done
Sailors Bonnet
Maid Behind the Bar
Bedlam
Road to Lisdoonvara
King of the Faries
Kesh
Rakes of Kildare
Horses Brawl
Silver Spear
Karla with a K
Streams of Whiskey
Poor Old Man
The Tape Measure Indecent
Someone is Watching
5 Years Time
The Ceilidh
Out of the Dark
8th January
Whiskey Before Breakfast
Brenda's Polka
Indian Queens
Sloop John B
Shores of Errin
Peacocks fancy
Joe Tessems Jig
Sholes of Herring
The Last Shanty
Ye Jacobites
Streams of Whiskey
What Have You Done?
Liverpool/Liverpool/Everton/Everton
A
Drink
That'll Be An Ecumenical Matter
Rock n Roll Ceilidh
Blazing Fiddles
Dookie
Bring me the Beer
I can Hue Boys
The Ellan Vannin Tradegy
Mary Ellan Carter
Speed the Plough
Spud-U-Like
Mr Darkside
Poor Old Man
My Young Man
Dalesmans Littany
And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Christmas in Australia
Valery Wilkins
A single plug and a small table.
Parking near the entrance door for two cars.
Enough room to house a 4 piece band including drums & PA.
If there is a sound limiter.
Yes, we provide PA & Stage Lights
Yes, our PA can be available to hire for after the ceilidh.
Hard to say as we have played a lot of gigs in the past. Current favorite would probably be at the YMCA in Botley this year.
Any where people get up and dance.
Rufus Return have been playing for ceilidhs for over 35 years
We have been playing and dancing for ceilidhs all our lives and we have written our own tunes & also covers any ceilidh bands
We will arrive 1 hour before the gig to set up & sound check.
Absolutely. Although our drummer does need a flat surface to set up on.
Of Course
'Brilliant'
Lots of weddings
All over
Gig Heaven has members, our newest member is (updated )
