Come dance! These contra dances, both deeply and currently in the New England tradition, will be called (and taught) by Eric Rollnick who has been doing this in the Mount Washington Valley for decades. Expert or beginner, you will love this dance. “You don’t need to come with a partner, or a clue or even a shoe,” says band member Dexter Harding.

White Mountain Ceilí Band is Dexter Harding on the tenor banjo, Fiona Howell on the flute, Siena Kaplan-Thompson on the fiddle, and Mike Levine on the guitar and occasional concertina. They play Irish, Scottish and Cape Breton instrumental music with warmth and joy, as well as the occasional song.

Dexter first came to Irish music when he played for contra dances around the valley, and the session at May Kelly’s deepened his focus on the Irish tradition. Fiona grew up playing flute through Mountain Top Music Center, and went on to study music at Loyola University.  While in New Orleans she began playing at Irish sessions, and now plays and sings with a few groups around New England. Siena grew up playing classical violin and viola and switched to fiddle in college when she discovered the Boston Scottish and Cape Breton music scene.  Mike has played a wide range of musical styles, from classical to rock, and more recently bebop.  He and Siena have both enjoyed branching out into Irish music with the White Mountain Ceilí Band.