We are a professional English Ceilidh band with caller, based in West Cumbria
About Us
Jane Hartwell - Caller
Jane is an English ceilidh caller, dancer and singer. In the past she danced with the North West morris side, Nancy Butterfly in her native West Midlands, played bass trombone with the Hardwick Village Dance Band and after moving to Cumbria was the caller for the Black Jack Ceilidh Band. She can often be heard singing in West Cumbria pub music sessions.
Dave Hartwell - Melodeon
Dave has a long history of playing dance music both in Cumbria and in his native west midlands. He has played in various English ceilidh bands (including the Occasional Pub Band, the Hardwick Village Dance Band, the Sweet Flying Aspidistras and the Black Jack Ceilidh Band) and morris dance sides (including the White Hart Morris, Nancy Butterfly, Holden’s Goldens and the Paradise Islanders). His style is solidly English, influenced by traditional musicians of the early 20th century and the English country dance revival bands of the 1970s and 1980s.
Dave Betka - Guitar
Dave has dabbled in various music genres including choral, brass, american, trad Scots, trad Irish and folk rock etc in various bands across the years. He has played instruments as far ranging as banjos, whistles, flute, trombone, mandolin, fiddle and guitar. He now provides the one third of the rhythm section, as well as one third of the Barley Hop Dave trio.
Bob Johnston - Fiddle
Bob started out playing guitar as a teenager and later moved to fiddle via the mandolin and banjo. He played guitar with the Black Jack Ceilidh Band and now plays fiddle with Barley Hop. His musical love is Celtic folk but is really happy to play any tunes from any genre. He runs the monthly Traditional Tunes Session in the Swan, Cockermouth and attends many other pub sessions around the county.
Dave Day - Percussion
After decades of dancing and folk band fun with Crabapple Band, curtailed by back surgeries, Dave is back drumming again, marking the beat and watching the dancers as the enjoy the Barley Hop band. He is an experienced ceilidh drummer and singer with several local bands and choirs.
Hilary Cowley - Sax
Hilary played sax in the infamous BLAST Furness street band for 10 years, was ready for a change so joined Barley Hop in 2024.
Way back in the day Hilary danced with Wharfedale Wayzgoose Border Morris team and was involved in Otley Folk Club.
Hilary also plays cajon and washboard whenever she gets the chance.
Currently she organises and plays with West Cumbria Jazz Club, plays with La'al Big Band and West Lakes Wind Band and also sings a bit.
John Luffrum - Bass
John has been playing guitars and other instruments solo, as a duo, and in folk and rock bands in many parts of the country for more than 50 years. While he has a long-standing love of traditional English music and song, his musical tastes have been described as 'eclectic' whihc influenes his approach to pieces which can sometimes be unconventional. He can often be found playing and singing in the folk clubs of North Cumbria.
Tom Hart - Flute
Tom grew up on the south coast before moving to West Cumbria in 2021. As well as playing flute with Barley Hop and various local groups including the Westlakes Concert Band, West Lakeland Orchestra and Cockermouth Community Orchestra, he is also a regular on the West Cumbria folk scene. He also plays piano, bass guitar and a smattering of other instruments, including in Hilary's Jazz Club and Tuba with the Whitehaven Brass Band.