Ali Barnes is a fiddle player specialising in traditional music. Predominantly playing Irish and Scottish tunes, she has a vast repertoire at her hands from across celtic traditional and is a popular session musician.
Having grown up on the English folk scene with both of her parents and also step-dad being singers and performers, she spent her childhood at festivals, folk clubs and music sessions steeped in the traditional and an array of celtic music. Although she didn’t pick up the fiddle until her teens, she progressed quickly and began performing just a few years later.
For over 15 years she’s been running and performing in award winning band Licence to Ceilidh and regularly plays as a duo with her husband Philippe Barnes. But most recently she can be seen at festivals across the UK and further afield performing with renowned group The Dhol Foundation.
Her recording & TV credits include a Sky Mobile TV advert, period drama Sanditon, talk shows including This Week and Loose Women and reality TV shows like Made in Chelsea (three times), Great British Menu, TOWIE and ITV’s This Time Next Year. At private events she has also played fiddle for celebrities including David Mitchell, Natalie Dormer, Jeremy Clarkson, Emma Watson, Charlie Boorman, Trinny Woodall, Noel Gallagher, Kirsty Alsop and Theo Wallcot among others.
As a fiddler Ali has appeared at festivals across the UK and beyond. Some highlights have been playing at Celtic Connections with Calum Stewart and his band, performing in Berlin with The Dhol Foundation, Marrakesh with Mary Rose & Royal George, or Chicago with Philippe Barnes, as well as regularly playing across Europe with Licence to Ceilidh. She has appeared at most of the top UK folk and music festivals in one capacity or another, including Sidmouth Folk Week, Wickham Festival, Ely Folk Festival, Return to London Town, Beachbreak Live, Chippenham Folk Festival among many others…
Ali is a popular session player and also regularly deps with other ceilidh bands and Irish bands. She was well known on the Irish music scene in London, having played for a number IMDL events and in the pandemic taking part in the recorded concert series for the Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith “The ICC Seisiúns”, as well as been seen frequently playing in the pubs across the city.
During the pandemic as well as spending time remote recording, Ali also created 2 now very popular tune books: “101 Session Tunes: Essential Jigs and Reels for any Irish Session” and “102 Session Tunes: Essential Tunes for any Irish Session”.
Ali is also a booking agent for top UK folk acts The Wilderness Yet & Patakas as well as celtic/jazz duo Philippe Barnes.
FULL TV CREDITS
Sky Mobile TV Advert
ITV – Sanditon
E4 – Made In Chelsea : S28 Season Finale
E4 – Made In Chelsea : S12 Christmas Special
E4 – Made In Chelsea : S3 The Reeling Ball
ITV – Loose Women
ITV – TOWIE
ITV – This Time Next Year : S3
BBC – This Week
BBC2 – Great British Menu : S2 Finale
LICENCE TO CEILIDH
London’s Top Ceilidh Band
For the last 10 years Ali has run award winning Ceilidh & Covers band Licence to Ceilidh turning it into what it is today – one of the busiest Ceilidh band’s around with bookings all over Europe as well as the UK.
Specialising in Weddings & Corporate entertainment, Licence to Ceilidh is a fun, young and energetic band that provide a unique evening of music and dancing that’s suitable for everyone, from young to old and even those with two left feet. For more information about the back check out the link below.