A rainy day in October – grey clouds and drizzle washing down on the ‘wobbly bridge’ and into the River Thames. Pastiche Band had again been hired to play a ceilidh-party mix for a London wedding.

Today’s central London venue is the rather fabulous The Swan at The Globe, a bar alongside Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in the South Bank.

Playing central London engagements frequently has its problems these days – driving in, parking, access. Access to The Swan is a little problematic, but the staff are unusually friendly and very helpful. They also worked tirelessly throughout the day to ensure that all ran smoothly for the clients.

With the groom being Scottish the couple had requested a mix of three or four ceilidh dances, and a good mix of party music.

The band started the evening with the ceilidh dance Dashing White Sergeant. The couple didn’t want a first dance but had requested that we play Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud – we played this as an ‘unofficial’ first dance. All the guests joined in.

Being a half-Scottish wedding there were many kilts in evidence, whilst one man was wearing a fez!

As there was a Scottish contingent we chose to finish with an inevitable The Proclaimers 500 Miles. Everyone sang along. The guests still wanted one last song so we closed with the fabulous Bob Dylan song Make You Feel My Love (popularised recently by Adele). The couples had a slow dance together, and the evening was done. As the guests left, the band packed up and loaded cars in the rain to head off into the night.