The Castle Ceilidh Band

Colin Bradford plays the accordion and generally acts as the band's driver, haulage company, PA supplier, printer and hon. secretary. Colin is well known throughout Northumberland for the new tunes he writes which have won a string of first prizes in competitions at Alnwick, Morpeth and Rothbury.

Like David, Colin's involvement with traditional music began over thirty years ago with the Killingworth Sword Dancers. The Castle Band was the first spin-off band spawned by the KSD (followed later by Stanley Accrington & the Third Division North). After stints with The Castle Band (Mark I and Mark II), the Harvesters, Stanley Accrington & the Third Division North, and the great Newcastle Electric Ceilidh Band, Colin had a decade out when work took him to Tayside. Since his return to Northumberland in 1997 he has been involved (with Anthony) in Hotspur's Heroes and (with Anthony and David) in both The Tight Alnwick Gadgies and the Mk III version of The Castle Band.

Colin was also the musical director of BorderBox, a band for young fiddlers and accordionists in Northumberland. Colin's work with BorderBox and a long stint as Joint Musical Director of Alnwick Pipers' Society have enabled him to develop an interest in writing harmonies and band arrangements for traditional music.