Tunes for a line dance

[RobinG]

Hi there
we have been invited to play at a western riding and line dance festival just close to my house near madrid, Spain. Yes, very strange! It would be good to be able to play some tunes for the dance, but as Brits in Spain we have no idea what to play! Any suggestions for fiddle tunes which we can learn and try to get a good groove? What kind of speed and rhythm is appropriate?
Thanks & best
Robin

[Mando Gil]

If you have time pick up either "the fiddle fake book" or "mandolin fake book." The material in these to is pretty much the same. The fiddle book is written in standard notation while the mando book is written in tab. Almost every song is a standard fiddle tune (32 measures when played AABB). As for speed I could be wrong but I would shoot for anywhere between 120 and 140 beat per minute. No one has had much to say about this, I am certain you will get more replies now as other cafeers will undoubtly reply to make corrections.

[Strange1]

One of our better received line dances was Bill Monroe's "Walk softly on this heart of mine" Covered by The Kentucky Headhunters, it has that classic line dance beat. Google it for the words.

Jack

[MandoSquirrel]

I can't imagine people Line Dancing to anything but '90's or newer "Country", but even more importantly, concerning Line Dancing in general, WHY???

[allenhopkins]

Play Cotton-Eyed Joe or San Antonio Rose until you can't stand it any more. In my experience, line dancers don't care much what you play...

[RobinG]

I got good advice from Seth from Comando- he says, reels and hoedowns with 32 bars. I asked the guy who organises this what they dance to and he told me basically the Mavericks.... I think we are going to try to play our set and then focus on the barbecue and beers at all costs!
Thanks for the advice Y'all!
Robin

[Bruce Evans]

It seems that some of you don't know the difference between line dancing and contra dancing.

Line dancing is indeed done mostly to 90s and newer Country, sometimes Rock, and almost always recorded music. The Mavericks are good. I line dance at least twice a week.

Jigs and hoedowns and other fiddle tunes are for Contra dancing, which is done in opposing lines, but it is not line dancing. I play guitar and clawhammer for contra dances occasionally. I don't dance contra. It is too boring once you have learned to line dance.

We also dance Ballroom. My wife dances Hula.

[RobinG]

some of you includes me! Thanks for the clarification. Now what is done in Guadarrama, Madrid may not obey the US customs, even if they aim to emulate it!

[MandoSquirrel]

Well, the Mavericks were still good, even if Line Dancers like them.

[Mando Gil]

Did the first person who replied to this thread say something about 32 bars?

[mandolooter]

32 bars...by then I'll dance to anything...YMMV

[cooper4205]

Boot-Scootin' Boogie and the Electric Slide should do it- we know some line dancin' in Tennessee! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Steve Williams]

I played in a C&W dance band in the 90's, we played "Boot Scootin' Boogie", "Watermelon Crawl", and "Macarena".

Steve Williams
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[RobinG]

Whoah. I am in well over my head!
r

[mandroid]

Achy breakie Heart?

[Strange1]

Always wondered what a C&W band is. I have played Country for years and do throw in a few Western swing tunes now and then, but the term C&W is for dancers and wannabees.

Jack