Introducing

The Band

We Are The Cyriacs

Formed under the star sign of Twaddle in the month of Febtember, the seven members came together in a queue at an all-night Tesco. Ages range from 4 to 84, the wisest not necessarily the oldest – we’re a bit whimsical 😊

The Cyriacs comprise a four-piece ensemble – Chloe, Jeanette, Phil and Andrew – for songs and tunes played at private events, folk clubs, pubs etc. Two further players – Karen and Jochen – join to make the full ceilidh band, with the band’s caller Dee. She teaches the dance steps allowing everyone to join in the fun.

Book The Cyriacs

Chloe Grimes

Chloe just loves to sing. That desire encompasses all musical genres including country, folk, jazz, swing, modern, musical theatre & pop. She has performed locally at various venues including Ely and Norwich Cathedrals, The Edinburgh Fringe, The Eisteddfod in Llangollen, and fronts several local swing ‘Big Bands’. Chloe is enjoying stretching her composing muscles – so watch out for some original music coming your way with The Cyriacs.

Jeanette Langford

Jeanette teaches violin and piano in the Cambridge area and is a registered Music Therapist. As well as playing with The Cyriacs, she has performed with the East Anglia Chamber Orchestra, the Cambridge Sinfonia, and the Meridian Piano Trio. Jeanette is currently listening to the fabulous fiddlers Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy.

Andrew Noyes

Andrew played in school bands – Pink Djinn and 141 – and with various friends over the years, including Cocky Fruit Tail & The Bad, Bad Shepherds, before joining Keith Pearson’s Coup de Grass professional bluegrass band in 2003. That included playing at Tamworth Country Festival in Australia in 2008! Andrew then went on to form The Cyriacs in 2011 with former CdG band member and long-time friend Phil. Andrew composes both dance music and songs for the band, indeed he has been song writing since in his teens.

Phil Milner

As well as playing bass guitar with the Cyriacs, Phil has played with some of the UK’s top folk artists, everywhere from the mountains of Kashmir to the jungles of Belize. A somewhat chequered career includes joining a Dutch all girl band and a greasy rock’n’roll outfit called the Hellraisers. Like Andrew, Phil writes songs as well – you’ll love Too Old To Rock’n’Roll!

Karen Kehren

Karen has played folk fiddle for more than 20 years, having been taught by some great Yorkshire fiddle players. She enjoys playing distinct types and styles of traditional music including English, Irish, Scottish, French, Swedish and American. What could be better than having the opportunity of sharing this love with others through playing for dancing with the added opportunity to spend time with close family and friends in the band.

Joachim Kehren

Jochen became interested in Folk Dance and Folk Music as a student in Germany. Having, for many years, accompanied players in Irish sessions on the guitar, he finally got fed up with never getting the same applause the fiddle players had – in fact never had any applause – and learnt the melodeon instead.

Dee Noyes

As the non-instrumentalist in the family, Dee was happily on child-care duty when Andrew, Karen and Jochen played together in various bands over the years. No longer needed for that, she stood in as caller for The Cyriacs when no one else was available for the original harvest supper gig. And she loved it! Coming late to dance – and still not knowing her right from her left! – she is passionate about passing on her enjoyment and making ceilidh dancing great fun for participants and spectators. It was Dee who developed the choreography for the Middle Child dance after Andrew wrote the music. And just wait until you try the Sausage Machine….!

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Dee calling the steps at the Waterbeach Summer Ceilidh.