THE GOLD RING DUO is an instrumental act consisting of Chris Knowles and Ben Walker, playing Celtic harp and flute, and other instruments.

We specialise in performing traditional Celtic instrumental background music for weddings, receptions, parties, corporate functions and other events. We are also available for concerts, recitals, folk festivals and clubs. Our repertoire contains a large number of Irish tunes, but also many Welsh and Scottish and other pieces, the proportions of which can be adjusted to suit our clients' wishes. We are available for bookings throughout the UK and beyond.

Chris plays Celtic harp, and also Irish bouzouki; Ben plays flute, whistle, low D whistle, and uilleann (Irish) pipes.

The Celtic harp is a very suitable and atmospheric instrument for background music at such events. Combined with the flute or low D whistle the effect is quite magical. We can play for your wedding ceremony, reception, or both.

Chris has worked as a professional musician for over 20 years, specialising in traditional Celtic music, and this has included very many performances at weddings and other events.

Ben Walker is an excellent flute player, uilleann piper, and whistle player, and is also very accomplished on many other instruments.

As a duo we have played for various events, both public and private, including folk festivals, concerts, folk clubs, corporate events, art gallery exhibitions, and weddings in many varied venues including country hotels, manor houses and castles etc.

 

 

Weddings

For weddings we usually play during the wedding reception, from the guests' arrival, through the meal up to the beginning of the speeches. But often we are booked to play for the wedding ceremony itself; for the guests' arrival at the ceremony, the bride's entrance, and during interludes such as the signing of the register. We can offer this instead of, or as well as, performance at the reception.

As well as the sparkling gentle sounds of the harp and flute or whistle, there is also the option of lively jigs and reels played on the uilleann pipes and bouzouki, maybe for later on in the proceedings.

Some comments from our wedding clients:

"We would like to thank you again for playing at our wedding ....... The music was perfect and exactly what we had hoped for. So many of our guests said it was such a nice change and a great touch to the ceremony and throughout dinner."

"Thank you both very much indeed for entertaining the guests at our daughter's wedding. Your music was much appreciated"

"Absolutely wonderful, thank you so very much..Lovely comments coming back from our guests.... You both helped to make a very special day..."

"Many thanks for the fantastic job you did at our wedding ... the music fitted our day perfectly and many of the guests commented on how great it sounded. It was precisely what we were hoping for."

"Gold Ring Duo: played beautiful music and I was delighted with them....the music was perfect and all guests commented on how it set a lovely relaxed mood in the church before, during and after."

"...a really big thank you to you both for the beautiful music you provided at the Church and the reception at our wedding... All our friends and family are still talking about how wonderfully you played and it just made our day feel extra special."

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We can also play suitable traditional dance music for a ceilidh after the reception if required.

We are also now able to expand the duo into a 3-piece group incorporating an excellent fiddle player. Please mention this when enquiring, if you are interested in this as an option.

 

You can download some samples of our music from our MP3 samples page . In addition, if you are interested in booking us, you can email us with your postal address for a free demo CD of complete tracks which will give an idea of the range of our material and different instrumentation. All the demo CD tracks, and most of the website samples, are straight duo recordings played live in the studio, so they give an accurate impression of how we actually sound live.