Contemporary and historical English country dance music The members of Bangers & Mash at Fezziwig's Warehouse at the Dickens Fair, December 2001 (counter-clockwise): Susan Kramer--flute, recorders, vocals and percussion Stanley Kramer--violin, recorder, string bass David Strong--violin and viola Craig Johnson--piano, accordion (and other keyboards, too, being the author of this site.)

The Band | Upcoming Events | Our CDs: "Breakfast at Fezziwig's" and "Sir Roger de Coverley" | Have us play your event
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Last updated on Friday, November 26, 2011.
NOTE: You can now reach this page at http://www.bangersandmash.us.

Bangers and Mash started playing together in 1994, and have been performing music for English country and historical couple dancing ever since. We're regulars at events for PEERS (the Period Events and Entertainment Recreation Society) as well as for BACDS (the Bay Area Country Dance Society).

We've done a number of formal balls, as well as playing for innumerable dance series. For the eleven years now we've performed at Fezziwig's Warehouse, the community dance stage of the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco. We also play weddings, parties and private dances, of course. Feel free to use the links in the photo caption to contact any of us for more information about the band's availability...

We once again will be playing seven sets daily at the Fezziwigs Stage at this wonderful Christmas event. All are free to join in the dance - be it waltz, polka, mazurka, schottische, or set dance (ten or so from the early 1800s so are usually done, including "Sir Roger de Coverley," the only one mentioned by Dickens in his works). You don't have to be in costume, but do come ready to dance. There's lots else to do at the fair, of course! See the Dickens Fair website. for details.

Saturday, January 7th, 2012, 8pm
PEERS' Victorian 12th Night Ball
Masonic Lodge of San Mateo
1090 N Ellsworth (at Tilton), San Mateo
8:00 to midnight

The final party of the 2010 Dickens Fair, this old time holiday party and dance is hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig. Come in your Victorian finery, or in modern evening attire. There is a dance lesson an hour before the dance starts, or you can practice early by going to the Dickens Fair itself. As a special treat, there will be a special intermission performance by the Peerless Music Hall, and a reading by Mr. Charles Dickens. For more information, please see the event webpage on the PEERS site.

Saturday, February 4th
Charles Dickens Bicentennial Ball
Masonic Lodge of San Mateo
1090 N Ellsworth (at Tilton), San Mateo
7:45 to midnight

And speaking as we have of Mr. Dickens, 2012 is the 200th anniversary of his birth. To celebrate, come join him and our host, the Duke of Devonshire, for an evening of waltzes, polkas, schottisches, mazurkas and quadrilles. All set dance will be taught beforehand, and Mr. Dickens has graciously agreed to give dramatic readings from several of his novels. And there will also be performances by the Peerless Music Hall. As always, costume is "Admired but not required." For more details, please check PEERS' website.

Our first CD was released in 2002, and is a 24-cut collection of our favorite country and couple dances, recorded in real time and at dance length before a live audience. The tunes range from Playford tunes of the 1650s to recently composed waltzes. We named "Breakfast at Fezziwig's" in honor of our friends at the Dickens Fair. It's out of print right now, but we'll be reissuing it soon. Check out the Breakfast at Fezziwig's webpage for a tracklist.

Our second CD was released in 2010, and is a collection of longer pieces (only 17 cuts). Still more of our favorite country and couple dances, recorded in real time and at dance length. This one has many of the our favorite ballroom standards, as well as a few choice recently-composed waltzes. For more information, including notes on the album, check out the webpage.