Country "Dance" Music Advise, Please?

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 12 Apr 2011 7:23 am

(I hope this is the right place to ask)

My current band plays a mish-mosh of music from Bob Wills to the Eagles to Oldies.

We need to find a new defined direction and want to stay true to country music but focus on danceable country music. I have been playing for 35 years but have never played in a traditional country band.

So, here are my requests:

1)What are the classic country dance styles and song examples of each? ( 2 step, cotton eyed joe,line dancing, etc)

2)If you play in a Texas style band or have a link to a set or song list of the above, please post or link to it.

We don't have a fiddle but will make do

thx,

bob

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 12 Apr 2011 7:58 am

"Good Times" by AJ would be a good line dance tune.

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 12 Apr 2011 8:15 am

Bob, I play with several bands around the Austin area, and I'm not sure what happens here is indicative of what people dance to elsewhere. But..

All the bands I work with are heavy on Ray Price, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Johnny Bush.. and most cover at least handful of George Strait tunes. In other words lots of shuffles, swing, country ballads i.e. Silver Wings, and a waltz or two. It's important around here that you know what the venue is about. That type of songlist, (as above) will work in a lot of the traditional places, and the old dance halls, not so much in the clubs that are slanted more toward the 'red dirt' country.

I was just watching a link from a post in another forum section that I've seen a bunch of times:

http://www.texascountyline.tv/s2e8.htm

I think this is a really good example of what the popular dance bands are doing in Texas (although certainly the quality of players here is exceptional, my old friend Ron Stafford just shines

) I think 90% of these songs are on the set list for most of the gigs I do, it's amazingly consistent. I feel fortunate to play in a place where you can actually work playing this stuff.

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 12 Apr 2011 8:16 am

Theresa Galbraith wrote:"Good Times" by AJ would be a good line dance tune.

Thanks, T.

So is there only 1 line dance style?

thx

bob

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 12 Apr 2011 8:32 am

Bob-
Linking your playlist to country dance steps is one of the smartest things you can do.Since musicians almost never get to do much dancing,my suggestion is to find a country dance teacher,pay him/her for an hour's worth of their time,and have them tell you what steps go with particular songs in your setlist,as well as what steps are popular currently and what classic/modern tunes go with those steps.
You might even get some advice as to what order dancers like to do particular dances,and structure your setlist around that.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 12 Apr 2011 8:56 am

Bob, I'm not sure.
Gregg and I danced at the Dallas Show Saturday Night Paul was playing with Tony Booth & the excellent band! Anyway, we were out of step for sure. The dancers gave us mercy and didn't run us over.

Good luck & If dancers what to dance... they will.....

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 12 Apr 2011 9:14 am

Bob one of the bands I play in caters to the "Line Dance" crowd. There seems to be a dance for every song ever written. We also play at dance weekends where line dance instructors go to instruct and be instructed. A lot of the material they use is not even close to country. Since I'm not a listener to those types of music I can't even name any songs they use to teach. I'll send you our song list in an email to give you some idea of what they dance to.
It gets a little annoying when they tell you the beats per minute and "feel" they want in a song because sometimes you may play a different version.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 12 Apr 2011 2:02 pm

What the Band plays will depend on the average age of the Dancers. They will usually request songs from the era they were brought up in. Find Songs that will keep them dancing. Don't let Line Dancers dominate the Floor. There is nothing more boring than playing a Line Dancer Gig all night long. When the Band is really in sinc with the Swing Dancers the gig really becomes fun.

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 12 Apr 2011 3:47 pm

Ben Lawson wrote:Bob one of the bands I play in caters to the "Line Dance" crowd. There seems to be a dance for every song ever written. We also play at dance weekends where line dance instructors go to instruct and be instructed. A lot of the material they use is not even close to country. Since I'm not a listener to those types of music I can't even name any songs they use to teach. I'll send you our song list in an email to give you some idea of what they dance to.
It gets a little annoying when they tell you the beats per minute and "feel" they want in a song because sometimes you may play a different version.

Thanks, Ben

When I was at Club Rodeo a while back for the Sunny Sweeny show, the "DJ" music before the show was playing this crazy Country Hip Hop stuff and the crowd was line dancing like crazy to it. So, I think I see what you are saying. And please send the song list.

thx to all so far

bob

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 13 Apr 2011 5:45 am

Bill Terry wrote:Bob, I play with several bands around the Austin area, and I'm not sure what happens here is indicative of what people dance to elsewhere. But..

All the bands I work with are heavy on Ray Price, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Johnny Bush.. and most cover at least handful of George Strait tunes. In other words lots of shuffles, swing, country ballads i.e. Silver Wings, and a waltz or two. It's important around here that you know what the venue is about. That type of songlist, (as above) will work in a lot of the traditional places, and the old dance halls, not so much in the clubs that are slanted more toward the 'red dirt' country.

I was just watching a link from a post in another forum section that I've seen a bunch of times:

http://www.texascountyline.tv/s2e8.htm

I think this is a really good example of what the popular dance bands are doing in Texas (although certainly the quality of players here is exceptional, my old friend Ron Stafford just shines ) I think 90% of these songs are on the set list for most of the gigs I do, it's amazingly consistent. I feel fortunate to play in a place where you can actually work playing this stuff.

Thanks for that great link. If you have time, could you send me your set list?

thx

bob

Bill Terry · Post by **Bill Terry** » 13 Apr 2011 6:09 am

Hi Bob, sure... give me a day or two and I'll round up a couple of set lists.