Three members of the band have orchestral links, which in one case extends to the London Symphony Orchestra. The other band members have a strong folk music base having played at clubs and festivals for song and dance over many years.

Four of the band members have considerable involvement with both North-West and Cotswold Morris dancing.  The musical line-up comprises fiddle, cello, guitar, banjo, clarinet, and two multi-musicians playing melodeons, accordion, concertina, percussion and mandolin. Calling is normally by John Stanley of Horwich Prize Medal Morris Dancers and for concerts the band is joined by singer Linda Dellow.

The band's repertoire is similarly broad with music taken from editions of John Playford's 'Dancing Master', the Thomas Hardy family manuscripts, as well as modern composers such as Ben Woodward, Ian Wilson and Dave Richardson.

The Mad Hatters play throughout the Thames Valley and home counties area.  They have played for ceilidhs at Cecil Sharp House, The Conway Hall, Knebworth, and many Universities and Colleges.