The Assembly Players started as a Scottish Ceilidh Dance Band in 1989 (after the demise of The Gallivanters Ceilidh Band), playing mostly for Scottish ceilidh dances until the issue of their first CD in 1994. By this time, the original keyboard player, Dick Burger, had gradually given up playing with the Band, and his place had been taken by keyboard player and pianist extraordinary Brian Prentice. Brian's arrival enabled Nicolas to steer the band further towards his first and abiding passion, English Country Dances.

With the subsequent issue of one, and sometimes two, recordings annually since 1994 The Assembly Players' reputation as an English Country Dance Band has steadily grown, so that they have been invited to play at many dances and Balls, workshops and folk festivals both in England and abroad.

Owing to Nicolas' teaching and MC'ing commitments, The Assembly Players do not play as a band as often as many others, but despite this restriction and being based in Scotland, the band has played for dances or Balls at Cecil Sharp House, Eastbourne, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Oxford, Darlington, Norwich, Gloucester, Leamington, and abroad in Holland and the USA.