Jam Night

Hi folks !

Yes, tonight sees my return to Jam Night after another enforced absence due to recent knee surgery. I’m looking forward to re-joining the Jam Night fun and frolics and hope to see as many of you as possible.

There’s still loads happening on the the Riff Raff front too.  The ‘Hands On’ project is coming on in leaps and bounds. Recording of the album has been completed and is now in the process of being mixed, so the release of this long awaited CD is now on the horizon. Watch this space for further up-dates folks !

And it’s also possible we may even have a live Riff Raff gig soon. An April gig at one of our old haunts, The George in Kingsbury, is in the process of being sorted out.  Again, further details will follow as soon as confirmed.  This means the band will be having rehearsals in the coming weeks – hope we haven’t forgotten too much !

Robfest, our annual get-together for a specially invited audience, is also being discussed for 2012, with the probable date being Sunday 29th July. Once again, watch this space !

Oh well, that’s just about it for now.  Until next time … BFN,  Rob.

So what’s been happening lately, apart from the festivities ?

" Come On You R's ! "

Well, Jam Night is back on again as from last Thursday. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to be there as I’ve just had another knee operation. Looks like I’ll be out of action for a couple of weeks or so but I’ll be back at Jam Night before you can say ‘bum note’ !

The Riff Raff CD, ‘Hands On’ is nearly all recorded. Just a few bits left to sort out.  It shouldn’t be too many weeks now, before it can all be mixed and mastered. Watch this space !

Other than that, I’ve been following the fortunes of QPR. Regrettably, they parted company with manager Neil Warnock but now have a more than able new manager in Mark Hughes, so hopefully, looking to the future, there are good things ahead. It’s a shame about our current not-so-coveted place in the bottom three of the Premier League. And they lost 0 – 1 at Newcastle today !    I’m confident our results will improve soon though.                                 …   “Come On You R’s” !           Oh well, time to go and rest my knee again.             BFN,  Rob.

" Happy New Year "

Hello and Happy New Year everyone.

I’ve just re-instated my  New Year Video  which loyal RKmusic fans may remember from last year.

Just click on Photos & Videos and then the Rob ‘Live’ section to see it - for a limited period only !

Have a great start to the new year.

BFN,    Rob.

Rob & Ian - 'Shabby' Christmas

Hello again !

There are a couple of Christmas goodies on the website which I’ve recently bunged on.

The latest and greatest ( ? )  has just been put on for your festive merriment.  It’s The Two Riff Raffs in ‘Christmas at Shabby’ !   Yes, Ian teamed up with me recently on his keyboards for a festive musical offering at Shabby Road Studios in front of the ‘Shabby’ Christmas tree – Most entertaining !

This is in addition to the previous Rob Live Christmas clip.  Just click on the links to view !  Hope you enjoy the videos and all your Christmas festivities.

Happy Christmas from Riff Raff !

"It's Christmas !"

Happy Christmas everyone.

Without wishing to sound too much like the Two Ronnies, here are a couple of items of late news.

Jam Night Up-date – The Christmas / New Year break has been extended by another week,  so the first Jam Night of 2012 will now be on 12th January.  Unfortunately, I won’t be there as I will be recovering from knee surgery.

There’s a Christmas video clip for you to enjoy.  You can find it in the Rob Live section after you’ve clicked on Photos & Videos.

That’s all for now except to say once again, Happy Christmas.

BFN, Rob.

Riff Raff were back in the rehearsal studio last night. This was the first time they’d been in covers band mode for some while as their recent energies have been directed towards the recording of their new CD, entitled ‘Hands On’.  They cracked on through a large selection of their live set, racking their brains, trying to

Riff Raff - relaxing in Tilbury, 2006

remember how to play each number.  Apart from a few moments of rustiness, most of the rehearsal actually went pretty well.  The highlight of the evening was when John broke out the flask of Russian Caravan ( that’s a variety of tea, for the uninitiated ) !   Not content with that, John, obviously getting into Santa mode, reached into his bag and produced a box of mince pies too !  The ambassador was well and truly spoiling us !

As for the new album, well it’s due out sometime in 2012 ( hopefully sooner rather than later ), as you may already have read elsewhere on this wonderful RKmusic website.

So ( apart from having no gigs ),  it’s all go on the Riff Raff front !

… And for all you Jam Night fans out there – don’t forget,  Jam Night is now on its Christmas break – click on Jam Nights for details.

BFN,   Rob.

Another great Jam Night last night.

Christmas Greetings

I’d just like to confirm that the Thursday Jam Nights at The Middlesex Arms will be taking a Christmas break.  The last Jam Night of 2011 will be on 8th December  and will start again on 5th January 2012.  This means you can give your ears a well earned rest for Christmas !  So make sure you up-date your diaries, paper, computer or otherwise !

And while we’re on the subject of the up and coming festive season – Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year from Me, Gavin, Lenny and Mac.

Back to last night, Riff Raff Derek ( aka Bongo Star ) was spotted in the heaving crowd, enjoying yet another  ’Marvellous’ Jam Night. This follows a couple of recent sightings of Riff Raff John ( Johnny Unkempt ) at previous Jam Nights.  It all goes to show how much Jam Night is starting to attract a lot of Riff Raff these days.

Any way, don’t forget the crucial dates shown above and we’ll see you all again next week for a bumper Christmas Jam Night … well, as near to a Christmas Jam Night as we’re likely to get ! !

And Finally :   Gavin’s band,  ’The Power Of Soul’  will be playing at The Angler’s Retreat in Staines tonight – See you there !

Cheers,   BFN,   Rob.

Well, it’s been pretty busy lately, with recording with the Riff Raff chaps taking priority, as we take another step closer to the completion of the ‘Hands On’ CD. However, there have been other things going on, too !

The Hog's Back Brewery, Tongham

On Saturday afternoon, Rosie and I made a return visit to the Hog’s Back Brewery in Tongham. We didn’t consume on the premesis but needless to say I brought enough home to kick off the Christmas festivities in a few weeks time.  My purchases included several bottles of Burma Star Ale (BSA), a tawny coloured, well hopped, full bodied ale with hints of roasted malt ( y’see, I do like you to be informed about the more technical side of real ale and their varied and distinctive flavours ).  BSA is dedicated to the courage of all those who earned the Burma Star in World War II and Hog’s Back Brewery donates a portion of the revenue from this ale to the Burma Star Association.

In the evening we went along to John’s 50th Birthday Party.  John is a team-mate of mine from the Cricket Club and I also play  5-a-side footie with him too !  It was well attended and I’m sure John had a good time – Happy Birthday John !

Rewind to last Thursday and Jam Night was once again a success.  It was very busy, despite a slow start.  Is it that people still haven’t adjusted to the earlier 9 o’clock start ?  Possibly, but it was regrettable that there were some people who didn’t get to play, as we ran out of time. Anyway, not for the first time in recent weeks, Riff Raff John was in the audience, taking a welcome break from the intense recording sessions at ‘Shabby Road’ for the forthcoming  ’Hands On’ CD !

OK, that’s enough waffling from me, for now.  I think I might crack open a bottle of BSA … makes a change from Russian Caravan or PG !

BFN,   Cheers,   Rob.

Riff Raff ... back in the studio !

Various members of the band got together at ‘Shabby Road’ to work on the twelve-track CD, entitled  ‘Hands On’  which is due out sometime in 2012.  Recording on the project has been going on for a while, and its release next year will coincide with the tenth anniversary of the band’s formation.

Riff Raff have always been primarily a covers band, but other than demos, this is their first CD and this one features all their own material !

More work will be taking place over the coming weeks and the band hope the fans will remain patient throughout.  The Riff Raff boys realise the fans’ frustrations in having to wait so long for the release of this classic CD, but feel the wait will be well worth it in the end.  More news will follow as soon as it becomes available.

BFN,    Rob     ( On behalf of   The  Riff Raff  boys )

Rob at Jam Night

Hello !

Eagle-eyed regular viewers may notice a different look to the Gallery when clicking on Photos & Videos above.  I think it’s all pretty self-explanatory so I won’t try to explain, other than to say that the photos and videos are now all grouped together under their, hopefully, relevant categories.  This may make finding and navigating a little easier than before.  I do hope so !

Anyway, enough of all this … it’s Thursday.  So see you at Jam Night  tonight  ( Don’t forget it starts at 9 and finishes at 11.30pm these days ! ).

Cheers, BFN, Rob.