User:Truth is free/The riff raff

'The Riff Raff'- also known without the pre-fix as simply 'Riff Raff'

THE RIFF RAFF BIOGRAPHY;

 Quote; “I’m unafraid; we’ve come of age” (Lyrics taken from BBC ‘Londons Calling’ featured song- ‘My Blood Is Brave’)  The Riff Raff’s sound captures your attention. Masterful in combination, intelligent wordplay weaves throughout four-piece vocal harmonies, infectious melodies and intricate string/guitar arrangements.  “Beautifully complex melodies, definitely the new sound” – Sir Paul McCartney  Growing up in the Midlands, the prevalent Ska, Two Tone and Punk scenes left a lasting impression on The Riff Raff lead singer/songwriter Alex Thompson, with The Specials and John Peel’s radio show especially being heavy sources of inspiration.  With his first performances on the illegal/free party scene, Alex went on to study music and left Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Music Institute with a hunger to continue and a writing partner in the form of vocalist/cellist, Harry Robinson. From here the band grew to the current live line-up of Kelli Blanchett (vocals / guitar), Paul Noels (vocals / guitar), Princeton (drums / vocals) and additional musicians when required.  In 2007, via the web, early recordings spread and created a buzz that found its way to BBC Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank, who became the first person ever to play an early demo of ‘So Long’ on National radio. The Riff Raff were then invited to record a live set at Maida Vale studios and further support from Collin Murray and Huw Stephens ensued leading to the band being asked to play Radio 1’s ‘Introducing’ stage at Glastonbury, headlining the stage in national press and live coverage. Their performances swing from the raucous energy of ‘Fins in the Dark’, to the beautifully introspective and majestic ‘It’s a Recession’ with further tracks like the Radio1 specialist favourite- ‘So Long’- executed to perfection. Performances across the summer’s festivals culminated in a steamy set at Bestival, a further Maida Vale live recording and an invitation to play at the BBC Electric Proms in London. Post the Electric Proms the band were offered a coveted spot on the proms live tour at venues throughout the UK.  New media platform’s [Bebo] and [MySpace] came on board and will support the band’s first album release via an online filmed series and weekly download’s upon launch. A three-month demo of the programme online saw the band gain an unprecedented 85,000+ fans, establishing a firm foundation for the programmes full launch.  New material including the upbeat sounds of ‘Romance is Dead’ and ‘Cross My Heart’ attracted the prestigious support of Joe Strummer’s New Music Foundation- ‘Strummerville’. The charity is providing mentoring, rehearsal space, and recording time for the band within the foundations room at the ‘Roundhouse’ theatre in Camden. A recent live performance of ‘My Blood Is Brave’ was filmed within the ‘Strummerville’ room and will feature in the foundations advertising campaign over coming months.  “If they aren’t daytime by next year, I’ll eat my own ponytail, beautiful melodious and at times spectacularly exuberant, The Riff Raff have a vibe to fit every moment – be it the hottest summer day or the depths of the night.” – Rob Da Bank  (Further live reviews, press quotes and content provided upon request and online @ the links below) 

LIVE GIG LISTINGS;

 Radio1 stages @;  Glastonbury- headlining BBC Radio1 introducing stage with the Ting Tings In the City- Manchester, Bestival AMEF- Northampton,

 BBC Electric Proms; Proms gig @ Jazz Cafe Camden, Live Song @ BBC Club Proms BBC tour round uk @ barflys etc ( Worcester, Cardiff, Liverpool, Cambridge,Northampton) 

BBC Maida Vale studios live recorded sets for radio1 x 2 - huw stephens and rob da bank shows,



WEBSITES AND LINKS

<P> [www.theriffraff.com] [www.myspace.com/therealiffraff] [www.bebo.com/theriff-raff] [www.twitter.com/therealriffraff]

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LIVE REVIEWS AND PRESS QUOTES; <P> - COLIN MURRAY- BBC RADIO1:"DIGITAL KINGS- PERSONAL FAVOURITES.." <P> - KRIS NEEDS @ MOJO MAGAZINE LIVE REVIEW:"A JOYOUS STORM SHOT WITH THE KIND OF DIVERSE MUSICAL STRAINS WHICH SEEM INTEGRAL TO ARTISTS AFFILIATED WITH THE STRUMMER CAMP"<P>

- SIR PAUL MC CARTNEY @ LIPA:"SPEAKING ABOUT 'SO LONG'; "BEAUTIFULLY COMPLEX MELODIES, DEFINITELY THE NEW SOUND"<P>

- HUW STEPHENS- BBC RADIO1:"ONE OF THE MAIN HIGHLIGHTS OF THE '07 BBC INTRODUCING NEW MUSIC RADIO1 STAGE @ GLASTONBURY, TRULY ENTERTAINING AND WELL WORTH GOING TO SEE THEM LIVE, LEGENDS IN THE MAKING"<P>

- ROB DA BANK- BBC RADIO1: "IF THEY ARENT DAYTIME BY NEXT YEAR ILL EAT MY OWN PONYTAIL" <P> - TIMEOUT MAGAZINE: "POP HOODLUMS"<P> - MARSHA SHANDUR @ XFM - " Truly a name on everyones radars this year and well worth going to see them live I loved it.." <P> - THE TIMES NEWSPAPER -STRUMMERVILLE INTERVIEW: here is a link to the full article on the Riff Raff and Strummerville. Direct link to The Riff Raff- in the Times Newspaper

 <P> "...the charity has been kept afloat by fundraisers, including a Christmas bash this Sunday and all-night summer parties on this sport attended by the likes of Kate Moss and Lily Allen. But a crucial boost was a donation from Damien Hirst, from a specially commissioned painting he sold. "After Joe died we wanted to create something that he would have approved of," explains Hirst, himself inspired to become an artist by Strummer. "We set up Strummerville as a way of continuing what he believed in and offering opportunities to budding musicians who otherwise have little chance of getting their music out there." <P> On this December day the doors of a small auditorium are flung wide open. Five young men and one woman are belting out fine, ska-inflected tunes against a backdrop of leopardskin sofas, glitterballs and Native American ornaments. They are the Riff Raff, one of a growing number of young British bands who have benefited in these tough times from facilities and advice provided by Strummerville..." <P> ( full article and photos at link above)

Photography;

Link below to online photo gallery of band pictures ( slightly outdated as this shoot was in January of this year)