Riggity Jig's Bloggity Blog

Your local Burns Night!

2012-02-02T12:43:00.000-08:00

You might also recognize the Saltire (Scottish flag of St. Andrew's cross) just below the band, shown in an action shot with the crowd at Little Prague and our own Scottish Tom McKeith, caught in mid-recitation. Missed the fun? We'll be back next year, with a fresh haggis and all!

Burns Night 2012

2012-02-01T09:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who made Burns Night 2012 so much fun -- whether celebrating with us or your own, the world around! Now, who can recognize the Saltire, Scotland's national flag? Here's a little treat that will help you remember it, from Fiona Hyslop, Scotland's Secretary for Culture and External Affairs:

Scotland The World Over from Blipfoto on Vimeo.

Burns Supper 2012 at Little Prague!

2012-01-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

Get your ghillies on! Robert Burns night means it's haggis time the world around, and Little Prague in Davis is a great place to celebrate.

Riggity Jig will provide the music, Burns supplied to poetry, and Little Prague will dish up the food from a special Scottish menu. All YOU have to do is show up and enjoy!

Wear your plaids, kilts, and every ounce you've got of Scots pride. we know you'll have a greet, greet time, laddies and lassies!

January 7 at the Sudwerk Dock Store

2011-12-26T11:38:00.000-08:00

Join us for music and fun starting at 4 o'clock January 7 at the Sudwerk Dock Store, just inside the big garage door behind of the more familiar Sudwerk Restaurant & Brewery in Davis. You can get there from Pole Line Road or Second Street. If you've never been to the Dock Store, take a look at the introduction Eric Dirksen posted to the Davis Life Magazine blog.

The Sudwerk Dock Store is the brewery's actual loading dock, transformed 3 days a week into a no-frills pub -- and with the beers they offer, no frills are necessary. If you want a salad or a sandwich, step around the corner to the other Sudwerk. But if you'd like to taste a delicious seasonal or experimental brew and listen to the music stylings of Riggity Jig, the Dock Store is the place for you.

And since it's a real loading dock, I'll bet the acoustics will be fantastic! See you there!

We Resolve To Have More Fun!

2011-12-09T14:21:00.000-08:00

It's just a few weeks until a new year, and so here are a few suggestions we could all use to make the world a better place.

1) Listen to more live music!

2) Drink better beer.

3) Have a good time!

You can take care of all three of these by joining Riggity Jig on Saturday, January 7, for some live music, good beer and good times at the Sudwerk Dock Store . We'll be playing around 4:00-6:00, but stay tuned for more details closer to the date.

And Happy New Year!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

2011-10-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

The holiday season is fast approaching (and Riggity Jig is available to make your parties a wee bit more festive, just drop a line to schedule us for your next shin-dig) so we wanted to share an idea, in case you have a hard time coming up with gift ideas for you favorite band members!

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Slainte!

Pretty Darn Close to Halfway to St. Patrick's Day

2011-08-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

If my math is correct, we are getting close to halfway to St. Patrick's Day, which means it is time to bless the patio of Little Prague (weather permitting) with our annual fall frolics. Join the band for some frothy mugs of Guinness and fun tunes on Saturday, September 10th, from 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Reservations encouraged!

Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant
330 G Street, Davis, CA 95616
(530) 756-1107

2011-08-23T16:24:00.000-07:00

Playing for a live audience is very different (and so much more fulfilling) than studio work. Keep that in mind next time you come face to face with someone playing music for you!

And thanks to Rhymes with Orange for the image!

Back to our roots

2011-08-08T15:12:00.000-07:00

A lot of people ask us about the tunes we play, how we started as a band, and how traditional Irish dancing got its start. Click the link for an entertaining and edifying history lesson about a historic and storied art form!

Slainte`!

Riggity Jig is going to the dogs!

2011-05-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

And the cats, and bunnies, and straight to the dessert table too! We'll be playing for the Yolo County SPCA's delicious new fundraiser: Tails, Treasures and Tastings. June 5, 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm, at the Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street.

We will be playing 3:00-5:00, but come early and stay late!

Ready for a Sweet Time?

The Yolo County SPCA will host its first Tails, Treasures and Tastings, a community all-you-can-eat dessert event, on June 5, 2011. This community event will help raise money to assist in our continuing efforts to rescue homeless animals and place them in loving permanent homes. It also raises awareness of the issue of displaced animals and promotes responsible pet ownership.

Our Tails, Treasures and Tastings event will include a variety of desserts for individuals to enjoy, as well as board games to play, a children’s activity area and a silent auction. We want members of our city, university and extended communities to come together for a relaxing and fun event that also helps homeless animals.

Please come and enjoy!

When/Where? 2 pm-6 pm at Davis Senior Center, 646 A Street Davis, CA 95616

Raffle held at the end of the event- winners who have left will be contacted to claim their prize!

Admission is $10 per adult, $7.50 for students and seniors, and free for children under 7 years old. All proceeds go towards helping animals in need!

Admission will get you access to yummy deserts and a free raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets are available for sale at the event, and we will have wonderful silent auction items waiting for your bid.

Buying a Ticket Now: You can buy your ticket at the door, but if you would like to buy your ticket ahead of time and be on our list of pre-paid guests, please feel free to use Donate Now through Pay Pal, or visit the Yolo SPCA Thrift Store and purchase tickets there. Be sure to specify that your donation is for tickets to this event (how many, and name of the person who will be there) so that we have you on our list. Please look for an email confirming that we have you on the list for the event; if you do not receive this email, please let us know.

A Little Less Wind, Please!

2011-04-30T09:42:00.001-07:00

T-minus one week before the Highland Games at the Yolo County Fairgrounds in Woodland, and the north wind is blowing hard today. So hard that at the county 4-H Spring Show, two heifers and a Hampshire hog blew away before anyone had the sense to tie the rest them down.
Imagine if we'd had a few thousand kilts out here instead. And the bagpipes would be playing themselves. Ach, the din!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Jigging for the Arts: Riggity Jig plays for Acme Theatre fundraiser, Friday, April 8, 6-8 @ the Davis Food Co-op

2011-03-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

Like the title says, we'll be playing Friday, April 8, 6-8 pm at the Davis Food Co-op as a fund raiser for the Acme Theatre Company. Quaff some tasty brews from North Coast Brewing and help the talented performers at Acme Theatre raise some money. Hey, it's for art! Their next show is The Servant of Two Masters, by Carlo Goldoni.

Silvio is in love with Clarice. Clarice is in love with Silvio. All is well, until Beatrice (dressed as a man) arrives in town disguised as Clarice’s former fiancé. Meanwhile, Florindo is in search of his lady-love – Beatrice! The slapstick gets stickier as Truffaldino struggles to serve two masters at once. Can love triumph over mistaken identities, confusion and a roguish servant’s insatiable appetite? Sounds like a typical rehearsal for the band, but we are sure that All's Well That Ends Well!

This free production is fun for the whole family. A pre-show picnic dinner will be available beginning at 5:30pm. Bring your appetite, a blanket or lawn chair, and plenty of layers!

Memorial Day Weekend Picnic Dinner at 5:30pm. Performance at 7:00pm.

Friday, May 27

Saturday, May 28

Sunday, May 29

Monday, May 30

March Madness! And not in a hoop shooting basketball sort of way.

2011-03-09T15:15:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year when the musicians (and we use that term loosely) of Riggity Jig honor our Irish roots. Join us for our tenth annual St. Patrick's Day performance at Little Prague on Thursday, March 17. 330 G St., in Davis. Like you didn't know where Little Prague is! And to get you in the mood, we are playing again at our favorite dog friendly thrift store, the Yolo County SPCA Thrift Store for this month's Second Friday Art About. Read all about the various arty goings-on in this note from the Davis Life Magazine. That's Friday, March 11, 6-8 at 920 3rd St., in Davis. Hope to see you there!

"May I have more, sir?"

2011-01-30T13:32:00.000-08:00

Visitors to this year's Burns Supper at Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant surprised us all by finishing off a 5-pound haggis brought in especially for the occasion. The line for a helping of the steaming comestible stretched the length of the bar, and a few people even came back for seconds.

Guest speaker Tom Mckeith did the honors of slicing and serving it up, which is only proper since it was Tom who read Burns's "Address to a Haggis" and Tom's own cousin, MacPhairson Clonglocketty Angus M'Clan, who caught the haggis in a rabbit snare last week in Glasgow's Linn Park. Following long family tradition, he transported the cleaned and dressed food product with him on a trip to Sacramento last Thursday by packing it in an ice chest marked "organ donor." Which has never caused any trouble at Customs, since when officials demand to see inside the cooler, that's exactly what it looks like.

Thanks to everyone who came out Friday night to sample the music, foods, and certainly the drink of Scotland, and to celebrate the Bard's 252nd birthday. May we remember his life and his verse for as many more!

Robert Burns and the elusive Haggis

2011-01-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

It's coming up on January 25th, which means Robert Burns Night is fast approaching. To celebrate, go out and recite your favorite poem to someone, and keep an eye out for the wily Haggis!

Also keep an eye out for men in kilts! Maybe check in at Little Prague on Friday, January 28, as Riggity Jig rocks the house, along with emcee Tom McKeith (all the way from Clyde Bank!) and piper Erik Leiken. More info at the Little Prague site. Check the comments for links.

Blog post

2010-10-30T14:26:00.001-07:00

Just finished from playing for a rainy 39th Street Halloween Street Party. Great neighborhood, great spirits (living and dead), despite all the wet. Thanks for having us!

Now back home to dry off all those sound cables . . .
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Re-sale Shop Re-visited

2010-09-19T16:37:00.001-07:00

Riggity Jig returns to the Yolo County SPCA Thrift Store on Saturday, September 25. We'll be recycling our old material and making it new, all in the the spirit of the day's Re-Cycle, Re-Use, & Re-New Festival! Last time we played there I saw no fewer than four plaid kilts on the racks. All were in the women's and girls' department--and a few certainly belonged there--but a fellah's got to start somewhere, eh?

You can show a bit o' knee, or just show up. You're sure to find something that'll surprise you or bring back fond memories. Maybe both, if it happens to be that hideous family heirloom from your Great Aunt Zelda that vanished from the mantelpiece last week, thanks to your significant other. Won't she be surprised when it shows up at home once again!

P.S. Look for a subset of the band on Saturday morning from 9:30 to 11:00 at the Woodland Farmer's Market in Freeman Park on Main Street, between 4th and 6th Streets. Fantastic local produce, and plenty of free parking on the Court Street side of the park. Yum-yum, eat 'em up!

Not Your Grandmother's LGM

2010-09-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Somewhere on the far side of the sun, there's a land that's never green on a little piece of floating space junk no human eye has ever seen. This nameless shard follows the same orbital path our dear Earth, but six months ahead of us, give or take a few days (or six months behind us, depending on how you look at things).

And on that bit of debris, the result of some cosmic collision or engineer's miscalculation, there's a small cadre of little would-be green men like this fellow who are doing their best to celebrate, on this very day, their own March 17, and the sainted memory of he who brought Christianity to, and expelled snakes from, a lovely green island on a planet they themselves will never see, but only sing of in sentimental, sappy ballads, rasped into the thin, dry atmosphere of their tiny, rocky home.

In honor of these stalwart, possibly misguided, and almost certainly nonexistent revelers, we call on you to join Riggity Jig for our umpteenth-annual Half-way to St. Pat's celebration, starting at 6 pm on Friday, September 10 at Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant in Davis. We'll be playing a festive assortment of jigs, reels, and other Irish favorites till 9 pm.

Call Little Prague at 530-756-1107 to make sure you get a table close by the band!

Remembering Pat

2010-07-02T06:09:00.000-07:00

Pat "Kelsey" Olson, longtime drummer for Riggity Jig, passed from this life in the wee hours of morning, June 28, 2010, at age 56, with her dear husband, Jouko, by her side. A memorial is planned for early August.

To say only that Pat put up a valiant fight against cancer since her diagnosis four years ago would be to miss a huge part of what made her the person she was—since during that time she sought out and experienced so much more than the dramatic ups and downs of chemotherapy, optimistic prognoses, and crushing setbacks.

Pat brought her own brand of "reality check" to the prescribed life of a cancer patient—the reality that life's worth living for the sake of joy and discovery, pure and simple. She did her best to share that joy with her network of friends and colleagues. Pat found love with one Jouko Salo, her shining knight who rode up on a gleaming Finnish smart phone, and she married him at the Sacramento Horsemen's Association in a warm, outdoor celebration on a warm summer day, then promptly walked over to the paddock fence and kissed her horse on the mouth. So nobody would get jealous. Pat and Jouko had their third anniversary a few weeks ago.

Before her illness Pat travelled extensively, both for pleasure and for her work with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. She loved dancing and playing the bodhran with our band and Thistle Glen at restaurants, parties, and Scottish dance events. Her love of the outdoors prompted much of her short- and long-haul travelling as well as stints working at Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks. As the cancer advanced, Pat's need for frequent medical treatment kept her closer and closer to home, but she still managed to make the most of life, performing with the band during those lulls of good feeling between chemo treatments.

Good drummers are rare and precious, and all the more so when they add so much to the party even after they set the instrument down. Pat had them all beat. Set aside your jokes of drummer ridicule and remember this terrific woman, Pat Olson, with whom it's been our pleasure and deep honor to share the music for so many years. If you close your eyes and listen, I think you'll hear the harpers in heaven are playing today with a steadier beat. Drum on, Kelsey!

Starbuck's in Davis

2010-06-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

Good coffee, live music, and a wireless hot spot? Talk about overstimulation! But yes, it can all be yours on Tuesday, June 8 starting at 7 pm, when Riggity Jig plays at the West Davis Starbucks. That's at 2038 Lyndell Terrace, just northwest of the Covell Boulevard / Highway 113 crossing.

So drop by for a half-caff, lo-fat, no-whip, iced macchiato on Tuesday night, and give music a chance to sooth your savage inner beast -- or is that "breast"? I can never remember.

RJ @ URC 5/14/10

2010-04-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

We're very happy to announce that Riggity Jig will take a turn on the stage at the University Retirement Center in Davis this May. We'll be playing the evening of May 14, 2010, and promise to give the folks a show to remember, with jigs, reels, and strathspeys that will set toes tapping, along with vocals that will bring a smile to the face and a tear to the eye.

Meanwhile in April a number of us will be sitting in on fiddlers' jam sessions at the 134th Annual Sacramento Valley Scottish Games & Festival the weekend of April 24 and 25. It's a terrific gathering for those who love the skirl of pipes, the swirl of kilts, and the fine scent of a well-made haggis. Also, there's the opportunity to participate in any of a number of sporting events that have the potential to hurt you really bad: the caber toss, hammer throw (featuring genuine hammers), and the aptly named "weight over the bar," in which participants take turns attempting to throw a 4-stone weight over an overhead bar (you get extra points if you can avoid having your skull crushed by the weight on its way back down).

Also attending the Games are clan representatives to help you hook up with distant cousins -- to whom you can offer the traditional greeting ("Say, can ya spare a few bob till payday?") -- as well as vendors selling loud musical instruments, books of fine poetry, Scottish comestibles in the tin, roll, or packet, clan tartans and badges, and such breezy menswear items as traditional or Utilikilts!

And, of course, MORE!

Patrick's Day, Actual and Observed

2010-03-09T23:40:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for all things green, and this year you'll have TWO opportunities to join us for music and fun at Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant in Davis. We'll be playing jigs, reels, and other Irish favorites from 6 to 9 on Saturday, March 13, and again on Wednesday, March 17.
As ever, it's a good idea to call ahead for reservations: 530-756-1107.
We're hoping for a good turnout both nights, and asking that everyone please bring a hankie, since all the weeping when we sing "Danny Boy" can cause puddles that pose a real safety hazard to waiters, patrons, and artistes alike. Come on, let it out--It's good for you!

Burns Gig Gets Local Ink

2010-01-21T14:24:00.000-08:00

Three of us had a chat last week with Davis Enterprise music critic Landon Christensen, and here's the upshot, from the entertainment section of today's paper:

"Put on your kilt, lace up your ghillies and come celebrate the 251st birthday of 'Scotland's favorite son' - the Bard of Ayrshire himself - Robert Burns.

"The fifth annual Robert Burns Night performance will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant, 330 G St., Davis. Admission is free to this all-ages shows, but it'll fill up quickly; for reservations, call (530) 756-1107 or visit http://www.littleprague.com.

"Fans can expect an evening of whiskey tasting, haggis, poetry and music. In the words of the old bard, 'O, my luve is like a melodie, that's sweetly play'd in tune.'

"The local Celtic band Riggity Jig - Lee Riggs, flute and penny whistle; David Riggs, fiddle; Jim Coats, mandolin; Josh Ray, guitar; and Pat Olson, bodhran - will provide the sweet melodies. In true Scots fashion, Glaswegian Tom McKeith will read many favorite Robert Burns poems.

"'He's from Clydebank, outside of Glasgow,' David Riggs said, 'He's been here for 40 years.

"'And we still can't understand a word he says!' Lee laughed.

"This lively banter continued as I conversed with the Riggs brothers and Coats, during an interview in Little Prague's comfortable surroundings. I quickly learned how the band gels so well.

"'It's more about the chemistry of the band members than the musicianship,' David explained. 'We all have to carry our parts, but we also have to get along. It's not a commercial venture, so its more important that we all have fun together.'

"And how did it all begin?

"'Jim and I had played in a bluegrass band together,' David said, 'and this seemed like a natural regression.'

"Riggity Jig debuted a decade years ago, with its first show at Davis' Pence Gallery. All these years later, they're still going strong.

"So, are the members from Scotland or Ireland?

"'Actually,' David said, 'we were born in County Yolo.'

"'Dave and I are products of Davis school music programs,' Lee added. 'We both started out in elementary school. In high school, I was in jazz choir, marching band and concert band. I now sing with church choirs.'

"Both brothers never strayed too far away from home, at least not for long.

"'I went to UC Davis,' Lee said. 'David went away for school and came back.'

"Riggity Jig plays a lot of local events: the Yolo County Fair, private parties and family weddings

"And wakes.

"'A wake isn't all that mournful,' Coats said, 'and Irish and Scottish music isn't all that cheerful, so it evens out.'

"'Sometimes we'll do several shows in a row: boom, boom, boom,' Lee said, 'then nothing. But we do this Robert Burns show every year.'

"'We also do a St. Patrick's Day show every year,' David said. 'Once, a Sacramento bar wanted us to play two times a month. We turned it down because we didn't want to oversaturate the audience.'

"'Either that, or we'd get good,' Lee laughed.

"'In the olden days,' he continued, 'musicians would play in the kitchen. That's what our practices are like. David lives in Woodland, Jim in Knights Landing, I'm in Davis and the others are in Sacramento. We go to each other's houses to practice: Move the cat off the couch, turn off the TV.

"'It can be difficult, because everyone's involved in other music groups, jobs and families.'

"How do they come up with their songlists?

"'You listen to it a cool tune,' Lee said, 'and figure out how to put your own spin on it.'
'Imitation is the most sincere form of exploitation,' Coats added.

"'We haven't written our own tunes,' Lee continued. 'We've done different arrangements. Sometimes, with our guitar player, we don't know what'll happen next; suddenly, we're changing keys. That's the magic of live performance: Everybody's surprised.'

"And how are the vocal chores divided?

"'I sing some lead vocals,' Coats said, 'and our guitar player sings some leads. Lee sings backup, and we sometimes have guest vocals.'

"'My niece sang with us for several years,' Lee said. 'But she just left for college.'

"The Robert Burns Night celebration will include, among other things, a free haggis tasting. Haggis is a dish containing minced sheep heart, liver and lungs with onion, oatmeal and spices, mixed with stock and boiled in the animal's stomach. For three hours.

"'The haggis gets bigger every year,' David said. 'The first year, we had a two-pound haggis. It's dense, it looked like a softball. It was gone quickly. Since then, we've gotten a bigger one each year. This year, it's a four-pounder.

"'It's free for everyone to try.'

"Uh-huh.

"'The nicest thing anybody usually says about haggis is, there's nothing wrong with it.' Coats chuckled. 'It's probably better for you than eating Sacramento river fish twice a week.'

"The evening's whisky tasting will appeal to connoisseurs and novices alike.

"'All scotch is whiskey,' David explained, 'but not all whiskey is scotch. It has to be made in Scotland, and follow quality standards, in order to be scotch. It's different than Irish whiskey, Canadian or Johnny Walker. You can have a $300 bottle of Johnny Walker, and be happy with it, but it's still not scotch.'

"For those unfamiliar with scotch, this tasting will be a 'good place to start,' Lee said. 'Some are super-smooth. Some are like licking charcoal, and some have a peat moss, herbal, raspy flavor.

"'One year, a friend had a 100-year-old scotch that was so smooth it was like drinking satin.

"'You can have the same scotch - a 10-year-old, 30-year-old and 50-year-old - and because of the different aging, you wouldn't know they're related.'

"Coats agreed: 'This is a great place to develop your taste.'

"But while they all seem to know a great deal about scotch, Lee hastened to add that, as with most bands, 'We mostly drink beer.'

"Besides Haggis and scotch, the annual menu usually includes salmon, lamb stew, lamb curry and Scotch egg.

"'A Scotch egg is a hard boiled egg, surrounded by sausage and deep fried,' Lee explained, 'It's excellent and not greasy.'

"Coats furnished additional detail: 'Imagine a cut-away of the Earth that includes the core, and then imagine that the layers are made out of fat. That's a Scotch egg.'

"As a typical Robert Burns evening progresses, the event turns into quite the celebration.

"'People come up and dance,' Lee said. 'Little kids do step-dancing; several people have their shoes ready to go.'

"'It's like a tap shoe,' Coats said. 'It makes noise on the concrete. It sounds cool; you almost have to wear safety goggles and watch the sparks fly.'

"And how flexible is the song list?

"'People will ask us to play certain songs,' Lee said, mostly things like 'Danny Boy.' Sometimes they'll ask for something we don't know, but we try!'

"'We love it when people dance,' Coats added. 'We'd be happy if more people came up and danced.'

"'That type of spontaneity is fun for everyone,' David agreed.

"Lee remembered one particular performance: 'For Burns Night, one huge table had two dozen knitters. It became a rhythm section that sounded like tap-dancing squirrels.

"'These days, more folks come wearing kilts.'

"'The utili-kilt is the big thing now,' Coats said. 'I'm saving up to get one, but a proper kilt is expensive: around $200.'

"'You could get a polyester one,' Lee quipped.

"In Scotland itself, Robert Burns Night is a big deal.

"'In Scotland, he's on par or above Shakespeare,' Coats said. 'He wrote remarkable stuff.'

"Burns (1759-96) is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement. After his death, he became an inspiration to the founders of liberalism. His poem and song 'Auld Lang Syne' often is sung at Hogmanay (the final day of the year).

"'For a lot of Scottish people, or people of Scottish descent, this event is a nice connection to home,' Lee said. 'They do the whole kilt regalia: plaid over the shoulder, the whole bit. It's fun; there's a connection with people we don't know. They come for the music and have a Czech/Scottish fusion meal. It means a lot to them.'

"'It's nice way to feel a connection to things back home,' David agreed.

"- Stay up-to-the-minute with local live music by visiting www.davisenterprise.com and clicking on 'Club Crawl.' "

Date Change for Burns Supper 2010

2010-01-05T10:59:00.000-08:00

Och -- We've changed the date of our Burns Supper!!

So it's still time to dust off the haggis and lace up your ghillies, but now Riggity Jig will celebrate the Bard of Ayrshire's 251st birthday with a Burns Night Supper from 6 to 9 pm on MONDAY, JANUARY 25 at our usual haunt, Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant in Davis.

The proprietors are promising a proper Scottish feast, plus music, poetry, and whisky, all shared in the spirit of Auld Lang Syne. Past suppers have also featured bagpipes, dancing, and general bonhomie.

Come join us for a night of fun! For dinner reservations, call 530-756-1107.

Halloween Started Early, Posted Late

2009-11-30T13:43:00.000-08:00

It didn't look like a miracle on 39th Street last Halloween afternoon, but it sounded pretty good! Riggity Jig played at friend Tom McKieth's request at the annual 39th Street Halloween block Party in Sacramento.

May the Road Rise Halfway Up to Meet You

2009-09-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

(Yawwwn.) Hmmm? Oh, I must have dozed off for a few months there.
Let's see -- September. If it's September, we must be coming up on half-Pat's, the day on which they celebrate St. Patrick's Day on the planet Leonard, Earth's secret twin, which of course we can never see from here because it's always on the opposite side of the sun from us. There's some debate over whether Leonardians have a more advanced civilization than we do or the other way round, but either way it's just a matter of 6 months' difference. So either they're 6 months behind and their economy is still a total and absolute wreck (rather than a total but no longer absolute wreck), or they're 6 months ahead and have already seen all of the holiday-release movies and are busy reading the surprise 8th volume of Harry Potter ("Harry Potter and the Big, Scary Monster with a Silly-Sounding Name").

September . . . September . . . Let's see . . . What else is supposed to happen in September. Oh, right! It's time for Riggity Jig to raise a half-pint in celebration of Half-Pat's! And where better to do that than at Yolo County's premier Czech restaurant, Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant?

The music starts September 19 at 6 pm and continues til 9, with occasional pauses so the band members can regain their composure.

Come join us for half a minute, half an hour, or half the evening. As ever, reservations are recommended: Call 530-756-1107.

Picnic Day Impromptu

2009-04-15T09:31:00.000-07:00

Riggity Jig is playing on the patio at Little Prague on Saturday, April 18, from 3 to 5 pm . . . an impromptu set celebrating UC Davis Picnic Day. After enjoying the parade, the dachshund races, or the edible cockroach exhibit, stop by Little Prague on G Street for a cold beer or one of Eva's fabulous desserts.

No rain forecast for Picnic Day this year!

P.S. That's RJ flautist/whistler Lee Riggs in the photo, squeezing his way to the Picnic Day Milk-Off championship a few years back. (Lee's the one with his EAR toward the camera.)

It's March and we're Irish again!

2009-03-05T13:27:00.000-08:00

Riggity Jig enthusiasts have a busy week coming up, as has your favorite Celtic band (meaning "us"). March 14 (Saturday) will be a pre-St.-Pat's bash at Little Prague in Davis, and we'll be back again for a Little Prague dinner gig on Tuesday, March 17. Six to nine pm both nights. And to make sure we don't suffer from low-corned-beef syndrome or cabbage insufficiency, we'll also play for the Dixon chapter of the Knights of Columbus at 6 pm Sunday, March 15. By the end of that day, I'm sure we'll all feel that we've et tu much.
Be there or wish you were!

Thanks for Kind Words

2009-01-27T09:54:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Tom McKeith for sending us a link that proves we have been mentioned elsewhere in the blogosphere! Take a look at Rookie Cookery for an upbeat and unbiased account of the goings on at Sunday night's Burns Supper at Little Prague. Even before-and-after photos of a feerst-time taster o' the haggis!

Thanks to Burns-o-philes

2009-01-26T11:27:00.001-08:00

Thank you, everyone, for coming out the Sunday night's Robert Burns Supper at Little Prague in Davis. We had a full house for at least part of the night -- pretty good for a rainy Sunday -- and some folks sat up front and stayed right through til the end at 9 pm!

One of our fans may have felt a cool breeze on his or her neck on the way home last night, though: A lovely, brown, cable-knit scarf was found up near the front of the room near the band when we were cleaning up. Send us a note if it's yours, and we'll try to get it back to you.

And thanks again to Vaclav and Little Prague for having us, for supplying the substantial haggis, and for providing the band with such a delicious meal afterward. And those desserts!

Serious Burns Unit

2009-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Maybe it took 250 years to happen, but Rabbie Burns is gettin' his due this year in news media near and far. Take a look at these:

The Sacramento Bee, January 23, 2009

The New York Times, January 18, 2009

BBC News, January 16, 2009

The Sacramento Bee's print edition includes a list of Burns Night events, including our gig at Little Prague as well as a sit-down dinner for Dixon and Davis folks and a reading of the Bard's poetry in Sacramento. Get out there and grab a copy!

Quarter-Millennial Burns Supper Upcoming

2008-12-23T20:52:00.000-08:00

We've nearly done it! The day is nearing when humankind will have survived 250 years past the birth of that bard of bards, that poetical scratcher of glass, our Auld Acquaintance from Ayrshire, Mister Rabbie Burns. And many have speculated -- (or, at least, this one has) -- that the very fact that we've made it this far is due in no small part to the beauty, truth, and wit we've gleaned over the years from Burns's own writings.

So please make plans to join us on Sunday evening, January 25, 2009, when Riggity Jig will with due solemnity mark the 250th anniversary of the Bard's birth with a traditional-ish Burns Supper at our usual haunt, Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant (rechristened for the occasion as "Wee Praggie") in Davis. Call ahead to reserve a table for dinner, or just stop by to toast the Bard with a traditional beverage and share in a sma' slice of Scotland's national dish or one of Wee Praggie's phenomenal desserts. We'll have recitations of the Bard's poems, possibly a piper, and of course Riggity Jig's music to cheer you on. Last year the band even had some requests from the audience -- but we shook our heads and said, no, we'll keep playing anyway.

Keep in mind that not many of us will be around to celebrate Burns's 500th anniversary, so make a point of doing the holiday up right this time! We'll see ye there!

The Two Bobbies

2008-10-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

Now, who could be surprised to hear Bob Dylan say that the lyric that's inspired him most was penned 214 years ago by our own dear Rabbie Burns? You can read about it in The Guardian (thanks to Tom McKeith for the tip) and read the poem itself right here:

A Red, Red Rose

O my Luve's like a red, red rose,

That's newly sprung in June:

O my Luve's like the melodie,

That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a' the seas gang try.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi' the sun;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare-the-weel, my only Luve!

And fare-thee-weel, a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile!

So I guess we'll be adding a few tunes from this latter-day Rabbie to our set list for Burns Supper 2009! And you can join Mr. Dylan right now, and fill your own heart with the words of the Bard at www.robertburns.org/works/. Have yourself a glorious day!

'Arf Pat's, September 19

2008-09-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

So me and Fiddlin' Dave are in this pub, and a fellow walks up to the bar and says, "Two dogs, please." A minute later he's stepping away with a glass in his hand. A puzzled Dave scratches his furrowed brow with a rosin-dusted finger and asks him, "Two dogs?" The guy points at his pint glass, a mix of ale and stout, and says "Yeah -- It's 'arf and 'arf." (Groans all around.)

And here it is, almost 'arf-way to St. Patrick's, and we of Riggity Jig are inviting you to a fine night of music and good cheer at Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant, local gathering place and cultural center for the Czeltic czommunity of greater Yolo County. We'll be playing at 6 pm (til ???) on Friday, September 19, and we'd love to see you there! To make your dinner reservation now, call 530-756-1107. Besides the main dining room, Little Prague has tables on the patio and in the bar, so make sure to ask for a spot close to the band. We're hoping fair weather will put us out on the patio this time around.

See you there!

Meet Me at the Fair!

2008-08-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Riggity Jig will be playing on stage at the Yolo County Fair again this year. Friday, August 15, we'll be on the East Stage from 4 to 5:30, squinting into the setting sun. We'd love to see you there!

At last year's fair, we ended up playing backup for Dave Bender's Channel 13 weather report, broadcast live from the fairgrounds. Who knows what could happen this year?

The best way to find out is to be there! Tell your friends! Get some recycled paper and print out a dozen flyers (type or photo version) to pass out on the street. We're always passing out on the street -- It's fun!

See your at the fair!

To Market, to Market . . .

2008-07-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

Our flash jam turned out to be on a very smoky day, so we shifted indoors to Fiddlin' Dave Riggs's house about a block from Pioneer Park. Three fiddlers from the Scottish Games fiddlers' jam managed to find us there, and we had a fun evening swapping tunes. We'll plan another jam soon, and hope to keep it outdoors on a clear . . . and cool . . . evening then.

Next gig: Catch us Saturday morning, July 12, at the Woodland Farmer's Market in Freeman Park (between Main and Court Streets, a few blocks west of East Street). The market runs from 9 am til noon. Besides great music and fresh produce, the July 12 market will feature a classic car show and kids' science activities from Explorit Science Center.

We're also booked to play the Yolo County Fair again this year, starting at 4 pm on Friday, August 15. Watch for details. Last year we ended up playing backup for a live TV weather report from the fair!

Flash Jam!

2008-06-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

What do you get when a tree that's full of ripe plums gets struck by lightning?

That's right: It's a Flash Jam!

That's also what you get if you use electronic means to announce a drop-in music session on short notice. Which is what we're doing here!

Friday, June 27, starting 6:30-ish, Riggity Jig will be hosting a jam session at Pioneer Park, corner of Branigan and Farnham in Woodland, California. All are welcome to sit in with the band, sing along, hum, bang your handtools in time, or just listen while your kids play on the playground.

So make time in your schedule! It's literally the last Friday in June, 2008, ever! Maybe the smoky haze will let up! Maybe they'll turn the sprinklers on! But you may never know if you don't drop by.

We'll be watching for you!

Almost Famous!

2008-03-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

The local, beta version of Riggity Jig's global media blitz continued Monday with a write-up and some great photos -- one on the front page straddling the fold -- in the Davis Enterprise! Take a look at the the pix at the Enterprise website. No, that's no 'zouk I'm holding, but it sounds a lot more interesting that a mandolin -- or maybe it's easier to spell for the caption?

The reporter waxed rhapsodic and he spelled our names right, too. He also included our URL, and properly captured the lilt of Lee's pennywhistle, "like it's rolling over green hills." Ahhh.

In contrast to Saturday night's cold and rain, Monday night we played outdoors in pleasant weather on Little Prague's patio, and once again to a fine, appreciative crowd. Thanks to Vaclav and Eva for making us feel so welcome and so well fed.

Now it's back to our day jobs as we plan the next step in our plan for global domination. See you then!

A Fine Night, & More to Come!

2008-03-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who came to listen to Riggity Jig on March 15 and cheered us on. If you missed us Saturday night, all is not lost: We'll be back at Little Prague for the genuine St. Patrick's day, Monday night March 17 from 6 to 9 pm. Once again, reservations are advised.

Thanks also to our generous tippers, all of whose tips are going straight to St. Baldrick's to fund childhood cancer research. Riggity Jig's shaving team (see photo) has raised around $700 so far, with a goal of $1,000. Visit our team page if you'd like to make a donation, too. This year's preliminary total for all St. Baldrick's Day contributions worldwide is in excess of $8 million. That's a lot of pipettes and Petri dishes, but every extra penny will help.

It's still a little bit of a shock every time I look in the mirror and see that hairless scalp. But I know it will grow back, and I'm grateful that I when I lost my hair it was by choice. All of those kids and adults who lose their hair to chemotherapy have a choice, too, I suppose, but it's a much tougher one than I've ever had to face. Thanks to the good folks at St. Baldrick's Foundation for raising so much money to help these folks and for raising my own consciousness about one little bit of what they face each day, too.

Ides nor 'air?

2008-03-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

More than just a close shave for Caesar, here. Wouldn't St. Baldrick have liked to take a razor to those marble locks? Speaking of which, we're still looking for sponsors for the Riggity Jig shaving team at St. Baldrick's this Friday in Sacramento. If you haven't signed up yet, go have a look and pitch in if you can.

I suppose Julius could have done with a bit of the luck o' the Irish that day back in the Senate, on the Ides of March these many years ago. Had it only been a year like this one, with St. Paddy's day falling in Holy Week, he might have spent the day of March 15th in a pub toasting St. Pat's name a few days early (by order of the Bishop of Rome, no less!) instead of famously uttering his last words to his betrayer from that cold, marble floor.

Don't you make that same mistake. Let this be a lesson to us all! Beware serious undertakings this year on the Ides of March! Instead, join Riggity Jig at Little Prague Restaurant in Davis as we honor the Crook-Bearer of Erin, that Chaser of Snakes, the man who blessed the very water of Waterford -- in short, isn't it St. Patrick himself that we'll be toasting this Saturday?

So grab the phone and call the folks at Little Prague to make sure they have a table set aside for you. Then set yourself apart from the toga-and-dagger set this Ides of March, and have yourself a proper Irish feast, complete with fine music and of course a suitable beverage.

Erin Go Bragh!

Hair Today . . .

2008-03-01T20:40:00.001-08:00

Hey kids! Here's a new official Riggity Jig band picture that you add to your collection! We'll be playing at Little Prague again on March 15, but several of us will also make a musical appearance and tonsorial sacrifice March 14 at the UC Davis Cancer Center in Sacramento for this year's St. Baldrick's benefit.

Founded in 2000, St. Baldrick's has raised over 34 million dollars worldwide to support research on the prevention and treatment of childhood cancers. The money comes courtesy of thousands of volunteers -- this year including a few of our own -- who set aside both vanity and sanity for the few minutes necessary to have their heads shaven clean of hair. Yes. Exactly how that translates into money is not entirely clear to me, but friends assure me that it does work somehow. It seems to have something to do with other people (you, for instance?) making pledges to St. Baldrick's in support of a shavee.

What do you say? Make a donation to the cause and we may well dedicate a song to you at our next gig! Wow! You'll certainly have our gratitude, as well as the gratitude of children and their families who find themselves coping with cancer every day. Sometimes it feels awfully lonely when you're facing such a serious problem as this, but it's gratifying to know that other people care enough to support the research that can reduce cancer and the suffering that comes with it.

St. Paddy's, Two Days Early?

2008-02-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

Riggity Jig reverently joins in with our pious brethren by celebrating St. Patrick's Day a few days early this year: we're playing our customary St. Pat's gig at Little Prague Restaurant this year on Saturday, March 15. Why's that? Well, Easter is what the Catholics call a moveable feast, see -- and that doesn't mean it's a picnic (though a lot of people DO have Easter picnics), it means it doesn't fall on the same calendar date from year to year. In Easter's case, it brings the entire Holy Week with it wherever it goes, and you just can't have special Saint's Day masses during Holy Week. It wouldn't be the thing to do. Likewise, the Church frowns on loud, colorful, and festive parties and parades so close before Easter. Parades on Easter? Maybe. Just before? Nope.

In addition, band members noted that a Saturday night might get us a better audience than a Monday night. Maybe better tips. And then there would be the matter of getting up for work Tuesday morning.

Let's just say the forces of organized religion, the movement of the planets and moons, and plain common sense have prevailed on us this year to play the gig a few days early. It's a good thing! Come out and hear us play! As ever, you may want to get reservations in advance. The food will be great, and the place may well be packed. One hopes.

By some stroke of Irish luck, St. Pat's hasn't fallen in Holy Week since 1940, so you can bet there was a lot of rummaging through rule books when folks realized that this year was the odd exception. So don't be late for the celebration this year -- make it two days early, and join us for a fine evening of food and entertainment at Little Prague on Saturday, March 15, starting at 6 pm!

A Right Guid-Willie Waught

2008-01-28T22:59:00.001-08:00

Thanks from the band to all who came to see us play at Little Prague on January 25 and at the private party the next night, and even to those who would've come but stayed home on account of the rain. We saw lots of familiar faces along with plenty of new, and the kilts were in evidence as were some authentic Scottish burrs. In case you missed the festivities, there's always next year!

But don't deprive yourself of the Bard just on account of a little rain or a small streams advisory. Remember, you can find Burns online, and he's always well worth the reading. Take a look at "To a Mouse" or "A Red, Red Rose" and you'll see, once you've looked up one or two unfamiliar words, that the man had a wonderful gift for words and remarkable insight into the way we live, and feel, and love, how we stumble, and how we go gracefully on.

Happy reading til next year, and maybe then you'll want to read out a poem or two with us!

Burns Night Update -- The Pipes Are Coming!

2008-01-22T16:45:00.000-08:00

Late word comes that we will indeed have a piper joining us (at least for part of the night) during our Burns Supper performance at Little Prague Restaurant in Davis, Friday night, January 25. World-class piper Cameron Scott has made time in his schedule to come by and share the joy for awhile; then he's off to another Burns Night event. Busy time of year for pipers.

So whether it's for the mellifluous skirl of the Highland pipes or the mysterious contents of the proud, enigmatic haggis -- or you're just ready for a nice night out -- do come by and join the fun! Note that dinner reservations are advised (and the dinners are always delicious). See you there!

Also, thanks to the Davis Enterprise for including us in their entertainment calendar!

Robert Burns Supper? Czeck It Out!

2008-01-08T21:14:00.000-08:00

Join us January 25th for good music, good food, grrreat poetry, and all-around good "crack" as we honor Scotland's national bard with a Rabbie Burns Supper at Little Prague Restaurant in Davis, California. You may not know Robert Burns as anything more than a revered national hero and cultural icon, but you almost certainly know at least three words of his poetry, set to music every New Year's Eve as "Auld Lang Syne." And there's lots more where that came from!

This is Riggity Jig's third annual Burns Supper at Little Prague, and we've always had a good crowd. One time a group of step dancers showed up and took to the floor; last year we had a tableful of local knitters. Go figure! And every year, a few more kilts are in evidence.

So come on out, have your first taste of haggis, and to wash it down you can raise a glass to the Bard. Become one of our once-a-year regulars! Do it for yourself; Do it for Scotland; Do it for auld lang syne! And we'll see you there, lads and lassies!

Half-Pat's Day at Little Prague!

2007-09-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

Hey, kids -- In advance of our Halfway to St. Patrick's Day gig at Little Prague in Davis, here's a swell new graphic that you can download and print onto the beer coaster of your choice. You can even use it as a temporary tattoo if you can fit your upper arm into your computer's printer! Please do not -- DO NOT -- print this onto self-stick label paper and stick it onto road signs, parking meters, police car windows, etc. We're into, like, beauty, man, not ugly. That's why we love to hear and play this fantastic music!

Please plan to join us at Little Prague this Saturday night for fine food and music to match. Call for reservations (530-756-1107), and let the nice folks know whether you're coming for dinner or for dessert only, and whether you'd LOVE to have a place close to the band!

See you there!

On a Bender at the Fairgrounds

2007-08-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of fun at the Yolo County Fair on August 15! Josh had an in-service training day at work, and Pat is a bit under the weather and just doesn't have the energy for a 90-minute gig, so we were playing in "the-show-must-go-on" trio mode with Dave, Jim, and Lee. Folks were dancing, smiling, clapping. I'm told we sounded great, partly to the credit of Josh the Sound Guy, who placed the mics, rode the pots, and ground his teeth when a certain fiddler zoomed in and out of mic range. Sounded good to us on stage, too. A good sound system -- monitors and all -- meant that the tin whistle was right up there with the fiddle, and we could hear everyone up on stage.

So about 1 hour into our 90-minute set, the stage manager comes up between tunes and asks us if we can knock off a little early. Not the kind of request I usually like to hear. But he had a good reason -- and a few minutes later we were in the back of his Cushman cart and on our way to a date with Destiny; or more like a date with Dave Bender, the Channel 13 weather guy. Take a look at the clip at the KOVR 13 website! I figure we used up about 4 of our allotted 15 minutes of fame right there, and it may be the only chance we'll ever have to play backup for a tropical storm smacking into Texas off the Gulf of Mexico.

We'll be playing again on September 22 at Little Prague Bohemian Restaurant in Davis. Hope to see you there!

Fair Enough?

2007-08-12T14:25:00.001-07:00

We're putting the last touches on a series of reels, jigs, strathspeys, and songs to keep you feeling cool this Thursday, August 16, at the Yolo County Fair! Look for us between 4:00 and 5:30 at the East Stage. The Fair starts this Wednesday, August 15, and you can download a complete PDF list of entertainers directly from the Fair's Official Website (or click here for the HTML version).

The Fair's free (though parking isn't), the food can't be beat, and the weather forecast for Thursday shows a high of only 91 degrees. Okay, so you won't need a jacket -- but that's still pretty mild. Once 5:30 rolls around and we pack up our cases, you can walk right into the Exhibit Hall next door to watch the taffy puller or a slicer-dicer demo, enter a raffle or two, and pick up all of the latest pencils, stickers, and refrigerator magnets from a variety of county service providers, or go line up for some of those amazing tacos, roast beef sandwiches, or chicken and corn.

It's such a lovely way to spend the evening!

Fair Weather, Friends!

2007-07-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

"Fair weather" in Yolo County means the clear skies, sunshine, and dry heat of August -- just the sort of thing to make those awnings and exhibit halls at the County Fair seem that much more inviting!

Make sure to come by the Fair on Thursday, August 16 to catch Riggity Jig's afternoon performance. We'll be playing from 4 to 5:30 at the East Stage, just between the Arena and the Exhibit Hall. That's a good spot for refuge from the heat, with plenty of shade, a comfortable place to sit down, and cold drinks right nearby. And if your toes start tapping so much that you get the urge to jump to your feet and dance a quick jig, don't worry -- paramedics will be standing by.

The Yolo County Fair runs from August 15 though 19, 2007.

July 17 Benefit Reminder

2007-07-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

Angela Yee's benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is coming up Tuesday night at 5:30 at Sacramento's Pyramid Alehouse. Just $25 at the door, and validated parking in a city lot is free! Riggity Jig will provide the music, Pyramid will provide food and drink -- all you have to do is sweeten the pot with a little money for a good cause!

You can also donate directly to Angela online. Every donation helps!

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Benefit July 17

2007-06-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

We invite all Riggity Jig fans to enjoy good music for a good cause right after work on Tuesday, July 17. There will be a benefit show for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at 5:30 that evening at the Pyramid Alehouse in Sacramento. It's a cost/benefit kind of thing: the cost is $25 at the door ($20 in advance), and benefit is good music, food, and drink, and the knowledge that your money is going to a good cause. We're raising money to sponsor our friend and supporter Angela, who is in training for the Pacific Grove Triathlon coming up in September. The money she raises will go toward research into curing and preventing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and myeloma.

The Pyramid Alehouse event is a great opportunity for you to cool off (on what could conceivably be a warmish Sacramento day) before you continue to travel home in a sober and responsible way.

Mark your calendar today -- or better yet, email Angela for your advance tickets -- and we'll look for you there!

Gourd Festival, wedding, and into summer

2007-06-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

Since our last post, we played the Gourd Festival at Greg and Mary Leiser's ranch. That was loads of fun! We caught the very end of the Putah Creek Crawdads' act on Saturday and played to appreciative audiences both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

The Leisers had bins and bins of dried gourds of all shapes and sizes, and under huge, shady tents they hosted artists who were selling statues, boxes, birdhouses, marionettes, and more, all made from gourds. A number of artists also led workshops on how to clean, cut, and paint your own decorative gourds. I'd be out of my gourd if I didn't say most of these artists were out of my league, but it did make me want to try my hand at some gourd projects. Fortunately for me, the Leisers' ranch is just across the river from my house, so I plan to go back soon and find a suitable gourd. Guess you could say I've been bit -- cucurbit, that is -- by the gourd bug.

Another big event was Saturday, June 23, when our drummer Pat (Kelsey) Olson tied the long-distance knot with her sweetie Jouko Salo. "Long-distance" because Kelsey lives in Sacramento and Jouko lives in Helsinki, and they'll each stay put for the time being. Kelsey and Jouko are heavily into wireless communication, though, and with cell phones long-distance is much less of an issue these days -- at least in terms of billing. I don't know about cooing. I think this has maybe gone far enough for now, but please join the band in wishing Kelsey and Jouko many years of happiness! You can add your good wishes by adding a comment to this post.

We're looking forward to more opportunities to perform this summer, and will let you know as we fix dates.

Sacramento Valley Scottish Games

2007-04-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

The luck of the Irish to you on Friday the 13th!

Some of the Riggity Jiggers will be joining in for the fiddlers' jam at the Scottish Games in Woodland, April 28 and 29. It's a fun event with great music, a parade of Scottish beasts, and fantastic opportunities to spend American dollars on Scottish foods, goods, and crafts. I love to hear the skirl of the pipes. Some folks say the reason a bagpiper walks when he plays is that he's trying to get away from the awful noise, but I think it's that walking is the closest a player can come to dancing and still get music out of the thing.

Whether you're a pipe band enthusiast, a big weight-over-the-bar fan, or you just like the look of a manly skirt, you're sure to have a good time at the games.

Gourd Festival upcoming . . .

2007-04-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

Recent surveys confirm that many people who like Celtic music also have a fondness for large, dried, inedible vegetables. So what could be more natural than for Riggity Jig to play at the Fifth Annual Spring Gourd Art Festival, May 19 and 20, in Knights Landing?

Greg and Mary Leiser host the festival every spring at Greg Leiser Farms, where you can admire and buy gourds and gourd art, and even learn how to make gourd art for yourself. Mary grew up in the Northeast listening to Cape Breton music, so we'll do our best to remind her of those days.

All-day parking is $2.00, but admission is free and you can bring a picnic lunch or pick up a meal from an on-site vendor.

All in all, sounds like gourd, clean fun, no? Plan to make a day of it!

For more information, go to http://www.gourdfarmer.com/festival_2007 (somehow this won't work as a link, so just type it into your browser and take a look).

More from St. Patrick's Day

2007-03-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

What could be more fun than playing the night away on St. Patrick's Day?

Dave, Jim, Lee, Josh, and Pat are in recovery mode now, working on new material for our next gig. Thanks to everyone for coming out to hear us!

St Pat's 2007

2007-03-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Well, three-fifths of the band started out the day with a warm-up session at the Keegan and O'Sullivan St. Patrick's feast at the Maxwell Inn in bustling Maxwell, California. It's a big family-and-friends affair that's been going on for years, and we've played there once before. Many young dancers (2 to 6 years old) were there. Others who probably didn't start out the day feeling so young also joined in, and looked more youthful with every bouncing step! Thanks to the family for having us, the Maxwell Inn for a fantastic buffet, and most of all, Great-Grandmother Rose Ann Burns Lang, without whose genetic contribution I wouldn't be Irish at all.

On the way out of the Maxwell Inn, Lee had a surprise encounter with a bear. It's really not that uncommon in Maxwell. At first Lee was little startled, but it turned out after a brief conversation they realized they were actually related. You know, wasn't I just hearing that everyone's Irish on St. Paddy's Day? And so the bear grabs this huge pillow, gives it a squeeze, and buys Lee a drink. You just can't beat small-town hospitality.

Later on, the three-fifths drove down to Davis, picked up another fifth or two, and the whole band enjoyed great weather and a fine Saturday night crowd for St. Patrick's Day dinner at Little Prague in Davis! Great, great, great! Many thanks to the mysterious, small pair of step dancers (Are the wee folk about?), a dinner crowd that was happy to clap and shout at appropriate intervals, and Vaclav, Eva, and their crew who turned the cozy Czech restaurant into a C(z)eltic haven if just for the night. Oh, and many thanks from the band to the generous tippers who remember that, yes, applause is all very well and good, but by itself it don't put rosin on the bow (or bread on the table).

I'll post some shots of the Little Prague gig shortly. Til then, just look at the photo up at the top right of this page and imagine us all a year older: some taller, some balder, some . . . well, altered in shape. On second thought, let's not imagine that. You'll see when we get some new photos online.