Serious Burns Unit

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

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

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

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!

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 . . .

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!

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!