Burns Night Update -- The Pipes Are Coming!

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!

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!

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

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?

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!

"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

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!