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!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Gourd Festival, wedding, and into summer
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.
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.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Sacramento Valley Scottish Games
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Gourd Festival upcoming . . .
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).
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).
Saturday, March 24, 2007
More from St. Patrick's Day
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!
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!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
St Pat's 2007
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.
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.
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