Jeez, I can't believe I've left it this long.

Jeez, I can't believe I've ...... Oh hold on, you've just read that. Message to self....stop repeating yourself.
But, it has been awhile and a lot has changed with the station. First of all, we've moved. No longer do we transmit from the top floor of Dot's Pantry in Torquay, but now we're Paignton above the Pad. I'll add the address on the next entry.
We have been off air since 21st July 2013, due to the extensive work being done on the new studio and the various problems that arise from a refit, but we are going to back on air on Dec 9th. YESSSSSSS.
Riviera Country's first show will be 3.00 - 5.00 pm on Friday the 13th......Gulp......NO NO NO I don't believe it's gonna be unlucky. With all the great country music to be played, how can it possibly be unlucky. The Sunday show is back on Dec 15th from 5.00 - 7.00 pm, and this will be the usual UK only show.
A new bit of kit we are going to have is the ability to record each and every show, so I'm hoping to be able to put the shows on this blog page for those who miss the original. I'm also planning on putting the playlists from each show on here as well, plus news from the local CMC's, festivals and weekenders we get in the area. All in all someone is going to be busy.
Anyway that's taster of what's to come, so make a note of this page and come back regularly.

Richard
Riviera County

Hi All

Well it's been a while since my last entry, and there's so much to tell, too much to say in this entry. However, I will be updating again very soon. In the next entry there will be news from Riviera FM, What happened with the licence application. Whats the latest news on the show, and news of the new direction the show has gone in. there will also be news from artists I have got to know and their music. There will also be news from the Blazing Saddles and the changes that have happened there.
And also news of events happening with the Station and the show.

Riviera FM 2O11

Bobby D Sawyer, Nashville comes to Torquay.

Bobby D Sawyer, Blazing Saddles, 18-5-2011.

Its nearly time to go back on air. The studio and offices are almost completed, the tech guys are going in the next few days to set all the equipment up, and we should be up and running by 1st June. It's definitely getting exciting. Our illustrious leader Martin Foster is currently working on the licence application, which has to be in by 21st July, so fingers crossed we should have the full licence by September.

On the Riviera Country side of things, well they just seem to be getting better all the time. I've been fortunate to meet some truly amazing artists, who've all agreed to be interviewed for the show, and hopefully if time allows to play some live sessions in the studio. It feels like I've become a part of the country music community, which I wouldn't have believed if it had been said a year ago, when I first started with Riviera FM.

Anyway, let me tell you about another great night at the Blazing Saddles in Torquay. On Wednesday 18th May, we were treated to a truly awesome night of music, provided by a son of Nashville, Bobby D Sawyer.

Now I had never met anyone who was actually from Nashville before, I've met people who've visited, or worked there, but never anyone who had been born and raised there, so for me it was a first, and I'll be honest, if all Nashville folk are like Bobby, I really would like to meet a lot more.
When I first met Bobby, the impression I got was of a quiet, humble man, very friendly and easy to talk to. He was the visitor at the club and HE made ME feel welcome. He told me of his home back in Nashville, of his work in the UK, of the fact that he is expecting his 2nd grandchild soon and that he spends 10 months of the year in the UK working and touring. You also get the feeling that you are talking to someone who is country through and through.

From the moment he got behind the mike though, you could tell straight away that he was at home performing, and that he know just what the audience wanted. Starting off the first set with Rodney Crowell's tribute Walk The Line, and then working through numbers like Whiskey under the bridge, I told you so, Folsom Prison blues, Cabo San Lucas, I may hate myself in the morning and a brilliant version of Billy Curringtons People are Crazy, he showed a range for a variety of country styles. Add a bit of western swing into the mix with There's too many pockets in my shirt, and the beautiful waltz number I loved her first, he showed he was at home with up-tempo songs as well as ballads.
During the first set he also played Rain check, which features on his album The measure of a man, and which was his first release as a single on US Country Radio.
The second set started with a couple of Zac Brown Band numbers As she's walking away and Knee deep in the water, and then included Guitars and Cadillac's, Good at drinking beer, Mama Tried, For the good times, A little less talk, a lot more action, Living on love and The big one. He showed what a natural performer he is and the humour in some of the songs was great. A couple of highlights from the second set for me was the changing of lyrics during Knee deep in the water to mention Torquay, a nice local touch, and the brilliantly performed For the good times, originally performed by Ray Price and written be Kris Kristofferson, Bobby did great credit to both men.
The third set started with How many flowers have to die, and continued on with High tone Woman, a track from his next album which sounds very Johnny Cash, Look at us, Cotton picking time, the humorous song Ticks, Someone must be feeling like a fool and a whole host of other songs. He started the evening with a Rodney Crowell song and so ended the night with another Loving all night.

All in all a fantastic night. Great music, performed by a great singer/guitarist. One of the things I did notice though, there seemed to be a feel good feeling running through the Blazing Saddles that night. Dance floor wasn't empty for long, everyone was smiling, it felt great to be there and be part of it.

Bobby, I believe we're all looking forward to you next visit.

To find out more about Bobby, check out his website http://www.bobbydsawyer.com/.

Bobby D Sawyer, Blazing Saddles, 18-05-2011.

The Highwaymen - Highwayman

Voice of an Angel, Cheek of the Devil

As promised here is the next thrilling installment of the Riviera Country blog, and it's about another night at the Blazing Saddles.

At the moment though, Riviera Country is not being broadcast due to the fact that we had to change address. We have now moved from the Plainmoor site to a more central location, atop Dot's Pantry, in Union Street, Torquay. The office and studio look much smarter, and the plan is to get all the equipment serviced, then set up ready for transmission to resume circa June 1st. Can't wait to be honest, I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms. I've had a few ideas for new features on the show, bringing back the Three of the Best section, and doing some more biographies on Sunday's, and after hearing a comment from a listener, bringing in some more up to date modern music. I am also getting close to the point where I'll be able to do an entire show consisting purely of UK based talent. And one of the artists that will feature is a young lady I saw the other week at the Blazing Saddles, Kay D.

A lovely young lady who is very popular on the country music circuit, Kay D has the sort of singing voice you could just listen to all day. She has a voice that would be at home in any country music venue in the States as well as the UK. She sings in a very crystal clear fashion, and does justice to a huge range of different artists.

During the set she covered songs by artists like Patsy Cline, Patty Loveless, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Dixie Chicks, Carlene Carter and Dolly Parton.
Among the songs covered were Blue, People are Crazy, Messed up in Memphis, Man on the Moon, Down at the Twist and Shout, Whose bed have your boots been under, Need you now, This Heartaches on me, Blue rose is, American Honey, Ride the river, Walking after midnight, 57 Chevrolet and Home to Louisiana.

It was a very polished performance, and to think she wasn't actually booked that night. The band originally booked couldn't make it, and Kay D filled the position, and mighty lucky for all the members and guest that she did. It was a memorable night and I'm looking forward to her next visit to Torquay on December 7th. Not least because she has kindly agreed to come into the studio on the 9th for an interview on air, (hopefully we will have got the full licence by then and broadcasting on FM), but to also play some acoustic tracks live for all the listeners. I know the show at the Blazing Saddles is going to be a good one, and the studio session, definitely a must listen to.

Something that we didn't hear during the show, which was a shame, but does appear on her albums, is some of her own work. on the album Let er rip, there is a self penned song called Irony. If this song is anything to go by, she has a promising future doing her own music as well the cover songs.
If you would like to know more about Kay D, and about her touring dates check out her website www.kayd.moonfruit.com .

Back soon with a write up of another top artist at the Blazing Saddles Bobby D Sawyer.
See ya soon.