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.

Jonny Williams and Lynette Marie Live OB

Well it's been a while since I last put finger to keyboard, but what an exciting time it's been.
I've managed to see some great acts recently including Montana Ash, Spur and Dean Austin.



But, on April 27th, I was fortunate to host a Live outside broadcast from the Blazing Saddles Country and Western Music Club in Torquay. Riviera FM were granted the opportunity to run an RSL (Restricted Service Licence) from April 17th through to April 30th. It gave us the chance to broadcast to the Torbay region on Fm radio, and an opportunity that was very well taken. With a host of shows that appealed to a wide range of listeners and some very entertaining outside broadcasts along the way from Smashy and Nicey's OB outside the Brixham Heritage Museum through to the Royal Garden Party at Cary Park, Babbacombe, to celebrate the Royal Nuptials between William and Kate. The other shows included a live OB from the Inn on the Quay, Goodrington, a Karaoke contest from the Dog and Duck, and a talent show hosted by Guy Henderson from the Rainbow Club in Torquay, in which my daughter Chloe performed on stage for the very first time, doing us all proud, with her rendition of Soft Cells 'Tainted Love'.



For the live show from Blazing Saddles, we were blessed with a truly great live act in the form of Jonny Williams and his lovely partner Lynette Marie. The show was predominantly a live music show, interspersed with interviews and comment, and gave me the chance to introduce the members of the Blazing Saddles and country music in itself to a wider audience.

Like I say the live act were fantastic. Jonny has been on the circuit for a number of years and had built up quite a following, bringing his own style of traditional and modern country music. He performs music his way, and doesn't change his repertoire to suit the dancers, although there were still plenty of people getting up on the floor, so it proves he's got the balance right. Lynette Marie on the other hand has only been performing live for about four years now, but you would think she had been performing a lot longer, such is the standard of her singing and guitar playing. They have both been performing together since last year, and what a grand couple they make.

Performing tracks like Tiger by the tail, Jackson, Streets of Baltimore, Train Medley,She loved the hurt right out of me, Milwaukee, here I come, Each season Changes you, Golden Ring and Just between you an me and a long list of others, there was a selection to please just about everyone. One of the briefs I gave myself when I started on Riviera Fm, was that I wanted to open country music up to a wider audience and to counter that old saying 'I don't like country music', which is bandied about alot, and answer it with 'you do like country music, you just don't realise it'. Jonny and lynette definitely helped strengthen that answer, with a performance and a presence that was second to none.





During the breaks I got to interview Roger Bennett, the man who does a grand job organising and running the Blazing Saddles, finding out a little about what make him tick. Unfortunately, due to time restraints, I couldn't ask him as much as I would have liked, so there is a very good chance of getting him in the studio in the near future for a more in depth interview. I also got to talk to Jim, a club member with strong idea's about country, and love for the music whether it be the old or new stuff. I also got to chat to some of the younger members of the club, kids in their teens, who also have strong views on country, and I must say talking to them fills me with joy that country music has and always will have a strong hold in this country.



Jonny Williams and Lynette Marie.



I also got to talk to Jonny and Lynette, and I'm hoping to get a full interview with them later in the year.



But one of the questions I did ask, was whether they write their own music, and got the reply that they don't have a lot of time at present and struggle at times with inspiration. Although looking at their schedule, it's understandable. The night before they had to rush from Wales to Norfolk to perform at short notice then rush back to Torquay for that nights show, then onto a host of other venues during the next few days. It made me think of  'Six days on the road' and 'I've been everywhere'. But I'm convinced we will hear some new stuff from them soon.



I did manage to get some feedback from various people about the show, and it all sounds very promising, so in the near future I'm hoping to let you all know what was said. However I would like to thank Roger and the members of Blazing Saddles for their hospitality, Jonny and Lynette for their performance and Gareth and Paul, the technical guys from Riviera FM for making the show possible.

Bye for now, but coming soon a write up on another evening at the club, and a performance by Kay D....