Joomla! site syndication http://www.tonyrigby.co.uk Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:21:51 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.tonyrigby.co.uk/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png http://www.tonyrigby.co.uk Joomla! site syndication http://www.tonyrigby.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=40 Well...hello again everyone..no excuses,I just haven't been motivated really to update this site. I don't know why....But I'm back on the case now. I see-with horror--that the last time I wrote anything it was snowing ! -and Georgette jones was due to visit me in the studio. She didn't turn up,nor was there a call from the band member who arranged her visit--not even a phone call. It seemds that some corny story about unfilled -out work permits was put out as an excuse, but the real reason I find,was that an agent had stepped in at the last minute and miss Jones played a very lucrative tour in Ireland instead,leaving everyone else in dear old England to sit and twiddle thumbs. I wish Miss Jones every success in her profitable ventures...but please,don't call me to interview,watch,or even acknowledge her future possible visits to the midlands eh ? Ah well...on another tack,I have been wondering about country music in general..and worrying. Alan Jackson wrote about "murder on music row"..the words are horribly prophetic...All I see,for the best part of my visits to country shows,are single artists working to backing tracks (o k in a pub,or small bar) but at large clubs ? Perhaps there is a male/female duo that LOOK promising....and you realise that (say) the lady is purporting to play keyboards(in reality another backing track) and the male posturing along with multi tracked backing voices,often without having his guitar plugged in (I once -recently sat through the first half of a set with the guy playing excellent lead breaks not realising that at some point he had stood on his lead and was plainly cheating ...the lead was 3 feet away fer crissakes ! ) And then pay 35 pounds($50) to go to a BIG country festival.travel miles..--..to see 70's bands headlining.! ! ,They are polished,yes...but ANYTHING to do with country ?....NO ! Now ,don't get me wrong, I like lots of different kinds of music...but if i go to see Status Quo, then I really don't want to listen to "waltz across Texas" or "Settin the woods on fire"by them. Ergo,if I go to a country music festival,i don't want a re-run of recycled 60's and 70's pop bands on (even if there ARE more than one original members in the band)...."Old Hank wouldn't stand a chance on today's radio" is immortal to me,thank you Mr Jackson. And there ,I think, is the reason for my lacksadasicle approach of late to this blog..journal..whatever you want to call it....so now I will stop moaning. Because,despite all the downside...the still are some decent hard working bands out there...working for relative peanuts..downsized perhaps from 6 to 4 members, on the road,struggling to keep live, genuine country music going. I wish them well...and there is an open invitation to call me,or visit the radio station and tell everyone about upcoming dates,record releases...etc. the number to call is 0121(if you are outside Birmingham) 374 2891.....or e mail me..on this site or at "bigcity radio . org.uk" tell me about your experiences,dates,gigs..how you see country music going etc...as you must already know,the radio broadcast is on Wednesday evenings from 7 pm till 9 pm...type it into your p c and listen in....call me...write to me..just get the meaning and quality of the music across. To my friends across the Atlantic in the U S A who get in touch...thank you for your messages and words of support...in fact thank you to EVERYONE who takes the time and trouble to write...it means a lot to me. Now I promise not to fill this journal up with repeated complaining articles.I WILL try to keep it positive..but please ........give me something positive to write about...Tell me of your festivals...your gatherings...your thoughts on "our " music. the big record companies can't have it all there own way ..and only by keeping it live and developing can WE keep it alive and kicking. keep safe and well everyone Tony News - Latest Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:52:39 +0100 http://www.tonyrigby.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64 Hello again everyone,just to update you on what's happening tonight on the show..(Big City radio 89.1fm 7-9 pm Wednesday evenings).. WELL......following a conversation I had with the organiser, it was arranged that the guitarist and a female backing singer from Georgettes band were to appear on last weeks show,but--understandably--due to the snow and awful conditions of the roads in Brum,they called to say they couldn't attend. O K ..fair enough. BUT....I haven't heard a word since...so now i'm not sure that the eagerly awaited Georgette Jones will even attend tonight. That would be a shame,as for the last few weeks i have been promising my listeners that the lady would appear,exciting great interest, as has been said to me on my visits to the various country music clubs in and around Brum. Let's see eh ? ..........I,for one, would be saddened to have been misled by promises never kept. Anyway..on a personal front,things are going pretty well, I have some interest in the newest songs I have written and I hope to get them down on disc pretty soon for perusal by the good and great,let's see where that goes eh ?..I have been toying with the idea of creating a little spot on the show whereby if I have a germ of inspiration for a song,then I would bring my guitar into the studio,play the (believe me) roughest of "cuts" to air the song,then,as I develop the song in my spare time,bring it into the studio each week to show HOW a song gets written,refined,and adding bits each week--like the drum track,backing vocals, middle 8 etc (or bridge)...what do you think ? would that be of interest to anyone ?It would be nice to get feedback on that. My bro Phil came along a few months ago,out of curiosity to see how a radio station works...and has been with me ever since !........... He is a GOLDMINE of facts and figures,researching all the artists ,sorting out new and up-and -coming artists, new material,and mooches around in the attic for forgotten gems of country music for me to play,and the listeneres to enjoy. How he finds the time and energy baffles me.. But I can only say a heartfelt "thanks Phil" for the effort you put in to making this show a unique experience in country radio.......And i qualify that by asking where else would you get to hear such a variety of artists like Slaid Cleeves,Ferlin Husky,the Stanley Brothers.a war chant from the Mescalero Apache tribe,---and Jim Reeves in 15 minutes of airtime ?.....'nuff said eh ? Well folks,I will see what tonight brings re Georgette Jones (or not)...keep it country,keep safe,and if you feel like dropping me a line ,you can do that via my website "www tonyrigby.co.uk".....or call me at the radio station on 0121 37 42 891, or e mail me at the staion "bigcityradio.org.uk" Tony Rigby - Tony Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:00:21 +0100 http://www.tonyrigby.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63 At last I have been able to get back into the site after a LOT of problems. Still,I'm not going to dwell on that...the REAL news is that "aston fm" has changed to "BIG CITY RADIO"STILL ON 89.1 FM..you can call me at the station if you like,the telephone number is 0121-37-42-891...better yet, you can switch your computer on,go to "bigcityradio.org.uk" press the "listen here" bit--and presto,you can tune in anywhere in the world !. as well as send messages. It has been a shame that we were off line for the last few weeks,but teething problems do occur in any new set up......AND.. Johnny Cash's band "The Tennessee Three" are appearing in Birmingham soon,and I have a very good chance of interviewing at least one member before they perform....am i looking forward to that !..as it happens,--it's the 14/10/09 now folks,I have some tickets to see this legendary band on the 21st October ,which I will be giving away to anyone who calls me at the studio between 7pm-- 9pm and can tell me what Johnny Cash's backing band is called !...Truly ! I will keep you all abreast of what is happening people. Keep your comments coming,and enjoy the show ...remember it's pure country music I play folks,keep safe .Tony Rigby Tony Rigby - Tony Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:38:03 +0100 http://www.tonyrigby.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57 Hello again everyone..I have had problems accessing and updating,but it's all sorted now ..Lots to tell you,but first I want to thank you for leaving messages-it's especially nice to get words of encouragement from the U.S.A i.e starry skize,bender,and max ,who took the time and trouble to say a few words.Thank you people. Please ,feel free to write again. Just so you know,I have struggled with a shoulder accident I had 18 months ago,and,despite repeated cortisone injections,physio, and generally trying to ignore it, the time has come to admit defeat,and have an operation to fix this wing.A lot of sleep disturbed nights,pain killers and cusses will hopefully cease after this (I'm told) relatively small op. I wonder if it will make me a better guitar player ?hmmm jury is out on that one ! O K..First of all,gigs are tight. With so much doom and gloom around economically,the clubs/venues are cutting down on what i think is the one thing that would help boost sales -live music ! Still,they know what they have in the kitty bank,and we can only hope that things get turned around ,and work picks up for everyone sooner rather than later. On the songwriting side,well..I'm here again ! Another set of 10 songs ready to go into the recording studios with,all fired up and keen to go ..Personally,I think that I am slowly improving with the sentiments/emotions and yes,a little bit of humour in there somewhere too. Of course,only those who get to hear the songs can really say for sure.-Hey,it would be nice to get some feedback on that folks ! Despite the little problems Iv'e mentioned,lots of good,positive things are happening too. It looks very much as if I shall be teaming up with Mike and Kate Newey ,who own and run the Neon studios in Burntwood.Staffs. -WOW ! --what a place ! Absolute state-of -the-art studios,rehearsal rooms,-it's even got a cafe so starving musicians can get some grub as they slog away. It doesn't get much better. The idea is to invite other musicians to jam in and see if a band can be formed,with the intention of stating specifically to club / venue organisers that -Yes, we WILL do a number of "covers" but there will also be just as much new song content too. Everyone--me included--like to go and sit,relax,and listen to songs we know...but where the heck do new songs come from unless bands write 'em and sing 'em ?...unless of course they are signed up to a major lable and on that production line,label approved conveyor belt...I won't go there right now. On another tack,I was delighted to be invited to our local radio station"Aston FM" to be interviewed by Mr Darren Yates,who jocks the 2 hour country show between 7-9 pm on Wednesday nights..He flattered me by playing about a dozen of my songs throughout the show,chatting along in between songs etc..-and played me one of my all time favourite tracks by Hoyt Axton -"Della and the dealer"--great to hear that again,(and an odd coincidence,because I had only two days previously unearthed the album of his "A rusty old halo"and resolved to play it through at the earliest opportunity....hmm) The radio station can be got via the internet of course,just type in "aston fm " and presto-your'e in ! I don't know what went wrong on this occasion though, as since then people have told me they tried to text in,and call on the phone too,asking for songs etc to be played,probably something awol with the system right then,but I'm sure that it is all o. k. now. I shall be updating more regularly from now on folks,but please,feel free to write if you have a mind to,it's always a pleasure to hear from like-minded people. Oh,I should say that if anyone wanted to get copies of the songs I do,then the advertised price of them is WRONG..I don't know how that happened,but...ah well,worse things happen at sea,so they say..just drop me a line,and I will be happy to arange delivery,-and a sensible price- of course. I will stop for now folks.keep safe and happy Tony News - Tony Rigby Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:18:22 +0100 http://www.tonyrigby.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56 Hello everyone..Lots of things happening just lately. The organisers of Americana (Brian Duggan) kindly offered a spot on the singer/songwriter section of the festival,and to say it was nerve jangling wouldn't really convey my feelings as I went out onto main stage at around 10 am to get a "feel" of the stage..--it's bl*****y well ENORMOUS !....As it IS England,5 minutes before I was to go on (yep,I was first on! ) the heavens opened,and it bucketed down. People (not unnaturally) ran for cover,and I fully expected to be singing to an empty field...but around 100 die-hard souls had wrapped plastic around them,brollies,wellies and all,and stuck it out(bless 'em for doing so ), after all, this is their festival,and NOTHING was going to deter them from having the best time they could. ....It was over all too quickly,and a great time was had ..thanks for the spot,Brian. On another note,the very popular radio D J Mr PAUL WEST of " hope fm " based in Bournmouth is doing me the honour of an interview this coming Sunday at eight 'o clock in the evening,he is very well known for his enthusiastic support and broadcasting of country music,and it would be nice if YOU lovely folk out there joined us,if not directly on the radio,then on the computer. I met Paul (and his charming partner) last week,and i can't tell you how kindly I was treated by them both..fed, watered, listened to...encouraged..--what people .! --..in my opinion, typical of the very people that ARE interested in country music.....And we spoke of the way the media generally ignores what is,truth be told--an ENORMOUS amount of public who travel miles and miles,attend festivals to rival Knebworth in size, people who genuinely LOVE country music.....what do you see on the news ?--yep..that's right--ZIP...nada ,..nothing about it...as if 25,000 people gathered for a 3 day festival ( 120,000 in 3 days at Americana) just isn't happening. ! it is AMAZING how ignored we are ! I suppose if there were lots of trouble,or dozens were arrested for using drugs then perhaps we would be "newsworthy"....hmmm there are times when I get so annoyed because of --at best--the only mention given to us country fans is done in a sniggering,mickey -taking -look - down -your --nose-kind of way...thank heaven for the D J's like Paul West who give us airtime and respect..(..oh gawd--I just realised Iv'e been on my soapbox)..ahem...sorry about that folks. To close this ,I just HAVE to mention that a song I have written and recorded,has just hit no 36 in the "hot disc 100 " charts...this is a country music promotion chart,run by Mr Stuart Cameron. You can check the site out anytime,at hotdisc.net ,it is as easy as that..........Needless to say,I am as pleased as punch to do so well with this song,a song that kind of reflects the way I and a lot of others feel about the knife crime currently favoured by a section of our community...Anyway friends,I have rambled on enough. I will update the site as things happen,...keep safe...and keep it country yours Tony Tony Rigby - Tony Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:09:30 +0100