THE RIFF RAFF
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THE RIFF RAFF

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Press


"The Riff Raff"

BBC Radio1 Introducing programme for glastonbury, 25 Bands from across the BBC networks descend upon Glastonbury Park Stage. The best place to see new music that will definie next years calendar. The stage will be headlined by The Ting Tings and The Riff Raff and a whole host of other acts selected by a BBC panel of Radio1 DJ's. - NME Magazine


"BBC Radio1 Introducing- The Riff Raff"

"ONE OF THE MAIN HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BBC INTRODUCING NEW MUSIC RADIO1 STAGE @ GLASTONBURY, TRULY ENTERTAINING AND WELL WORTH GOING TO SEE THEM LIVE, LEGENDS IN THE MAKING" - BBC Radio1


"The Riff Raff"

“ On this December day the doors of a small auditorium are flung wide open. Five young men and one woman are belting out modern ska-inflected, post punk anthems against a backdrop of leopardskin sofas, glitterballs and Native American ornaments. They are the Riff Raff, one of a growing number of young British bands who have benefited in these tough times from facilities and advice provided by Strummerville.." - The Times Newspaper


"The Riff Raff"

"BEAUTIFULLY COMPLEX MELODIES, DEFINITELY THE NEW SOUND" - Sir Paul McCartney @ L.I.P.A


"The Riff Raff"

- KRIS NEEDS :"A JOYOUS STORM SHOT WITH THE KIND OF DIVERSE MUSICAL STRAINS WHICH SEEM INTEGRAL TO ARTISTS AFFILIATED WITH THE STRUMMER CAMP" - MOJO Magazine


"Strummerville"

One of the young bands that are still carrying the flame of Joe Strummer, thanks to backing from the charity Strummerville, set up in memory of the punk visionary and supported by friends including Damien Hirst and Billy Bragg. Bands such as The Riff Raff have benefited from Strummerville’s network of live events and rehearsal spaces. - The Independent Newspaper


Discography

Debut album set for release 2011, previous demo songs have been featured across the BBC Radio1 network and have received significant airtime on independent radio stations in the U.S including East Village Radio with support from the Introducing New Music team championed by Huw Stephens and Rob Da Bank.

XFM have featured 'My blood is brave' as record of the week John Kennedy.

Steve Le mac has featured 'My blood is brave' as record of the week on BBC6 Music.

The band have been invited into Maida Vale to record live sessions for colin murray, huw stephens and rob da bank. all of which aired on BBC Radio1.

The band featured as part of the Electric proms bbc radio1 programme.

Photos

Bio

The Riff Raff Biography

“I’m unafraid; we’ve come of age”
(Lyrics taken from ‘My Blood Is Brave’)

The Riff Raff’s sound captures your attention. Masterful in combination, intelligent wordplay weaves throughout four-piece vocal harmonies, infectious melodies and intricate string/guitar arrangements.

“Beautifully complex melodies, definitely the new sound” –Sir Paul McCartney

Growing up in the Midlands, the prevalent Punk, Ska, and Two Tone scenes with Terry Hall and Gerry Dammers making regular appearances, left a lasting impression on The Riff Raff lead singer/songwriter Alex Thompson. Alongside John Peel’s radio show as a heavy source of inspiration.

With first performances on the illegal/free party scene in the midlands, Alex went on to study at Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Music Institute where he met a writing partner in the form of vocalist/ multi-instrumentalist, Harry Robinson. Post education the pair pieced together a live band from friends including Paul Noels guitar, drums and bass with added instrumentation when required. Writing partnerships with Kelli Blanchett gave rise to a series of songs played heavily on French radio across the board. After setting up home studio the band focused efforts on independently releasing not only there music but collecting a movement of artists around them whilst taking advantage of new technology and the online social networking boom.

In 2007, via the web, early recordings spread and created a buzz that found its way to BBC Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank, who became the first person ever to play an early demo of ‘So Long’ on National radio. The Riff Raff were then invited to record a live set at Maida Vale studios and further support from Huw Stephens, Colin Murray and the BBC Introducing team propelled the band into being asked to headlining Radio 1’s ‘Introducing’ stage at Glastonbury alongside The Ting Ting’s, in national press and live coverage. Performances swing from the raucous energy of ‘Fins in the Dark’ and ‘Changes Everything’, to the beautifully introspective and majestic ‘In a Recession’ with further tracks like ‘Rolling in the Mud’ and ‘NYC loves LDN’ - executed to perfection. Performances across the summer’s festivals culminated in a steamy set at Bestival, a further Maida Vale live recording and an invitation to play a coveted spot at the BBC Electric Proms in London. Following the Electric Proms the Riff Raff were offered a place on the BBC proms live touring around the UK’s top venues with Radio1.

New material attracted the prestigious support of Joe Strummer’s New Music Foundation- ‘Strummerville’ and guidance from some of the most famous and prestigious names on the planet. ‘My Blood Is Brave’ was recorded at Trevor Horn’s studio SARM West and featured in the charities advertising campaign and live programme at festivals throughout the summers.

The buzz around the band spreading abroad independently was inevitable, with huge support in Paris and France infiltrating Europe was a natural progression. A recent strong inclusion in Grammy Award winning director Don Letts new project based around the charities support programme for bands led to a SXSW trip to Austin Texas early in 2010. The Riff Raff travelled down from New York with East Village Radio and have gained firm support from the station with big plans to be announced in coming months. A recent invitation from the Happy Mondays to record in Manchester at Moolah Rouge studios with the Factory and Hacienda family have set the project up on a new tangent for a debut album at the end of 2010. With a New York tour approaching in October including dates with East Village Radio at CMJ Music Marathon and planned release of NYC loves LDN via EVRecords the band are are perched on the edge of the mountain and 2011 will be the tipping point.

A FEW PRESS QUOTES:

-THE INDEPENDENT- One of the young bands that are still carrying the flame of Joe Strummer, thanks to backing from the charity Strummerville, set up in memory of the punk visionary and supported by friends including Damien Hirst and Billy Bragg. Bands such as The Riff Raff have benefited from Strummerville’s network of live events and rehearsal spaces.

- COLIN MURRAY- BBC RADIO1:"DIGITAL KINGS- PERSONAL FAVOURITES’

- KRIS NEEDS @ MOJO MAGAZINE LIVE REVIEW:"A JOYOUS STORM SHOT WITH THE KIND OF DIVERSE MUSICAL STRAINS WHICH SEEM INTEGRAL TO ARTISTS AFFILIATED WITH THE STRUMMER CAMP"

- SIR PAUL MC CARTNEY @ LIPA:"SPEAKING ABOUT 'SO LONG'; "BEAUTIFULLY COMPLEX MELODIES, DEFINITELY THE NEW SOUND"

- HUW STEPHENS- BBC RADIO1:"ONE OF THE MAIN HIGHLIGHTS OF THE '07 BBC INTRODUCING NEW MUSIC RADIO1 STAGE @ GLASTONBURY, TRULY ENTERTAINING AND WELL WORTH GOING TO SEE THEM LIVE, LEGENDS IN THE MAKING"

- ROB DA BANK- BBC RADIO1: "IF THEY ARENT DAYTIME BY NEXT YEAR ILL EAT MY OWN PONYTAIL"

- TIMEOUT MAGAZINE: "POP HOODLUMS"

- THE TIMES NEWSPAPER- (snippet taken from front cover of music section inter