Last weekend was blindingly hot, clear blue skies, lovely long warm weekends, the ideal time to have a BBQ party outside with a live band...

However, this is Rio 5 and the weather gods don't seem to like us very much, so we got lumbered with the weekend of 6th June to contend with the grey skies and the cold weather.

Our first outside gig of 2009, playing for Morton Stokes Ltd in Dronfield at their summer BBQ - our first corporate function, the first of many!

Again we had the time and space to set up, we got there at 2pm with the "medium-sized" sound rig (just the 2x 2KW amps) and set the show up on the back of a 24ft curtain-sided trailer, a cosy set-up really, sometimes when you see bands on the back of 40ft trailers they look a bit lost, but 24ft is just about perfect for lights, lasers, smoke and the band.

So we got the party started at about 8.30pm, shortly before the BBQ and bonfire started and the weather held off and the lucky people got to hear 2 new songs which we had only had a play through at the last practice, namely "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John and "Handbags & Gladrags" by The Stereophonics, both of which went very well. That's something like 8 new songs since the start of the year - with more to come.

With plenty in the pipeline and Christmas coming, things are looking good for Rio 5

Until next time, and there will be a next time

Rio 5!

Ha Ha! - Kev gets his own way for once (but probably just for one night)

I don't get, Avid Reader, how a venue can have such differing audiences between a Friday & Saturday night. Same bar staff, same beer, same location but Friday nights are busy, Saturdays are ok.

Anyway, the select audience who hadn't stayed at home to wait up til 3am to see Ricky Hatton get knocked out in the 2nd round (after you'd paid for it on Sky Box Office...) witnessed a minor mirarcle from Rio 5, three new songs; Drift Away, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Listen To The Music, and, AND we didn't play Mustang Sally! Could this be the begining of the end for that song? (Don't get me wrong, it has it's place at a party but lets put it out to pasture)

So new songs with more differentsongs to come, hopefully before the next gig which is The Grouse, Chatsworth Road on Fri 22nd May.

Oh and the survey is still open so you can help us choose what our new songs should be. Www.riofive.co.uk and click on survey

See you soon!

Boys, Girls, Other, we've got a question to ask. Just one.

What songs would YOU like Rio 5 to perform?

We've narrowed down a wishlist of 19 and now we want your help, pretty please.

Visit the site www.riofive.co.uk, click on "survey" and rate the songs.

The ones with the most votes will make it into the set, the ones without, we'll leave for other people to do.

Love you!
The Guys

Back with a vengence! (Us, not Elvis)

Firstly, apologies for the delay in writing the blog, been busy, but Fri 6th March saw Rio 5 make a glorious return to their new spiritual home, The Grouse on Chatsworth Road. The band the week before were "good at what they do" but all they did was Blues, Blues and more Blues, and they pretty much emptied the place, so we didn't have much to beat to be better, but we blew (no pun) them out of the water, twin lasers, 6 fantastic musicians, a brilliant collection of songs and a pub full of punters who were soon singing along, one bloke even said we were the best band he'd seen in The Grouse for 4 years, now, I've seen most bands around Town and we're good but not that good yet... (just you wait til 22nd May, oh yes) and we even managed to get Elvis in the building for a song!

We've got a bit of a gap now until the next gig, Ian is on holiday for most of April (jammie git) so we're back on it on 2nd May @ The County.

Until then, you can keep up with us on twitter (see top right) for regular updates and random ramblings from me and we've got 2,3,4 new songs to learn before then and cram into the set (I know what they are but I'm not saying)

One last thing, it was nice to see Daddy & Grandaddy Wilson out at the gig, cheers for turning up guys, Big 'Un's proper settled into this Father-lark, you could tell by the sensible jumper he was wearing. ;-)

Until next time!

and then there was 6... SIX!?

yes avid reader... Rio 5 are back as a 6-piece, welcoming Chris Aston onto bass & vocals and Martin the bus driver as another guitarist (alongside Ian). Some new songs and a refreshed Rio 5 made their comeback at The County, Chesterfield on Friday 13th, a date which is quite apt after the luck we've had over the past 8 months... And what a gig, I've never seen the pub so full, a few well-wishers and the w.a.g.s of course but a broad range of the general public who stayed the distance (including the girly party... mind that microphone!) Yes there are a few things we need to polish but I that's an indicator of things to come... bring it on Next gig is at The Grouse on 6th March

Well well boys and girls, it's been a long time since I've been writing on here so I'll bring you up to speed...

We've had a funny old summer, since playing at Ashford-in-the-Water a lot has changed in the land of Rio 5

Big Dave became a fully-fledged member of Debyshire's Finest AND he, and his good lady wife, Helen, became 1st time parents, with the arrival of Joel - many congrats to them.

This major life change meant Big 'Un had to change his priorities and he has opted to bring up his son, something that the rest of the band whole-heartedly agree with.

So the search was on for someone to step into the, not insubstanial, shoes of Big 'Un... we scoured the land, held numerous auditions and finally plumped for Dave Micklethwaite (it made sense as we wouldn't have to change the business cards) from Elsecar (oop North) and the plan was to play at The Grouse on Hallowe'en then...

Ian, the guitarist, decided to go playing badminton (?!) and managed to snap his achilles tendon (I think there's a lesson to be learnt here) and so, Hallowe'en had to be cancelled - much to our dismay.

Thats where we're at then, Ian in plaster and Big Dave changing nappies. We have got a couple of private functions lined up for December, hopefully there will be a pub gig in there soon, but really we are at the peril of Ian's foot. But 2009 is, at the moment, looking very rosy for Rio 5!

Rio 5 are now on Facebook

Boys, Girls, those that can't decide

Rio 5 now have their very own page on Facebook!

So if you want to keep up-to-date on whats happening in the world of Rio 5 - head over there and become a fan!

Simply type Rio 5 in the search box.

See you over there!

Ooooh it's just like Glastonbury

I'm seeing a pattern emerge when it comes to Rio 5 gigs, whenever we go out and play, it throws it down with rain! check the previous posts if you don't believe me...

So the idea of playing outside at Thornbridge Hall, Ashford-in-the-Water (no pun) for the NSPCC in the pouring rain, went down about as well as having to get up at 9am on your first Sunday off in 2 months... hmm

But it's an outdoor gig, in the country, in the fresh air and we don't have to take the PA system, so lets load up the van and get this show on the road.

That'll be a country lane then, a single track, to the wonderful place that is Thornbridge, a really nice country pile with a wonderful view over the peak district.

We were the first of 4 bands throughout the day, Rio 5, Junkyard Dogs, Frank White and Stoned Angels, so we had to deal with all the obstacles: the rain coming sideways, the lawn being sodden, the fact that there was only one side on the gazebo, I'm kinda glad we got there at 10.30am.

But a helpful groundsman found us some sheets of wood to put the drums on so Symon didn't sink into the quagmire, and an end for the gazebo and when that was sorted it was positively tropical, so we set up our mini kit, watching the rain come down in sheets, the boy scouts playing "splat the rat", listening to the brass band playing in the courtyard.

Then the best bit, rdf media were filming a documentary for Channel 4, I'll keep an eye out for it and let you know, and the host (some woman I didn't recognise in a pink dress) came and head a look, then we had to pause so they could record "a piece to camera" and then we rocked on!

Seriously, if the weather had been nice it would have been a wonderful gig, we enjoyed it and appreciate the people that stood their in their wellies with their umbrellas and applauded us, thankyou very much, and to South Yorkshire Entertainment for giving us the chance to play - then when we'd packed down and were coming home, the sun came out.