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British bikes from the 50's & 60's with clip-on handlebars & single seats, evoking memories of rock'n'roll, rockers and coffee bars. We play hot rhythm & blues from this golden era, with just a little rock'n'roll on the side…just for good measure.
Deal or no Deal
COULD THIS BE THE START OF OUR COMEBACK TOUR OF KENT...... ?
Three or four years ago, Tony & I used to gig regularly as an acoustic guitar & bass duo, at a restaurant in Deal called Alleycatz. Not so much dinner jazz as dinner R&B.....hmmm!
In fact it used to go down well with the diners and as often as not, Brian who owned the restaurant would join us towards the end of the evening on drums, once his cheffing duties were over.
Anyway, he's been back in touch and we're playing The Deal Hoy in Duke Street with him on Wednesday 30th July. Should be fun - see you there!!
Water below, water above. Thankfully none in between: let's keep it that way
RECENT GIGS HAVE HAD AN AQUATIC THEME FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER
Well, we (more than) survived our first outing on Turks launches, playing for a major birthday party for a great couple: John & Bryony, and their guests. We went down well (in the sense of being enjoyed rather than physically sinking) and everyone had a good time. The usual advice is ‘don’t rock the boat’ but sometimes there’s no alternative!
That evening was closely followed by an appearance at the fabulous Surrey Oaks Beer Festival. It’s an outdoor gig, but with the usual poor British weather, most of the bank holiday Saturday was spent wondering if the heavens would open as the evening progressed. Ken had dispensed with the “all weather stage’ (a gazebo thingy) on the basis that it might blow away in the wind, so we were left to brave the elements. Once again (we’ve been in this situation a few times, now) we managed to get right the way through the evening without getting seriously wet, or even more seriously…electrocuted, but it was touch and go for a while (getting wet, not getting electrocuted). Another great evening, but if you missed it don’t fret: there’s always the August bank holiday beer festival to look forward to, again with Café Racers playing on the Saturday night (23rd Aug.). Maybe….just maybe…… it’ll be warm & dry. It’s not that much to ask is it?!
Preparations are gathering pace now for our appearance at the Fete de Musique in the South of France. We’ve dusted off the passports, booked the ferry and have started drinking pastis, eating cassoulet and wearing berets in training for the task ahead of us. Oh, and we’ve put together a cracking set list for the night. At least in Provence we should be assured of decent weather for playing outdoors on the 21st. Our good friend Doogy has stepped in to play drums for us as Rudy has other commitments………we’re really looking forward to it and hope to see some of you there!
Cafe Racers at the Surrey Oaks May Beer Festival
CAFE RACERS BOOKED FOR THE MAY BEER FESTIVAL AT THE SURREY OAKS, NEWDIGATE
The Surrey Oaks May Beer Festival is simply unmissable - a fantastic choice of great beers, a wonderful pub, fabulous weather (speaking as an optimist) and on Saturday night (24th) Cafe Racers are there, playing al fresco, to really get the festival going from 8:00 in the evening.
So come along and enjoy some fantastic rhythm & blues and great ales on the 24th May. And don't forget there's a brilliant curry house opposite the pub if you get peckish.
See the link below for more information about the festival, and check out our 'on the road' page for details & a map
Cafe Racers to deliver ' l'entente amicable '
CAFE RACERS ASKED TO PLAY AGAIN AT THIS YEAR'S FETE DE LA MUSIQUE DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND
We've played at the fete de la musique in Les Arcs sur Argens twice before - 2006 & 2007 - always on 21st June.
Apparently 'Les Rosbeef's' were received so well last year that we've been asked to play again this year.
This is excellent news - any excuse to enjoy the great weather, food, wine in the South of France. And the audiences there are wonderful: they really show their appreciation of the music.
Cafe Racers takes to the water
TURKS LAUNCHES, RUNNING RIVER BOAT TRIPS ON THE THAMES HAVE ESTABLISHED CAFE RACERS AS THEIR BAND OF CHOICE FOR R&B
Cafe Racers has its first booking for a private party on a Turks riverboat. It's a spot-on gig as, back in the heady days of the early 70's our very first public gig was on a riverboat. I still recall grabbing the metal handrail to steady myself while playing and getting an electric shock through my guitar. Actually it wasn't that serious - more of an electric surprise rather than shock. Even so, maybe I should play in rubber gloves next Wednesday! See the Link below for Turks, to see how you can book a private party on a Thames riverboat (with us playing, of course!)
What some fans will do.......
AUSTRALIAN FAN TRAVELS 11,000 MILES TO SEE CAFE RACERS IN NORFOLK
What amazing loyalty. We are alerted to the news that an Ozzie fan is travelling all the way from Sydney to Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk just to see the band play, this coming Thursday. Hopefully she'll bring her blues didgeridoo & get up & jam with us.
We're playing at the Lord Nelson - a lovely pub in this tiny but historically significant village: for here it was that the young Horatio first entered the world. Not in the pub, obviously......
It's always a fun night at the Nelson so come along, have a pint or two of Wherry or Abbott and enjoy some scorching rhythm & blues.
Alright........ the Ozzie fan is actually my sister, but that doesn't detract from the effort she's putting in to see us. Or at least it wouldn't if she wasn't going to be in North Norfolk anyway that day!! Still, should be a great gig in any case. See you there.
Forget the London Carnival - come along to see Cafe Racers at the Surrey Oaks Beer Festival
The Surrey Oaks August Beer Festival is something you don't want to miss and this year all the elements are there for a fantastic event. The weather has turned, just in time to remind us that we can have a summer in England in August. The choice of beers is staggeringly (!) good and on Saturday night (25th) Cafe Racers are there, playing al fresco, to really get the festival going from 8:00 in the evening.
So forget the London Carnival - the crowds; the jerk chicken that's burnt outside and raw inside; the watery Red Stripe and the endless reggae and come and enjoy some fantastic rhythm & blues and great ales this Saturday evening. And don't forget there's a brilliant curry house opposite the pub if you get peckish.
I knew I'd seen him before, somewhere!
THANKS TO THE GIG AT THE BEEHIVE BEING CANCELLED, TONY HAS HAD TIME TO MOONLIGHT BY APPEARING IN THE SIMPSONS!
It was a shame about The Beehive - we took a call in the week before the gig, cancelling it. Apparently they'd had complaints from residential neighbours about the level of noise & been visited by the environmental people. All live music was cancelled with immediate effect, and our gig was an early casualty. That's life, move on. We'll be playing in the Hemel area soon, most probably at the Oddfellows Arms - keep an eye on the 'On the Road' page for an announcement & details, soon.
Latest News - 21st May
Following last week's hot news, we've had a flurry of emails to info@cafe-racers.co.uk from visitors to the site. Helpfully, there have been suggestions of numbers we could incorporate into the act, to accompany the flame-throwing routine (see news item, below). These include: Light My Fire by the Doors; Jet by Wings; Disco Inferno by the Trammps; Can't Sit Down by the Dovells and best of all: Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash!
Okay, okay enough of our adolescent humour and on to the important news!
On Thursday, we're playing at The Hurtwood Polo Club, near Ewhurst - see the gigs page for details & a map. It's a fantastic venue - the clubhouse is a wonderful converted barn, and it's sure to be a great evening - come along & say hello.
Latest News - 13th May
No need for a drum stool this week as Rudy will be standing up to play. He forgot the golden rule - 'never throw away a match having passed wind after drinking 1/2 litre of fine, home-made pastis'. Mon Dieu! What was he thinking of? Has the boy never heard of roasted chestnuts?
Less inflamatory news this week: we're in the rehearsal studio working on yet more great tunes to include in our stage act. Also, we're working on a new Gallery page: assembling lots of shots of the band etc. from present & past....and believe me, when I say past I mean: past-it! We've got archive shots going back to the mid-70's.
Student Project
SESSIONS IN STUDIO [6TH MARCH 2007]
We have spent three all-night sessions in the studio laying down some blues tracks for a project by some students: Anjeli & two others, all studying music production & studio engineering at the acclaimed SAE Institute in London. We get a free recording session; Anjeli & co get closer to graduating. Now that the individual instrument & vocal tracks are laid down, it's down to Anjeli's & her colleagues mixing and mastering skills. We are eager to hear the results & will post some MP3's on the site as soon as we have them.
Quick Update
SOME QUICK NEWS [SAT 20TH JAN 07]
Hi, Just a quick update on what's going on in 2007. We are currently re-constructing our website www.cafe-racers.co.uk to freshen it up and to also add our French connection information. Our gig diary is now available and you can expect some great new arrangements we have been working on recently geared towards giving you the audience a good night out, Whether you decide to dance or sit it out, we guarantee you won't be able to stop those feet tapping away. New Toys include: a lightweight PA system for keeping in France and a new fretless rockbase made by Warwick. I have been impressed with this instrument, considering it was only £300 (no extra charge for being left handed) from the Bass Cellar in Denmark Street, it has a great tone range and seems as well constructed as my German built Warwick Basses at 6 times the price. Clever these Chinese. That's it for now, Tony C. ps The jack socket fell off the guitar last night, at rehearsal! Shoddy workmanship I say.
Who are we ?
Café Racers are: Dominic Buck: lead guitar and vocals, Tony Caesari: bass guitar and Rudy Dumortier: drums. The partnership of Dominic and Tony goes back over 3 decades, having originally been involved in the 70s and 80s rock & beat scene. More recently they've contributed to the revival of 'old-school' R&B playing their unique interpretation of many standards and classics along with original material.
Our Energy
Café Racers are at their best keeping music live, performing energy charged gigs in bars, pubs, clubs, & festivals. The band is renowned as a 'power trio' providing an adaptable repertoire to suit all occasions - even 'unplugged' for restaurants. The band is based in England but also performs regularly at established venues in the South of France courtesy of the French Connection: Rudy, who comes with a very impressive portfolio.
Heed the beat! Come and experience 'Energy-charged Rhythm and Blues' at one of our listed gigs. Whether you come to listen or to dance, you won't be disappointed.
Links:
Bookings/Info:- Telephone: 07970 478044 | E-mail info@cafe-racers.co.uk to get on our mailing list | Free Demo Disc from info@cafe-racers.co.uk
