A little-known music venue is expanding after just six months - with huge names from the music industry lining up to perform there. The Riff Corner in Old Church Road, Clevedon opened in a former 19th-century temperance cafe where alcohol was banned last September.
The bar, a modern-day version of a Chicago 1920’s speakeasy, is the brainchild of lifelong musician, Steve Treble. The 60-year-old opened The Riff Corner with business partner Sylvie Dagaillier who also own Bristol's Fringe live music bar in Clifton Village for 11 years, reports Somerset Live.
They spent months transforming the former office supplies unit, which was a temperance cafe in the late 1800s, into a music venue .The quirky bar now has guitars hanging from the walls and a 1960’s jukebox.
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This week saw Reef guitarist Jack Bessant and Massive Attack drummer Damon Reece take to the stage. Appearing later this month is the Fruit Jazz Ensemble, featuring Kasabian drummer Ian Matthews and John Baggott, a keyboard player who has worked with Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and Scottish rock band The Waterboys.
The venue also welcomes a number of high level session musicians from across the industry. Steve said: “We are getting a lot of interest from some big players in the music industry all keen to play at the Riff Corner.
“The bar has a great vibe and every week is busier than the last.” The venue offers music six days a week and is now planning to expand its offering.
The pair are transforming the first floor of the building into a new multi-purpose performance space and hope to offer comedy nights and poetry sessions. There will also be space for pop-up events, such as record and vintage clothes fairs.
They hope to expand the venue to include space for music lessons and art therapy sessions last this summer.
Sylvie said: “We have been taken aback by how the Riff Corner has evolved and is quickly becoming a real cultural hub for Clevedon. We want to build on that to offer more to the local community.”
Steve also owns reble Rock guitar shop in Clifton, a business which he has run for the last 33 years. Steve said: “The bar has become progressively busier and busier and there are occasions we have to turn people away. As well as local musicians we are getting interest from performers from across the globe.”
There is an open mic night each Tuesday and jazz sessions on Thursdays. The bar is closed on Mondays but has recently begun live music on Sunday afternoons.
As well as a range of beers, wines and ciders, the bar also serves cocktails. The Riff Corner opens 4pm-11pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and at 3pm-11pm on Saturday and Sunday. To find out more visit their website.
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