This week's spotlight band is The Riot Band

Band name:

The Riot Band

Members names, age and where they are from:

Francis Roe (concertina), Bob Duckworth (guitar), Ed McGurk (bass), all of retirement age.

Francis is originally from Bolton, living many years in Edgworth, now in Lancaster.

Bob is from Tottington, where he still lives. Ed, originally from Liverpool, has lived in Edgworth many years.

Neil Duckworth (drums), from Tottington, now in Padiham, is in his forties, Emily Roe (fiddle) is, at twenty-three, the band's youth policy. She grew up in Edgworth and is now in North London.

When and where did you form?

The original line-up were members of Bury Folk Club in the 1970s, which is where the band has its origins. The line-up has changed over the years, with Bob as the only original member, though Francis and Ed have been in the band since early days.

What is your sound and who are your influences?

The band was formed when electric folk-rock was in its infancy and albums such as Morris On were making waves in the traditional music world. Over the years, traditional Irish and Scottish music have been given the Riot Band treatment, whilst, more recently traditional dance tunes from Lancashire have made their way into the repertoire.

What is the biggest gig you have played to date?

Some festival gigs have been big enough in status, and we remember recently playing for hundreds of conference delegates letting their hair down at the Dunkenhalgh. That was a pretty wild gig.

If you are not already, is it your ambition to become professional?

Emily is a professional musician working in a variety of projects in London. As for the rest of us? Still waiting for that big break after 40 years?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Still playing, still finding interesting music, still waiting for that big break!

Is there anything unusual or interesting about the band?

Guitar and drums are father and son, concertina and fiddle are father and daughter. Will another generation be joining the band in the next 20 years?

Upcoming gigs? Plenty of weddings and party gigs over the summer, then Edgworth Folk Festival in October.