The Riff Corner, our beloved live music spot right here in Clevedon, just celebrated its third birthday! It’s an amazing milestone, especially since they opened their doors back in August 2022, when many of our local pubs were struggling in the wake of the pandemic.
This venue didn’t just survive; it’s thrived, bringing fantastic live music and a vibrant atmosphere to our seaside town. It’s a real testament to the power of community and great music, and we’re so lucky to have a place like The Riff Corner contributing to the life of Clevedon.
“It was a risk, and some people thought we were mad,” said co-owner Steve Treble, “but we had a real vision to make the place a hub for live entertainment for musicians right across the south west. What we offer here is something niche and unique.”
Steve, a lifelong musician and owner of Treblerock in Clifton and Sylvie Dagaillier, who has owned the Bristol Fringe in Clifton for 16 years, set about transforming the dowdy former office shop into a modern-day Speakeasy.
In its first three years of business, while many other venues have been forced out of business due to spiralling bills and the ongoing cost of living crisis, The Riff Corner has continued to evolve and thrive, building up a huge customer base.
It has seen tens of thousands of people from right across the south west – and further afield – through its doors since opening and has welcomed well-known musicians to its stage, including Reef guitarist Jack Bessant and Massive Attack drummer Damon Reece.
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, have also performed.
Unlike many other venues, entertainment is offered every night and is free to customers.
In addition to welcoming top musicians from around the world, the upstairs art deco-style function room at The Riff has been refurbished and now hosts gigs as well as private functions.
Alongside the nightly music offering, the venue hosts poetry slams, comedy nights and Salsa and Tango dancing sessions. There are also film screenings, a hugely popular music quiz, art classes and magic nights.
This year saw the introduction of a food offering, with Wren’s Pizza serving homemade pizzas every Tuesday. The food offering has been a huge hit with customers with the doughy treats often selling out.
The venue also hosts a monthly junior mic on a Saturday afternoon. The event began as a performance showcase in partnership with Clevedon School and now sees dozens of young performers take to the stage each month.
We are always looking to innovate and grow what we do at the Riff Corner,” said Sylvie. “When people suggest events they’d like to see we always listen and are keen to give most things a try. We want to make sure we evolve and try new things. The Riff has become much more than just a live
music venue – it is now a community space for the arts.”
The plan is to continue to grow the offering at the venue and future plans include using the upstairs space for workshops – from creative writing to yoga.
“We are keen to continue to grow and bring new things to the Riff Corner,” said Sylvie. And we couldn’t have achieved what we have if we had not had the support of the local community and all the artists who have performed here.
Sylvie added: “Music and the arts bring people together and here it feels like we are all one big family.”
The Riff Corner opens from 4.00 p.m. until 11.00 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday each week. To find out more visit www.theriffcorner.co.uk or email info@theriffcorner.co.uk