Robby

Robby started playing guitar at the tender age of ten, and heavily influenced by his father’s love of British and American folk music, was soon finding his way into local jam nights armed with an acoustic guitar under one arm and a harmonica round his neck, delighting audiences with renditions of songs by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Steve Earle. While he certainly had the ‘cute factor’, grown men were already staring open-mouthed at the confidence and talent of the young musician. Quickly Robby became a key member in family folk-band The Ragged People, playing tin whistle and acoustic rhythm guitar, before going it alone to win the regional music competition ‘Acoustic Roots’ where he met and performed alongside Martin Carthy, MBE.

Later, Robby returned to his folk roots again when he joined the Scottish folk rock band Muckle, this time as the bass player, adding yet another string to his bow and performing regularly on the local pub circuit as well as at several large open-air festivals.

Although Robby earned some invaluable experience on the folk scene, he was soon won over by rock ‘n’ roll, and after numerous high-school bands Robby formed Scratchpate in 2003. Robby was not only the emphatic front man and lead guitarist, but also the band’s promoter, manager and primary songwriter. After five years the classic rock quartet have gone from strength to strength and still manage to draw a large crowd from their loyal fan base, and have supported The Glitteratti, Tokyo Dragons and Days of Worth to name but a few.

Robby’s most recent projects are again even more challenging and diverse, playing drums and lead guitar for zombie-loving punks The Dellinquents (yes, they know they’ve spelt it incorrectly!), rhythm guitarist for folk-metallers Faeries Wear Boots, and pop-covers performer in student unions all over the country with The Matt Roberts Band. Now, aged eighteen Robby spends every night of the week teaching guitar to young and more mature students alike and attending or running local jam nights, where he plays everything from jazz, to rock, to hip-hop.

If that wasn’t dedication enough, on a professional front, Robby is assistant manager of an up and coming town centre music shop, Guitar Empire, through which he has attended worldwide music exhibitions – The NAM in California seems to be his favourite ‘business trip’. Also, Robby is currently studying for his grade six lead guitar qualification through the Association of Guitar Tutors.

We could list all of the gigs Robby has played, and the numerous artists he’s met or jammed with… but you’d be here a long time! Ultimately, it is Robby’s hard work, dogged determination and passion for music that has seen him talk (and play) his way to where he is today - that and the fact that he’s an inspiring guitarist and a bloody nice bloke.

Robby plays Gibson, Fender, Epiphone and Crafter guitars. Robby wears New Rock Boots (because the Faeries tell him to!)