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The Rawcuz Crowzz formed as "a hangover from the Bluez Crewz band Rob and I were in" according to Derrick, the band's harmonica player and sometime guitarist and Helen joined as drummer when "Derrick just brought me a drum kit and said 'we need a drummer' there you go!".

Derrick at the Chaos Weekend

This method of forming a band may seem bizarre to some but in Alderney, with a population of only around 2000, it can be a challenge. "It is difficult... particularly if you want to do original music," said Derrick.

Lead guitarist and singer Rob added that finding places to play was a challenge too as "there aren't any venues" and that "once a month there's something on". In the past the band have played at the Old Barn, but said that venue has since closed and the other venue, The Moorings, is outside and so is very weather dependent.

Derrick described the band's sound as "raucous" to which Helen added "punked-up blues". It is a unique sound fed by bands such as Dr Feelgood, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, White Stripes and Black Keys "roughed up a bit more" according to Derrick.

Rob at the Hogwash

Derrick and Rob form the creative force of the band and Derrick said, "We just sit in Rob's conservatory and I write words and Rob write words and do a few riffs and put them together."

When the band record it is a similar arrangement "we set everything up in the living room with a few mics and a cheap bit of software... it gives it a raw sound, like we are live" was the band's assessment of their recording technique.

They seemed hesitant, however, about recording in another way as they like the stripped down DIY sound their method gives.

The band have played in Sark and Guernsey as well as Alderney. Their first trip to Guernsey came about when Helen saw an article in the Guernsey Press about the Blues Cruise nights at the Fermain Tavern and she phoned Chris at the Tavern who brought them over.

Derrick playing on the bar at the Hogwash

Since then they have played many times in Guernsey including the 2009 Chaos Weekend and Hogwash and supported Wilko Johnson at Fermain in July. They described that particular show, organised for Derrick's 50th birthday, as "excellent".

As for the future Helen said the band "are at a cross roads" with Rob moving to Guernsey for education so they said they are going to "play it by ear" and see what happens.