Gig review: WILKO JOHNSON – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 24 January 2014

Wilko Johnson, The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 24 January 2014

Originally only planned for two nights to celebrate the Forum’s 21st birthday, Wilko Johnson added a third night due to the other two shows being sold out so quickly.

Roger Daltrey once sang that he hoped to die before he got old as if to say rock n roll was not meant for old people, it was used as a tool to distance young trendy kids away from their elderly parents.

When I was a young teenager I used to attend gigs at the Marquee, Soho with my friends, I was surrounded by leather clad teenage punks who may have held that same ambition.  But, nearly forty years later, here I am surrounded by leather clad elderly people in their sixties/seventies who now share the belief that being so old isn’t so bad after all.

Wilko Johnson, The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 24 January 2014

Living on borrowed time Wilko effortlessly mesmerised the packed house with his own style of self-taught guitar playing and his unique jerky stage movements and facial expressions, he was on turbo speed as he went through the set list that included, ‘She Does It Right’,  ‘Back In The Night’, ‘Roxette’ and their own extended version of Chuck Berry’s ‘Bye Bye Johnny’.

Norman Watt-Roy, The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 24 January 2014

Wilko was accompanied on stage by Dylan Howe on drums and life long friend and former Blockhead Norman Watt-Roy who played his bass guitar like an over-active 21 year old, his face contorting and fingers twisting up and down the strings.

Wilko Johnson, The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 24 January 2014

It was a fantastic gig that I enjoyed so much that I wished it wouldn’t have come to an end and just kept on going.  After recording an album with Roger Daltrey Wilko will celebrate their collaboration with a special show at the Shepherds Bush Empire 25 February. It will be interesting to see if ‘My Generation’ is on the set list.

Review and photos by Darran Scott

DVD review (Live At Koko)


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply