Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 1)

FM - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26 January 2018 (Day 1)

News during the week that Wetherspoons had taken steak off their menu may not have been of great interest until we learn that Butlins also get their meat from the same source that is currently “under investigation”.  The loss of beef from the dining menu may have been as significant as the loss of 20 minutes from Magnum’s set but fortunately we needn’t have worried: steak was on. Magnum were off.

We’ve proudly covered GoR since its inception in 2014.  The return of old troopers and some new blood probably applies as much to the audience as the artists.  And, inevitably, there are the timing overlaps but the Butlins schedule is fairly well spaced although the temptations of FM versus Curved Air may have frustrated some on the first night.

Day 1 – Friday

On the main stage, FM were an ideal opening act for the event – their easy listening brand of radio friendly rock ‘n’ roll providing a suitable backdrop to like minded souls getting their bearings and re-establishing acquaintances from previous gatherings. Offering punch, pizzaz and soul in equal measure, the band made short work of that tricky warm up slot as the weekend got up and running.

Curved Air  - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 1)

Meanwhile, in Reds, Curved Air were playing an early gig with a new drummer and guitarist and there was no doubting the musicianship on show on such pieces as ‘Time Games’ and ‘Stay Human’.

But, really, in a short set of just an hour someone should have written it in to the contract that the band should at least play their one and only “hit”.  As it was the band exited with the somewhat grandiose ‘Metamorphosis’ which in truth seemed an anti-climax bookended as it was with Robert Norton’s impressive but interminable piano flourishes.

Magnum, on the other hand, have just released one of their strongest albums in recent years and it was pleasing to hear ‘Peaches And Cream’ amongst the tried and tested tunes even if it lacked some beef due to issues with Tony Clarkin’s guitar.

Magnum - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 1)

Proceedings eventually ground to a halt and the band left the stage for twenty minutes.  This in itself was a surprise, surely Bob and Tony would have some contingency for such a dilemma?  Would Bob start cracking jokes, would Al do some magic tricks, would we get an impromptu acoustic interlude that could have turned a crisis into a festival highlight?  No, we got silence.

Malfunction resolved, the band struggled to regain their initial momentum and in spite of bravely playing two more songs from the new album, the set ended somewhat abruptly. Hopefully they’ll have better luck on their Feb/March tour.

Martin Turner - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 1)

In contrast, Martin Turner garbed in denial of the passing years – albeit a more New Romantic/Vivienne Westwood than a ‘classic rock’ look – found time to crack a joke about three nuns at the gates of heaven as his Wishbone Ash breezed through an organic medley of the band’s ‘greatest hits’ from the Argus era such as ‘Time Was’, ‘Leaf And Stream’, and ‘The King Will Come’.

Turner himself was in fine form laying down some exemplary bass lines and it was nice to see the old material given, at times, an almost irreverent new lease of life.

Alongside his new trousers, the band certainly provided the most ‘sparkle’ on Day 1, more than whetting the appetite for the eleven discs of previously unreleased live material to be included in the mammoth 30 CD Vintage Years box set due out in April.  Authorised by the original band members, fans will be hoping the time has finally come for them to lay down the sword.

The evening wound up with The Brew which essentially was a noise-fest not for the faint-hearted whilst on Reds Stage Those Damn Crows (2017 introducing stage winners) welcomed Main Stage refugees and insomniacs.

Review by David Randall & Pete Whalley
Photos by David Randall

Day 2
Day 3


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.

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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


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