Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) January 2020 – March 2020

Posted on September 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie (October – December 2019) April – June 2020 July-September 2020 October – December 2020 2020 January 3rd BONFIRE ‘A Fistful Of Fire’ AFM Records STABBING WESTWARD ‘Dead And Gone’ (EP) 4th Pröwess ‘Blacktop Therapy’ 9th Lars … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BERNIE MARSDEN/Kris Barras Band/Hollowstar, Tramshed, Cardiff, 13 September 2019

Posted on September 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

BERNIE MARSDEN - Tramshed, Cardiff, 13 September 2019

When you spend most of the year planning a festival on top of the mountain, the come down from a successful year must be a hard, so what do you do? Start doing indoor shows, it is what you started … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BLUES CARAVAN 2019 (Ina Forsman, Ally Venable, Katarina Pejak), The Iron Road, Pershore, 13 September 2019

Posted on September 15, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

BLUES CARAVAN 2019 - The Iron Road, Pershore, 13 September 2019

Friday 13th may have seemed more than ominous to the girls in the Blues Caravan with a six hour journey from Scotland taking fourteen hours. But that didn’t seem to quell their enthusiasm for the South Midlands stop on a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 13 September 2019, Ally Venable, blues, Blues Caravan 2019, blues rock, gig, Ina Forsman, Katarina Pejak, Pershore, R&B, review, rhythm and blues, roots, ruf records, singer, songwriter, The Iron Road | Leave a comment

Album review: BAKER GURVITZ ARMY – On The Road Again

Posted on September 5, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

The Store For Music [Release date 20.09.19] Baker Gurvitz Army formed out of sixties trio The Gun who had a hit with ‘Race With The Devil’ and then morphed into Three Man Army. Their original drummer Tony Newman jumped ship … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adrian Gurvitz, album, Baker Gurvitz Army, Ginger Baker, hard rock, On The Road Again, Paul Gurvitz, review | Leave a comment

Album review: MARILLION – Live In Glasgow/Brave Live (reissues)

Posted on September 4, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 01.03.19] Almost 25 years separates the final two releases in this series of ten limited and numbered Marillion live albums. Recorded in 1989, Live In Glasgow captures the band at the very beginning of the Steve Hogarth … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues | Tagged album, Brave Live, Limited Edition, Live In Glasgow, Marillion, prog, Progressive Rock, reissue, review, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Album review: THE PORTRAITS – For Our Times

Posted on September 4, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

www.theportraitsmusic.com [Release date 25.10.19] The musical landscape has changed significantly since the release of Counterbalance (2012) – the last outing by The Portraits – Somerset based husband and wife duo Jeremy and Lorraine Millington. For Our Times sees the duo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, folk, For Our Times, review, singer, songwriter, The Portraits | Leave a comment

News: MARGATE RHYTHM & ROCK, 6-8 September 2019 with headliners LINDISFARNE, WILKO JOHNSON & STEVE HARLEY

Posted on August 26, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

WILKO JOHNSON BAND – Royal Albert Hall, London, 26 September 2017

This preview was first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 25 August featuring two of the bands appearing at the three-day Margate event: Curved Air and Man. (12:16) Margate Rhythm & Rock 2019 takes place 6th – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged 6-8 September 2019, blues rock, classic rock, Curved Air, festival, Focus, Lindisfarne, Man, Margate Rhythm & Rock, R&B, Steve Harley, Stray, The Blockheads, The Sharpeez, Wilko Johnson | Leave a comment

Album review: THE MEMBERS – Version

Posted on August 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 16.08.19] I can’t say I know a lot about punk rock mavericks The Members, beyond a vague recollection of their 1979 hit single ‘The Sound Of The Suburbs’, my allegiances back in the 1970′s being firmly … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alternative rock, cover versions, Covers, punk, review, rock, The Members, Version | Leave a comment

Quick plays: VISIONATICA, ARDOURS

Posted on August 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

VISIONATICA Enigma Fire (Frontiers) [Release date 12.07.19] You have to ask yourself, on occasions, where has originality gone? Visionatica, a[nother] female fronted symphonic metal band, this time, from Nuremberg, failed to make much of a global ‘splash’ with their 2016 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ardours, Enigma Fire, goth, hard rock, Last Place On Earth, Mariangela Demurtas, review, symphonic metal, Tristania, Visionatica | Leave a comment

Quick plays: DUFFY & BIRD, DREW HOLCOMB, TIM GRIMM, BOB BRADSHAW, 3TIMES7

Posted on August 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

DUFFY & BIRD Spirit Level [Release date 20.09.19] You can’t go wrong with a voice and an acoustic guitar. That is, if you’ve a decent singer, a decent song, and decent player. It’s a formula as old as the hills. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged 3Times7, acoustic, album, Americana, blues, blues rock, Bob Bradshaw, Dragons, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Duffy & Bird, Heart Land Again, Queen Of The West, Rain In Chicago, review, roots, singer songwriter, Spirit Level, Tim Grimm | Leave a comment

Album review: BERLIN – Transcendance

Posted on August 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Cleopatra Records [Release date 16.08.19] OK, hands up who can name a Berlin number other than ‘Take My Breath Away’? I certainly can’t, and I used to have a vinyl copy of their 1984 album Love Life. But to be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Berlin, pop rock, review, synth pop, Teri Nunn, Transcendance | Leave a comment

Album review: 25 YARD SCREAMER – Natural Satellite

Posted on August 12, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

White Knight [Release 08.08.19] 25 Yard Screamer might be like the proverbial curate’s egg – very good in patches. The Welsh prog rockers have been toiling now for the best part of a decade, first achieving GRTR! seal of approval … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 25 Yard Screamer, album, Natural Satellite, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Reed | Leave a comment

Album review: THE IDES OF MARCH – Play On (55th Anniversary)

Posted on August 12, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

IOM Records/Wienerworld [Release date 16.08.19] I am old enough to remember when ‘Vehicle’ by The Ides Of March was a radio hit back in 1970. It was a slice of jazz rock that chimed with other brass-led rockers of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 55th Anniversary, album, classic rock, Jazz rock, Jim Peterik, Play On, review, The Ides Of March | Leave a comment

Album review: MONKEY HOUSE – Friday

Posted on August 12, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Alma Records [Release date 02.08.19] Monkey House are flying the flag for Steely Dan and the best we can say is that ‘Friday’ could have been an album of Steely out-takes. Given that Walter Becker died in 2017 and with … Continue reading →

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Album review: THE KENTISH SPIRES – Sprezzatura

Posted on August 12, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

White Knight [Release date 08.08.19] The Kentish Spires debut – The Last Harvest – released just 12 months ago only narrowly missed out, to Laura Meade, as my album of 2018, so the band’s ‘quick fire’ turnaround with their follow-up … Continue reading →

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Album review: STEVE IGNORANT’S SLICE OF LIFE – Don’t Turn Away

Posted on August 6, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Overground Records [Release date 23.08.19] Sculptor, Music Hall historian, Punch & Judy performer, volunteer life boatman, and perhaps most significantly – from a musical perspective – vocalist and co-founder of seminal 1970′s punk band Crass, Steve Ignorant is a man … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Don't Turn Away, post-punk, punk, review, Steve Ignorant's Slice Of Life | Leave a comment

Album review: CARAVAN – The Decca/Deram Years (An Anthology) 1970-1975

Posted on August 3, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Decca/UMC [Release date 06.09.19] Caravan The Decca/Deram Years may not look quite as handsome as the previous 4 disc anthology (2010), and notwithstanding the 2-disc compilation (2000), it is nevertheless the most complete introduction to the band. Presented in a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Caravan, prog, Progressive Rock, review, The Decca/Deram Years (An Anthology) 1970-1975 | Leave a comment

Gig review: TREVOR HORN – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 31 July 2019

Posted on August 1, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

TREVOR HORN BAND - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 31 July 2019

It may be somewhat exaggerated to say that Trevor Horn single-handedly created the soundtrack to the eighties. What is certain – as this concert demonstrated – he was associated with key artists and albums from that decade. This gig was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 31 July 2019, Bridgewater Hall, eighties, gig, Lol Creme, Manchester, Matt Cardle, pop, review, rock, Steve Hogarth, Trevor Horn | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL J BOLTON – Earthrise

Posted on July 26, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Market Square [Release date 30.08.19] www.marketsquaremusic.com Arriving to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, Michael J Bolton has fashioned his own tribute. As he outlines in the liner notes “I wanted to portray the drama and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Apollo 11, David Hentschel, Earthrise, instrumental, jazz fusion, Marc Russo, Michael J Bolton, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: UPTON BLUES FESTIVAL – Never The Bride, 20 July 2019

Posted on July 24, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

UPTON BLUES FESTIVAL - Chris Bevington Organisation, 20 July 2019

A free music festival. A mini-beer festival. Lots of food outlets. Easy parking. Family friendly. Great weather. What more could you ask for? The Upton Blues Festival is a well established event now in its second decade and takes place … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 July 2019, blues rock, Born Healer, gig review, Never The Bride, Upton Blues Festival, wille and the bandits | Leave a comment

Album review: MIND KEY – Aliens In Wonderland

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers [Release date 12.07.19] Nearly a decade since Mind Key’s last offering ‘Pulse For A Graveheart’ the Italian prog/power metallers return. For those who like lots of great orchestration (Dario De Cicco), lots of melody and strong vocals throughout (Aurello … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Aliens In Wonderland, Italy, Mind Key, power metal, progressive metal, review | Leave a comment

Album review: DANNY BEARDSLEY – Blood From A Stone

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

www.dannybeardsley.com [Release date 20.09.19] Just when you thought it was safe to go back in to your ageing album collection – frustrated that much new stuff merely recycles the old and not as convincingly – along comes an album to … Continue reading →

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Album review: HANNAH WICKLUND & THE STEPPIN STONES

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Strawberry Moon Records [Release date 30.05.19] With her previous two albums (Looking Glass (2013) and Steppin Stones (2015)) recorded when she was 15 and 17 being self-released under the branding of The Steppin Stones and no longer available, 22 year … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues rock, classic rock, Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones, review, rhythm & blues | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ANGELA PERLEY, ANNIE KEATING, SESSION AMERICANA

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

ANGELA PERLEY 4:30 [Release date 30.08.19] With two albums, and a clutch of EPs behind her as the lead singer of Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons – a rock ‘n’-roll band from Columbus, Ohio imbued with country, blues and … Continue reading →

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Album review: CROBOT – Motherbrain

Posted on July 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Mascot [Release date 23.08.19] Not to be confused with legendary metallers Crowbar, Crobot release their fourth studio album since their 2012 debut. Their 2016 offering ‘Welcome To Fat City’ was particularly well received. If pile-driving heavy riffage is your bag, … Continue reading →