Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: EMMA KING s/t

EMMA KING

[Release date 27.05.16] The PR blurb accompanying this eponymous solo release would lead you to believe that the Hull-born singer songwriter has arrived at this point through gigging and experience in Nashville. But there’s a little more depth to the … Continue reading

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Album review: JUDITH OWEN – Somebody’s Child

JUDITH OWEN - Somebody

Twanky Records [Release date 06.05.16] Pianist-singer-songwriter Judith Owen has come up with just about the perfect ‘easy listening’ album. Genre hopping, from the influences of the very best from Laurel Canyon to Stevie Wonder and everything in between, she puts … Continue reading

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Album review: SPACE CREAM – Pterodactyl Sky

SPACE CREAM - Pterodactyl Sky

Space Cream are a four piece glam/prog outfit from Hollywood (where else?) fronted by the fulsome Savannah Pope. While Pope is dolled up like a Rocky Horror Show or sci-fi B-movie extra, the band conform to the standard rock attire … Continue reading

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Album review: BRUCE FOXTON – Smash The Clock

BRUCE FOXTON - Smash The Clock

Pledge Music [20.05.16] I have to admit to not being a Jam aficionado, or of Paul Weller for that matter.  Like everyone I’m familiar with the Jam hits, and have dabbled in some of Weller’s solo releases, and while there’s … Continue reading

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News: COLIN BLUNSTONE UK Tour Dates April 2016 and Interview

Colin Blunstone

On Sunday 3 April (Part 1) and Sunday 10 April (Part 2) at 18:00 GMT Colin Blunstone chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! about his career, with tracks from The Zombies and his solo albums. This interview edit discusses recent … Continue reading

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News: ANDREW ROACHFORD – UK Tour Dates March 2016 and Interview

Andrew Roachford

This interview edit is taken from an hour special broadcast on Sunday 6 March at 18:00 GMT on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio (5:01) The full feature is now available via Mixcloud (or click the audio player above) More information … Continue reading

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Gig review: TYKETTO/DAN REED NETWORK – Manchester Academy, 13 March 2016

TYKETTO - Manchester Academy, 13 March 2016

It seems that we all gain from an event like HRH AOR: it means that some of the bands tag a few gigs either side.  In this case, Tyketto and Dan Reed Network teamed up together for a unique pairing, … Continue reading

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Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK, Minehead, Somerset, 29-31 January 2016

MICHAEL SCHENKER - Giants Of Rock, Minehead, Somerset, 29-31 January 2016

For the past two years Butlins’ Giants Of Rock and has lived up to that name with ease and has been host to some of the finest rock bands around and this, the third year, it seems to have hit … Continue reading

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Quick plays: SOUTHERN COMPANION, RACKHOUSE PILFER, MATT WOOSEY

SOUTHERN COMPANION  1000 Days Of Rain

SOUTHERN COMPANION  1000 Days Of Rain [Release date 23.02.15] On first listen you’d be forgiven for thinking The Southern Companion were from across the pond with their soulful brand of blues / rock infused Americana / country.  In fact, you … Continue reading

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Quick plays: THE STRUTS, CORINNE WEST, PETE LASHLEY

THE STRUTS Everybody Wants

THE STRUTS Everybody Wants I’ve always had a weakness for camp, bubblegum rock.  It’s a long line that stretches back to the Sweet, through Queen, and perhaps most recently evident in The Darkness. Derby four-piece, The Struts are the latest … Continue reading

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Gig review: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ – Darwen Library Theatre, Lancs, 4 March 2016

JOHNNY HATES JAZZ - Darwen Library Theatre, 4 March 2016

In this hour long special, first broadcast as part of his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in February 2016, David Randall chatted to Clark Datchler with tracks from Johnny Hates Jazz past and present, plus a special … Continue reading

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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) April-June 2016

DAN REED NETWORK - Fight Another Day

Compiled by Jason Ritchie April 2016 1st BABYMETAL ‘Fox Day’ earMusic BLACK STONE CHERRY ‘Kentucky’ Mascot Records CHEAP TRICK ‘Bang Zoom Crazy Hello’ HUMAN ZOO ‘My Own God’ THUNDERSTONE ‘Apocalypse Again’ AFM Records 8th LA PAZ ‘Shut Up And Rawk!’ … Continue reading

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News: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ Interview Feature and UK Tour (28 February – 25 March 2016)

Johnny Hates Jazz

A special feature is broadcast in the first hour of ‘Assume The Position’, presented by David Randall on Sunday 28 February on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.  The sequence is repeated on Friday 4 March at 22:00 or you can … Continue reading

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Quick plays: TIM HOCKENBERRY, JOSH HARTY

TIM HOCKENBERRY

TIM HOCKENBERRY Tim Hockenberry [Release date 04.03.16] You know with an ex-America’s Got Talent performer (Hockenberry made the semi-finals in 2012) you’re going to get a decent vocal performance. And his debut release doesn’t disappoint in that respect – his … Continue reading

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DVD Review: ELVIS COSTELLO – Detour Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

ELVIS COSTELLO - Detour Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Eagle Rock [Release date 12.02.16] Elvis Costello brought his Detour (scouse for ‘the tour’) show ‘home’ to the Liverpool Phil in June 2015.  Performing solo with just guitar or piano (apart from when joined by Larkin Po sisters Rebecca and … Continue reading

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Album review: SAXON – Eagles And Dragons (9-vinyl box set)

SAXON - Eagles And Dragons

Demon Records [Release date 18.03.16] Nine albums, nearly twenty years in timespan, and another chance for recycling under the auspices of 180 gram vinyl.  This means you don’t get bonus tracks, just the original albums in original sleeves and inners … Continue reading

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Album review: GRANDHOUR – Bombs & Bullets

GRANDHOUR

Rock Hawk Records [27.11.15] Australia has produced some interesting bands recently, Shadowqueen and Kitchen Witch immediately come to mind.  Although bands like Palace Of The King and Tracer have followed the perhaps more predictable AC/DC lineage. The latest contenders – … Continue reading

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Album review: TONY BANKS – Reissues

Tony Banks - A Curious Feeling

Esoteric Recordings [Release date 26.02.16] CD/DVD (5.1 mix) It is a pity that Tony Banks came across as somewhat bad tempered and grumpy in the most recent Genesis TV documentary.  Has he got a chip on the proverbial shoulder?  Well, … Continue reading

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Album review: SOTO – Divak

SOTO - Divak

earMUSIC [Release date 01.04.16] Soto’s debut album ‘Inside The Vertigo’  came and went early last year, and judging by the critical reaction perhaps splitting some of the core JSS fanbase as it marked a return to the more hard-hitting metal … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE WINERY DOGS/ Inglorious – Bristol O2 Academy, 2 February 2016

THE WINERY DOGS - Bristol O2 Academy, 2 February 2016

Mike Portnoy announces to the crowd that The Winery Dogs don’t often play outside of the main cities of London/Manchester, so the Bristol fans wasted no opportunity to sign up for something special and – although not a sell out … Continue reading

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Album review: JENNIFER WARNES – The Well

JENNIFER WARNES - The Well

BMG [Release date 04.03.16] It comes to something when it takes a fifteen year old album – getting its first UK release – to highlight just how sterile and bland the singer songwriter scene has become. Warnes’ eighth studio album, … Continue reading

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News: MAGNUM and DEVON ALLMAN interview specials on Sunday 7 February 2016

Magnum - Liverpool Arts Club, 6 February 2016

In 2011, during rehearsals for their winter UK tour, David Randall asked Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin about the rise of Magnum, discussing the early days, their reformation in the Millennium and upward trajectory during the past decade. On Sunday … Continue reading

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Quick plays: DAVID LOCKE, DERIAN CROSS, TESS OF THE CIRCLE

DAVID LOCKE Transitions

DAVID LOCKE Transitions [Release date 05.15] www.davidlocke.co.uk David Locke is another guitar journeymen but the difference between his production values and the Derian Cross album (see below) are palpable. A lot of time and effort has evidently gone into making … Continue reading

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News: RENAISSANCE & CURVED AIR – Pioneers of Symphonic/Art Prog tour together in April 2016

Renaissance

ANNIE HASLAM of RENAISSANCE (59:15) David Randall chats to Annie about prog rockers Renaissance Also available in several parts here Symphonic rock icons Renaissance featuring legendary singer Annie Haslam will be performing in the US & UK in support of … Continue reading

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Album review: BROTHERS OF MARS – Welcome To My Breakdown

BROTHERS OF MARS - Welcome To My Breakdown

[Release date 22.09.15] www.brothersofmars.com A quick glance at the track listing on this solo project from Mauro Zarattini – ‘Mental Breakdown’, ‘Welcome To Hell’, ‘Tarot Reader’, and ‘Acid Rain’ – suggests that the listener is in for some, to use … Continue reading

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