Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: RICHIE KOTZEN – The Essential Richie Kotzen

Richie Kotzen - The Essential Richie Kotzen

earMUSIC 2-CD/DVD [Release date 08.09.14] A re-appraisal of Richie Kotzen’s work is probably long overdue, and this 2-CD/DVD set – assembled by the man himself – goes some way to provide a suitable portal for the curious. Signed to Mike … Continue reading

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Gig review: CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL – 8-10 August 2014

Cambridge Rock Festival 2014

Photo: Darran Scott Arriving early afternoon on Saturday, and focusing on the main stage, I was blown away by the confidence and vitality of my first band, Walkway. Somehow the young Suffolk band had slipped under my radar as their … Continue reading

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News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – PICTUREHOUSE acoustic session, Sunday 17 August

Dave Browne of PictureHouse

Sunday 17 August, 21:00 (Tuesday 19 August, 16:00 and Thursday 21 August, 21:00 repeat) This Sunday, 17 August, Irish popsters PictureHouse perform an exclusive set for the ‘In Session for GRTR!’ series. The band formed back in the early-1990s, releasing … Continue reading

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News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – CHRIS DAUGHTRY interview, Sunday 17 August

Daughtry

Sunday 17 August, 22:00 (Monday 18 August, 22:00 and Friday 22 August, 22:00 repeat) This Sunday, 17 August, David Randall chats to Chris Daughtry, ahead of his European tour which includes a date at the London Roundhouse on Sunday 12 … Continue reading

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Album review: JETHRO TULL’S IAN ANDERSON – Thick As A Brick – Live In Iceland

JETHRO TULL

Eagle Vision [Release date 25.08.14] Also available as a DVD/Bluray When I interviewed Ian Anderson in 2010 he stated that “Thick As A Brick 2 is not on the cards” when asked about revisiting former glories.  I wonder what changed … Continue reading

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Album review: DAVE McGRAW & MANDY FER – Maritime

Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer - Maritime

www.daveandmandymusic.com [Release date 09.14] The gentle folk/Americana debut self-release by songwriters Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer – Seed Of A Pine (2012) – was a rather fine, if somewhat understated example of the genre.  Deploying the ‘less is more principle’ … Continue reading

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Album review: NELL BRYDEN – Wayfarer

Nell Bryden - Wayfarer

157 Records NYC [Release date 28.07.14] It’s no surprise to read that the title track and lead single from Nell Bryden’s latest album has been play listed on Radio 2.  It’s equally of little surprise that, back in 2008, we … Continue reading

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Album review: STEVE HILLAGE – Rainbow 1977

Steve Hillage - Rainbow 1977

Gonzo Multimedia [Release date 23.06.14] Those of a certain age may remember Steve Hillage more for his range of woolly hats than his music.  That’s a little bit cruel, but his headgear may have overshadowed sometimes patchy and meandering albums.  … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – Tivoli, Buckley, 6 August 2014

Black Star Riders - Tivoli, Buckley, 6 August 2014

Do you dream?  Red spotlights bathe a small stage, dry ice drifts into an audience who dream of the 1970s.  Scott Gorham, backstage, dreams of glory days and friendships lost.  Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and relax … the boys … Continue reading

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Album review: SHAMAN’S HARVEST – Smokin’ Hearts & Broken Guns

Shaman

Mascot [Release date 15.09.14] If you had a secret liking for ‘Hero’ the Chad Kroeger song that featured Saliva’s Josey Scott in the original re-boot Spiderman movie, you will like Shaman’s Harvest. The band had some U.S. success with their … Continue reading

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News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – August 2014 highlights

Pete Feenstra and Coco Montoya

August 2014 Highlights More information at the dedicated website Check back here as we add new features throughout the month. All times, BST (GMT+1) Photo: Mark Hughes/MHP Tuesdays 19:00 Pete Feenstra Rock & Blues Pete signposts upcoming and established artists … Continue reading

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Album review: TEN YEARS AFTER – The Friday Rock Show Sessions Live At Reading 1983

Ten Years After - The Friday Rock Show Sessions Live At Reading 1983

Talking Elephant [Release date 21.07.14] 6 March 2013 was a sad day for British rock, when it was announced that Alvin Lee had died suddenly.  He was 68 but had seemed to be invincible.  However, with Ten Years After and … Continue reading

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Quick plays: POLLY BARRETT, CATHERINE MACLELLAN, JANE KRAMER

Polly Barrett - Probably Me

POLLY BARRETT Probably Me [Release date 22.09.14] We had the release of Irish singer songwriter Polly Barrett’s 2011 debut Mr Bookshop down as the folk/pop album Andrea Corr should have made if she wanted to sustain her popular profile. Barrett … Continue reading

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Album review: TOUCHSTONE – Live Inside Outside

Touchstone - Live Inside Outside

www.touchstonemusic.co.uk  2-DVD/CD [Release date 28.07.14] The history of Touchstone almost parallels that of GRTR!.  They are a band we’ve watched develop from small beginnings in 2003, via their debut album in 2007, and since that time they have consolidated their … Continue reading

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Album review: CARL VERHEYEN – Mustang Run

Carl Verheyen - Mustang Run

Cranktone Entertainment [Release date 17.03.14] Carl Verheyen is perhaps most familiar as the latter-day-Supertramp guitarist.  He’s also had a parallel session and instructional career and ‘Mustang Run’ is an excellent introduction to this quality musician.  He’s also enlisted the help … Continue reading

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Album review: DEEP PURPLE – Live In Graz 1975

Deep Purple - Live In Graz 1975

The Official Deep Purple (Overseas) Live Series earMUSIC [Release date 15.09.14] If you didn’t know the story you may be surprised that less than three months after this recording the Mark III version of Purple split, Blackmore continuing with Rainbow … Continue reading

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Book review: NIRVANA FAQ by John D Luerssen

Nirvana FAQ -All that

Backbeat Books [Publication date 22.05.14] Written by award winning author John D Luerssen, who has written for the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard and Spinner, “Nirvana FAQ-All that’s left to know about the most important band of the 1990′s” is … Continue reading

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Album review: JOHN LUTTRELL – The Dream Exchange

John Luttrell - The Dream Exchange

www.johnluttrell.com [Release date 15.05.14] In the mid-late 1980s there was a fad for what was termed ‘new age’ music which produced ambient albums in their abundance and presaged the “chill-out” genre a decade later.  Some nasty critics likened the genre … Continue reading

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Album review: BRIAN MAILLARD – Reincarnation

Brian Maillard - Reincarnation

www.brianmaillard.com [Release date: 01.02.14] Brian Mailliard is an accomplished guitarist who came to wider attention with the band Solid Vision and perhaps more widely with the ill-fated if rather good Dominici albums (2005-7) fronted by original Dream Theater vocalist Charlie … Continue reading

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News: CONCERT LIVE showcase and competition w/c 14 July

Mott The Hoople - Concert Live

Photo by Steve Goudie Get Ready to ROCK! Radio Sunday 13 July, 21:00 GMT Tuesday 15 July, 16:00 GMT, Thursday 17 July, 21:00 GMT repeat Listen in to win featured albums and then enter your details at our competition page! … Continue reading

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News: STEVE HOGARTH of MARILLION chats about his recently published diaries

Steve Hogarth of Marillion

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio Sunday  13 July, 22:00 GMT Sunday 3 August, 16:00 GMT repeat Marillion frontman Steve Hogarth has recently published the first volume of his diaries, covering the years 1991-1997.  This was a fascinating period in Steve’s … Continue reading

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Book review: STEVE HOGARTH – The Invisible Man – Diaries 1991-1997

Steve Hogarth - The Invisible Man - Diaries 1991-1997

Steve Hogarth chats about the Diaries. (13:36)  The full version of this interview featured in ‘Assume The Position’, Sunday 13 July at 22:00 GMT on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. The full feature is now available on the Volume 2 … Continue reading

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Album review: CLOUD ATLAS – Beyond The Vale

Cloud Atlas - Beyond The Vale

www.cloudatlas.org.uk York based Stolen Earth – fronted by the exceptional Heidi Widdop – a vocalist whose soulful vocals will send shivers down your spine – were a GRTR! 2012 ‘one to watch’ with their excellent melodic prog debut A Far … Continue reading

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Album review: AISLING JARVIS – A Handful Of Bad Ideas

AISLING JARVIS - A Handful Of Bad Ideas

BEO Records [Release date 01.09.14] From the opening lines of the addictive opening number ‘Your Shoes Don’t Fit’, there’s no doubt that singer songwriter Aisling Jarvis hails from the Emerald Isle with that distinctive and captivating brogue shining through. With … Continue reading

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Gig review: BEARDED THEORY FESTIVAL – Catton Hall, Derbyshire, 22-25 May 2014

Bearded Theory Festival - Catton Hall, Derbyshire, 22-25 May 2014

Bearded Theory Festival – what’s all that about then?  Well apparently they just wanted a theme for a bit of fun and decided on fake beards. That was 7 years ago and here we are now with an award winning … Continue reading

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