Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Gig review: THE UNION – Manchester Academy 3, 8 November 2013

Posted on November 20, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
The Union - Manchester Academy 3, 8 November 2013

There was definitely no doubt who the crowd were here for tonight as the sea of Union T-shirts was clear to see, midway through their UK tour The Union are touring after the release of their DVD ‘Live in Guildford’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: CRYSTAL GRENADE – Lo! And Behold

Posted on November 19, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
CRYSTAL GRENADE - Lo! And Behold

Gonzo [Release date 14.10.13] A wonderful name, Crystal Grenade.  One that belongs to Mancunian songstress Carol Hodge, described as ‘Shakespears Sister fighting Amanda Palmer and Tori Amos in a dimly lit Victorian pub’.  If that conjures up images of heavily … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: KT TUNSTALL – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 16 November 2013

Posted on November 17, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
KT Tunstall, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 16 November 2013

It’s probably fair to say that the albums since 2004′s award-winning ‘Eye To The Telescope’ may have progressively alienated those who loved its breezy, folky – and highly accessible – pop. Since that time KT Tunstall has released four more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: CAPERCAILLIE – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, 16 November 2013

Posted on November 17, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
CAPERCAILLIE - Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, 16 November 2013

Capercaillie put down a marker for Celtic fusion back in the late 1980s.  They straddled the divide between the Celtic rockmeister Alan Stivell and the more commercial early incarnation of The Corrs.  Most recently, live gigs have been rare and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DVD review: STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL – Birmingham

Posted on November 16, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

Absolute [Release date 14.10.13] Somewhere, in the bowels of my long player collection lies a pristine copy of Cockney Rebel’s The Psychomodo acquired circa 1974.  It is, however, many, many years (quite possibly decades) since it last saw the rubber … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: JETHRO TULL – Benefit (A Collector’s Edition)

Posted on November 16, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Jethro Tull - Benefit

EMI [Release date 28.10.13] ‘Collector’s Edition’ is about right.  If, like me, you owned the vinyl, upgraded to CD, and then invested in the 2001 remaster (compete with 4 bonus tracks), then you’ll need to seriously question whether the latest, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rock Photography Galleries: April-September 2013 incl. Blondie,Bruce Springsteen, Chic

Posted on November 10, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Photography by Steve Goudie Roger Waters Photo Gallery by Steve Goudie, 16 September 2013 Leonard Cohen Photo Gallery (31 August 2013) Bruce Springsteen Photo Gallery (24 July 2013) Brain May and Kerri Ellis Photo Gallery (23 June 2013) Blondie Photo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Photo Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARILLION – Manchester Academy, 8 November 2013

Posted on November 9, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Marillion - Manchester Academy, 8 November 2013

In September 2012 Marillion brought their Sounds That Can’t Be Made tour to the Academy on a dismal Manchester evening.  Some things don’t change and the weather was equally inclement as they chose to open a short pre-Christmas ‘Sounds Live … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE ANSWER/Tracer – Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, 18 October 2013

Posted on November 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
The Answer

Tonight’s gig started with confusion with a late venue change meaning there were a large number of rock fans wandering around Wolverhampton trying to find the Slade Rooms But the evening ended with a definite feeling that The Answer now … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: ALICE COOPER – Brutal Planet/Dragontown

Posted on November 1, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Alice Cooper - Brutal Planet/Dragontown

Armoury Records [Release date 07.10.13] The Noughties saw a resurgence in form and popularity for Alice Cooper, culminating in 2009′s Along Came A Spider – an album which many pundits saw as an updating of his 1st ‘solo’ concept album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: DEEP PURPLE – Live At Montreux 1996 and 2006

Posted on November 1, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Deep Purple - Live At Montreux

Eagle Records [Release date 7.10.13] This packaging of three Deep Purple Montreux appearances is part of a new mid-price series ‘Eagle Classics’.  And it’s a great way to catch up on favourite bands, especially if you didn’t shell out earlier … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SHADOW OF ACOLYTE, TERMINAL DEGREE, MALLET

Posted on October 31, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Shadow Of Acolyte

www.facebook.com/shadowofacolyte [Release date 30.09.13] It’s always interesting to receive stuff by a young English hard rock band that you’ve never heard of.  Formed in 2008, Shadow Of Acolyte hail from the East Midlands and is essentially Aaron Gidney (guitar and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – November 2013 Highlights

Posted on October 31, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio

November 2013 Highlights More information at the dedicated website All times, GMT Sunday 3 November 18:00 Rob Reed – Captain Magenta GRTR!’s David Randall chatted to Rob in 2012 and this special feature includes tracks from the band’s previous albums … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 29 October 2013

Posted on October 30, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Steve Hackett - Liverpool, 29 October 2013

Perhaps because he’s never been the archetypal flashy rock guitarist, and perhaps because he’s largely plied his solo career away from the spotlight, Steve Hackett’s almost become  the ‘forgotten man’ from the classic 1971 to 1977 Genesis line up.  Until … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

News: Progressive rockers Magenta play acoustic set for In Session series

Posted on October 29, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Magenta (Rob Reed, Christina Booth, Chris Fry)

  MAGENTA In Session for GRTR! Assume The Position Sunday 3 November 2013, 22:00 As part of the In Session series for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, influential, award-winning, prog-rockers MAGENTA have provided an exclusive acoustic session. Featuring tracks from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: MANFRED MANN – EP Collection

Posted on October 29, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Manfred Mann EP Collection

Brollyeps [Release date 04.11.13] Manfred Mann has been well served by recent reissues, not least 2011′s splendid box set.  However, it is left to this latest collection to showcase the sixties incarnation of his band when he had Paul Jones … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: Released! – The Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998

Posted on October 29, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Released - The Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998

Eagle Records [Release date: 28.10.13] 6-DVD set, 4 CDs 10th December 2013 marks the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights  – instigated after World War II and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.  It provided the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

News: Amnesty Concert 6 DVD and 4 CD set released 28 October

Posted on October 28, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Released - The Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998

Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to announce that on Monday 28th October 2013 it will be issuing ¡RELEASED! – a major six-disc DVD box-set and four companion CD sets of the historic “Human Rights Concerts” presented by the Nobel Peace … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – Live In Germany 1991

Posted on October 27, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Saxon - Live In Germany 1991

Edsel Records [Release date 28.10.13] You could argue: why do we want another Saxon live album from a time when arguably they were past their peak?  Don’t be so miserable.  Recorded in Germany in 1991 the band had just recorded … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: STATUS QUO – In Search Of The Fourth Chord/Quid Pro Quo (reissues)

Posted on October 27, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Status Quo - In Search Of The Fourth Chord

Edsel [Release date 28.10.13] There’s something quite irresistible about Quo, perhaps the more so since they’ve recently reformed with the classic line-up and re-discovered their seventies mojo.  Yes, they have had their fair share of naff-ness (recently consolidated by their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album & DVD review: JIMI HENDRIX – Hear My Train A Comin’/Miami Pop Festival

Posted on October 26, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train A Comin

Sony Music [Release date 04.11.13] It’s several years now since the Hendrix back catalogue was acquired by Sony Music and since then together with the Hendrix Estate (Experience Hendrix) they have been reinventing the legendary performer via a series of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: FIREFEST X, Nottingham Rock City, 18-20 October 2013

Posted on October 26, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Firefest X

Firefest’s status as almost a world convention for melodic hard rock seems to grow with each passing year. This year’s Festival was virtually sold out months in advance, reflecting the strongest line up to date and a festival that has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: BADFINGER – Badfinger,Wish You Were Here,BBC In Concert

Posted on October 25, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Badfinger - reissues

Edsel Records [Release date: 28.10.13] Badfinger represents one of the great tragi-histories of rock and the story is outlined again in Alan Robinson’s liner notes within this latest package.  The band were one of the first signings to the Beatles … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Album review: AOR – The Secrets Of LA

Posted on October 25, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
AOR - The Secrets Of LA

AOR Heaven [Release date 02.12.13] Having reviewed – somewhat disparingly I know (A slamming of Slama?) – Frederic Slama’s last offering (LA Temptation) and those of his protégées Chasing Violets  – could this latest album redeem the “veteran” LA-based French-born … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – Latest playlist additions w/c 21 October 2013

Posted on October 23, 2013 by GRTR! HQ
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio

Listen in to ‘New to GRTR!’ every Tuesday 16:00 GMT (repeat: Thursday 22:00) for latest additions to our playlist. Latest Show: Tuesday 22 October 2013 DAVID GATES Goodbye Girl (Edsel) THE BLOCKHEADS Are You One Of Those People (indie) TOUCHSTONE … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment