Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Gig review: CAMEL – Parr Hall, Warrington, 13 March 2014

Posted on March 14, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Andy Latimer talks about the second leg of the UK tour. An edited version of this interview – which featured in a two-part special on our radio station – is now available as a podcast More information If we had … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 13 March 2014, Andy Latimer, Camel, gig, guitar, guitarist, Kayak, Parr Hall, prog, progressive, review, rock, Ton Scherpenzeel, Warrington | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE ANSWER – O2 Academy 2, Leicester, 25 February 2014

Posted on March 13, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

THE ANSWER - Academy 2, Leicester, 25 February 2014

It was a cold damp midweek evening but these things didn’t matter as tonight Irish rockers The Answer are set to raise the temperature and spirits at the Academy 2 Leicester. Currently midway through their ‘Road Less Travelled’ tour which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 25 February 2014, gig, Hell's Addiction, Leicester, O2 Academy, review, rock, SKAM!, THE ANSWER | Leave a comment

Gig review: BLACKBERRY SMOKE – O2 Islington Academy, 3 March 2014

Posted on March 12, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Blackberry Smoke, O2 Islington Academy, London, 28 February 2014

After treading the boards in the USA for some years, Blackberry Smoke’s belated marketing push to crack the UK seems to be paying off: hot on the heels of their belatedly released The Whippoorwill album reaching the top 30, the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 3 March 2014, Blackberry Smoke, gig, London, O2 Islington Academy, review, southern rock | Leave a comment

Single & EP reviews: VOODOO SIX

Posted on March 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

VOODOO SIX – Lead Me On Spinefarm [Released 21.04.14] Voodoo Six released their ‘Songs To Invade Countries By’ album last year to great acclaim and a support slot with Iron Maiden. This four song EP contains ‘Lead Me On’, a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, heavy rock, Lead Me On, review, Voodoo Six | Leave a comment

DVD review: SUZANNE VEGA – Solitude Standing

Posted on March 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Wienerworld [Release date 24.03.14] Timed for release to coincide with Vega’s new studio album Tales From The Realm Of The Queen Of Pentacles (presumably to freeload on the coat-tails of that album’s publicity) this DVD finds Suzanne Vega performing at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged 2003, DVD, Italy, live, pop, review, rock, singer, Solitude Standing, songwriter, Suzanne Vega | Leave a comment

Album review: JOHN SEBASTIAN – Reissues

Posted on March 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

John B Sebastian, The Four Of Us, Tarzan Kid, Welcome Back plus BBC In Concert 1970 Edsel Records [Release date 10.02.14] Dylan just about nailed it when he pronounced ‘the times they are a changin’ in 1964 and John Sebastian, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged BBC In Concert 1970, DVD, folk pop, John B Sebastian, John Sebastian, reissue, rock, singer, songwriter, Tarzan Kid, The Four Of Us, Welcome Back | Leave a comment

Album review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Stuff

Posted on March 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Moscodisc [Release date 12.05.14] Compilations can be hit and miss affairs but Eleanor McEvoy’s got the balance just about right on 11 track ‘sampler’ that includes something for everyone by way of collaborations, single remixes and B-sides, and even some … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, compilation, Dave Rotheray, Eleanor McEvoy, Homespun, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Stuff | Leave a comment

Album review: PANIC ROOM – Incarnate

Posted on March 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Firefly Music [Release date 10.03.14] After their acoustic ‘chill out’ sojourn under the pseudo name of Luna Rossa, Anne-Marie Helder and Jonathan Edwards return with the latest release in their guise as main protagonists in Panic Room, a band whose … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anne-Marie Helder, Gavin Griffiths, Incarnate, Panic Room, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ALICE COOPER – Billion Dollar Babies

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Audio Fidelity [Release date 01.03.14] There’s been something of a glut of Alice Cooper re-issues of late – Trash and Hey Stoopid, The Eyes Of Alice Cooper and Dirty Diamonds, and Brutally Live – to name but a few. This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Alice Cooper, Audio Fidelity, Billion Dollar Babies, reissue, review, rock, SACD | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE BONAMASSA & BETH HART – Live In Amsterdam

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Provogue (CD and DVD) [Release date 24.03.14] I have to say I’m not a huge Bonamassa or Beth Hart fan – individually or collectively. To my mind Bonamassa is overhyped, and if my painful Liverpool Echo Arena experience is anything … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, beth Hart, blues rock, CD, DVD, guitar, guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, Live In Amsterdam, review | 1 Comment

Album review: ASIA – Gravitas

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers [Release date 24.03.14] Crop rotation is something those of us of a certain age will recall from O level geography – leaving land fallow and rotating crops leading to bigger and better harvests. Certainly over the years there’s been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Asia, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, Gravitas, John Wetton, melodic, review, rock | Leave a comment

News: Ex-Nightwish singer ANETTE OLZON chats to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Sunday 9 March, 22:00 Get Ready to ROCK! Radio In this week’s ‘Assume The Position’, David Randall chats to Anette Olzon about her new album, and plays tracks from ‘Shine’. GRTR! Reviewer Pete Whalley described the album as a contender … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged album, Alyson Avenue, Anette Olzon, interview, March 2014, Nightwish, pop, rock, Shine, singer, Sweden, Swedish, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: 10cc – Live In Concert (Clever Clogs)

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Wienerworld [Release date 10.03.14] For the past few years Graham Gouldman has been touring “with friends” and keeping alive his 10cc legacy, bolstered with his own early history as tunesmith to The Yardbirds and The Hollies amongst others. This 2007 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 10CC, album, Clever Clogs, Graham Gouldman, Live In Concert, March 2007, pop, review, rock, Shepherd's Bush Empire | 1 Comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – March 2014 Highlights

Posted on March 4, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

March 2014 Highlights More information at the dedicated website All times, GMT Tuesdays 19:00 Pete Feenstra Rock & Blues In the first hour of our Tuesday blues rock marathon, Pete signposts upcoming and established artists who need your attention Saturdays … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged Anette Olzon, Ann Wilson, Eric Rivers, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, H.E.A.T., highlights, Lisbee Stainton, live, March 2014, session | Leave a comment

News: TONY CLARKIN talks about the new Magnum album, Escape From The Shadow Garden

Posted on March 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Photo: Noel Buckley Sunday 2 March, 22:00 Get Ready to ROCK! Radio The new Magnum album, ‘Escape From The Shadow Garden’ is released on 24 March. In this week’s ‘Assume The Position’, David Randall plays tracks and chats to Tony … Continue reading →

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

Album review: WISHBONE ASH – Blue Horizon

Posted on March 1, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Solid Rockhouse Records [Release date 04.03.14] If you can set aside the bitter dispute over the trading name, there is no doubt that Andy Powell has worked tirelessly to produce albums that are completely befitting the Wishbone Ash heritage. He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Powell, Blue Horizon, Bob Skeat, Joe Crabtree, Muddy Manninen, Pat McManus, review, rock, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Album review: ROCK CANDY FUNK PARTY – Takes New York, Live At The Iridium

Posted on February 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Provogue [Release date 24.02.14] A few years ago a few stellar musicians got together to explore some funky vibes. This stellar cast included, latterly, none other than Joe Bonamassa and this side-project was to some extent overlooked as Joe wore … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, CD, DVD, funk, jazz fusion, Joe Bonamassa, review, rock, Rock Candy Funk Party, Takes New York Live At The Iridium | Leave a comment

Gig review: SKINDRED/SOiL – Manchester Academy, 2 February 2014

Posted on February 24, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Skindred - Manchester Academy, 2 February 2014

3 bands, 3 music styles and 1 outcome, one awesome night of entertainment. It’s the last night of the UK leg of Skindred’s ‘Kill The Power’ tour before they head off to Europe and beyond for the next few months … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 February 2014, gig, Manchester Academy, metal, reggae, review, rock, Skindred, Soil, Viza | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE TREATMENT/Cage Of Gods – Sugarmill, Stoke, 5 February 2014

Posted on February 24, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

The Treatment - Sugarmill, Stoke - 5 February 2014

If the quality of tonight’s bands is anything to go by then the future of Rock music is in good hands as both The Treatment and Cage The Gods are both young in age and full of the attitude and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 5 February 2014, Cage Of Gods, gig, review, rock, Stoke, Sugarmill, The Treatment | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE QUIREBOYS – Live Rooms, Chester, 6 February 2014

Posted on February 24, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

What better way to spend my birthday that at a live gig and tonight we are at The Quireboys acoustic show in The Live Rooms, Chester. A new venue that is ideally situated across from the train station and has … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 6 February 2014, Chester, gig, Live Rooms, Mark Curran, Matt Pearce, Quireboys, review, rock, Spike | Leave a comment

Album review: WITHIN TEMPTATION – Hydra

Posted on February 24, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Dramatico [Release date 03.02.14] With their last studio album The Unforgiving (2011), Dutch symphonic rockers Within Temptation looked as if they were about to step into the American mainstream and take it by storm with a set that included radio … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dave Pirner, Howard Jones, Hydra, Killswitch Engage, Nightwish, review, rock, Soul Asylum, symphonic metal, Tarja Turunen, Within Temptation | Leave a comment

Album review: ANETTE OLZON – Shine

Posted on February 23, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Interview edit: Anette Olzon, 26 February 2014 The full interview is featured in ‘Assume The Position’ Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sunday 9 March, 22:00 GMT More information earMUSIC [Release date 31.03.14] For those who don’t pick their fruit from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alyson Avenue, Anette Olzon, Nightwish, pop, progressive, review, rock, Shine, Sweden, Swedish, symphonic metal | 1 Comment

News: Camel’s Andy Latimer is featured in The Guitarists series on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio

Posted on February 22, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

One of the highlights of 2013 was the return to live shows for seminal progsters Camel, and not least the return of frontman and founder Andy Latimer. The band take to the road again in early March for more UK … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged Andy Latimer, Camel, feature, February 2014, guitar, guitarist, interview, prog, progressive, radio, Snow Goose | Leave a comment

Album review: MAGNUM – Escape From The Shadow Garden

Posted on February 14, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Interview with Tony Clarkin of Magnum, first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 2 March 2014 (12:31) SPV [Release date 24.03.14] It is fair to say that with Magnum you will probably never get a naff album. Tony Clarkin’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Radio interview, The Best Of 2014 | Tagged Al Barrow, album, Bob Catley, Escape From The Shadow Garden, Harry James, interview, Magnum, Mark Stanway, review, rock, Tony Clarkin | Leave a comment

Gig review: DREAM THEATER – Manchester O2 Apollo, 13 February 2014

Posted on February 14, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

With the ‘Along For The Ride’ tour announced as a three-hour event, I couldn’t help wondering if the merch stall would be pushing Majesty symbol-branded thermos flasks, travel rugs and even smelling salts. Having witnessed Dream Theater on previous tours, … Continue reading →