Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: STATUS QUO – Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli, 27 August 2016

STATUS QUO - Parc Y Scarletts, Llanelli, 27 August 2016

Billed as “Last Night Of The Electrics” you wonder if this will be the last time to catch the Quo live in all their denim clad glory although the annual Christmas tour may be their swansong in that format.  Sadly, … Continue reading

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Gig review: KING CRIMSON – Aylesbury Waterside, 3 September 2016

This was a journey deep into hard core prog territory and a little beyond. King Crimson have been on the go – give or take the odd hiatus – since 1968. However, our paths had not crossed until this steamy, … Continue reading

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Gig review: CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, 28-31 July 2016

Blazing Fiddles - Cambridge Folk Festival, 28-31 July 2016

Yet again CFF has come up with an intriguing and eclectic mix of artists that pulls from many eras and styles of folk and world music, included in this are enough big names to entice people.  This helped to yet … Continue reading

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Gig review: WEYFEST- Rural Life Centre, Tilford, Surrey, 19-21 August 2016

Weyfest celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Rural Life Centre, a rustic setting that suits its ambience as one of the more laid back of festivals. Situated on the Surrey/Hampshire borders in what was once known as the stockbroker belt, … Continue reading

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Gig review: MIGHTY MO ROGERS – Relache Festival, Bordeaux, 25 August 2016

Relache Festival

Picture the scene, its 38c – that’s 100 degrees fahrenheit, though it’s mercifully cooler in the shade – and septuagenarian blues man Mighty Mo Rogers is holding court in front of a big crowd in Square Dom Bedos. In the … Continue reading

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Gig review: KYLA BROX – Relache Festival, Bordeaux, 17 August 2016

KYLA BROX – Relache Festival, Bordeaux, 17 August 2016

There’s a lot to be said for mixing genres on a festival bill, as it provides contrast, dynamism and even brings in a different crowd during the course of 5 hours or more, of rock/blues related music. Tonight’s bill of … Continue reading

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Gig review: EDDIE & THE HOT RODS – Relache Festival, Bordeaux, 18 August 2016

EDDIE & THE HOT RODS – Relache Festival, Bordeaux 18 Aug 2016

They came, they saw, they waited for the sun to go down and then they finally conquered! Eddie & The Hot Rods didn’t so much tear Bordeaux apart, as gently give it a poke in the ribs to remind a … Continue reading

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Gig review: MOONDANCE JAM – Walker, Minnesota, USA, 21-23 July 2016

CHICAGO - MOONDANCE JAM - July 2016

Considering the previous generation thought rock n roll was a passing fad, and given the pace of change in the industry, it is a substantial feat for any rock festival to reach a 25 year milestone. It is even more … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL – Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 24 July 2016 (Day 2)

The Darkness - STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL - Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 24 July 2016

After the success of the previous day and coupled with great weather, arriving on site on the Sunday morning to damp and drizzly conditions soon brought us back down to earth with a bump. Sunday’s line up for myself was … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLUE OYSTER CULT – Kentish Town Forum, London, 29 July 2016

BLUE OYSTER CULT - Kentish Town Forum, London, 29 July 2016

This was a bit of a special event as not only was this the first sighting of Blue Oyster Cult outside of a holiday camp in the UK for a few years, but this gig marked the return of drummer … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL – Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 23 July 2016 (Day 1)

STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL - Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 23 July 2016

As a founding fan from the very first event where a couple of hundred people showed, I have been fortunate to see Steelhouse grow year on year.  Along with many others I heard the rumours almost every year that Thunder … Continue reading

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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Mote Park, Maidstone, 24 July 2016 (Day 2)

Thunder - RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR - Mote Park, Maidstone, 24 July 2016

If the Day 2 line up was less immediately eye-catching and mouth-watering than Saturday, there was still so much to anticipate. I made straight for the Blues tent where a good crowd received Pat McManus enthusiastically. I’d been a fan … Continue reading

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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Mote Park, Maidstone, 23 July 2016 (Day 1)

Whitesnake - RAMBLIN

This festival is now into its second year, having proved a hit in 2015 and was back with a bang this Summer, packing an eclectic bill of depth and quality across four stages and two days. Mote Park lies on … Continue reading

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Gig review: HAT FITZ & CARA ROBINSON, Boo Boo Davis– Relache Festival, Bordeaux 28 July 2016

Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson HD1

They say music is an international language and tonight the Australian /Irish duo Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson provide the perfect example of that, with a uplifting show that connects with their French crowd. Faced with the graveyard shift at … Continue reading

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Gig review: SOS FESTIVAL, Manchester, 15-17 July 2016

Absolva - SOS FESTIVAL, Manchester, 15-17 July 2016

With suitable tunes on the car stereo we headed over to Prestwich, Manchester for the Rocksector Records annual get-together, ‘SOS Festival’.  Now in its ninth year it has a new home and has moved out of the now demolished Civic … Continue reading

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Gig review: Festival D’ete De Quebec, 7-17 July 2016

Festival D

If I was to ask you if you had ever heard of Festival D’ete De Quebec I am betting the answer would be NO … me neither so when I was handed the opportunity to experience this event I jumped … Continue reading

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Gig review: SHAKURA S’AIDA, The Howlin Blues Trio – Relache Festival, Bordeaux, 20 July 2016

Relache Festival, Bordeaux, 20 July 2016

In an age of instant celebrity where the mundane too often passes for the exceptional, the Canadian double Maple Blues award winner Shakura S’Aida (pronounced Shack-oora Sigh-ee-da), is here to remind us of the true merits of a soulful blues … Continue reading

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Gig review: GINGER WILDHEART – Stereo, Glasgow, 15 July 2016

GINGER WILDHEART – Stereo, Glasgow, 15 July 2016

There can’t be many roads in the UK that Ginger Wildheart doesn’t know like the back of his hand. He appears to be constantly on tour either solo, with The Wildhearts or on one of his many side projects. It’s … Continue reading

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Gig review: NAZARETH – Under The Bridge, London, 17 July 2016

NAZARETH - Under The Bridge, London, 17 July 2016

Gigs by Nazareth in the UK –certainly in London – used to be as rare as rocking horse dung with the veteran Scots finding the European and world markets more receptive to their enduring charms. However this nightclub, tucked away … Continue reading

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Gig review: 10cc – Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, 9 July 2016

10cc - Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, 9 July 2016

Some of the great historic and cultural attractions in London are now opening their doors to a more contemporary entertainment form with a summer concert series. Following the likes of Hampton Court, Somerset House and Kew Gardens is now the … Continue reading

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Gig review: SELWYN BIRCHWOOD, JAMES LEG, THE LIMBOOS, ELLI de MON – Relache Festival, Bordeaux, 12 July 2016

Relache Festival, Bordeaux, 12 July 2016

Bordeaux’s Relache Festival has quickly carved an important niche on the Euro Summer Blues Festival circuit. It’s an annual umbrella for two months worth of rock/blues/soul and related music in different parts of the city. Tonight we’re treated to the … Continue reading

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Gig review: Breaking Bands Festival – Stoke Prior Country Club, 27-29 May 2016

Breaking Bands Festival - Stoke Prior Country Club, 27-29 May 2016

Still in its infancy, Breaking Bands Festival has yet again shown how to organise, run and sell a music festival that was sold out way before the event.  And, over the May bank holiday weekend and following days, it was … Continue reading

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Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, 3 July 2016

The Best of 2016

Without doubt Joe Bonamassa is one of the biggest blues stars in the world at the moment. Over the last few years he has grown a large and very loyal following who turn out in numbers whenever he rolls into … Continue reading

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Gig review: DOWNLOAD, Donington Park, 10-12 June 2016

DOWNLOAD, 10-12 June 2016

My last visit to Donington was back in 1988 when – as ‘Monsters Of Rock’ – it also featured Megadeth and headlined by Iron Maiden. I never really embraced the three day event and with not enough bands of interest … Continue reading

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Gig review: HEART – O2 Apollo, Manchester – 30 June 2016

HEART - O2 Apollo, Manchester - 30 June 2016

In 2014 GRTR!’s David Randall chatted to Ann Wilson about her influences and Heart (First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 23 March 2014) One of the the main trends in the topsy-turvy music industry in the past 10 … Continue reading

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