Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: LUKE MORLEY- Islington Academy, London, 31 January 2024

LUKE MORLEY- Islington Academy, London, 31 January 2024

With Thunder off the road for the foreseeable future, Luke Morley has been able to devote more significant time to his solo work. Last year’s ‘Songs from the Blue Room’,  a mellow collection of songs sounding nothing like his main … Continue reading

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Gig review: LEAFHOUND- Camden Underworld, London, 26 January 2024

LEAFHOUND- Camden Underworld, London, 26 January 2024

Many of us would like to attend a gig by our favourite artists to mark a milestone birthday. Only a select few though have the contacts to actually put on a special concert, but Darius Drewe is one such. He’s … Continue reading

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Gig review: JANUARY BLUES FESTIVAL (Laurence Jones, Ben Poole) – The Forge, Camden, London, 23 and 24 January 2024

January Blues Festival, blues rock, Laurence Jones, Ben Poole, Guy Smeets, gig, festival

For many years now the January Blues Festival has given the traditionally quiet gig calendar a welcome boost in that most depressing of months and showcased a variety of artists old and new. The 100 Club was its traditional habitat … Continue reading

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Gig review: OCEAN COLOUR SCENE – Eventim Apollo, 16 December 2023

Ocean Colour Scheme Tour 2023

There’s always been a sense that, despite their success, Ocean Colour Scene have been one of the most under rated bands to emerge during those heady, somewhat hedonistic days of the Britpop era. Certainly, whilst the constant inclusion of one … Continue reading

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Gig review: GEDDY LEE – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow – 14th December 2023

mini_SAM_0121

Tonight, we had something a bit different, Geddy Lee in conversation to promote his autobiography, ‘My Effin’ Life’, which has just been released. With Rush in hiatus following the sad passing of Neil Peart, for fans of the band this … Continue reading

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Gig review: HALESTORM – Wembley Arena, London, 9 December 2023

HALESTORM- Wembley Arena, London, 9 December 2023

Halestorm have maintained a continuous but steady upward trend in popularity on the UK. Nearly 14 years after I first saw them open up for Theory of a Deadman and Heaven’s Basement at the Electric Ballroom, came a career highlight, … Continue reading

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Gig review: FM – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 1 December 2023

FM- The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 1 December 2023

Yet another busy gigging year in FM’s ever hard working calendar ended in the unlikely surroundings of Tunbridge Wells, the genteel Kent town famous for its spa and the mythical disgusted letter-writing retired colonel. Its commutable from both the South … Continue reading

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Gig review: ULI JON ROTH- The Garage, London, 28 November 2023

ULI JON ROTH- The Garage, London, 28 November 2023

A regular on the gig circuit before the pandemic, this was Uli Jon Roth’s first UK tour since, and a particularly welcome return to the stage as he has recovered from major surgery earlier this year. Coming on relatively late … Continue reading

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Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 30 November 2023

Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, 30 November 2023

After various ‘Fest’ and ‘Temple of Rock’ incarnations, Schenker revived the original MSG monicker for a couple of recent albums and has been on a 50th anniversary tour for over two years now. It is something of a divine resurrection. … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE NEW ROSES- Downstairs at the Dome, London, 26 November 2023

THE NEW ROSES- Downstairs at the Dome, London, 26 November 2023

Despite rave reviews, German rockers The New Roses have yet to achieve the success they deserve in the UK. We can speculate about the reason for this- one being that though they defy pigeonholing, their sound is totally un-German! Hopefully … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEAD WRITERS – The Camden Assembly, Tuesday 21 November 2023

Dead Writers

Warming up a cold November night in the twilight zone between the edge of Camden and Chalk Farm, Dead Writers are lighting up the stage on the first night of a short tour opening for South Carolina guitar-slinging sensation Hannah … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE ANSWER – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 16 November 2023

THE ANSWER- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 16 November 2023

It’s been quite a year for The Answer after breaking their five year hiatus to regroup and record a new album ‘Sundowners’. At a 100 Club gig in the Spring that largely showcased the new album I was initially unimpressed, … Continue reading

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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 15 November 2023

SUZI QUATRO-London Palladium, 15 November 2023

Celebrating a remarkable 50 years as a trailblazing woman in rock since ‘Can the Can’ became her first hit single and reached  No 1, Suzi Quatro followed up last year’s superb one off Royal Albert Hall gig with a longer … Continue reading

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Gig review: GRETA VAN FLEET – Wembley Arena, London, 14 November 2023

GRETA VAN FLEET- Wembley Arena, London, 14 November 2023

We’re always being told that rock, or at least classic blues based heavy rock, no longer appeals to young people and that limits the scope  for the much needed new generation of bands to progress to mass market popularity. Michigan … Continue reading

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Gig review: RUSS BALLARD- Nell’s Jazz and Blues, West Kensington, London, 9 November 2023

RUSS BALLARD- Nell's Jazz and Blues, West Kensington, London, 9 November 2023

As someone for whom the PRS cheques roll in every time his famous songs are played, Russ Ballard has no need to go out in tour for the money, so his newly prolific touring in the UK must be for … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH XVI – Great Yarmouth, November 2-4 2023

HRH XVI

So if Storm Ciaran had plans to disrupt HRH, they failed dismally, whilst the storm hit and disrupted lots of travel plans, impacting arrivals on Thursday, the HRH faithful turned up in their masses ready to rock out and party. … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE DUST CODA- Dingwalls, London, 28 October 2023

THE DUST CODA- Dingwalls, London, 28 October 2023

Rather more quietly than some of their other contemporaries in the New Wave of Classic Rock movement, The Dust Coda have been building a name for themselves, and 2023 has been a busy year, with a second straight top 40 … Continue reading

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Gig review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION – The Junction, Cambridge, 31 October 2023

FC

They started off as a band in 1967 but now, more than ever, Fairport Convention are a family, the sense of community between not just the musicians themselves but the fans too something that’s vital and heart-warming. Eternally set squarely … Continue reading

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Gig review: LAURIE WRIGHT + THE MOLOTOVS, Underworld, Camden, 21 October 2023

Laurie Wright The Molotovs – Underworld, Camden

A revolution is happening and there’s no stopping it. In a world full of conflict and corruption, it’s always been down to the youth to shake things up, their voices and music providing defining moments of change. It’s a testament … Continue reading

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Gig review: GLENN HUGHES – Electric Ballroom, London, 25 October 2023

GLENN HUGHES- Electric Ballroom, London, 25 October 2023

In Glenn Hughes’ distinguished and chequered career, his time in Deep Purple is a gift that keeps giving. Songs from his tenure with them have always formed a big part of his solo shows and indeed for many years (until … Continue reading

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Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH & JESSE DAYTON – Junction, Cambridge, 25 October 2023

Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton

The fact that the Junction is wall to wall with people is testament to not just the rise of Samantha Fish but also how the revival of blues has never been stronger. With its blue-collar honesty and everyman appeal, this … Continue reading

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Gig review: DOM MARTIN – Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 19 October 2023

DOM MARTIN- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 19 October 2023

Any blues rock guitarist emerging from Ireland will face invariable and daunting comparisons with the very best in Rory Gallagher (and that’s before we even get started on Gary Moore). One such, Dom Martin, has been receiving rave reviews and … Continue reading

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Gig review: EUROPE – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 18 October 2023

EUROPE - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 18 October 2023

I recently interviewed Tommy Johannson of the Swedish band Sabaton. As an aside at the end of the interview I asked him, given the band’s love of all things historic, if he could go back to any point in time … Continue reading

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Gig review: THOSE DAMN CROWS- The Forum, London, 17 October 2023

THOSE DAMN CROWS- The Forum, London, 17 October 2023

This show had a lovely sense of symmetry for me. Just over five years ago my first sighting of Those Damn Crows was here at the Forum, opening a four band bill headlined by the Quireboys. I remember being struck … Continue reading

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Gig review: KEITH ST.JOHN- Devonshire Arms, Camden, 9 October 2023

KEITH ST.JOHN- Devonshire Arms, Camden, 9 October 2023

The measure of a singer can be found in the offers they get to fill the boots of famous predecessors. Best known as the frontman for Burning Rain- whose guitarist Doug Aldrich should recognise a good singer having worked with … Continue reading

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