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Gig review: THE DARKER MY HORIZON – Dirty Rockers, Dudley, Saturday 24 October 2020
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Gig review: MARK MORRISS- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 3 October 2020
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Gig review: GARY FLETCHER AND NICK RITCHIE – Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 2 October 2020
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Gig review: COLLATERAL – Leo’s, The Red Lion, Gravesend, Friday 4 September 2020
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Gig review: THE DARKER MY HORIZON – The Victoria, Swindon, Thursday 27 August 2020
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Feature: Collectible Collections – MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – 40th Anniversary Box Set
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Feature: Albums that time forgot … NATIVE CAIN – The Primitive Soul
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Feature: Albums that time forgot…EUROPE – Secret Society
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Feature: Albums that time forgot…JAMES LABRIE – Elements Of Persuasion
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Feature: Albums that time forgot…DON DOKKEN – Up From The Ashes
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Feature: Albums that time forgot … CODE OF SILENCE – Dark Skies Over Babylon
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Tag Archives: Islington Academy
Gig review: H.E.A.T. – Islington Academy, London, 21 November 2017

H.E.A.T.’s return to the stage, hot on the heels of their long delayed, controversial but in my view excellent ‘Into The Great Unknown’ album, was eagerly anticipated. However November is a notoriously crowded month in the gig calendar, which this … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 21 November 2017, Black Diamonds, Crash, Dave Dalone, Degreed, Erik Gronwall, gig, H.E.A.T., Islington Academy, Jona Tee, London, melodic rock, review
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Gig review: LYNCH MOB – Islington Academy, London, 12 November 2017

A very rare appearance from former Dokken guitar maestro George Lynch – and the first with his band Lynch Mob in the capital since 1990 – should have been the hottest ticket in London town. It was therefore something of … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 12 November 2017, Dokken, George Lynch, gig, Islington Academy, Jody Turner, Lynch Mob, Oni Logan, review, Rock Goddess, The Wild Lies
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Gig review: INGLORIOUS – Islington Academy, London, 19 May 2017

Inglorious’ star is rising nicely – little over a year after their debut album had them voted best newcomers in many end of year polls, and after a series of high profile touring opportunities, they have swiftly followed up with … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 19 May 2017, Andreas Eriksson, Deep Purple, Dio, Drew Lowe, gig, Gypsy Heart, hard rock, Heather Leoni, Inglorious, Islington Academy, live, London, Mason Hill, melodic, Nathan James, Rainbow, review, Scott Taylor, Whitesnake
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Gig review: SNAKECHARMER – Islington Academy, London,14 May 2017

Progressively Snakecharmer are leaving behind their origins, celebrating old-school Whitesnake, in the same way Black Star Riders are laying aside the ghost of Thin Lizzy. Four years after the release of their excellent self-titled and self-penned album, this was my … Continue reading
Gig review: L.A. GUNS – The Islington Academy, London, 25 March 2017

Having recently reunited after a ten year break, L.A. Guns vocalist Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns have just finished a UK tour which found the still popular band rolling back the years and sounding as good, and fresh, as they … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged gig, glam, Islington Academy, L.A. Guns, Phil Lewis, review, rock, sleaze, Tracii Gunns
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Gig review: VEGA – Islington Academy, London, 30 May 2016

Midway through a successful tour supporting Magnum, UK melodic rock hopefuls Vega slipped in a headline show of their own at the smaller of Islington Academy’s two halls. Judging from easily the biggest crowd for a headline London show yet, … Continue reading
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Tagged 30 May 2016, AOR, gig, Islington Academy, London, melodic rock, review, Vega
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Gig review: SNAKECHARMER – Islington Academy, 13 November 2015

None of us knew it at the time, but Snakecharmer’s winter tour, including this London date, proved to be Micky Moody’s farewell to the band, leaving them in a state of flux. On the night however it was a night … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Bad Touch, blues rock, Chris Ousey, gig, hard rock, Harry James, Islington Academy, Laurie Wisefield, Micky Moody, Neil Murray, review, Snakecharmer, Thunder, Whitesnake
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Gig review: KING KING – Islington Academy, London, 11 November 2015
It takes time to be an overnight sensation but King King, and singer guitarist Alan Nimmo in particular, have enjoyed a spectacular rise to fame recently. Having paid his dues for a long time with the Nimmo Brothers and now … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 11 November 2015, Alan Nimmo, Ben Poole, blues, blues rock, gig, Islington Academy, King King, London, review
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Gig review: BLUES PILLS – Islington Academy, London, 22 April 2015

The latest in the seemingly endless line of classic rock revivalists, a big buzz has emerged around Blues Pills. In their short career they have topped many end of year polls, including being GRTR!’s own tip for 2015. Then on … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 22 April 2015, Blues Pills, blues rock, gig, Islington Academy, London, Psychedelic Rock, review, rock
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Gig review: NIGHT RANGER – Islington Academy, 12 March 2015

Once something of a holy grail for UK rock fans, Night Ranger visits are now regular on these shores – well London anyway. This was their third trip since 2011 but the band’s stock is high at the moment, last … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 12 March 2015, Brad Gillis, gig, hard rock, Islington Academy, Jack Blades, Kelly Keagy, Kerri Kelli, London, melodic, Night Ranger, review
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Gig review: WINGER – Islington Academy, London, 21 June 2014

It’s been four years since Winger last toured the UK, playing this very same venue, but in the intervening years Kip Winger’s solo shows have intensified the loyalty of their following here, and the Academy was pretty full for the … Continue reading
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Tagged 21 June 2014, Black Wolf, gig, hard rock, Islington Academy, Jettblack, Kip Winger, London, melodic, Reb Beach, review, Winger
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Gig Review- TESLA – Islington Academy, London, 12 June 2014

Tesla’s UK tour in support of their excellent new album Simplicity was a blink and you miss it affair, this first London date preceding an appearance at Download the following day. But, blending old and new, it was a timely … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 12 June 2014, gig, hard rock, Islington Academy, London, melodic, review, Tesla
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Gig review: JAKE E LEE’S RED DRAGON CARTEL – Islington Academy, 6 June 2014

Red Dragon Cartel performed a stunning set in London on Friday night to mark a remarkable return to form for guitar hero Jake E. Lee. The legendary riff-master, best known for providing Ozzy Osbourne with some of his finest 80’s … Continue reading
Gig Review: VANDENBERG’S MOONKINGS – Islington Academy, London 24 April 2014

For a man with such a pedigree, both with his own band and spending longer as David Coverdale’s right hand man in Whitesnake than anyone else, Adrian Vandenberg’s profile has been surprisingly low for a number of years. However the … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 24 April 2014, Adrian Vandenberg, gig, hard rock, Islington Academy, London, melodic, review, Vandenberg's Moonkings, Whitesnake
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