Monthly Archives: March 2016

Album review: THE INTERNATIONAL SWINGERS – s/t

THE INTERNATIONAL SWINGERS

In this hour special, Pete Feenstra chats to James Stevenson about his music (58:39) More at Mixcloud All The Cats Recordings [Release date 06.05.16] The main selling point, I guess, of The International Swingers (putting the Benidorm ‘swingers’ association to … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH AOR TOUR – ABC, Glasgow, 17 March 2016

QUIREBOYS - HRH AOR TOUR – ABC, Glasgow, 17 March 2016

Walking along Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow towards tonight’s venue was like being transported to Grafton Street in Dublin. It was St Patrick’s Day and the streets were awash with green, Guinness hats and people looking for drinking, dancing, good music … Continue reading

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Album review: TONY PATTERSON – Equations Of Meaning

TONY PATTERSON - Equations Of Meaning

Esoteric Antenna  [Release Date: 26.02.16] It must be very difficult if your day job is vocalist for a Genesis tribute band to sound like anything other than said progressive rock Gods. But is this necessarily a bad thing? There is … Continue reading

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Album review: AFRO CELT SOUND SYSTEM – The Source

AFRO CELT SOUND SYSTEM - The Source

ECC Records [Release date 29.04.16] Before starting this review a disclaimer of sorts in that this is one version of the Afro Celt Sound System (ACSS). The band reunited last year, however Simon Emmerson announced he was leaving and formed … Continue reading

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Gig review: SOME VELVET MORNING – The Roundhouse, London, 4 March 2016

Some Velvet Morning are a three piece indie rock outfit of burgeoning potential. Based in London, this gig in the Sackler Space off the main Roundhouse hall was bright, bold and full of the band’s local support. Their sound is … Continue reading

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Album review: TAX THE HEAT – Fed To The Lions

Nuclear Blast [Release date 08.04.16] I first came across Tax The Heat supporting prog/pomp rock veterans Kansas back in 2014 and was suitably impressed by their live show. Since then they have toured extensively and signed with Nuclear Blast. The … Continue reading

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News: 7 Bands to Watch – Download 2016

Atreyu

Here GRTR!’s Dillon Grant casts his expert eyes and ears over seven of the ‘must see’ bands at this year’s Download Festival. You can read the full article here including some who just missed the cut. Download 2015 reviews 7. … Continue reading

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Album review: FORBIDDEN PLANET – From Bedroom To Oblivion

FORBIDDEN PLANET – From Bedroom To Oblivion

CD Baby  [Release date 11.10.15] Not to be confused with anything pertaining to science fiction, save for some obtuse voice-over snippets, Forbidden Planet is a Singapore based instrumental prog rock outfit with an open ended style that finds them truly … Continue reading

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Album review: SOULSTACK – Soulstack

Soulstack

Stack-O-Soul  [Release date 18.06.15] ‘Soulstack’ is a song driven, soulful roots-rock album with plenty of feel, by a band that is at its best when it stretches out. And therein lies a slight problem, because in their efforts to present polished … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 12 March 2016 (Quiet Riot, Dan Reed Network)

Quiet Riot - HARD ROCK HELL AOR - Pwllheli, Wales, 12 March 2016

My first experience of any of the Hard Rock Hell festivals was HRH AOR in March last year, enjoying it so much I bought my own accommodation for this year’s event before any bands were announced.  You cannot imagine how … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 10-11 March 2016 (Joe Lynn Turner, Tyketto)

HARD ROCK HELL AOR, Pwllheli, Wales, 10-13 March 2016

Thursday 10 March With a mass of indoor festivals throughout the year mainly at holiday camps out of season, Hard Rock Hell and it’s offshoots – AOR, Hammerfest,  Prog and  Blues – are fast becoming favourites, selling out in ridiculously … Continue reading

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Album review: METAL CHURCH – XI

METAL CHURCH - XI

Nuclear Blast [Release date 25.03.16] Metal Church are back and they bring the incredibly impressive XI. This is your typical thrash release from Metal Church, and that’s not a bad thing. Formed in what is known as Thrash’s golden era … Continue reading

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Album review: BEN POOLE – Time Has Come

BEN POOLE – Time Has Come

Manhaton [Release date 01.04.16] Overlooking his debut EP/CD, ‘Time Has Come’ is a significant third album for Ben Poole, who has transformed himself from a guitar slinger to an expressive soul balladeer, and on this album a song driven artist … Continue reading

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Album review: EMMA KING s/t

EMMA KING

[Release date 27.05.16] The PR blurb accompanying this eponymous solo release would lead you to believe that the Hull-born singer songwriter has arrived at this point through gigging and experience in Nashville. But there’s a little more depth to the … Continue reading

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Album review: JUDITH OWEN – Somebody’s Child

JUDITH OWEN - Somebody

Twanky Records [Release date 06.05.16] Pianist-singer-songwriter Judith Owen has come up with just about the perfect ‘easy listening’ album. Genre hopping, from the influences of the very best from Laurel Canyon to Stevie Wonder and everything in between, she puts … Continue reading

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Album review: SPACE CREAM – Pterodactyl Sky

SPACE CREAM - Pterodactyl Sky

Space Cream are a four piece glam/prog outfit from Hollywood (where else?) fronted by the fulsome Savannah Pope. While Pope is dolled up like a Rocky Horror Show or sci-fi B-movie extra, the band conform to the standard rock attire … Continue reading

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Album review: BRUCE FOXTON – Smash The Clock

BRUCE FOXTON - Smash The Clock

Pledge Music [20.05.16] I have to admit to not being a Jam aficionado, or of Paul Weller for that matter.  Like everyone I’m familiar with the Jam hits, and have dabbled in some of Weller’s solo releases, and while there’s … Continue reading

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Album review: JOE BONAMASSA – Blues of Desperation

JOE BONAMASSA – Blues of Desperation

Provogue [Release date 25.03.16] Having settled for ‘Blues Of Desperation’ rather than ‘Blues and Desperation’, Joe Bonamassa transforms the inherent edge of his album title into a powerhouse record that showcases some of his best recorded moments in recent times. … Continue reading

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Album review: THE LAST VEGAS – Eat Me

THE LAST VEGAS – Eat Me

AFM Records [Release date 18.03.16] The Last Vegas are an American sleazy hard rock band and somehow they have managed to get their latest release “Eat Me” released on a German metal label… The band hail from Chicago, Illinois and … Continue reading

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News: COLIN BLUNSTONE UK Tour Dates April 2016 and Interview

Colin Blunstone

On Sunday 3 April (Part 1) and Sunday 10 April (Part 2) at 18:00 GMT Colin Blunstone chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! about his career, with tracks from The Zombies and his solo albums. This interview edit discusses recent … Continue reading

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News: ANDREW ROACHFORD – UK Tour Dates March 2016 and Interview

Andrew Roachford

This interview edit is taken from an hour special broadcast on Sunday 6 March at 18:00 GMT on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio (5:01) The full feature is now available via Mixcloud (or click the audio player above) More information … Continue reading

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Album review: THE DOWLING POOLE – One Hyde Park

THE DOWLING POOLE - One Hyde Park

369 Music www.thedowlingpoole.com [Released 08.04.16] The Dowling Poole’s 2014 debut album ‘Bleak Strategies’ easily made my year end top 10, so this new album has a lot to live up to. Based around the duo of Willie Dowling (Jackdaw4/the Grip/the … Continue reading

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Gig review: TYKETTO/DAN REED NETWORK – Manchester Academy, 13 March 2016

TYKETTO - Manchester Academy, 13 March 2016

It seems that we all gain from an event like HRH AOR: it means that some of the bands tag a few gigs either side.  In this case, Tyketto and Dan Reed Network teamed up together for a unique pairing, … Continue reading

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Quick plays: COLOUR OF NOISE, WHITE WINE

COLOUR OF NOISE www.colourofnoiseofficial.com The band maybe new, however two key members aren’t as the line-up features former Little Angels guitarist Bruce J Dickinson and on vocals Matt Mitchell (Furyon/ex-Pride). The band’s sound is steeped in the bands of the … Continue reading

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Gig review: SABATON – Glasgow Barrowlands, 3 March 2016

Pirates, tanks and a night to remember! Scotland’s very own Alestorm stopped over in Glasgow and with them came Sweden’s Sabaton and Bloodbound. The Barrowlands was, on the night a venue filled with a mix of Sabaton’s trademark bulletproof vests … Continue reading

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