Quick plays: BEN HEMMING

BEN HEMMING The Devil Beside Me

BEN HEMMING The Devil Beside Me [Release date 31.05.19]

‘Nu-blues’ man Ben Hemming opens his latest release with the impressively broody/ doomy Dead Man Blues which reminds me (strangely) of PJ Harvey circa Bring Your Love To Me.  It’s a powerful statement.

And with just the help of James Hosking (bass) and Luigi Rampino (drums) his third album The Devil Beside Me is a brutal slab of soul searching recorded at The Blues Studios in London’s Hackney with producer Mark Waterman (Depeche Mode, Elastica) behind the desk.

It may, or may be not, a coincidence but there’s unmistakeable tones of Gahan to Hemming’s vocals and with some of his previous work having been recorded at Jack White’s Third Man Recording Booth, the London based singer/songwriter could easily be the pair’s bastard offspring (if that were physically possible).

Uncompromisingly dense, The Devil Beside Me is no easy ride  “my mother knew, the day she had me, a darker day she would never see” (‘The Sea’) but it’s easy to see Hemming building a cult following.  Taking it to the masses may prove more challenging.  ***

Review by Pete Whalley


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)



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