Album review: QUINN SULLIVAN – Wide Awake

QUINN SULLIVAN – Wide Awake

Provogue Records [Release date 04.06.21]

The 21-year-old Massachusetts singer-songwriter Quinn Sullivan has been touring the world since he was 11-years-old! Appearing at venues such as Madison Square Garden, the Hollywood Bowl and RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., as well as Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, and three Montreux Jazz Festivals.

The new album was recorded in Los Angeles with producer/collaborator Oliver Leiber (worked has with artists such as Adam Lambert, Paula Abdul, The Corrs and more).

Opener and lead single from this album, ‘All Around The World’, sees Quinn Sullivan set his musical stall out, being a sassy blues number featuring a sublime guitar from him. Despite his young age, Sullivan has a soothing, soulful vocal typified on the laid back ‘How Many Tears’. If his singing wasn’t enough to make this song special, he lays down another tasteful solo.

‘Strawberry Rain’ allows his let loose his funkier side. The song is underpinned by a funky beat and then there is the gloriously summery pop rock chorus. ‘Jessica’ has an AOR appeal, reminding the listener of say Mr Big in ballad mode or Rick Springfield.

‘She’s Gone (& She Ain’t Coming Back)’ and ‘Baby Please’ both have that neat blues, pop and soul mix that could easily provide him with mainstream radio airplay and the all-important streaming services playlists.

“Obviously, as you get older you learn and experience more,” Sullivan says. “Throughout the years, I’ve gotten to learn and work with so many amazing, accomplished musicians and people in the music industry and that has shaped me into who I am today.”

Like Robert Cray and Colin James, Quinn Sullivan uses the blues as his starting point before going whereever his musical muse takes him, be it a soulful touch, pop or a nifty bit of blues playing. ‘Wide Awake’ is set to be the album to give Sullivan his crossover into a wider audience outside of the blues scene. Impressive to say the least. The soundtrack to your summer starts here… ****

Review by Jason Ritchie


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.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



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 March 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 5 March 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply