Album review: THE PAT McMANUS BAND – Live In France

THE PAT McMANUS BAND - Live In France

The Store For Music [Release date 21.07.23]

It’s about time we had a new live album from Pat McManus.  In August 2022 he recorded his gig as part of the Tribal Rock festival nestling above the Cote d’Azur in south-east France.

With an extensive back catalogue, it’s inevitable that he’ll revisit former glories and the setlist majors on the band he formed with his brothers in the late seventies.  So we get ‘Blacklisted’, ‘Runaway Dreams’, ‘Needle In The Groove’, ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ and ‘Straight Forward’ originally performed by Mama’s Boys.

Elsewhere the setlist only includes a sprinkling of solo album tracks including ‘Honey Trap’ from the excellent and most recent ‘Full Service Resumed’.

As anyone who has seen McManus live will testify he has an infectious enthusiasm for everything he does, whether that’s the traditional interlude included here (attesting his superb fiddle playing) or the out and out rocking and fluid guitar (as on ‘Blacklisted’ and ‘Got The Right’).

There are a lot of blues rock “power” trios out there but it’s McManus’ lust for life and not least his stellar guitar playing that cuts right through.

The Irish/Gary Moore connection is reflected on an accurate and respectful rendition of ‘Parisienne Walkways’, and the live staple ‘Belfast Boy’, whilst on the ‘Ring Of Fire’ (the Johnny Cash tune) he is joined by fellow festival act Uncle Bard & The Dirty Bastards.

As ever with Store For Music there’s economical packaging and there is a hint that the gig was also filmed for DVD.  If that’s true it’s a shame that it didn’t form part of this release. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

Album review (Full Service Resumed, 2021)
Gig review (Half Moon, Putney, 2022)



David Randall chatted to Pat McManus for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 3 October 2021.  The hour special includes tracks from Mama’s Boys, Celtus and solo material.


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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

Next session: Sunday 19 January


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 1 December 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 3 December 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 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)



Popular (last 10 days)


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

Leave a Reply