JENN BUTTERWORTH Her By Design Self-released [Release date 28.02.25]

Debut album from Scottish musician Jenn Butterworth where the lyrical themes focus on women’s stories and their strength and struggles. Mention must be made of the beautifully illustrated CD booklet with blueprint technical drawings drawn by artist Somhairle MacDonald. Each one links into a song’s theme and the details on them is amazing.

Opening with a Sandy Denny cover – ‘All Our Days’ – is a brave move by any artist. Jenn Butterworth sings it like it was her own and really gets into the song. ‘Fair Maids of February’ is simply stunning on the listener’s ears, whilst ‘The Housewife’s Lament’ gets the listener thinking, being about the unpaid, and more often than not underappreciated, labour women do in a household.

Her reworking of the traditional tune ‘Annachie Gordon’, which is retitled ‘Jeannie’ to reflect the women at the centre of the song, is one of the stand outs on the album. Her vocal is both wistful and melodic, making for a captivating listen.

With a debut this strong you do wonder if Jenn Butterworth could top this but given her undoubted talent it would be foolish to think otherwise. In a word, stunning. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

PHIL VINCENT Backstabber Rock Company Records [Release date 26.02.25]

Phil Vincent is back again with another hard rockin’ album! Vince O’Regan (guitar solos) and Jacob Hansen (mastering) are helping out as usual.

Personal loss and experiences helped shape this album, with the album’s sleeve notes dedications including one to Phil’s later father. The cover of Tygers of Pan Tang’s ‘Do it Good’ is also a fitting choice as the original featured the late John Sykes. It is a good cover, staying true to the original’s metallic bite. The other cover is the instrumental ‘Theme From a Summer Place’, written by Max Steiner, from the 1959 film of the same name.

Elsewhere, the rifftastic ‘New Light’ hits the spot nicely, whilst ‘Betrayer’ rocks hard too and the lyrics pull no punches. The ballads are here too as you’d expect, with ‘Miss You Everyday’ a heartfelt song and quite possibly written with his dad in mind?

Classy hard rocking music again from Phil Vincent with a couple of musical twists to keep things fresh. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 6 April (Fifth Anniversary!)

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 23 February 2025.

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 on 25 February 2025

How to Listen Live?

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

Power Plays w/c 10 March 2025

THE SOUL REVIVAL Outlaw (indie)
WHEN RIVERS MEET Addicted To Love (indie)
ISABELLA STORM Satan’s Valentine (indie)
KEYSTONE Slow Down Honey (indie)
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE Sleep Tonight (Metropolis Records)
SAWMOON Madness (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 10 March 2025

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

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