Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

News: Albums of the Month (October 2019 – December 2019)

Posted on November 23, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

January – March 2019 April – June 2019 July – September 2019 BUCK AND EVANS Write A Better Day (Departure Records) …feels like an old school album crafted with contemporary values. Given enough airplay this impressive debut album should help … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2019, albums of the month, blues rock, Buck And Evans, Chasing The Monsoon, classic rock, December, hard rock, Kris Barras, melodic rock, November, October, Progressive Rock, Steve Hackett, The Defiants | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION (DBA) – Live In England (CD/DVD)

Posted on November 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Magical Thinker Records [Release date 29.11.19] Geoff Downes has been involved in a whole range of projects over the years, outside of Asia and Yes. His collaboration with UK born, LA-based Chris Braide seems to be one of the more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Live In England, pop, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE FARGO RAILROAD COMPANY – Under These Lights

Posted on November 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 15.11.19] The band’s name and the iconic sleeve/artwork featuring a vintage Chevrolet pick-up would never lead you to the band’s steel hometown – of Sheffield. But these days, southern rock/Americana knows no bounds. A hard working band, influenced … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, country, review, southern rock, The Fargo Railroad Company, Under These Lights | Leave a comment

Album review: MILES NIELSEN AND THE RUSTED HEARTS – Ohbahoy

Posted on November 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 10.01.20] The cynic in me always puts extra scrutiny on the veracity of projects by the offspring of famous ‘rock ‘n’ roll parentage – in this case, the son and heir of Cheap Trick lead guitarist and principle … Continue reading →

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Album review: YES – From A Page/In The Present Live From Lyon (box set)

Posted on November 16, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Yes [Release date 27.10.19] This boxed set is perhaps best considered as a “stop-gap” for fans in the absence of any new product following this summer’s Yes 50 Live release, and ahead of the band’s 2020 UK tour. One-time Yes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

News: CANCER ON THE ROCKS – charity gig at Bush Hall, London features Romeo’s Daughter, Piston and others (23/24 November 2019)

Posted on November 11, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Cancer On The Rocks, a two day festival in aid of Macmillan and The Royal Marsden Hospital, takes place for the first time this year in London at Bush Hall, 23/24 November. The brainchild of Skyfire Records’ Rick Palin, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged 23-24 November 2019, Bush Hall, Cancer On The Rocks, charity, classic rock, gig, hard rock, London, Never The Bride, Piston, Romeo's Daughter | Leave a comment

Quick plays: WILDWOOD KIN, PAMELA SUE MANN, CATTLE & CANE, CHRISTOPHER HOLLAND

Posted on November 8, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

WILDWOOD KIN Wildwood Kin Silvertone/Sony [Release date 04.10.19] Alt-folkies Wildwood Kin – sisters Beth and Emillie Key, and cousin Meghann Loney follow up their 2017 debut (Turning Tides) with an altogether more ‘grown up’ sounding sophomore self-titled release. Majoring on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, alternative, Americana, Break, Cattle & Cane, Christopher Holland, electronica, folk, Golden Hour, Navigator, Pamela Sue Mann, pop, review, Rundown, Scratches, singer, songwritrer, Wildwood Kin | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARILLION – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 4 November 2019

Posted on November 5, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Rightly acknowledged as one of the bands at the forefront of crowdfunding, I’m beginning to think Marillion should also be given credit as pioneers in recycling. Because whilst I’ve been a fan since Fish jumped ship 30 years ago, I … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 4 November 2019, Bridgewater Hall, gig, Ian Mosley, Manchester, Marillion, Mark Kelly, orchestra, Pete Trewavas, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Album review: DAN REED NETWORK – reissues

Posted on November 3, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

UMC [Release date 25.10.19] For fans, the question for these reissues has to be – firstly – why has it taken 30-odd years to get definitive remasters? And, secondly, where are the bonus tracks? OK, the analogue to digital transfer … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Dan Reed Network, funk rock, reissue, review, Slam | Leave a comment

Gig review: KIKI DEE & CARMELO LUGGERI – Goods Shed Arts Centre, Tetbury, 1 November 2019

Posted on November 3, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

In the first part of a two part special Kiki Dee chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio about her early career. First broadcast in March 2015. Part 2 is available here Kiki Dee is a Featured Artist at Get … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 1 November 2019, Carmelo Luggeri, gig, Goods Shed Arts Centre, Kiki Dee, pop, pop rock, review, Tetbury | Leave a comment

Album review: CHASING THE MONSOON – No Ordinary World

Posted on November 2, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 20.09.19] Once upon a time, in a Galaxy far, far away – well, OK, maybe not a Galaxy far away, but Swansea isn’t a place most people could pinpoint on a map without the help of Google – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, Chasing The Monsoon, Karnataka, No Ordinary World, prog, Progressive Rock, review, world | 1 Comment

Album review: VINNIE MOORE – Soul Shifter

Posted on October 24, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Mind’s Eye Music [Release date 09.10.19] What does a still-relevant guitarist do when his main band says farewell? You keep releasing solo albums, that’s what. Vinnie Moore’s last solo outing was in 2015 – Aerial Visions – but in fairness … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, funk, guitar, hard rock, instrumental, Jordan Rudess, metal, review, Rudy Sarzo, Soul Shifter, UFO, Vinnie Moore | Leave a comment

News: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR 17-19 July 2020 announces early additions

Posted on October 24, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Hawkwind - GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL - Skegness 22-24 January 2016

Ramblin’ Man Fair returns in 2020 for the sixth consecutive year, 17-19 July. The full “Prog In The Park” line-up includes Big Big Train(Headliner), Curved Air (Special Guest), Pure Reason Revolution, Moon Safari, Lazuli and Blurred Vision. Also announced are … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged 17-19 July 2020, classic rock, festival, Grooverider, Kent, Maidstone, Mote Park, Prog In the Park, Progressive Rock, Ramblin' Man Fair | Leave a comment

Album review: DERECHO – Beneath A Stained Glass Sky

Posted on October 16, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

www.derecho.band [Release date 16.11.19] Oh dear, there’s always added pressure when a band sends a direct copy of their latest album for review. No one, not even seasoned GRTR! reviewers, wants to tell proud parents that their baby is never … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Beneath A Stained Glass Sky, classic rock, Derecho, review, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TONY McLOUGHLIN, KELLY STEWARD

Posted on October 16, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

KELLY STEWARD Tales And Tributes Of The Deserving And Not So

TONY McLOUGHLIN True Native Fuego [Release date 15.11.19] Irish born singer -songwriter Tony McLoughlin’s seventh studio album picks up where his previous offering – The Contender (2013) – ‘a glorious Telecaster infused slab of Tom Petty / Springsteen inspired Americana’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Americana, blues, EP, Kelly Steward, Never Lost, review, roots, Scott & Maria, singer, songwriter, Tales And Tributes Of The Deserving And Not So, Tony McLoughlin, True Native | Leave a comment

Album review: JAN AKKERMAN – Close Beauty

Posted on October 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Music Theories Recordings/Mascot [Release date 25.10.19] Let’s be honest. Jan Akkerman hasn’t exactly been active in terms of album releases in the millennium. I also have to declare an interest having managed several UK tours for the guitarist in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Close Beauty, Focus, fusion, guitar, guitarist, Jan Akkerman, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: RISE – Strangers

Posted on October 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Wise Queen Records [Release date 18.10.19] Strangers is the new album by Sussex based singer songwriter RISE – the artist formerly known as Talitha Rise (aka Jo Beth Young). The follow up to her 2018 debut An Abandoned Orchid House, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, progressive folk, review, Rise, singer, songwriter, Strangers, Talitha Rise | Leave a comment

Album review: SAYER & JOYCE – Makes You Stronger

Posted on October 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Pete Feenstra chatted to Ron Sayer Jr. and Charlotte Joyce about the album ‘Makes You Stronger’. This interview was first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in November 2019. Gulf Coast Records [Release date 04.10.19] When Pete Feenstra reviewed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Charlotte Joyce, interview, Makes You Stronger, review, Ron Sayer Jr., roots, Sayer & Joyce | Leave a comment

Album review: ELAINE SAMUELS & KINDRED SPIRIT BAND – Elemental

Posted on October 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 02.11.19] Folk rock imbued with flute? It’s impossible not to make Tull/Anderson comparisons. Violin – Curved Air anyone? But Elaine Samuels and her Kindred Spirits (no relation Siobhan Maher’s all too short lived post River City People liaison … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Elaine Samuels, Elementral, folk, Kindred Spirit Band, prog, progressive folk, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: FLIGHT BRIGADE – Telford’s Warehouse, Chester, 4 October 2019

Posted on October 5, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

What’s not to like? An architecturally interesting venue for food, drink and music. A beer festival. And a free gig!! The first thing you might say about Flight Brigade, two days into a 14-date tour, is “where are the girls?”. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 4 October 2019, alternative, Chester, eighties, Flight Brigade, gig, indie, pop, review, synth, synth pop, Telford's Warehouse | Leave a comment

News: earMUSIC release high quality vinyl reissues of classic albums – win copies! (October 2019)

Posted on October 3, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC/Edel have announced the first phase of their high quality vinyl-led Classics range. The first batch of releases – available as lavishly presented, limited edition 180g. virgin vinyl – will be released 25 October and include The Who (‘Live At … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Competitions, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions | Tagged competition, Rainbow, win, ZZ Top | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (July 2019 – September 2019)

Posted on October 2, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

January-March 2019 April-June 2019 October – December 2019 DANNY BEARDSLEY Blood From A Stone www.dannybeardsley.com [Release date 20.09.19] Just when you thought it was safe to go back in to your ageing album collection – frustrated that much new … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2019, albums of the month, August, Berlin, blues rock, classic rock, Danny Beardsley, Diana Rein, hard rock, Iamthemorning, July, melodic rock, Phil Lanzon, pop rock, Progressive Rock, September, Status Quo, the New Roses | Leave a comment

Album review: BLUES CARAVAN 2019 (Katarina Pejak, Ina Forsman, Ally Venable)

Posted on September 28, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall chatted to Katarina Pejak in November 2019 for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. This hour special includes tracks from her earlier albums as well as the latest – ‘Roads That Cross’ – and the Blues Caravan 2019 live … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Ally Venable, blues, Blues Caravan 2019, blues rock, Ina Forsman, interview, Katarina Pejak, R&B, review, rhythm and blues, roots, ruf records, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: MIKE STERN – JEFF LORBER FUSION – Eleven

Posted on September 28, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Concord [Release date 27.09.19] Back in the 1990s there was a trend – epitomised by the chameleon-like Jazz FM radio station in the UK – for smooth jazz, a more accessible form of fusion that developed out of US FM … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Eleven, fusion, instrumental, jazz fusion, Jeff Lorber, Jeff Lorber Fusion, Mike Stern, review, smooth jazz | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ATOM WORKS, YES

Posted on September 27, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

YES Live At Glastonbury 2003 The Store For Music [Release date 04.10.19] There is not even an inlay for this double album lifted from the soundtrack to the “Director’s Cut” DVD released in 2008. Roger Dean’s iconic logo is the … Continue reading →