Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: MICHAEL J BOLTON – Earthrise

Posted on July 26, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Market Square [Release date 30.08.19] www.marketsquaremusic.com Arriving to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, Michael J Bolton has fashioned his own tribute. As he outlines in the liner notes “I wanted to portray the drama and … Continue reading →

Gig review: UPTON BLUES FESTIVAL – Never The Bride, 20 July 2019

Posted on July 24, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

UPTON BLUES FESTIVAL - Chris Bevington Organisation, 20 July 2019

A free music festival. A mini-beer festival. Lots of food outlets. Easy parking. Family friendly. Great weather. What more could you ask for? The Upton Blues Festival is a well established event now in its second decade and takes place … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 July 2019, blues rock, Born Healer, gig review, Never The Bride, Upton Blues Festival, wille and the bandits | Leave a comment

Album review: MIND KEY – Aliens In Wonderland

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers [Release date 12.07.19] Nearly a decade since Mind Key’s last offering ‘Pulse For A Graveheart’ the Italian prog/power metallers return. For those who like lots of great orchestration (Dario De Cicco), lots of melody and strong vocals throughout (Aurello … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Aliens In Wonderland, Italy, Mind Key, power metal, progressive metal, review | Leave a comment

Album review: DANNY BEARDSLEY – Blood From A Stone

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

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 stuff merely recycles the old and not as convincingly – along comes an album to … Continue reading →

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

Album review: HANNAH WICKLUND & THE STEPPIN STONES

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Strawberry Moon Records [Release date 30.05.19] With her previous two albums (Looking Glass (2013) and Steppin Stones (2015)) recorded when she was 15 and 17 being self-released under the branding of The Steppin Stones and no longer available, 22 year … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues rock, classic rock, Hannah Wicklund & The Steppin Stones, review, rhythm & blues | Leave a comment

Quick plays: ANGELA PERLEY, ANNIE KEATING, SESSION AMERICANA

Posted on July 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

ANGELA PERLEY 4:30 [Release date 30.08.19] With two albums, and a clutch of EPs behind her as the lead singer of Angela Perley & The Howlin’ Moons – a rock ‘n’-roll band from Columbus, Ohio imbued with country, blues and … Continue reading →

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

Album review: CROBOT – Motherbrain

Posted on July 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Mascot [Release date 23.08.19] Not to be confused with legendary metallers Crowbar, Crobot release their fourth studio album since their 2012 debut. Their 2016 offering ‘Welcome To Fat City’ was particularly well received. If pile-driving heavy riffage is your bag, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Crobot, groove, heavy rock, Motherbrain, review | Leave a comment

News: FREE FESTIVAL – Upton Blues Festival, Upton On Severn, Worcestershire, 18-21 July 2019

Posted on July 9, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Wille And The Bandits - Giants of Rock, Minehead, January 2017

In this hour special for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio Pete Feenstra previews some of the artists appearing at this year’s Upton Blues Festival, including Big Boy Bloater, Kyla Brox, Wily Bo Walker, Rainbreakers and Danny Bryant. For reviews/interviews of … Continue reading →

Posted in Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged 18-21 July 2019, blues, blues rock, Danny Bryant, Elles Bailey, Kyla Brox, Rainbreakers, Troy Redfern, Upton Blues Festival, Upton-on-Severn, wille and the bandits, Wily Bo Walker, Worcestershire | Leave a comment

Album review: MIDNIGHT SUN – Dark Tide Rising

Posted on July 3, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond [Release date 28.06.19] New Stroud-based prog rock/metal band Midnight Sun claim to be ‘an original rock band’. Well, for a kick off, the name’s not original, having been ‘pre-owned’ by Danish prog rockers between 1971 and 1974 (whose main … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Dark Tide Rising, Midnight Sun, prog, progressive metal, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: NEAL MORSE – Jesus Christ The Exorcist

Posted on July 3, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers [Release date 14.06.19] I like a musical. In fact, it was only recently I suggested that a prog rock version of Hamilton by Izz could be a big hit. Jesus Christ Superstar is another personal favourite although, in hindsight, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Jesus Christ The Exorcist, musical, Neal Morse, prog, Progressive Rock, review, rock opera, Spock's Beard | Leave a comment

Book review: GENESIS – Every Album, Every Song (On Track) by Stuart Macfarlane

Posted on July 1, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 5.07.19] For those wishing to find out more about the prog rockers who went pop, this is a useful summary following the band’s progress from shaky beginnings in 1969 to their final studio album ‘Calling All … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, book, Every Album Every Song, Genesis, melodic rock, Mike Rutherford, On Track, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, pop, pop rock, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Steve Hackett, Stuart Macfarlane, Tony Banks | Leave a comment

Gig review: GEORDIE – The Cluny, Newcastle, 7 June 2019

Posted on July 1, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Geordie - GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL – Butlins, Skegness, 18 – 20 January 2019

Smiles abounded on and off-stage at The Cluny for the triumphant homecoming for Geordie. Still featuring founder members bassist Tom Hill and drummer Brian Gibson, the two reminded us right from the off what a ‘proper’ classic rock rhythm section … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 7 June 2019, classic rock, Geordie, gig, hard rock, Newcastle, pop rock, review, The Cluny | Leave a comment

Album review: GENERATION AXE – The Guitars That Destroyed The World (Live In China)

Posted on June 20, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 28.06.19] Generation Axe, coordinated by Guitar God Steve Vai, brought together a summit of shredders from 2016 when the circus toured North America. Subsequent sorties saw them in Asia, when this outing was recorded in April 2017. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Animals As Leaders, Black Label Society, Extreme, Generation Axe, guitar, heavy rock, live, metal, Nuno Bettencourt, review, shred, Steve Vai, The Guitars That Destroyed The World (Live In China), Tosin Abasi, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde | Leave a comment

Album review: BARBE-Q-BARBIES – Borrowed Time

Posted on June 20, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Dissonance Productions [Release date 17.05.19] As fellow scribe Andy Nathan observed in his recent review of the Sweden AOR Convention, a fresh generation of Scandi bands now lead the pack in genres they were too young to have lived through … Continue reading →

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

Album review: WARMRAIN – Back Above The Clouds

Posted on June 20, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Rain Recordings [Release date 07.06.19] Promoted as a ‘must have’ for fans of Pink Floyd, Steven Wilson and Anathema, a double ‘concept’ album is one hell of a gamble for a full length debut. But such is the conviction of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Back Above The Clouds, prog, Progressive Rock, review, WarmRain | Leave a comment

Album review: HEATHER FINDLAY – Wild White Horses

Posted on June 20, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Black Sand Records [Release date 05.07.19] Heather Findlay’s first full solo album is long overdue. And really, you might have expected it to follow relatively hot on the heels of her excellent The Phoenix Suite EP way back in 2011. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Leave a comment

News: MICHAEL ARMSTRONG showcases superior pop rock – The Water Rats, London, Tuesday 2 July 2019

Posted on June 18, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall previewed the London show and ‘Periscope’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 23 June. (4:06) After a 2-year hiatus and following the release of his highly-acclaimed second album #LookingForTheWorld, Michael Armstrong returns to the stage and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged 2 July 2019, classic rock, gig, London, Michael Armstrong, pop rock, singer, songwriter, The Water Rats | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BEN HEMMING

Posted on June 13, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Ben Hemming, blues, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The Devil Beside Me | Leave a comment

Album review: THE STEVE THOMPSON BAND – The Long Fade

Posted on June 13, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

www.steve-thompson.org.uk [Release date 31.05.19] Steve Thompson may not be a name you’re familiar with, but after 50 years in the business, his debut ‘solo’ album pays tribute to career served largely ‘behind the scenes’ as a songwriter, producer and session … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, classic rock, pop, review, singer, songwriter, The Long Fade, The Steve Thompson Band | Leave a comment

News: WIN weekend camping tickets to REWIND SCOTLAND,19-21 July 2019

Posted on June 12, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

FOREIGNER - Manchester Apollo, 12 May 2018

This year’s Rewind Scotland festival takes place 19-21 July at Scone Palace, Perth. Headliners Bryan Ferry and Foreigner will be joined by Lulu, Paul Young, The Stranglers, Lisa Stansfield and many others. On the Comedy stage veteran stand-ups Phill Jupitus … Continue reading →

Posted in Competitions, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged 19-21 July 2019, Bryan Ferry, classic rock, comedy, competition, festival, Foreigner, pop, Rewind Scotland, The Stranglers | Leave a comment

Album review: LUCIFER’S FRIEND – Black Moon (featuring John Lawton)

Posted on June 12, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Lucifers Records [Release date 26.04.19] If ‘Black Moon’ doesn’t quite reach the heady heights/atmosphere of the early 1970s when John Lawton released a string of albums pre-Uriah Heep, we still have no right to expect a brand new offering in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Black Moon, classic rock, hard rock, John Lawton, Lucifer's Friend, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

News: CORNBURY returns with headliners THE SPECIALS, KEANE and THE BEACH BOYS (5-7 July 2019)

Posted on June 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

The sixteenth Cornbury Music Festival is held in The Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire 5-7 July. Joining headliners The Specials, Keane and The Beach Boys, artists include KT Tunstall, Elkie Brooks, Trevor Horn Band, Paul Cattack and Steeleye Span. Amongst the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged classic rock, Cornbury, Cornbury Music Festival, festival, July 2019, Keane, KT Tunstall, pop, singer, songwriter, Steeleye Span, The Beach Boys, The Specials, Trevor Horn Band | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (April 2019 – June 2019)

Posted on June 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

January-March 2019 July-September 2019 October-December 2019 ERJA LYYTINEN Another World (Tuohi Records) [Release Date 26.04.19] From the tension building intensity and a harmony guitar break of ‘Hard As Stone’ to the gently paced ‘Without You’, with its angst filled and … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2019, albums of the month, April, Big Big Train, blues rock, classic rock, Diamond Head, Erja Lyytinen, hard rock, Izz, June, May, melodic rock, Michael Thompson Band, Prince, Progressive Rock, Rebecca Downes | Leave a comment

News: Albums of the Month (January 2019 – March 2019)

Posted on June 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

April-June 2019 July-September 2019 October-December 2019 STEVE HACKETT At The Edge Of Light (Inside Out) [Release date 25.01.19] In his long and distinguished career at the forefront of everything that’s good about progressive rock, Steve Hackett has consistently delivered albums … Continue reading →

Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged 2019, albums of the month, blues rock, classic rock, DEL BROMHAM, Elles Bailey, February, hard rock, January, Keith Howe, March, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, RPWL, Steve Hackett, Wily Bo Walker | Leave a comment

Gig review: MAGNUM – Aberdare Coliseum, 5 June 2019

Posted on June 10, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

With more venues in South Wales falling by the wayside, it is refreshing to see someone taking a gamble, especially in the valleys and in the middle of the week, but the old adage of book them and they will … Continue reading →