Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

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 →

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged Alan White, album, Atom Works, Chris Squire, classic rock, Finland, Jon Anderson, Live At Glastonbury 2003, prog metal, prog rock, progressive metal, Progressive Rock, review, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, The Life Of Spice, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: HAWKESTREL – The Future Is Us

Posted on September 26, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra Records [Release date 13.09.19] It gets quite confusing now with so many Hawkwind-related permutations: Hawklords, Hawkwind Light Orchestra and so forth, and the various solo endeavours. Alan Davey – bass player originally in the mid-eighties to mid-nineties – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Davey, ambient, Ginger Baker, Hawkestrel, Hawkwind, Huw Lloyd-Langton, Lemmy, Mick Slattery, Nik Turner, Paul Rudolph, Simon House, space rock, The Future Is Us | Leave a comment

Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2020)

Posted on September 24, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Updated 24/09/2020 AEROSMITH *Rescheduled* Wed June 02 2021 ZURICH Hallenstadion (Switzerland) Sat June 05 2021 MADRID Wanda Stadium (Spain) Mon June 14 2021 PARIS AccorHotels Arena … Continue reading →

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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2019)

Posted on September 24, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Focus - Hard Rock Hell Prog, Pwllheli, 21-22 March 2014

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Your tour not listed? Contact us! Updated 08/12/2019 2019 ALABAMA 3 Fri December 20 O2 Academy Bristol Sat December 21 O2 Academy Brixton ALTER BRIDGE + … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS | Tagged 2019, AOR, gigs, Ireland, melodic rock, metal, pop, progressive, rock, tour dates, tours, uk | Leave a comment

Album review: KXM – Circle Of Dolls (featuring George Lynch, dUg Pinnick, Ray Luzier)

Posted on September 23, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers [Release date 13.09.19] Of all the projects George Lynch has been associated with in the past five or six years, KXM seems to be a keeper. We noted their debut, in 2014, “will appeal to his fans (and to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Circle Of Dolls, Dokken, Dug Pinnick, George Lynch, hard rock, heavy rock, King's X, Korn, KXM, Lynch Mob, melodic, Ray Luzier, review | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) April 2020 – June 2020

Posted on September 23, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January-March 2020 July-September 2020 October – December 2020 April 3rd ALL TIME LOW ‘Wake Up Sunshine’ Fueled By Ramen ALMANAC ‘Rush Of Death’ Nuclear Blast BONFIRE ‘Fistful Of Fire’ AFM Records CONCEPTION ‘State Of Deception’ DYNZATY … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases) | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) October 2019 – December 2019

Posted on September 22, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January – March 2019 April – June 2019 July – September 2019 October 4th SOREN ANDERSEN ‘Guilty Pleasures’ Mighty Music ANGEL ‘Risen’ Cleopatra Records Adrian Benegas ‘The Revenant’ Pride & Joy Music CHICAGO ‘Chicago Christmas’ Rhino … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases) | Tagged 2019, album, AOR, Bluray, CD, December, DVD, heavy rock, melodic rock, metal, New releases, November, October, progressive, rock | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) July 2019 – September 2019

Posted on September 22, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January – March 2019 April – June 2019 July 1st DAVID GELN EISLEY (ex-GUFFRIA, DIRTY WHITE BOY) ‘Tattered, Torn & Worn’ GANDALF’S FIST ‘The Clockwork Prologue’ (double LP) MAGENTA ‘Home’ (500 copy limited edition re-issue) THE … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases) | Tagged 2019, album, AOR, August, Bluray, CD, DVD, heavy rock, July, melodic rock, metal, New releases, progressive, rock, September | Leave a comment

Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) January 2020 – March 2020

Posted on September 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Compiled by Jason Ritchie (October – December 2019) April – June 2020 July-September 2020 October – December 2020 2020 January 3rd BONFIRE ‘A Fistful Of Fire’ AFM Records STABBING WESTWARD ‘Dead And Gone’ (EP) 4th Pröwess ‘Blacktop Therapy’ 9th Lars … Continue reading →

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Gig review: BERNIE MARSDEN/Kris Barras Band/Hollowstar, Tramshed, Cardiff, 13 September 2019

Posted on September 17, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

BERNIE MARSDEN - Tramshed, Cardiff, 13 September 2019

When you spend most of the year planning a festival on top of the mountain, the come down from a successful year must be a hard, so what do you do? Start doing indoor shows, it is what you started … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Leave a comment

Gig review: BLUES CARAVAN 2019 (Ina Forsman, Ally Venable, Katarina Pejak), The Iron Road, Pershore, 13 September 2019

Posted on September 15, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

BLUES CARAVAN 2019 - The Iron Road, Pershore, 13 September 2019

Friday 13th may have seemed more than ominous to the girls in the Blues Caravan with a six hour journey from Scotland taking fourteen hours. But that didn’t seem to quell their enthusiasm for the South Midlands stop on a … Continue reading →