-
Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
GRTR! Greats
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Author Archives: GRTR! HQ
Album review: SMITH & LIDDLE – Songs For The Desert
Legere Recordings [Release date 31.10.25] There must be something in the air at the moment, or at least this year. We’ve had excellent albums from Morganway, First Time Flyers, and now Smith & Liddle. The connecting theme is melodic classic pop … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, classic rock, pop rock, review, singer songwriter, Smith & Little, Songs For The Desert
Leave a comment
Album review: ASH WING – s/t
White Knight Records [Release date 07.11.25] This album is one of several that arrived at GRTR! Towers without an accompanying press release. Perhaps this is a new trend: get the journos to do the work. Again, from the Rob Reed … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Ash Wing, neo prog, Peter Jones, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Rob Reed
Leave a comment
Album review: CHIMPAN A – Music Is Art Vol.1
Tigermoth Records [Release date 29.08.25] Chimpan A’s debut album was quite a revelation and one of the best low key releases of 2006. (We only got to hear of it some time later). This off-on project is essentially Mike Oldfield … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, ambient, chill-out, Chimpan A, Christine Booth, classic rock, groove, Magenta, Music Is Art Vol.1, review, Rob Reed, Steve Balsamo
Leave a comment
Gig review: TODD RUNDGREN – The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 26 October 2025
With an image of Todd towering over the stage for the duration this gig was all about Todd and not his audience. Don’t get me wrong, it was a nice image, but do we need it so omnipresent? Surely back … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 26 October 2025, classic rock, gig, review, Stroud, The Sub Rooms, Todd Rundgren
Leave a comment
News: Albums of the Month (July – September 2025)
A quarterly feature highlighting album releases rated highly by the GRTR! review team and worthy of your investigation. We try and pick out a cross-section of albums that reflect the range of genres reviewed at the website. The star rating … Continue reading
Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS
Tagged 2025, albums of the month, Americana, August, blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, July, melodic rock, metal, Progressive Rock, roots, September
Leave a comment
Book review: MARTIN BARRE – A Trick Of Memory
David Randall chatted to Martin Barre at the start of his UK tour dates in November 2025. This hour special includes tracks from several albums including Tull and Alan Simon’s ‘Excalibur’ project McNidder & Grace [Publication date 06.11.25] “The music … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged A Trick Of Memory, autobiography, book, classic rock, guitar, guitarist, Jethro Tull, Martin Barre, Progressive Rock, review
Leave a comment
Feature: Albums that time forgot – PETER BARDENS – Heart To Heart (1979)
Arista (1979) Esoteric (Reissue, 2012) Peter Bardens has an interesting history. Although his career was cut short – succumbing to lung cancer in 2002 at the age of 56 – he spent time in the 1960s with Mick Fleetwood and … Continue reading
Posted in Albums that time forgot, ALL POSTS, FEATURES
Tagged album, Camel, feature, fusion, Heart To Heart, instrumental, Peter Bardens, prog pop, Progressive Rock, review
Leave a comment
Gig review: GLENN HUGHES – Bristol O2 Academy, 14 October 2025
“Fuck politics. Music is the healer”. And there speaketh the Voice of Rock. But first, Sophie Lloyd who lent her support on this UK leg of the European tour. From what I can gather she doesn’t mind flaunting her body … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Black Country Communion, Bristol, classic rock, Deep Purple, gig, Glenn Hughes, hard rock, heavy rock, O2 Academy, review, Sophie Lloyd, Trapeze
Leave a comment
Album review: BRINSLEY SCHWARZ – Shouting At The Moon
Fretsore Records [Release date 14.11.25] Brinsley Schwarz emerged from the pub rock boom of the early 1970s. They will be best remembered for their infamous press junket in 1970 and a disastrous US debut. Oh, how times change. ‘Shouting At … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Brinsley Schwarz, classic rock, review, Shouting At The Moon
Leave a comment
Album review: PAVLOV’S DOG – Wonderlust
Ruf Records [Release date 03.10.25] As we’ve indicated elsewhere, reviewing the 5-CD retrospective, Pavlov’s Dog have never received the success they might deserve and never sustaining the acclaimed heights (and large sign-up fee) of their debut album released in 1974. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Pavlov's Dog, pop prog, pop rock, review, Wonderlust
Leave a comment
Album review: PAVLOV’S DOG – Essential Recordings 1974-2018 (5-CD box set)
Ruf Records [Release date 27.09.24] What are we to make of a fairly basic box set from a band that have been described as “legendary” but who – this side of the pond – have largely gone unnoticed? ‘Essential Recordings’ … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Box sets
Tagged album, AOR, box set, David Surkamp, Essential Recordings 1974-2018, melodic rock, Pavlov's Dog, prog, prog pop, progressive, review
Leave a comment
Feature: GRTR! Greats – JUDIE TZUKE
Judie Tzuke is best known for her 1979 hit single ‘Stay With Me Till Dawn’. When reviewing her Bury gig in 2015 David Randall noted the outburst from a member of the audience. They didn’t quite know the proper title … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR! GREATS, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged classic rock, feature, Judie Tzuke, retrospective, singer, songwriter
Leave a comment
Album review: THREE DAYS GRACE – Alienation
RCA Records [Release date 22.08.25] The main recent development for Three Days Grace is the return of original vocalist Adam Gontier who now shares duties with Matt Walst (who replaced him in 2013). Formed in the late 1990s in Ontario, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alienation, alternative rock, nu-metal, review, Three Days Grace
Leave a comment
Album review: THE RASMUS – Weirdo
Better Noise Music [Release date 12.09.25] It’s as if the last 20 years never happened. The Rasmus first came to our attention back in 2003 with their Scandi brand of pop/nu-metal and ‘Weirdo’ sees them on a bit of a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, goth metal, nu-metal, pop metal, review, The Rasmus, Weirdo
Leave a comment
Feature: GRTR! Greats – JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR
Photo: David Randall/GRTR! It’s no surprise to find Joanne Shaw Taylor in the list of ‘GRTR! Greats’, if only for the fact that aside from her visceral guitar playing ability, she is an exemplar of the modern aspirational musician. She’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR! GREATS, GRTR! Greats (All Posts), Radio interview
Tagged blues, blues rock, feature, Joanne Shaw Taylor, retrospective
Leave a comment
Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2026
Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check artist and venue websites for latest information. Your release not listed? Contact us! To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on … Continue reading
Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check artist and venue websites for latest information. Your tour not listed? Contact us! To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on … Continue reading
Posted in Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News
Tagged 2025, AOR, gigs, Ireland, melodic rock, metal, pop, progressive, rock, tour dates, tours, uk
Leave a comment
Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check artist and venue websites for latest information. Your tour not listed? Contact us! To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2026, AOR, gigs, Ireland, melodic rock, metal, pop, progressive, rock, tour dates, tours, uk
Leave a comment
Upcoming: Festivals UK & Europe (2026)
Please check artist and festival websites for latest information. Your festival not listed? Contact us! Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio David Randall … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2026, AOR, classic rock, European, festivals, folk, indie, melodic rock, metal, rock, uk
Leave a comment
Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Updated 29.12.2025 To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on a Mac) on … Continue reading
Posted in Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News
Tagged 2025, AOR, dates, Europe, gigs, melodic rock, metal, our, pop, progressive, rock, ROW, USA
Leave a comment
Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Updated 10.08.2026 UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026) To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2026, AOR, dates, Europe, gigs, melodic rock, metal, pop, progressive, rock, ROW, Tour, USA
Leave a comment
Feature: GRTR! Greats – GLENN HUGHES
Photo: David Randall Glenn Hughes has long been referred to as the Voice of Rock. That certainly is true but he could also be described as the “Master of Rock”. His first major band was the much-loved Trapeze, he then … Continue reading
Gig review: SOLSTICE – Jellyman’s Mill, Kidderminster, 31 August 2025
One of my favourite albums of the year is ‘Clann’ from long term prog rockers Solstice. For the past few months it has been a case of catchup as the only other album I was familiar with is ‘Prophecy’ reissued … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 31 August 2025, Jellyman's Mill, Kidderminster, prog, Progressive Rock, Solstice
Leave a comment
Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2025
Compiled by Jason Ritchie To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on a Mac) on the keyboard. The “F” stands for “Find,” and it works in every … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS, Pure Metal/News, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2025, album, blues rock, Bluray, CD, classic rock, DVD, hard rock, heavy rock, melodic rock, metal, New releases, Progressive Rock, reissue, singer songwriter
Leave a comment
Album review: FAIRPORT CONVENTION – Gladys’ Leap
Talking Elephant [Release date 04.08.25] In 1979 Fairport Convention decided to call it a day, not least because their mainman violinist Dave Swarbrick had serious hearing difficulties. It would be another six years before they reformed, apparently buoyed up by … Continue reading
