Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Quick plays: MICHAEL MCDERMOTT, COLD TONE HARVEST, LUCKY BONES

Posted on April 1, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

MICHAEL McDERMOTT Out From Under Pauper Sky Records [Release date 18.05.18] On the cover of his last album (Willow Springs (2016)) Illinois-based singer songwriter Michael McDermott looked like a shaven headed ex-con. Two years on, he looks like Jimmy Carr’s … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged After You, album, Americana, Annie Keating, Cold Tone Harvest, country, Ghost Of The Untraveled Road, Lucky Bones, Matchstick Men, Michael McDermott, Out From Under, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: ATOMIC ROOSTER – Sleeping For Years (The Studio Recordings 1970-1974)

Posted on March 20, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 01.12.17] Now that pretty much every noteworthy heritage release has been reissued individually on CD, labels have turned to a secondary repackaging concept: the box set (or clamshell), that conventionally takes in a selection of albums from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Atomic Rooster, box set, Chris Farlowe, Death Walks Behind You, In Hearing Of, John DuCann, Nice And Greasy, Peter French, review, Sleeping For Years (The Studio Recordings 1970-1974), Vincent Crane | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – 10 Years Of Denim And Leather Live 1990/The CD Hoard (reissues)

Posted on March 19, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel [Release date 27.10.17*, 16.03.18**] Saxon seem to be enjoying a resurgence even more impressive than their 2007-2010 revival. With a remarkably relevant new album ‘Thunderbolt’ and a raft of reissues and box sets, we can at least luxuriate in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 10 Years of Denim And Leather Live 1990, album, Biff Byford, box set, heavy metal, heavy rock, live, review, Saxon, The CD Hoard | Leave a comment

Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Saturday 10 March 2018 (Day 3)

Posted on March 19, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Skid Row - HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Saturday 10 March 2018

With Night Ranger polishing off Friday with such aplomb the omens were good for the Saturday, which on paper had a stronger line up. When arriving on site on Thursday I found out that The Quireboys were to stand in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 10 March 2018, AOR, Blood Red Saints, Dare, festival, gig, hard rock, HRH AOR, Joan ov Arc, melodic rock, Midnite City, Pwllheli, Quireboys, review, Skid Row, Wales | Leave a comment

Album review: RITCHIE BLACKMORE’S RAINBOW – Memories In Rock II

Posted on March 18, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Minstrel Hall [Release date 06.04.18] 2-CD/DVD In 2017 Ritchie Blackmore returned with his harder rock hat on to a series of arena shows in the UK. Evidently buoyed up by the successful summer sojourn a year before and no doubt … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Deep Purple, DVD, hard rock, interview, live, Memories In Rock II, review, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Ronnie Romero, uk | Leave a comment

Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Friday 9 March 2018 (Day 2)

Posted on March 17, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Night Ranger - HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Friday 9 March 2018

Having given up the opportunity of the Thursday after-show party, a leisurely start to Friday was rewarded with Scottish rockers The King Lot. They kicked off the main stage activity and, after a successful Pledge campaign for their second album, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 9 March 2018, Aaron Buchanan, AOR, Cruzh, Daylight Robbery, festival, gig, HRH AOR, melodic rock, Night Ranger, Pwllheli, review, The King Lot, THE RADIO SUN, Wales | Leave a comment

News: WISHBONE ASH – Limited Edition ‘Vintage Years’ 30-CD Box Set out 20 April 2018

Posted on March 17, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

WISHBONE ASH - The Vintage Years (1970-1991)

Wishbone Ash – one of the UK’s most enduring and best-loved rock acts – are celebrated on 20 April with the release of a comprehensive deluxe 30 CD box set, The Vintage Years via Madfish. This collection – authorised by … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, NEWS | Tagged Andy Powell, April 2018, book, box set, Limited Edition, live albums, Madfish, Martin Turner, memorabilia, posters, The Vintage Years 1970-1991, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Quick plays: BIRDS OF CHICAGO, IAN SHERWOOD

Posted on March 15, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

BIRDS OF CHICAGO Love In Wartime JT Nero (JT & The Clouds frontman Jeremy Lindsay) and Allison Russell (Po’ Girl) first combined their talents on the 2011 JT Nero-branded Mountains/Forests album – an album of Americana that lacked a commercial … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, album, Allison Russell, Americana, Birds Of Chicago, Bring The Light, folk, Ian Sherwood, Jeremy Lindsay, JT & The Clouds, Love In Wartime, Po' Girl, review, roots, singer, soft rock, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: THUNDER – Stage (CD/DVD/Bluray)

Posted on March 15, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 23.03.18] At Thunder rapidly approach their 30th anniversary, Stage – a live set from the band’s 2017 Rip It Up tour (available in 2CD + Bluray, 3 LP, 2 CD +DVD, Bluray, DVD, and various signed Limited … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, Bluray, Cardiff, Chris Childs, Danny Bowes, DVD, Harry James, live, Luke Morley, Lynn Jackamann, review, rock, Stage, Thunder | Leave a comment

Album review: MARILLION – Unplugged At The Walls/Tumbling Down The Years

Posted on March 15, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

earMUSIC [Release date 23.03.18] Live albums three and four in this set of bi-monthly releases find our intrepid heroes in a restaurant in Oswestry in 1988, and once again at the 2009 Marillion Weekend convention in Port Zelande, Holland. Unplugged … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 1988, 2009, album, Holland, live, Marillion, Netherlands, Oswestry, Port Zelande, review, rock, Tumbling Down The Years, Unplugged At The Walls | Leave a comment

Album review: JIMI HENDRIX – Both Sides Of The Sky

Posted on March 15, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Sony Legacy [Release date 09.03.18] Here we go again. And maybe for the final time as veteran engineer Eddie Kramer has indicated that the studio well is now dry and only live gigs are being readied for future release. This … Continue reading →

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

News: FRUITS DE MER RECORDS celebrate 10th birthday with Glastonbury Gig

Posted on March 14, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Goldfish: 10 Years of Fruits de Mer Records

Independent label Fruits de Mer Records celebrate their 10th birthday in 2018 with a raft of releases and a birthday celebration at the King Arthur pub in Glastonbury on 12 May. The gig has already sold out and will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Books, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged album, Cardigan, coloured vinyl, festival, Fruits de Mer Records, Glastonbury, Krautrock, Limited Edition, prog, Progressive Rock, psychedelia, single, space rock, underground | Leave a comment

Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Thursday 8 March 2018 (Day 1)

Posted on March 14, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Eclipse - HRH AOR - Pwllheli, Wales, Thursday 8 January 2018

In March 2016, Joe Lynn Turner chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio for an extensive career overview, in three parts. Parts 2 and 3 are available via Mixcloud The annual four hour jaunt to one of my favourite festivals … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged AOR, Dante Fox, Eclipse, festival, gig, HRH AOR, Joe Lynn Turner, melodic rock, NEWMAN, Pwllheli, review, Thursday 8 March 2018, Wales | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SHINE NOIR, GEORGE ST.CLAIR

Posted on March 10, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

SHINE NOIR – s/t Alternative rock, from Germany, anyone? Formed when Anne wanted to record a few of her singer-songwriter songs, the guys who owned the studio – Olli (guitars) and No (drums) decided to add their own metal and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Ballads Of Captivity and Freedom, country, George St.Clair, review, rock, Shine Noir, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: SIMON KENT – In Another Life

Posted on March 10, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

ReprinT [Release date 04.05.18] Originally slated for release 12 months ago, and with the lead single ‘Never Stop Believing’ released as long ago as February 2016, Portsmouth singer songwriter Simon Kent’s follow up to his 2014 sophomore album Dreams And … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, electronica, In Another Life, pop, review, rock, Simon Kent | Leave a comment

Album review: RUPERT HOLMES – Songs That Sound Like Movies – The Complete Epic Recordings

Posted on March 10, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

This is a non-broadcast preamble and exclusive edit from a two hour special on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio featuring the music of Rupert Holmes and a recent interview (6:17) Part 1 is broadcast on Sunday 1 April at 18:00 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview, Reissues | Tagged album, collection, interview, reissue, review, Rupert Holmes, singles, Songs That Sound Like Movies, The Complete Epic Recordings, Widescreen | Leave a comment

Album review: LESOIR – IV Latitude

Posted on March 10, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Gentle Art Of Music [Release date 13.04.18] Dutch female fronted prog/metalers Lesoir’s last album Luctor Et Emergo (2015) left no enduring mark on my consciousness (or music library), and it was only spotting the cover whilst researching that rang a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bruce Soord, IV Latitude, Lesoir, prog, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: FREQUENCY DRIFT – Letters To Maro

Posted on March 10, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Gentle Art of Music [Release date 13.04.18] Quite how German cinematic rock band Frequency Drift’s last release Last (2016) slipped through the GRTR! net (after Alan Jones waxing lyrical about the life-reaffirming qualities of Ghosts (2011), Laid To Rest (2012), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Frequency Drift, Letters To Maro, prog, Progressive Rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: CURVED AIR – Air Cut (reissue)

Posted on March 10, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 26.01.18] Interviewed in the booklet notes for Esoteric’s contemporaneous reissue of the bands’ 1970 debut ‘Air Conditioning’, chanteuse linchpin Sonja Kristina opined it – and this later release – to be her faves, and it’s clear why. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Air Cut, album, Curved Air, prog, Progressive Rock, reissue, review, Sonja Kristina | Leave a comment

Album review: CURVED AIR – Air Conditioning (reissue)

Posted on March 10, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric [Release date: 26.01.18] Whether by design or default, Warner Bros hit something of a mother lode when they launched their UK music arm back in 1970 with the much trumpeted signing of this then-unknown talent. It was a leap … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Air Conditioning, album, Curved Air, Daryl Way, Francis Monkman, prog, progressive, reissue, review, Sonja Kristina | Leave a comment

News: HRH PROG – more acts added, 15-18 November 2018

Posted on March 9, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Martin Barre - Great British Rock & Blues Festival 2015

HRH Prog have announced more acts appearing at this year’s event between Thursday 15th-18th November 2018. Thursday headliner will be Martin Barre, legendary Jethro Tull guitarist back in 1968 and who remained with the band for close on 45 years. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged 15-18 November 2018, festival, HRH Prog, Jadis, Karnataka, Martin Barre, North West Wales, Progressive Rock, Pwllheli | Leave a comment

News: FM – new album and Steve Overland interview (March 2018)

Posted on March 1, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

On Sunday 4 March in the first hour of his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, David Randall chatted to FM’s Steve Overland and played tracks from ‘Atomic Generation’. In this exclusive edit, Steve chats about career highlights … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, INTERVIEWS, NEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Atomic Generation, FM, interview, melodic rock, radio, Steve Overland, Sunday 4 March 2018 | Leave a comment

Album review: JEB BARRY AND THE PAWN SHOP SAINTS – texas, etc…

Posted on March 1, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Dolly Rocker Recordings [Release date 27.04.18] Upbeat isn’t a word you ‘d associate with this gritty, lo-fi debut release from Jeb Berry And The Pawn Shop Saints – a sparse acoustic-based set focusing on the darker side of life from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, etc..., Jeb Barry And The Pawn Shop Saints, review, roots, singer, songwriter, Texas | Leave a comment

Album review: VERITY WHITE – Breaking Out

Posted on March 1, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 10.11.17] Fresh from opening for Pendragon, and featuring as one of the backing vocalists on their 2016 Masquerade Overture 20th anniversary, and 2017 European tours, Cheltenham- based singer songwriter Verity White looks to establish a solo career with … Continue reading →

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Album review: THUNDERMOTHER – s/t

Posted on March 1, 2018 by GRTR! HQ

Despotz Records [Release date 23.02.18] Some all-female, Swedish, rock ‘n’ raunch, anyone? What hot blooded male’s interest could possibly not be piqued by such an invitation? Shame on you, in these overly politically correct times. With all bar founder member/guitarist/songwriter … Continue reading →