Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Gig review: MARILLION – Manchester Academy, 28 November 2016

Marillion - Manchester Academy, 28 November 2016

Promoting their latest opus F E A R, this Marillion gig came sadly just too late to receive my ‘gig of the year’ nomination in the GRTR! Best of 2016 reviewers’ poll. Marillion are in the somewhat unique position amongst … Continue reading

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News: Melodic rockers VEGA and classic rockers BAD COMPANY named in Best of 2016 poll

VEGA - Islington Academy, London, 30 May 2016

Melodic rockers Vega (Top Album) and classic rockers Bad Company (Top Live Act) have been named in Get Ready to ROCK!’s end of year reviewer poll. Vega, who play a series of headlining dates in the UK from 30 November … Continue reading

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The Best of 2016: top albums, top live acts – the reviewers’ choice

The Best of 2016 - sponsored by earMUSIC

The Best of 2017! Popular vote from 4 December… The Best of 2016: Popular Poll Between 5-16 December we invite readers and listeners to vote for their own favourites and also add their own personal choice. Voters can also opt-in … Continue reading

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News: Traffic Jam man DAVE MASON is featured in radio special (27 November 2016)

Dave Mason

Dave Mason, founder member of the legendary psychedelic/prog rockers Traffic, is featured in a one hour radio special on Sunday 27 November 2016. Dave chats to the award-winning Pete Feenstra in his weekly Feature show on Get Ready to ROCK! … Continue reading

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News: Get Ready to ROCK! Best of 2016 announced Monday 28 November – top albums, live acts

Thunder - STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL - Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 23 July 2016

On Monday 28 November, Get Ready to ROCK! announces their Best Of 2016 selections for Top Albums and Top Live Acts. Since 2003 the popular rock website has published an end of year round-up reflecting the reviews published throughout the … Continue reading

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Album review: GUS MONSANTO – Karma Cafe

GUS MONSANTO - Karma Cafe

[Release date 05.09.16] Brazilian Gus Monsanto may not be a household name in terms of wider rock recognition, but since at least 2004 his name has cropped up repeatedly on other people’s albums, mainly metal-related.  He’s worked with French band … Continue reading

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Album review: PYMLICO – Meeting Point

PYMLICO - Meeting Point

Apollon Records [Release date 07.10.16] We’ve had an obsession with all things Scandinavian in recent years and the fourth album from Norwegian instrumentalists Pymlico contributes to this Nordic sense of intrigue. Wholly instrumental, prog/jazz fusion in approach, the band is … Continue reading

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Album review: CURVED AIR – Rarities Series Volume 2 – Curved Space and Infinity

CURVED AIR - Rarities Series Volume 2 - Curved Space and Infinity

Curved Air Records [Release date 04.11.16] 2-CD Volume 2 of a continuing series bring together a “then and now” of one of our treasured prog/psych bands.  The first disc accommodates 1990s recordings with Francis Monkman on guitar and which evolved … Continue reading

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News: DAN REED (Dan Reed Network) swings at golf club – Lymm Golf Club, 3 December 2016

DAN REED NETWORK - Manchester Academy, 13 March 2016

In a rare UK trio performance, Dan Reed will be playing a gig at the Lymm Golf Club, Cheshire on Saturday 3 December. This will round off a year when he and the Dan Reed Network (DRN) released their first … Continue reading

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Album review: HEART – Live At The Royal Albert Hall

HEART - Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Eagle Records [Release date 25.11.16] CD/DVD/Bluray Call me Mr. Cynical.  Heart announced their first UK dates since 2004 and we all waited in eager anticipation.  Come the actual tour, we saw them in Manchester and noted the criminally short one … Continue reading

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Gig review: IAMTHEMORNING, Tim Bowness – Bush Hall, London, 14 November 2016

IAMTHEMORNING, Tim Bowness - Bush Hall, London, 14 November 2016

On a unique collaborative evening broken into two halves, Tim Bowness was first to take the stage with his merry band of musicians. Bowness, one half of No-Man (the other being prog legend Steven Wilson) was tonight showcasing his work … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (September-November 2016)

The Best of 2016

Albums of the Month (2016) September 2016 KISSIN’ DYNAMITE Generation Goodbye (AFM Records) …well played, well produced with well written, extremely catchy (but a little quirky) tunes…These guys don’t seem to know how to write a bad song! Kissin’ Dynamite … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (May-August 2016)

The Best of 2016

Albums of the Month (2016) Every month we publish our Newsletter which signposts latest additions to the website(s) and flagging up forthcoming tours and gigs.  We also include a selection of the month’s best albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. … Continue reading

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News: Albums of the Month (February-April 2016)

The Best of 2016

Albums of the Month (2016) Every month we publish our Newsletter which signposts latest additions to the website(s) and flagging up forthcoming tours and gigs.  We also include a selection of the month’s best albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. … Continue reading

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Gig review: DELAIN, Evergrey – O2 Ritz, Manchester, 12 November 2016

DELAIN - O2 Ritz, Manchester, 12 November 2016

In May 2013, David Randall chatted to Charlotte Wessels at the time of the release of their first mini-album for Napalm Records,  ‘Interlude’.  Their chat includes references to the early development of the band, the split from the Roadrunner label, … Continue reading

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EP review: THE JOY FORMIDABLE, EMMET SCANLAN

THE JOY FORMIDABLE Sleep Is Day

THE JOY FORMIDABLE Sleep Is Day EP [Release date 26.09.16] You certainly can’t complain at value for money with an EP that runs to a very generous seven tracks over 32 minutes.  I’ve seen plenty of albums that aren’t much … Continue reading

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Quick plays: JULIETTE STRANGE, NERISSA SCHWARZ, THE FERTILITY CULT, MAGNUSON

JULIETTE STRANGE Romeo Kills Romeo

JULIETTE STRANGE Romeo Kills Romeo [Release date 12.05.16] Sometimes you hear an album that just chimes with the way you are feeling at the time. ‘Romeo Kills Romeo’ may be one of those.  A collaboration (presumably via the ether) of … Continue reading

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Album review: EDEN SHADOW – Melodies For Maladies

EDEN SHADOW - Melodies For Maladies

White Knight Records [Release date 07.10.16] Eden Shadow is the brainchild/vehicle for the explosive talents of young Welsh singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Elliot (guitars and keyboards), and fellow band members Alex Broben (bass) and Aled Lloyd (drums). They’ve already … Continue reading

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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2017)

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Updated 13/11/2017 CAVALERA CONSPIRACY 26.11.17 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser 27.11.17 DE – Stuttgart / LKA 28.11.17 NL – Utrecht / Ronda 29.11.17 DE – Hamburg … Continue reading

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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2017)

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. 2018 Tour Dates Updated 01/12/17 FESTIVALS Planet Rockstock Trecco Bay, Wales 1-3 Dec Joanne Shaw Taylor + Dan Reed Network + Bernie Marsden + King King … Continue reading

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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) January-March 2017

MAGNUM - The Valley Of Tears - The Ballads

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Updated 13.02.17 2017 January 6th DEREK DAVIS (BABYLON A.D.) ‘Revolutionary Soul’ HALESTORM ‘ReAniMate 3.0′ (covers EP) MAGNUM ‘In The Valley Of Tears – The Ballads’ SPV/Steamhammer YOU ME AT SIX ‘Night People’ 13th ACCEPT ‘Restless And … Continue reading

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Album review: RAY VAUGHN – Wounded Bird

RAY VAUGHN - Wounded Bird

Rayoso Music [Release date 04.11.16] Having first left his mark on the late 70′s punk rock scene with the band Hostages, San Francisco-based guitarist Ray Vaughn disappeared off the music radar in 1992. Over 20 years later, he returned to … Continue reading

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Album review: ROCK WOLVES (Michael Voss, Herman Rarebell, Gudze)

Rock Wolves (Rarebell, Voss, Gudze)

Steamhammer/ SPV [Release date 28.10.16] Here’s a collaboration of three significant melodic/hard rockers who in the past few years have worked mainly with others such as Michael Schenker. Michael Voss (Mad Max, Casanove) has produced many artists from his studio … Continue reading

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Album review: 25 YARD SCREAMER – Keep Sending Signals

25 YARD SCREAMER - Keep Sending Signals

White Knight [Release date 07.10.16] We first came across 25YS in 2007 when they released their ‘classic’ second album ‘Cassandra’.  This gained many plaudits and a highlight of the year for the band was an appearance on the GRTR! Rising … Continue reading

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News: SIMON KIRKE talks Bad Company, Free and a new solo album (Interview – 30 October 2016)

Simon Kirke - Bad Company

Photo: Steve Goudie Bad Company, and one-time Free, drummer Simon Kirke releases a solo album ‘All Because Of You’ in early 2017.  Simon describes it as a collection of 11 songs from all periods of his life. He’s just completed … Continue reading

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