Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: JOHN WETTON – Anthology The Studio Recordings Vol.1

Posted on June 13, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

In this interview extract from April 2009 John Wetton tells David Randall about his early influences, and the immediate aftermath of his departure from Asia in 1991 which led to the release of his second, and favourite, solo album ‘Battle … Continue reading →

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

Posted on June 12, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

This is an extract from a John Lawton Special, broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in November 2012. (6:13) More information Lucifers Records [Release date 13.04.15] 2-CD When I interviewed John Lawton in 2012 I was fascinated with his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Awakening, compilation, heavy rock, interview, James Last Orchestra, John Lawton, Lucifer's Friend, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TOM MORIARTY, WE GHOSTS, SOLEY MOURNING

Posted on June 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

TOM MORIARTY The Road Driftwood Records [Release date 03.08.15] London-based singer songwriter Tom Moriarty released his debut album Fire In The Doll’s House (2012) to critical acclaim garnering Radio 2 play listing and 4 star reviews from the mainstream press. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Decade, pop rock, review, singer, songwriter, The Road, Tom Moriarty, We Ghosts | Leave a comment

Album review: BIRDPEN – In The Company Of Imaginary Friends

Posted on June 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Fintage House [Release date 11.05.15] Birdpen are duo guitarist and keyboard player Mike Bird, and singer, guitarist and keyboard player Dave Pen who’s also a programmer and engineer. Formed in Southampton in 2003 their 2009 debut On/Off/Safety/ Danger was frequently … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Birdpen, In The Company Of Imaginary Friends, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

DVD review: SLASH feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – Live At The Roxy 25.9.14

Posted on June 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Armoury Records/Eagle Rock [Release date 15.06.15] Also available as 2-CD and Bluray Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, Live At The Roxy finds Slash and pals onstage at the Roxy Theatre on Sunset Strip shortly after the release of their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged ALTER BRIDGE, Bluray, Conspirators, DVD, Guns 'N' Roses, hard rock, live, Live At The Roxy 25.9.14, Myles Kennedy, review, Slash, Velvet Revolver | Leave a comment

Album review: BOB MOULD – Reissues

Posted on June 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Bob Mould - Workbook (25th Anniversary Edition)

Edsel Records [Release date 25.05.15] Ex-Hüsker Dü guitarist Bob Mould’s debut solo album Workbook 25 (1989) and the follow up Black Sheets Of Rain (1990) get the ’25th anniversary’ treatment courtesy of Edsel Records. Workbook gets a bonus track (‘All … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 25th anniversary edition, album, Black Sheets Of Rain, Bob Mould, grunge, Husker Du, live, review, Workbook | Leave a comment

Album review: BOB WAYNE – Hits The Hits

Posted on June 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

People Like You Records [Release date 01.06.15] Hits The Hits is outlaw county singer Bob Wayne’s irreverent take on some of the world’s biggest hits. Inspired by Johnny Cash’s ‘American Recordings’ Wayne side-stepped the ‘acoustic’ reinterpretation route and deployed a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Bob Wayne, C&W, country, Covers, Hits The Hits, honky tonk, outlaw country, review | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio jock celebrates 400th show on Sunday 7 June

Posted on June 6, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio - David Randall

On Sunday 7 June at 22:00 Get Ready to ROCK! Radio presenter David Randall presents his 400th show. Since June 2007 David has been presenting ‘Assume The Position’ a weekly mix of new and classic rock and signposting current and … Continue reading →

Posted in Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged anniversary, classic rock, David Randall, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, interview, progressive. melodic rock, radio, rock, show | Leave a comment

Album review: DELLA MAE – Della Mae

Posted on June 4, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Decca [Release date 10.07.15] There are obvious comparisons to be drawn here with the excellent Blame Sally – another multi-talented all female Americana combo, and in the case of Della Mae, featuring Celia Woodsmith on vocals and guitar, Kimber Ludiker … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, blues, Della Mae, review, rock, roots | Leave a comment

Album review: BUFORD POPE – Sticks In The Throat

Posted on June 4, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

[Release date 02.05.14] All the ingredients for a wider breakthrough are to be found in the second release by Swedish singer songwriter Buford Pope (aka Mikael Liljeborg) – raspy vocals reminiscent of a young Rod Stewart and pop/rock songs echoing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Buford Pope, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Sticks In The Throat | Leave a comment

Album review: THEA GILMORE – Ghosts & Graffiti

Posted on June 4, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Full Fill [Release date 11.05.15] We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – Thea Gilmore is one of the finest contemporary singer songwriter gracing these fair isles. In another era she would have packed theatres the length and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged acoustic, Billy Bragg, compilation, folk, Ghosts & Graffiti, Joan Baez, John Cooper Clarke, King Creosote, pop, rock, singer, songwriter, The Waterboys, Thea Gilmore | Leave a comment

Album review: LYNYRD SKYNYRD – Sweet Home Alabama (Live, 1974, 1996)

Posted on June 3, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Eagle Rock [Release date 01.06.15] 2-CD + DVD One of my abiding gig-going memories is seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd on the cusp of wider UK recognition, playing Liverpool Empire in November 1974. It was the classic line-up three years before tragedy … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 1974, 1996, album, DVD, Gary Rossington, Hamburg Musikhalle, Hughie Thomasson, live, Loreley Festival, Lynyrd Skynyrd, review, Rickey Medlocke, southern rock, Sweet Home Alabama | Leave a comment

Album review: JEFF BECK – Performing This Week…Live At Ronnie Scott’s

Posted on June 3, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Eagle Rock Records [Release date 01.06.15] 2-CD Special Edition In 2007 legendary guitarist Jeff Beck played a series of gigs at Ronnie Scotts in London. For those who admire Beck’s jazz-fusion of the seventies and eighties, they’ll be in their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Big Town Playboys, Eric Clapton, fusion, guitarist, Imogen Heap, Jason Rebello, Jeff Beck, Joss Stone, Performing This Week...Live At Ronnie Scott's, review, rock, Tal Wikenfeld, Vinny Colaiuta | Leave a comment

DVD review: RUSH – Rush In Rio/R30 (Reissues)

Posted on June 3, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Eagle Rock [Release date 15.06.15] 2-DVD/Bluray Recorded at the end of their 2002 world tour, in Brazil and in front of a Rush-crazy throng of 44,000, Rush In Rio – a double DVD – celebrates one of rock’s most enduring … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS, Reissues | Tagged 2002, 2004, 30th anniversary tour, Bluray, DVD, hard rock, R30, review, Rush, Rush In Rio, South America | Leave a comment

Gig review: VARDIS – Queens Hall, Nuneaton, 17 May 2015

Posted on June 3, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

2014 saw the first live dates from the reformed Vardis since way back in the 80’s and with five great gigs under their belt they seemed to be on a roll with new material and album releases planned. However after … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 17 May 2015, gig, heavy rock, Nuneaton, Queens Hall, review, Vardis | Leave a comment

Gig review: NORDIC GIANTS – Contemporary, Nottingham, 8 May 2015

Posted on June 3, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

It’s not often nowadays that you go to a gig and witness something so strikingly powerful that you are drawn into, and feel like part of, the performance, The Nordic Giants have done that tonight as they blend the visuals … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 8 May 2015, ambient, Contemporary, gig, Nordic Giants, Nottingham, prog, progressive, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: BAND OF FRIENDS feat. Gerry McAvoy (Rory Gallagher) – Robin 2, Wolverhampton, 24 April 2015

Posted on June 3, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

BAND OF FRIENDS - Robin 2, Wolverhampton, 24 April 2015

This is an edit from an interview in November 2014 when Gerry McAvoy chatted to David Randall and chose some of his favourite tracks for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio (4:51) More information For 20 years Gerry McAvoy rode shotgun … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24 April 2015, Band Of Friends, blues, blues rock, Gerry McAvoy, gig, Marcel Scherpenzeel, review, Robin 2, Rory Gallagher, Ted McKenna, Wolverhampton | Leave a comment

News: GREAT BRITISH RHYTHM & BLUES FESTIVAL looks for future stars in unsigned competition

Posted on June 1, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Coco Montoya (Photo: Mark Hughes/MHP) The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival celebrates its 26th year over the Bank Holiday Weekend of 28-31 August with an impressive line-up of new and established artists. Once again the Festival will be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS | Tagged 28-31 August 2015, Alligator Records, bands, blues, Coco Montoya, Colne, competition, contest, event, Great British Rhtyhm & Blues Festival, Jessica Foxley, Lancashire, NINE BELOW ZERO, rock, unsigned | Leave a comment

News: JOHN LODGE interview and Part 2 of SONJA KRISTINA feature, Sunday 31 May 2015

Posted on May 29, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Photo: Ricky Redman Get Ready to ROCK! Radio features two recent interviews on Sunday 31 May. Moody Blues bassist and songwriter John Lodge has recently released his first solo album for 38 years. “10,000 Light Years Ago’ was released on … Continue reading →

Posted in Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged Curved Air, interview, John Lodge, Moody Blues, pop, progressive, radio, rock, Sonja Kristina, Sunday 31 May 2015 | Leave a comment

Gig review: BLUES PILLS – Islington Academy, London, 22 April 2015

Posted on May 15, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

The latest in the seemingly endless line of classic rock revivalists, a big buzz has emerged around Blues Pills. In their short career they have topped many end of year polls, including being GRTR!’s own tip for 2015. Then on … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 22 April 2015, Blues Pills, blues rock, gig, Islington Academy, London, Psychedelic Rock, review, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: URIAH HEEP – Old Market, Brighton, 8 May 2015

Posted on May 14, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Uriah Heep - The Old Market, Brighton, 10 May 2015

An incredible 45 years after their debut album, Uriah Heep could be gently coasting towards retirement, but on this evidence the band who on their debut professed to be ‘very ‘eavy and very humble’ are rocking harder than ever. This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 8 May 2015, Bernie Shaw, Brighton, gig, hard rock, Mick Box, Old Market, review, rock, Uriah Heep | Leave a comment

Album review: NEAL SCHON – Vortex

Posted on May 12, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

This is an exclusive edit from an interview with Neal Schon using non-broadcast material. An extended version will be broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in a special edition of ‘Assume The Position’ presented by David Randall on Sunday … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, audio, guitar, guitarist, instrumental, interview, jazz fusion, Jazz rock, Journey, Neal Schon, review, rock, Santana, Solo, Vortex, world | Leave a comment

Gig review: JUDIE TZUKE – The Lowry, Salford, 10 May 2015

Posted on May 11, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Judie Tzuke’s Songs & Stories tour, billed as ‘an intimate evening of old favourites, new songs and tales from her life and career’ is something of a revelation. If for no other reason than the apparent exorcism of her well … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 10 May 2015, acoustic, gig, Judie Tzuke, pop, review, rock, Salford, singer, songwriter, The Lowry | Leave a comment

Gig review: PANIC ROOM – The Citadel, St. Helens, 9 May 2015

Posted on May 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

The last time we caught up with Panic Room was at the Zanzibar Club in Liverpool during last summer’s World Cup – a venue that, at best, can be described as ‘grimy’. The Citadel has seen equally better days. A … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 9 May 2015, Anne-Marie Helder, gig, Panic Room, prog, progressive, review, rock, St Helens, The Citadel | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM – Bierkeller, Bristol, 1 May 2015

Posted on May 9, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

With no Welsh date on this run of the Heroes And Villains UK tour, a trip across the bridge was in order tonight to catch the latest FM at a venue I haven’t been to in 22 years, suffice to … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Leave a comment