Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: PAT TRAVERS – Retro Rocket

Posted on April 21, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 06.04.15] It seems that Pat Travers has been coaxed further on the long and winding road that leads to his now legendary seventies work. Before 2013′s ‘Can Do’ album, in a solo capacity Travers had largely … Continue reading →

Album review: JETTBLACK – Disguises

Posted on April 21, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Cherry Red [Release date 06.04.15] High Wycombe’s Jettblack have only partially registered on my ageing cortex in recent years, and in truth they’ve not really made an impression. Years ago they toured with Airbourne, more recently with Reckless Love. But … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Disguises, hard rock, Jettblack, review | Leave a comment

Album review: Access All Areas – HATFIELD AND THE NORTH, SAD CAFE, RICK WAKEMAN

Posted on April 20, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Hatfield And The North - Access All Areas

Edsel [Release date 30.03.15] ‘Access All Areas’ is a new series from Edsel culled from the 1980 ‘Rockstage’ and 1990s ‘Bedrock’ Central TV series. Although many of these live sets have appeared previously, it takes Edsel to produce the definitive … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Access All Areas, album, Bedrock, CD/DVD, Central TV, Edsel, Hatfield And The North, Jazz rock, Paul Young, Pip Pyle, pop rock, Progressive Rock, review, Richard Sinclair, Rick Wakeman, Rockstage, Sad Cafe | Leave a comment

Gig review: UFO – The Ritz, Manchester, 19 April 2015

Posted on April 20, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

On the way to the gig in the car, and playing the latest album ‘A Conspiracy Of Stars’, I was reassured that this was still the hard rock album of the year nearly six months in. But, as it turned … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 19 April 2015, Andy Parker, gig, hard rock, Manchester, Paul Raymond, Phil Mogg, review, Rob De Luca, The Ritz, UFO, Vinnie Moore | Leave a comment

Gig review: CURVED AIR – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, 17 April 2015

Posted on April 18, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Sonja Kristina Special (Part 1) – 3 May 2015 by Get Ready To Rock! Radio on Mixcloud This is the first part of a two-part special when Sonja Kristina chats about her early career and Curved Air (58:38). Part 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 17 April 2015, Curved Air, Floral Pavilion, gig, New Brighton, prog, progressive, review, rock, Sonja Kristina | Leave a comment

News: Singer songwriter CHRIS GRAY radio session on Sunday 19 April

Posted on April 17, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Isle of Man singer songwriter Chris Gray is featured in the “In Session for GRTR!” series on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 19 April at 21:00. Chris’ debut album – Diamonds In Your Tree – was released … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged acoustic, April 2015, Chris Gray, Diamonds In Your Tree, folk, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, radio, session, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE ANSWER – Sheffield Corporation, 21 March 2015

Posted on April 17, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

The last time The Answer were at The Corp in Sheffield was WinterRocks festival last year when they played a stunning headline set on the back of the release and a year of touring their fourth album ‘New Horizons’. Now … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 21 March 2015, Bad Touch, gig, review, rock, Sheffield Corporation, THE ANSWER, The Black Hands, The Picturebooks | Leave a comment

Gig review: RENAISSANCE – The Stables, Wavendon, 14 April 2015

Posted on April 15, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

RENAISSANCE - The Citadel, St.Helens, 24 April 2015

You can take the girl out of Bolton, but you can’t take Bolton out of the girl. Stage sound issues and residual deafness in one ear might detract some artists on the first night of a comeback tour of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 14 April 2015, Annie Haslam, classical, gig, Milton Keynes, prog, progressive, Renaissance, review, rock, The Stables, Wavendon | Leave a comment

News: BAND OF FRIENDS featuring Gerry McAvoy (Rory Gallagher) hit the road 15 April – 2 May 2015

Posted on April 13, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Band of Friends - The Great British Rock & Blues Festival 2015

This is an edit from an interview in November 2014 when Gerry McAvoy chose some of his favourite tracks for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio (4:51) More information Photo: Simon Dunkerley/GRTR! Band Of Friends, the band featuring long-time Rory Gallagher … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged 2015, April, Band Of Friends, blues, blues rock, Gerry McAvoy, gigs, May, Rory Gallagher, Ted McKenna, Tour, tour dates | Leave a comment

Album review: KALLE VILPUU – Silver Lining

Posted on April 11, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

www.kallevilpuu.com [Release date 22.12.13] I have to say I always approach guitarist-led independent releases with a certain amount of intrepidation. Often they are mere vanity projects, apeing others, badly recorded, badly executed and maybe enlisting a “name” to help sales … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, electronica, Estonia, guitar, guitarist, Kalle Vilpuu, review, Silver Lining | Leave a comment

Album review: THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – Plays Prog Rock Classics

Posted on April 10, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 20.04.15] Classical rock is an often maligned genre, when done well it can bring new dimension to time-worn classics, done badly and it can fail to enhance the originals. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra have always done … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Adrian Smith, ELP, Focus, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Guthrie Govan, Ian Bairnson, Jethro Tull, Jimmy Greenspoon, King Crimson, Mark Feltham, Moody Blues, Patrick Moraz, Pink Floyd, Plays Prog Rock Classics, Richard Harvey, Rush, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Thijs van Leer, Yes | Leave a comment

Gig review: RIVAL SONS – O2 Academy, Leeds, 28 March 2015

Posted on April 8, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Barely four months ago we were in Manchester witnessing an amazing gig from Rival Sons as they set out on a mini tour for the release of their new album ‘The Great Western Valkyrie’, the tour itself had to be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 28 March 2015, gig, Leeds, O2 Academy, psychedelic, review, Rival Sons, rock, The London Souls | Leave a comment

Gig review: LORDI – Manchester Club Academy, 26 March 2015

Posted on April 7, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

When I heard that the mighty Lordi were to play Manchester Academy I was expecting it to be in room 1 or 2 due to their extravagant stage show of theatrical props and pyrotechnics and not in the Club Academy … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26 March 2015, Club Academy, gig, heavy rock, Lordi, Manchester, metal, power metal, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, BONAFIDE – Live Rooms, Chester, 19 March 2015

Posted on April 7, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Hardcore Superstar - Live Rooms, Chester, 19 March 2015

By the time Oceans Black hit the rather cramped stage there is a reasonable crowd to see what turns out to be an excellent set from this relatively new band. Although only formed back in 2014 they have been honing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 19 March 2015, Bonafide, Chester, gig, hard rock, Hardcore Superstar, Live Rooms, NitroDive, Oceans Black, review, rock, sleaze | Leave a comment

Album review: JOHN POWER – The Complete Studio Recordings 2002-2015 (Box set)

Posted on April 5, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel Records [Release date 27.04.15] Having released all four Cast albums in ‘deluxe’ format, Edsel have now turned to the solo work of The La’s and Cast frontman John Power. The Complete Sessions brigdes his 3 releases between 2003 and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, blues, Cast, Happening For Love, John Power, pop, review, rock, Stormbreaker, The Complete Studio Recordings 2002-2015, The Las, The Mariner Sessions, Willow She Weeps | Comments Off

Album review: NIGHTWISH – Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Posted on April 5, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Nuclear Blast [Release date 30.01.15] Delain’s April Rain (2009) was my introduction to symphonic rock/metal, and Within Temptation The Unforgiving (2011) completed my education. I’ve subsequently discovered that a little ‘symph’ goes a long, long way. Metal meets Eurovision is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, Floor Jansen, metal, Nightwish, review, symphonic rock | Leave a comment

Album review: KARNATAKA – Secrets Of Angels

Posted on April 5, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Immrama [Release date 30.03.15] To be blunt, the first impressions of Secrets Of Angels – played live at Bury Met in February – weren’t great. The band blamed the venue and the lack of an adequate sound check, but as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Hayley Griffiths, Karnataka, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Secrets Of Angels | Leave a comment

Album review: TODD RUNDGREN – Global

Posted on April 4, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 13.04.15] I think it’s fair to say that with the release of a new Todd Rundgren album no-one – not even his hardcore fans – quite know what to expect. In the case of ‘Global’ Rundgren … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Global, Kasim Sulton, pop, review, rock, Todd Rundgren | Leave a comment

News: DEBORAH BONHAM and KIKI DEE interview features – Sunday 5 April 2015

Posted on April 2, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Deborah Bonham - Giants Of Rock, February 2015

Kiki Dee, The Eclectic Mix, Sunday 5 April, 16:00 GMT Deborah Bonham, Favourite Tracks from Favourite Artists, Sunday 5 April, 22:00 GMT Two ladies of pop/rock are featured on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 5 April. David Randall … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged Deborah Bonham, Elton John, feature, interview, John Bonham, Kiki Dee, Led Zeppelin, pop, radio, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: ANNABELLE CHVOSTEK – Be The Media

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Those expecting a folk roots album from former Wailin’ Jenny singer songwriter Annabelle Chvostek can think again. After releasing two albums on Canada’s most foremost folk label Chvostek has gone back to her independent roots, picking up a 1957 Kay … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Annabelle Chvostek, Be The Media, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, The Wailin' Jennies | Leave a comment

Album review: PISTOLS & VULTURES – Seven

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

It’s rare that a PR blurb says so little, and it takes some digging to discover that Pistols & Vultures are an Ipswich/Colchester based ‘alternative’ rock band formed in 2009 whilst Carnell Cook: (vocals), Alex Green (guitars, bass, percussion and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Pistols & Vultures, review, rock, Seven, soul | Leave a comment

Album review: THE PRETENDERS – Reissues (Box set)

Posted on March 31, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Edsel [Release date 16.02.15] ‘Icon’ is an overused word in the entertainment industry. But not so in the case of Chrissie Hynde the driving force behind, and in all but name, The Pretenders – one of the most successful bands … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, box set, Chrissie Hynde, DVD, Get Close, Isle Of View, Last Of The Independents, Learning To Crawl, Packed!, Pretenders, reissue, review, rock, Viva El Amor | Leave a comment

Album review: LESOIR – Luctor Et Emergo

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

The PR blurb for their latest release would have you believe Transience received rave reviews beyond their homeland. If that’s true, they’re well hidden from Google’s search engine. The sessions for Luctor Et Emergo sees the band (Maartje Meessen – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Lesoir, Luctor Et Emergo, Netherlands, review, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Quick plays: NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY, DANNY SCHMIDT

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY One You might well ask why GRTR! is reviewing a Celtic / Breton fiddle album? And it would be a reasonable question to ask. But there are ‘rock’ connections. Firstly, one half of the main … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged acoustic, Aggravated, country, Danny Schmidt, Decade Dance, Elliot Smith, folk, Grant Langston, Hope You're Happy Now, Irish, Leather Leaf, Natalie Macmaster and Donnell Leahy, One, Owls, Seth Avett & Jessica Lea Mayfield, singer, songwriter, Telesma | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROBIN TROWER – The Lowry, Salford, 29 March 2015

Posted on March 30, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Forty years might separate Robin Trower’s biggest success and Joanne Shaw Taylor’s latest album, but both tap into that deep vein of soulful, heart-felt blues rock. Only this month Trower has become a fully certified elder statesman of rock, celebrating … Continue reading →