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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Latest Album Reviews
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Album review: ROSS HARDING – The Blood and the Blues
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Album review: PETE KOSANOVICH – Beauty Within You
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Album review : ROB MORATTI – Sovereign
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Album review : BRAZEN ABBOT – Live And Learn and Guilty As Sin (CD reissues)
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Album review : GRAHAM BONNET – Lost In Hollywood Again (Live)
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JIM PETERIK AND WORLD STAGE – River of Song – The Power Of Duets, Volume 1
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: STEVE OVERLAND AND JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Weir, Brentford, Middlesex, 9 December 2025
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Gig review: JOHN OTWAY – Face Bar, Reading, Thursday 11 December 2025
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Gig review: CURVED AIR – The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 20 November 2025
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Gig review: MARTIN BARRE & FRIENDS – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 18 November 2025
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Author Archives: GRTR! HQ
Gig review: WILKO JOHNSON – Ritz, Manchester, 18 March 2015

For the second time in as many years I have the pleasure of watching a show by Wilko Johnson, by now I’m sure everyone knows of his incredible journey in the past two years which has taken him from being … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 18 March 2015, Dr Feelgood, Eight Rounds Rapid, gig, Manchester, review, Ritz, rock, Wilko Johnson
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News: ANTHONY PHILLIPS, ANNIE HASLAM and STEVE HACKETT interviews, Sunday 29 March 2015

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio has a “prog” theme on Sunday 29 March, with three special features including interviews with some of the genre’s significant movers and shakers. Original Genesis guitarist and founder member Anthony Phillips chats about his career … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS
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Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 2)

Day 2 After a paltry 5 hours sleep and searching the little town of Criccieth for match sticks to keep my eyes open, and copious amounts of Pro Plus, I made my way back to the arenas where I like … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 14 March 2015, Eclipse, festival, FM, gig, Houston, HRH AOR, melodic rock, Night Ranger, Pwllheli, review, Romeo's Daughter, Wales, White Widdow
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Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015 (Day 1)

After an early start and a four and a half hour drive, I arrived at Hard Rock Hell and was immediately struck by how well organised the event was. The site was immaculate and the staff were friendly and helpful. … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 13 March 2015, Dare, gig, H.E.A.T., HRH AOR, melodic rock, Pwllheli, review, Tainted Nation, The Poodles, Vega, Wales
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News: Prog Rockers Renaissance return with UK tour in April

Annie Haslam chats to David Randall about Renaissance and the forthcoming tour. This is an un-broadcast extract from a longer interview that will form the basis of an hour special on Sunday 29 March at 22:00 on Get Ready to … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS
Tagged Annie Haslam, April 2015, classical rock, gigs, prog, Progressive Rock, Renaissance, symphonic rock, Tour, uk
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Album review: GILLAN – The Albums Collection

Edsel [Release date 16.03.15] Boxed set, limited edition, 6-disc It is evident from these albums that singer Ian Gillan had an amazing band that, for whatever reasons, worked incredibly well. Several top 10 albums and singles for a start. As … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Bernie Torme, Colin Towns, Deep Purple, Double Trouble, For Gillan Fans Only, Future Shock, Gillan, Glory Road, Ian Gillan, Janick Gers, John McCoy, Magic, Mr.Universe, reissue, review, The Albums Collection
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Gig review: EUROPE, BLACK STAR RIDERS – Manchester Academy, 13 March 2015

I am still not convinced that two- or three-way bills are the best way forward for some of our premier bands. The last time I saw Europe was a three-way with FM and Foreigner and notwithstanding poor sound (for the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 13 March 2013, AOR, Black Star Riders, Europe, gig, hard rock, Joey Tempest, John Norum, Manchester Academy, melodic, review, Scott Gorham, The Amorettes
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Gig review: KING KING – The Globe, Cardiff, 8 March 2015

A Sunday night can be a tricky one for any gig but thankfully the fans came out in their droves for an almost full house at The Globe in what I can only describe as a masterclass in musicianship. This … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 8 March 2015, Alan Nimmo, blues, blues rock, Cardiff, gig, King King, review, The Globe
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Gig review: LEVELLERS – Opera House, Buxton, 5 March 2015

Walking up to the majestic Buxton Opera House it was noticeable that the crusty old tour vans of years gone by have been replaced by posh tour coaches but were Levellers still true to their roots? Well tonight we were … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 5 March 2015, A Curious Life, Buxton, documentary, film, gig, Levellers, Opera House, review
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Gig review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Alexanders, Chester, 12 March 2015

Ten years ago we asked Eleanor McEvoy if she would continue in “acoustic” mode for the foreseeable future and whether she would ever consider going back to the more ‘electric’ format that she followed in the mid to late 1990s. … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 12 March 2015, acoustic, Alexanders, Chester, Eleanor McEvoy, folk, gig, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter
1 Comment
Album review: SIMPLE MINDS – Sparkle In The Rain (box set)

Universal [Release date 16.03.15] 5-disc box set If New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) marked the beginning of Simple Minds departure from their new waves roots, Sparkle In The Rain – their 6th album, released in 1984 and produced by Steve Lillywhite … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 5.1, album, BBC, box set, DVD, live, pop, radio, reissue, review, rock, session, Simple Minds, Sparkle In the Rain
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Album review: ALICE DiMICELE – Swim

Alice Otter Music [Release date 04.05.15] www.alicedimicele.com It comes as little surprise that Alice DiMicele has been on the scene for almost 30 years as her sound – described as ‘groove folk’ and ‘acoustic soul’ - echoes back to Joni … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alice DiMicele, folk, jazz, review, singer, songwriter, Swim
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DVD review: SHANIA TWAIN – Still The One Live From Vegas

Eagle Rock [Release date 02.03.15] For the original country/pop crossover queen, and best-selling female country artist of all time who has shipped over 75 million albums worldwide – thanks primarily to the Mutt Lange trilogy of releases The Woman in … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged Bluray, country, DVD, pop, review, rock, Shania Twain, Still the One Live From Vegas
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Quick plays: TRISTAN MACKAY, THE KENNEDYS, VANESSA PETERS

TRISTAN MACKAY Wire & Wood The clue, as they say, is in the title – Wire & Wood is a pared back acoustic follow-up to singer songwriter Tiverton, Devon-born Tristan Mackay’s debut release Out Along The Wire (2012). Originally ‘discovered’ … Continue reading
Album review: ANTHONY PHILLIPS – The Geese & The Ghost

Anthony Phillips chats about the reissues (9:07) This is un-broadcast material from a special feature about Anthony on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 29 March 2015, 16:00 GMT. Esoteric [Release date 09.03.15] Anthony Phillips’ debut album was some 8 years … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 5.1 mix, album, Anthony Phillips, box set, Genesis, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, reissue, review, The Geese And The Ghost
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Gig review: KARNATAKA – The Met, Bury, 27 February 2015

Two years ago, at this very venue, Karnataka made a very bold move by recording a full show with a very new line-up. It paid off, quite clearly a credit to new girl Hayley Griffiths who we described as bringing … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 27 February 2015, Bury, gig, Hayley Griffiths, Karnataka, prog, progressive, review, rock, The Met
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News: ROBIN TROWER interview and feature, Sunday 1 March 2015

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio Sunday 1 March 2015, 16:00 GMT Robin Trower releases his latest studio album – ‘Something’s About To Change’ – in March and he’s touring in the UK later in the month. David Randall chatted to … Continue reading
Posted in Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS
Tagged 1 March 2015, blues, feature, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, guitar, guitarist, interview, Procol Harum, radio, Robin Trower, rock
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Album review: KIKI DEE – reissues

Kiki Dee chats to David Randall about her 1970s albums. (6:24) The full version of this interview is featured in two parts on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. Part 1 on Sunday 5 April 2015 at 16:00 and Part 2 … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Carmelo Luggieri, Edsel, Elton John, I've Got The Music In Me, Kiki Dee, Loving & Free, pop, reissue, review, rock, Stay With Me, Toto
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Album review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – The Killer Instinct

Nuclear Blast [Release date 23.02.15] Album number two, and Black Star Riders are still operating in Phil Lynott’s shadow. Perhaps any band with Scott Gorham is going to major on Lizzy’s sweet sounding harmony guitar but with Ricky Warwick’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Black Star Riders, hard rock, review, Ricky Warwick, Scott Gorham, The Killer Instinct, Thin Lizzy
1 Comment
Album review: EUROPE – War Of Kings

UDR [Release date 02.03.15] I am a renascent Europe fan. I loved the band as they catapulted themselves back into modern civilisation but I was never a big fan in their late-eighties heyday. However, increasingly, I think their upward trajectory … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
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