Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: THE BREW – Control

Posted on April 28, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Jazzhaus [Release date 24.02.14] It’s sort of ironic that The Brew’s latest album should be released within spitting distance of the re-release of the Zeppelin catalogue. The Brew – a blues/rock band from Grimsby, have been around since 2006 and … Continue reading →

Album review: HANNAH ALDRIDGE – Razor Wire

Posted on April 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Trodden Black Ent. [Release date 13.05.14] ‘Dark Americana’ is how Hannah Aldridge – daughter of esteemed Muscle Shoals/ Nashville songwriter and producer Walt Aldridge – describes her gritty, uncompromising debut. Recorded in analogue (naturally) in Nashville (where else?) she’s backed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Americana, country, Hannah Aldridge, Nashville, Razor Edge, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: SAXON – The Complete Albums 1979-1988

Posted on April 24, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Parlophone/Warner Music [Release date 17.03.14] Saxon get the “complete albums” treatment with a 10-disc set, essentially the 2009/2010 remasters in facsimilie sleeves. All of Saxon’s albums have appeared on CD before, some on different labels, including the strange 2-on-1 packages … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Biff Byford, bonus tracks, box set, Crusader, Denim And Leather, Destiny, Innocence Is No Excuse, Paul Quinn, Power & The Glory, reissue, review, Rock The Nations, Saxon, Strong Arm Of The Law, The Complete Albums 1979-1988, The Eagle Has Landed, Wheels Of Steel | Leave a comment

Album review: UFO – The Complete Studio Albums 1974-1986

Posted on April 23, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Chrysalis/Warner Music [Release date 17.03.14] A growing trend in recent times is for labels to re-package a band’s albums in facsimilie sleeves. Invariably these are fairly basic, with no bonus tracks, credits, or enlightening essay. As a quick fix, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, box set, Force It, heavy rock, Lights Out, Making Contact, Mechanix, Michael Schenker, Misdemeanour, No Heavy Petting, No Place To Run, Obsession, Paul Raymond, Pete Way, Phenomenon, Phil Mogg, review, The Complete Studio Albums 1974-1986, The Wild The Willing And The Innocent, UFO | Leave a comment

Gig review: MAGNUM – The Tivoli, Buckley, 20 April 2014

Posted on April 21, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

With an unexplained delayed start it was a little like being back in the seventies. A crowd that snaked around the block and a cool nip that knived them. The support – or perhaps more accurately on this occasion “warm … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 April 2014, Al Barrow, Bob Catley, Buckley, gig, Harry James, Magnum, Mark Stanway, melodic, Neonfly, North Wales, review, rock, The Tivoli, Tony Clarkin | Leave a comment

Gig review: HAMMERFEST – Pwllheli, Wales, 13-15 March 2014

Posted on April 20, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

It’s been a long cold wet winter but now is the time for the Hammer Horde to rise up and make their way to the first of the HRH festivals of the year, Hammerfest VI Book Of The Dead. Now … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 13-15 March 2014, Book Of The Dead, COC, Death, Enthroned, Extreme, Grand Magus, Hafan Y Mor, Hammerfest VI, Kreator, metal, Monster Truck, Overkill, Pwllheli, Thrash, Unleashed, Vintage Caravan, Wales | Leave a comment

Gig review: WITHIN TEMPTATION/Delain – Manchester Apollo, 11 April 2014

Posted on April 17, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Within Temptation - Manchester Apollo, 11 April 2014

As I arrive at the venue tonight a full hour before it opens the draw of the bands is evident as the queues are already stretching up the road for this rearranged show. The tour originally due to be in … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews | Tagged 11 April 2014, Delain, gig, Manchester Apollo, review, symphinic metal, Within Temptation | Leave a comment

Gig review: HALESTORM, HMV Forum, London, 9 April 2014

Posted on April 13, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

The popularity of Halestorm in the UK is on a rapidly rising curve. Each headline show seems to be at a larger venue, and in 18 months they have progressed from the Islington Academy to the 2400 capacity Forum where … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 9 April 2014, gig, Halestorm, HMV Forum, London, metal, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT – The Complete Albums Collection

Posted on April 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

The Alan Parsons Live Project, news, interview, radio feature (February 2015) Sony Legacy [Release date 31.03.14] Alan Parsons almost redefined the idea of the concept album in 1976. Parsons was famously the assistant engineer at Abbey Road and got his … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Alan Parsons, Ammonia Avenue, box, boxed set, Chris Rainbow, Colin Blunstone, Eric Woolfson, Eve, Eye In The Sky, Gaudi, I Robot, Pyramid, Stereotomy, Tales Of Mystery And Imagination, The Alan Parsons Project, The Complete Albums Collection, The Sicilian Defence, The Turn Of A Friendly Card, Vulture Culture | Leave a comment

Gig review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, Manchester Academy, 1 April 2014

Posted on April 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Manchester Academy 1 is about to get its roof well and truly ripped off tonight as Five Finger Death Punch hit town, these American heavy groove metallers are eager to entertain the legendary Manchester crowd but before they get their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 1 April 2014, Five Finger Death Punch, gig, Manchester Academy, metal, nu-metal, Pop Evil, review, rock | Leave a comment

Quick plays: TOM FULLER BAND, BRIGITTE DEMEYER, P.J.PACIFICO, MARY SARAH

Posted on April 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

TOM FULLER BAND Freedom The last, and third, album from the Chicago based Tom Fuller Band – Ask (2011) was a mixed affair. Radio friendly American rock packed with echoes of many of the greats – an unlikely combination The … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: FOREIGNER, Europe, FM – Manchester Apollo, 3 April 2014

Posted on April 4, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Foreigner - Manchester Apollo, 3 April 2014

Spoiler alert. Mick Jones doesn’t appear on stage until four songs in. Whether this is to allow for preparation of his Horlicks, who knows, but for a moment it was a little disconcerting. An evening of melodic rock/AOR without one … Continue reading →

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News: CHERRY RED label showcase in April – win featured albums!

Posted on April 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

The latest showcase for the Cherry Red group of record labels offers listeners a chance to win six of the featured albums! Listen in and then follow the link (below) to our competition page. Competition closes 23:59 BST (GMT+1) 19 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged albums, April 2014, Barclay James Harvest, Cherry Red Records, collectible, competition, Curved Air, Hawklords, Jack Bruce, Record Store Day, Vinyl, win | Leave a comment

Gig review: DAUGHTRY – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 26 March 2014

Posted on April 2, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Huge in the States, Chris Daughtry and his eponymous band finally seem to be on the verge of a big UK breakthrough. This Shepherds Bush Empire show was apparently his biggest UK solo show to date, but sold out within … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26 March 2014, American Idol, Charming Liars, Chris Daughtry, DAUGHTRY, gig, London, review, rock, Shepherd's Bush Empire | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – April 2014 Highlights

Posted on April 1, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

April 2014 Highlights More information at the dedicated website All times, BST (GMT+1) Tuesdays 19:00 Pete Feenstra Rock & Blues In the first hour of our Tuesday blues rock marathon, Pete signposts upcoming and established artists who need your attention … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged Ann Wilson, April 2014, blues, features, Fish, Focus, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, highlights, interviews, prog, progressive, rock, Yes | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE STRANGLERS – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 8 March 2014

Posted on March 31, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Something very strange must have happened. Having managed to sadly miss most of Nine Below Zero’s set for reasons best undisclosed, I’m secreted daahn the front at good old ‘Ammasmiff, waiting for the Stranglers to celebrate their 40th anniversary, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 8 March 2014, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, Jet Black, JJ Burnel, London, punk, review, rock, The Stranglers | Leave a comment

Gig review: MAGNUM Album Launch, Robin 2, Bilston, 25 March 2014

Posted on March 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Interview with Tony Clarkin of Magnum, first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 2 March 2014 (3:23) There is a longer extract of this interview together with the album review here 250+ eager fans awaited the launch and their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 25 March 2014, Al Atkins, album, Bilston, Bob Catley, Escape From The Shadow Garden, gig, Harry James, launch, Magnum, Mark Stanway, review, Robin 2, Rodney Matthews, Tony Clarkin | Leave a comment

Album review: CHRIS THOMPSON – Toys & Dishes

Posted on March 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Esoteric Antenna [Release date 17.03.14] Chris Thompson was very much “the voice” of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band during their most successful period in the late-1970s/early-1980s. In the past decade he decamped to Germany, gigging on the continent and with the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Thompson, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, review, rock, Toys & Dishes | Leave a comment

News: Cherry Red label showcase on Sunday 30 March – win featured albums!

Posted on March 26, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Sunday 30 March, 13:00 GMT Get Ready to ROCK! Radio The latest showcase for the Cherry Red group of record labels offers listeners a chance to win six of the featured albums! The hour-long special features recent releases from the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged Cherry Red Records, competition, feature, March 2014, progressive, R&B, radio, rock, showcase, soul | Leave a comment

Gig review: GRAVELTONES, Cadillac Three, Buffalo Summer – Live Rooms, Chester, 26 February 2014

Posted on March 24, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

The Graveltones - Chester, 26 February 2014

Sometimes you come away from a gig and you just want to shout ‘WOW’. Tonight was one of those occasions and even though I had seen the same line-up a few days before at The Institute in Birmingham my excitement … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26 February 2014, Buffalo Summer, Cadillac Three, Chester, gig, Live Rooms, review, rock, southern rock, The Graveltones | Leave a comment

News: ANN WILSON (Heart) Interview Special, Sunday 23 March 2014 – Get Ready to ROCK! Radio

Posted on March 21, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Ann Wilson of the band Heart is the subject in the latest Songwriters special on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. In this hour-long feature David Randall tracks the history of the band, chatting to Ann about her career and playing … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged 23 March 2014, Ann Wilson, AOR, feature, hard rock, Heart, interview, melodic rock, radio, special | Leave a comment

Gig review: UFO – Parr Hall, Warrington, 20 March 2014

Posted on March 21, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Having just received the recent UFO boxed set, 10 albums in as many years, where do you start for a live show? It seems that the band have taken some criticism on the chin, with Phil Mogg referring to comments … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 March 2014, gig, heavy rock, Parr Hall, Paul Raymond, Phil Mogg, review, UFO, Vinnie Moore, Warrington | Leave a comment

Album review: HEART – Magazine (Hybrid SACD)

Posted on March 18, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Audio Fideltiy [Release date 18.03.14] Heart’s album ‘Magazine’ had a chequered history. After the initial success with ‘Dreamboat Annie’ the band fell out with the small label Mushroom Records. A legal dispute ensued as they tried to get out of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Ann Wilson, Audio Fidelity, Heart, Magazine, Nancy Wilson, reissue, review, rock, SACD | Leave a comment

Album review: JOHNNY WINTER – True To The Blues

Posted on March 16, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

True To The Blues - The Johnny Winter Story

Sony 4-disc set [Release date 24.02.14] In a year that sees the legendary blues guitarist – John Dawson Winter III – reach septuagenarian status, a 4-disc retrospective befitting of his stature. From the late-1960s, Winter has been influencing his peers … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, blues rock, box set, compilation, concert, Dan hartman, Derek Trucks, guitar, guitarist, Johnny Winter, live, Muddy Waters, review, Rick Derringer, True To The Blues | Leave a comment

Book review: RADIO CAROLINE – The True Story Of The Boat That Rocked – Ray Clark

Posted on March 15, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Easter Sunday, 2024 Get Ready to ROCK! Radio recreates the sound of the sixties celebrating the 60th anniversary of pop radio pioneer Radio Caroline. “The Eclectic Mix”, Sunday 31 March, 18:00 GMT The History Press [Publication date 03.02.14] 256pp, paperback … Continue reading →