Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

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 →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged book, disc jockey, history, pirate, pop, radio, Radio Caroline, Ray Clark, review, sixties, station, The True Story Of The Boat That Rocked | Leave a comment

News: Eric Rivers of Swedish melodic hard rockers H.E.A.T. – interview on Sunday 16 March 2014

Posted on March 14, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Sunday 16 March 2014, 22:00 GMT Get Ready to ROCK! Radio ERIC RIVERS of H.E.A.T. Swedish melodic hard rockers H.E.A.T. release their fourth album on 14 April 2014 via earMUSIC. The band’s guitarist Eric Rivers chats to David Randall about … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged 16 March 2014, Eric Rivers, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, guitar, guitarist, H.E.A.T., hard rock, HEAT, interview, melodic, radio, Sweden, Tearing Down The Walls | Leave a comment

News: LISBEE STAINTON acoustic session for Get Ready to ROCK! on Sunday 16 March

Posted on March 14, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Sunday 16 March 2014, 21:00 GMT Get Ready to ROCK! Radio LISBEE STAINTON The acclaimed singer-songwriter plays an exclusive live session. More information Lisbee Stainton’s UK tour starts this Saturday 15 March in Basingstoke and to coincide there will be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged 16 March 2014, acoustic, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Lisbee Stainton, live, radio, session, showcase, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: CAMEL – Parr Hall, Warrington, 13 March 2014

Posted on March 14, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Andy Latimer talks about the second leg of the UK tour. An edited version of this interview – which featured in a two-part special on our radio station – is now available as a podcast More information If we had … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 13 March 2014, Andy Latimer, Camel, gig, guitar, guitarist, Kayak, Parr Hall, prog, progressive, review, rock, Ton Scherpenzeel, Warrington | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE ANSWER – O2 Academy 2, Leicester, 25 February 2014

Posted on March 13, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

THE ANSWER - Academy 2, Leicester, 25 February 2014

It was a cold damp midweek evening but these things didn’t matter as tonight Irish rockers The Answer are set to raise the temperature and spirits at the Academy 2 Leicester. Currently midway through their ‘Road Less Travelled’ tour which … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 25 February 2014, gig, Hell's Addiction, Leicester, O2 Academy, review, rock, SKAM!, THE ANSWER | Leave a comment

Gig review: BLACKBERRY SMOKE – O2 Islington Academy, 3 March 2014

Posted on March 12, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Blackberry Smoke, O2 Islington Academy, London, 28 February 2014

After treading the boards in the USA for some years, Blackberry Smoke’s belated marketing push to crack the UK seems to be paying off: hot on the heels of their belatedly released The Whippoorwill album reaching the top 30, the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 3 March 2014, Blackberry Smoke, gig, London, O2 Islington Academy, review, southern rock | Leave a comment

Single & EP reviews: VOODOO SIX

Posted on March 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

VOODOO SIX – Lead Me On Spinefarm [Released 21.04.14] Voodoo Six released their ‘Songs To Invade Countries By’ album last year to great acclaim and a support slot with Iron Maiden. This four song EP contains ‘Lead Me On’, a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged EP, heavy rock, Lead Me On, review, Voodoo Six | Leave a comment

DVD review: SUZANNE VEGA – Solitude Standing

Posted on March 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Wienerworld [Release date 24.03.14] Timed for release to coincide with Vega’s new studio album Tales From The Realm Of The Queen Of Pentacles (presumably to freeload on the coat-tails of that album’s publicity) this DVD finds Suzanne Vega performing at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged 2003, DVD, Italy, live, pop, review, rock, singer, Solitude Standing, songwriter, Suzanne Vega | Leave a comment

Album review: JOHN SEBASTIAN – Reissues

Posted on March 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

John B Sebastian, The Four Of Us, Tarzan Kid, Welcome Back plus BBC In Concert 1970 Edsel Records [Release date 10.02.14] Dylan just about nailed it when he pronounced ‘the times they are a changin’ in 1964 and John Sebastian, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged BBC In Concert 1970, DVD, folk pop, John B Sebastian, John Sebastian, reissue, rock, singer, songwriter, Tarzan Kid, The Four Of Us, Welcome Back | Leave a comment

Album review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Stuff

Posted on March 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Moscodisc [Release date 12.05.14] Compilations can be hit and miss affairs but Eleanor McEvoy’s got the balance just about right on 11 track ‘sampler’ that includes something for everyone by way of collaborations, single remixes and B-sides, and even some … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, compilation, Dave Rotheray, Eleanor McEvoy, Homespun, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter, Stuff | Leave a comment

Album review: PANIC ROOM – Incarnate

Posted on March 9, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Firefly Music [Release date 10.03.14] After their acoustic ‘chill out’ sojourn under the pseudo name of Luna Rossa, Anne-Marie Helder and Jonathan Edwards return with the latest release in their guise as main protagonists in Panic Room, a band whose … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anne-Marie Helder, Gavin Griffiths, Incarnate, Panic Room, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: ALICE COOPER – Billion Dollar Babies

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Audio Fidelity [Release date 01.03.14] There’s been something of a glut of Alice Cooper re-issues of late – Trash and Hey Stoopid, The Eyes Of Alice Cooper and Dirty Diamonds, and Brutally Live – to name but a few. This … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Alice Cooper, Audio Fidelity, Billion Dollar Babies, reissue, review, rock, SACD | Leave a comment

Album review: JOE BONAMASSA & BETH HART – Live In Amsterdam

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Provogue (CD and DVD) [Release date 24.03.14] I have to say I’m not a huge Bonamassa or Beth Hart fan – individually or collectively. To my mind Bonamassa is overhyped, and if my painful Liverpool Echo Arena experience is anything … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, beth Hart, blues rock, CD, DVD, guitar, guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, Live In Amsterdam, review | 1 Comment

Album review: ASIA – Gravitas

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers [Release date 24.03.14] Crop rotation is something those of us of a certain age will recall from O level geography – leaving land fallow and rotating crops leading to bigger and better harvests. Certainly over the years there’s been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Asia, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, Gravitas, John Wetton, melodic, review, rock | Leave a comment

News: Ex-Nightwish singer ANETTE OLZON chats to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Sunday 9 March, 22:00 Get Ready to ROCK! Radio In this week’s ‘Assume The Position’, David Randall chats to Anette Olzon about her new album, and plays tracks from ‘Shine’. GRTR! Reviewer Pete Whalley described the album as a contender … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged album, Alyson Avenue, Anette Olzon, interview, March 2014, Nightwish, pop, rock, Shine, singer, Sweden, Swedish, symphonic metal | Leave a comment

Album review: 10cc – Live In Concert (Clever Clogs)

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Wienerworld [Release date 10.03.14] For the past few years Graham Gouldman has been touring “with friends” and keeping alive his 10cc legacy, bolstered with his own early history as tunesmith to The Yardbirds and The Hollies amongst others. This 2007 … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 10CC, album, Clever Clogs, Graham Gouldman, Live In Concert, March 2007, pop, review, rock, Shepherd's Bush Empire | 1 Comment

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

Posted on March 4, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

March 2014 Highlights More information at the dedicated website All times, GMT 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 Saturdays … Continue reading →