Author Archives: GRTR! HQ

Album review: NEW DANCE ORCHESTRA – Electronica (feat. Geoff Downes/Anne-Marie Helder)

Posted on December 6, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

NDO Records [Release date 04.11.13] This is an intriguing release from the highly-talented Geoffrey Downes, or Geoff Downes as you know him, erstwhile keyboard tinkler from Asia and Yes. New Dance Orchestra is an ongoing project but to my knowledge … Continue reading →

Gig review: NO SINNER – Black Heart, Camden, 25 November 2013

Posted on December 6, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Many a significant rock career can trace its origins to shows in the back room of Camden’s various boozers so it was appropriate that hotly tipped Vancouver blues rockers No Sinner should have their UK showcase in one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 25 November, Black Heart, blues, Camden, Colleen Rennison, gig, London, No Sinner, review, rock, showcase | Leave a comment

Album review: ANXTRON – Brainstorm

Posted on December 6, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Self-release www.anxtron.com I guarantee if you heard this album playing in the background of your local wine bar, you’d find it strangely addictive as you got progressively inebriated. That’s not being disrespectful to Anxtron, it could be the perfect antidote … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anxtron, Brainstorm, Brazil, Brazilian, instrumental, prog, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: SUSAN CATTANEO – Haunted Heart

Posted on December 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Jersey Girl Music [Release date 20.01.14] We’ve been impressed at GRTR! by Cattaneo’s previous releases, and her fourth album Haunted Heart continues the good work. The warm honeyed vocals of previous releases are still there, as is range of styles … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, blues, country, folk, Haunted Heart, review, roots, singer, songwriter, Susan Cattaneo | Leave a comment

Album review: EILEEN ROSE – Be Many Gone

Posted on December 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Rarely have I seen a PR sheet so devoid of information about an album. And the absence of sleeve and associated credits, lyrics etc doesn’t help either. But here goes. A few year’s back singer songwriter Eileen Rose’s album – … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, alt country, Be Many Gone, Eileen Rose, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Classic Album Selection 1977-1984

Posted on December 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

THE BOOMTOWN RATS - Classic Album Collection

Universal [Release date 21.10.13] The latest record company wheeze to squeeze the last vestiges of profit out of dusty back catalogues seems to be the ‘reasonably priced’ box set. Which can be very good news for the discerning punter, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 1977-1984, A Tonic For The Troops, Bob Geldof, box set, Classic Album Selection, In The Long Grass, Mondo Bongo, The Boomtown Rats, The Fine Art of Surfacing, V Deep | Leave a comment

The Best Of 2013 – top albums, top live acts – the reviewers’ choice

Posted on December 1, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Every year we ask the GRTR! Team to list their favourite albums and gigs of the year. As ever, it is a very eclectic mix and reflects the very broad and all-embracing tastes of our reviewers. How have we arrived … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, NEWS, The Best Of 2013 | Tagged albums, artists, Best of 2013, Get Ready to ROCK!, live act, poll, vote | 1 Comment

Single reviews: STEVE BLOOD, TESS CUNNINGHAM

Posted on November 27, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

STEVE BLOOD The Last Xmas [Release date 8.12.13] www.thelastxmas.com Christmas songs. Bah. Humbug. Who’d have ‘em? Frequently cheesy, easily forgotten. Here at GRTR! Towers we get our share. This offering is refreshingly different. Steve Blood has an interesting career plying … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Andrew Lee, Christmas, festive, remix, review, Scarey Men, single, Steve Blood, The Last Xmas, Wide Receiver, Woof Records | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – December 2013 Highlights

Posted on November 25, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

December 2013 Highlights More information at the dedicated website All times, GMT Throughout December, a chance to hear again highlights from some of our 2013 shows. We’ll also be inviting listeners (and readers!) to vote for their favourite album and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged Albany Down, Dani Wilde, David Coverdale, December 2013, Fay & Latta, features, Federal Charm, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, highlights, Ian Anderson, interviews, Jethro Tull, Joey Tempest, JUSTIN HAYWARD, Magenta, Martin Barre, Michael Schenker, radio, Rory Gallagher, Russ Ballard | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE UNION – Manchester Academy 3, 8 November 2013

Posted on November 20, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

There was definitely no doubt who the crowd were here for tonight as the sea of Union T-shirts was clear to see, midway through their UK tour The Union are touring after the release of their DVD ‘Live in Guildford’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 8 November 2013, Chris Childs, gig, Jim Adama, Luke Morley, Manchester Academy 3, Pete Shoulder, review, rock, Tax The Heat, The Union, Thunder | Leave a comment

Album review: CRYSTAL GRENADE – Lo! And Behold

Posted on November 19, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Gonzo [Release date 14.10.13] A wonderful name, Crystal Grenade. One that belongs to Mancunian songstress Carol Hodge, described as ‘Shakespears Sister fighting Amanda Palmer and Tori Amos in a dimly lit Victorian pub’. If that conjures up images of heavily … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Crystal Grenade, Lo! And Behold, review, rock, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: KT TUNSTALL – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 16 November 2013

Posted on November 17, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

It’s probably fair to say that the albums since 2004′s award-winning ‘Eye To The Telescope’ may have progressively alienated those who loved its breezy, folky – and highly accessible – pop. Since that time KT Tunstall has released four more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 16 November 2013, gig, KT Tunstall, Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall, review, singer, songwriter | Leave a comment

Gig review: CAPERCAILLIE – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, 16 November 2013

Posted on November 17, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Capercaillie put down a marker for Celtic fusion back in the late 1980s. They straddled the divide between the Celtic rockmeister Alan Stivell and the more commercial early incarnation of The Corrs. Most recently, live gigs have been rare and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 16 November 2013, 30th anniversary, Capercaillie, Donald Shaw, Floral Pavilion, folk, folk rock, fusion, gig, Karen matheson, Michael McGoldrick, New Brighton, review | Leave a comment

DVD review: STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL – Birmingham

Posted on November 16, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Absolute [Release date 14.10.13] Somewhere, in the bowels of my long player collection lies a pristine copy of Cockney Rebel’s The Psychomodo acquired circa 1974. It is, however, many, many years (quite possibly decades) since it last saw the rubber … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged Birmingham, choir, Cockney Rebel, DVD, live, orchestra, review, Steve Harley, The Human Menagerie, The Psychomodo | Leave a comment

Album review: JETHRO TULL – Benefit (A Collector’s Edition)

Posted on November 16, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

EMI [Release date 28.10.13] ‘Collector’s Edition’ is about right. If, like me, you owned the vinyl, upgraded to CD, and then invested in the 2001 remaster (compete with 4 bonus tracks), then you’ll need to seriously question whether the latest, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 5.1, album, Benefit, Collector's Edition, Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull, Martin Barre, prog, Progressive Rock, reissue, remix, review, Steven Wilson | Leave a comment

Rock Photography Galleries: April-September 2013 incl. Blondie,Bruce Springsteen, Chic

Posted on November 10, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Photography by Steve Goudie Roger Waters Photo Gallery by Steve Goudie, 16 September 2013 Leonard Cohen Photo Gallery (31 August 2013) Bruce Springsteen Photo Gallery (24 July 2013) Brain May and Kerri Ellis Photo Gallery (23 June 2013) Blondie Photo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Photo Galleries | Tagged 2013, Blondie, Brian May, Bruce Springsteen, Chic, gallery, gigs, Johnny Winter, photographer, photos, rock photography, Roger Hodgson, Simple Minds, Steve Goudie | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARILLION – Manchester Academy, 8 November 2013

Posted on November 9, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

In September 2012 Marillion brought their Sounds That Can’t Be Made tour to the Academy on a dismal Manchester evening. Some things don’t change and the weather was equally inclement as they chose to open a short pre-Christmas ‘Sounds Live … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 8 November 2013, gig, Ian Mosley, Manchester Academy, Marillion, Mark Kelly, Pete Trewavas, prog, progressive, review, rock, Steve Hogarth, Steve Rothery | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE ANSWER/Tracer – Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton, 18 October 2013

Posted on November 3, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Tonight’s gig started with confusion with a late venue change meaning there were a large number of rock fans wandering around Wolverhampton trying to find the Slade Rooms But the evening ended with a definite feeling that The Answer now … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18 October 2013, Cage The Gods, gig, review, rock, Slade Rooms, THE ANSWER, Tracer, Wolverhampton | Leave a comment

Album review: ALICE COOPER – Brutal Planet/Dragontown

Posted on November 1, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Armoury Records [Release date 07.10.13] The Noughties saw a resurgence in form and popularity for Alice Cooper, culminating in 2009′s Along Came A Spider – an album which many pundits saw as an updating of his 1st ‘solo’ concept album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Alice Cooper, Armoury Classics, Brutal Planet, Dragontown, reissue, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DEEP PURPLE – Live At Montreux 1996 and 2006

Posted on November 1, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Eagle Records [Release date 7.10.13] This packaging of three Deep Purple Montreux appearances is part of a new mid-price series ‘Eagle Classics’. And it’s a great way to catch up on favourite bands, especially if you didn’t shell out earlier … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged 1996, 2006, album, concert, Deep Purple, Don Airey, Eagle Classics, Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, Jon Lord, Live At Montreux, review, rock, Roger Glover, Steve Morse | Leave a comment

Quick plays: SHADOW OF ACOLYTE, TERMINAL DEGREE, MALLET

Posted on October 31, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

www.facebook.com/shadowofacolyte [Release date 30.09.13] It’s always interesting to receive stuff by a young English hard rock band that you’ve never heard of. Formed in 2008, Shadow Of Acolyte hail from the East Midlands and is essentially Aaron Gidney (guitar and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, Balance Of Power, Dignity, Faroe Islands, fusion, Gundacker Project, Hanoi Rocks, Jazz rock, Kevin Simnacher, Mallet, Nicene Creed, Pink Cigar, power metal, Quarter To Freedom, review, rock, Shadow Of Acolyte, sleaze rock, Stanley Chepaitis, Story Music, TEITUR, Terminal Degree, The Middle Of Nowhen, Van Dyke Parks, violin, Window Of Opportunity | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – November 2013 Highlights

Posted on October 31, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

November 2013 Highlights More information at the dedicated website All times, GMT Sunday 3 November 18:00 Rob Reed – Captain Magenta GRTR!’s David Randall chatted to Rob in 2012 and this special feature includes tracks from the band’s previous albums … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged features, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, interviews, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Magenta, Maggie Reilly, November 2013, programming, Rory Gallagher, Scott Gorham, sessions | Leave a comment

Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 29 October 2013

Posted on October 30, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Steve Hackett - Liverpool, 29 October 2013

Perhaps because he’s never been the archetypal flashy rock guitarist, and perhaps because he’s largely plied his solo career away from the spotlight, Steve Hackett’s almost become the ‘forgotten man’ from the classic 1971 to 1977 Genesis line up. Until … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 29 October 2013, Genesis Revisited II, guitar, guitarist, Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall, prog, progressive, review, rock, Steve Hackett | Leave a comment

News: Progressive rockers Magenta play acoustic set for In Session series

Posted on October 29, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Magenta (Rob Reed, Christina Booth, Chris Fry)

MAGENTA In Session for GRTR! Assume The Position Sunday 3 November 2013, 22:00 As part of the In Session series for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, influential, award-winning, prog-rockers MAGENTA have provided an exclusive acoustic session. Featuring tracks from … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged acoustic, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, interview, Magenta, November 2013, prog, progressive, radio, Rob Reed, rock, session, The Twenty Seven Club | Leave a comment

Album review: MANFRED MANN – EP Collection

Posted on October 29, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

Brollyeps [Release date 04.11.13] Manfred Mann has been well served by recent reissues, not least 2011′s splendid box set. However, it is left to this latest collection to showcase the sixties incarnation of his band when he had Paul Jones … Continue reading →