Author Archives: andynathan

Gig review: BLACK STONE CHERRY – Wembley Arena, London, 23 November 2024

BLACK STONE CHERRY- Wembley Arena, London, 23 November 2024

As they mentioned from the stage, Black Stone Cherry have been on tour for the best part of two years, touring their latest album ‘Screaming At The Sky’. Seemingly their favourite territory, the UK has seen them no less than … Continue reading

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Gig review: SQUEEZE – Roundhouse, London, 22 November 2024

SQUEEZE- Roundhouse, London, 22 November 2024

It’s a tribute to the virtue of good songwriting and refusing to follow fashion that Squeeze have joined the select group of bands to be celebrating their 50th birthday (albeit with a few breaks apart). And yet, as Glenn Tilbrook … Continue reading

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Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024

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Of all the new bands on the scene, Cardinal Black seem to be among those on the verge of a big commercial breakthrough. On this autumn tour, the London venue was at the Shepherds Bush Empire, though I couldn’t make … Continue reading

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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024

SUZI QUATRO- London Palladium, 13 November 2024

After too long sharing a bill on revival shows or out of the touring spotlight altogether, the last couple of years have seen the welcome return of Suzi Quatro as a headline live act, cementing her legacy as a trailblazing … Continue reading

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Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024

WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES- Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024

This show, one of the occasional live spinoffs from the Blues Power shows on one of GRTR!’s fellow radio stations, ticked a lot of boxes for me. I’ve steadily been getting more into When Rivers Meet but my ambition to … Continue reading

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Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024

ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024

One of the new generations of artists that has somehow managed largely to pass me by to date is Elles Bailey. I’d seen her name on tours and festival bills and social media, but never yet managed to see her … Continue reading

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Gig review: KING KING, THESE WICKED RIVERS – Sub 89, Reading, 27 October 2024

KING KING AND THESE WICKED RIVERS- Sub 89, Reading, 27 October 2024

King King’s extensive touring schedule has included this autumn jaunt to some new places including what Alan Nimmo suggested was their first ever visit to the County town of Berkshire. With no London date, a trip on the Elizabeth line … Continue reading

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Gig review: FM – The Carlisle, Hastings, 17 October 2024

FM- The Carlisle, Hastings, 17 October 2024

Recently in the news, we heard how tours have shrunk and cover fewer towns and cities than they did 30 years ago. For FM the opposite seems to be the case – as well as playing the established big cities, … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE NEW ROSES- The Black Heart, Camden, London, 16 October 2024

THE NEW ROSES- The Black Heart, Camden, London, 16 October 2024

On the very same day Thomas Tuchel was announced as the English football team’s new coach, some other Anglophiles from Germany were the musical attraction. The New Roses are on an extensive UK tour as they now seem to be … Continue reading

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Gig review: FIREFEST – Manchester Academy, 11-13 October 2024

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For a decade through to 2014, Firefest built a reputation that most festivals would kill for. It wasn’t just the stellar line ups of melodic hard rock acts, from the rising stars through to long dormant bands from the eighties … Continue reading

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Gig review: SCARLET REBELS- The Garage, London, 8 October 2024

SCARLET REBELS- The Garage, London, 8 October 2024

In our healthy British rock scene Scarlet Rebels are one of our shining lights. The Llanelli quartet now have two top 20 albums under their belt with the result that this extensive UK tour featured a London show at a … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARTIN TURNER – 100 Club, London, 3 October 2024

MARTIN TURNER- 100 Club, London, 3 October 2024

2024 has seen Wishbone Ash founder member Martin Turner tour a set based around the Live Dates Volume Two album: perhaps less heralded than its predecessor, this 1980 release shows the ‘Mark 2’ phase of the band at their finest … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLUE NATION- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 27 September 2024

BLUE NATION- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 27 September 2024

Blue Nation are a band making a growing name for themselves. They’ve actually been around quite some while, but about 18 months ago I’d been impressed enough by their support slot with Laurence Jones to buy a CD, so the … Continue reading

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Gig review: NICK LOWE AND LOS STRAITJACKETS- London Palladium, 24 September 2024

NICK LOWE AND LOS STRAITJACKETS- London Palladium, 24 September 2024

Nick Lowe is one of rock’s most distinguished statesmen, with a history that includes his time in Brinsley Schwarz, seen as the original pub rockers, then a mainstay of the new wave as producer, songwriter and performer. Indeed there is … Continue reading

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Gig review:TYKETTO – Islington Academy, London, 12 September 2024

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Last year Tyketto were out on a triple co-headliner with Dare and FM which culminated here at Islington Academy. This year, on the heels of a couple of outdoor festival shows, they took top billing on another three band bill, … Continue reading

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Book review: Rock Classics – MEAT LOAF – BAT OUT OF HELL by Geoffrey Feakes

Rock Classics – MEAT LOAF – BAT OUT OF HELL by Geoffrey Feakes

Sonicbond Publishing (Publication date: 26.04.24) Having issued numerous tomes in their two series of  ‘On Track’ song by song analysis, and looking at a band in a particular decade, Sonicbond take this to a fresh level of detail with a … Continue reading

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Gig review: CASSIDY PARIS – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 August 2024

CASSIDY PARIS- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 7 August 2024

Australian singer Cassidy Paris is almost a veteran at 21, having recorded her first EP at 16, and chalked up a fair few air miles since including to the UK. She’s played at various festivals and support slots but summer … Continue reading

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Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Fire In The Night Live

CATS IN SPACE- Fire in the Night Live

Harmony Factory (Release date 05.07.24) In the seventies, the double live album was the apogee of a band’s career, and indeed greats like Thin Lizzy, UFO and Peter Frampton all made what most people consider their definitive record that way. … Continue reading

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Gig review- H.E.A.T, TYKETTO, DARE – Chepstow Castle, 17 August 2024

H.E.A.T, TYKETTO, DARE- Chepstow Castle, 17 August 2024

The Great British outdoors now caters to the infinite demand for outdoor summer gigs in a variety of settings: farms and country parks, stately homes and now concerts in the grounds of historic castles seem to be the latest concept, … Continue reading

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Gig review: FIREVOLT FESTIVAL – Whitebottom Farm, Stockport, 9-11 August 2024

FIREVOLT FESTIVAL- Whitebottom Farm, Stockport, 9-11 August 2024

I will freely tell anyone who will listen that Firevolt has, within a very short space of time, become my favourite festival in the UK. The festival is in beautiful surroundings, on a farm at the end of a delightful … Continue reading

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Album review: BRAVE RIVAL- Fight or Flight

BRAVE RIVAL- Fight or Flight

    Independent (Release Date 16.08.24) Brave Rival have become one of my favourite live bands over the past 18 months, with brilliant dual female vocals, excellent musicianship and a warm hearted stage show. 2022’s impressive debut album ‘Life’s Machine’ was … Continue reading

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Gig review: MAID OF STONE FESTIVAL – Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent, 20 July 2024

MAID OF STONE FESTIVAL- Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent, 20 July 2024

Over its five years Ramblin’ Man Festival in Kent established itself as one of the festivals of choice for us middle-aged rockers with a relaxed atmosphere and selection of bands from variety of classic rock genres, both old and new. … Continue reading

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Gig review: MALMO MELODIC – Plan B, Malmo, Sweden, 27-29 July 2024

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Scandinavia, and Sweden in particular, is the undisputed epicentre of the melodic rock community with a seemingly endless stream of bands emerging. There have been festivals in Malmo pre-pandemic (Melodic Rock Fest and the Swedish AOR Convention) so when last … Continue reading

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Gig review: AC/DC – Wembley Stadium, London, 3 July 2024

AC/DC- Wembley Stadium, London, 3 July 2024

Over recent years, AC/DC seem to have transcended our own world of rock’n’ roll to have a wider cultural resonance. Fans range from Prince William who allegedly works out to Thunderstruck’ to Ally McCoist whose wide-eyed ‘is that AC/DC?’ enthusiasm … Continue reading

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Gig review: TOWER OF FIRE FESTIVAL – Rebellion, Manchester, 29 June 2024

TOWER OF FIRE FESTIVAL- Rebellion, Manchester, 29 June 2024

Although the UK live scene is thriving, thanks largely to the efforts of the New Wave of Classic Rock movement, those of us with a specific interest in the melodic rock and AOR scene, weaned on the glory years of … Continue reading

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