Author Archives: andynathan

Gig review: ERJA LYYTINEN- Half Moon, Putney, London, 18 November 2025

Posted on November 21, 2025 by andynathan

Finnish blues rocker Erja Lyttinen, dubbed ‘the queen of the slide guitar’, has been a familiar name on the British scene for a while. Indeed I see it was as long ago as 2005 that our blues guru Pete Feenstra … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18 November 2025, blues, blues rock, Erja Lyytinen, gig, Half Moon Putney, London, review | Leave a comment

Gig review: JIM KIRKPATRICK – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 12 November 2025

Posted on November 17, 2025 by andynathan

Jim Kirkpatrick has been an even busier man than usual this year- with FM’s acoustic tour, new album and further tour, in between helping out The Sweet as Andy Scott got back to full fitness. Now a brief run of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 November 2025, Bernie Marsden, blues rock, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, Leon Cave, London, melodic rock, Ollie Collins, Rory Gallagher, The Cavern | Leave a comment

Gig review: KINGDOM OF MADNESS – The Carlisle, Hastings, 7 November 2025

Posted on November 16, 2025 by andynathan

Kingdom of Madness, formed by one-time Magnum keyboardist Mark Stanway and boasting four past band members or contributors, have even doing a great job recreating the classic Magnum years before the original band split up in the mid-nineties. Their touring … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 7 November 2025, Alan Bell, AOR, Brian Badhams, Chris Dando, gig, Hastings, Kingdom Of Madness, Magnum, Mark Stanway, melodic rock, Mickey Barker, Mo Birch, review, Richard Bailey, The Carlisle | Leave a comment

Gig review: MIKE TRAMP’S WHITE LION – Camden Underworld, London, 5 November 2025

Posted on November 12, 2025 by andynathan

The White Lion itch is one that singer Mike Tramp feels the need to scratch every so often, despite the quality of his work with Freak of Nature and more recent stripped down and more personal material. On some of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 5 November 2025, Camden Underworld, gig, Jerry Best, London, Marcus Nand, melodic rock, Mike Tramp, Mike Tramp's White Lion, Morten Hellborn, White Lion | Leave a comment

Gig review: ROMEO’S DAUGHTER – Pizza Express, Holborn, London, 2 November 2025

Posted on November 9, 2025 by andynathan

2025 has seen Romeo’s Daughter explore a side to themselves that they have never previously pursued in their career with shows in an acoustic format. At the start of the year they recorded a live album in Barnoldswick, Yorkshire and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 November 2025, acoustic, Andy Welsford, AOR, Craig Joiner, gig, Leigh Matty, London, melodic rock, Pizza Express Holborn, Romeo's Daughter, Steve Drennan | Leave a comment

Gig review: THOSE DAMN CROWS – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 31 October 2025

Posted on November 5, 2025 by andynathan

Of all the many bands in the thriving New Wave of Classic Rock movement, it is Those Damn Crows who, along with Massive Wagons, have made the biggest commercial breakthrough. Indeed earlier this year their new album ‘God Shaped Hole’ … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 31 October 2025, Autumn Kings, David Winchurch, gig, God Shaped Hole, Ian 'Shiner' Thomas, James Bruner, Lloyd Wood, London, New Wave of Classic Rock, review, Ronnie Huxford, Shane Greenhall, Shepherd's Bush Empire, Those Damn Crows | Leave a comment

Gig review: LARKIN POE – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 21 October 2025

Posted on October 26, 2025 by andynathan

Larkin Poe’s reputation in the UK has been growing, below my radar to the extent that they are able to attract a near sell out to the legendary Hammersmith Odeon (as it should always be known). My interest had been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 21 October 2025, blues rock, country rock, gig, Hammersmith Apollo, Larkin Poe, London, Lucas Pettee, Megan Lovell, Rebecca Lovell, Son Little | Leave a comment

Gig review: CHRIS NORMAN- Indigo2, London, 16 October 2025

Posted on October 22, 2025 by andynathan

Of those rock stars who have fallen out of consciousness in their native UK, you can file Chris Norman under the ‘Big in Europe’ category. The gravel-voiced former Smokie singer commands a devoted following abroad, particularly in Germany, but gigs … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Chris Norman, Geoff Carline, gig, Martina Walbeck, Rachel Parga, Smokie, soft rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL- 100 Club, London, 15 October 2025

Posted on October 20, 2025 by andynathan

There is no harder working touring band than Brave Rival, but of their many shows this was a special one, a well attended Central London showcase for their new (and excellent) ‘5 to 4’ EP which marks a new chapter … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 5 to 4, Billy 'Danger' Dedman, blues rock, Brave Rival, Demi Marriner, Donna Peters, Ed 'the Shred' Clarke, gig, Lindsey Bonnick, melodic rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE DUST CODA/BAD TOUCH – Islington Academy, London, 8 October 2025

Posted on October 14, 2025 by andynathan

The economics of touring do not always make happy reading with too many bands chasing the same limited audience. So it made sense for two of the leading lights in the New Wave of Classic Rock in Bad Touch and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Adam Mackie, Andrew Knightley, Bad Touch, blues rock, gig, Leadfeather, New Wave of Classic Rock, Pete Lance, Stevie Westwood, The Dust Coda | Leave a comment

EP Review: BRAVE RIVAL – 5 to 4

Posted on October 13, 2025 by andynathan

Independent (Release Date: 17.10.25) Its been a year of change in the Brave Rival camp with the departure of Chloe Josephine, one of the twin lead singers that helped make their sound so distinctive. Given their incessant touring activity, there … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Billy 'Danger' Dedman, blues rock, Brave Rival, Donna Peters, Ed 'the Shred' Clarke, EP, Lindsey Bonnick, melodic rock | Leave a comment

EP review: HOLLOW SOULS (featuring Kris Barras)

Posted on October 7, 2025 by andynathan

HOLLOW SOULS- EP (featuring Kris Barras)

Release Date 10.10. 25 Kris Barras has evolved his style fairly dramatically from his early blues rock days, embracing first more commercial melodic rock, and latterly a heavier modern rock style, even stating that last Kris Barras Band effort ‘Halo … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, blues rock, Elles Bailey, EP, Hollow Souls, Jared James Nichols, Jon Harvey, Josiah J. Manning, Kris Barras, Phoebe Jane | Leave a comment

Gig review: KIRA MAC- Islington Academy 2, London, 1 October 2025

Posted on October 6, 2025 by andynathan

Life has not been straight forward for Kira Mac after a flying start to their career, with line-up changes and industry troubles which have culminated in a decision to release their long awaited second album independently. Neither was it a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged gig, Hell Hotel, Joe Worrall, Kira Mac, Loz Riley, Rhiannon Kira Hill, Vernon Whitmore, Wrex | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE NEW ROSES- Downstairs at the Dome, London, 27 September 2025

Posted on October 4, 2025 by andynathan

The New Roses have become a fixture on the UK circuit, this being their fourth autumn jaunt in a row, and yet the success they have had in Germany still eludes them here despite all that roadwork. I did wonder … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Dizzy Daniels, gig, melodic rock, Norman Bites, The Mercury Riots, the New Roses, Timmy Rough | Leave a comment

Gig review: NORDA MULLEN – Half Moon, Putney, London, 21 September 2025

Posted on September 25, 2025 by andynathan

For 15 years, American musician Norda Mullen toured the world with the Moody Blues as a flute player and multi-instrumentalist after Ray Thomas’ retirement. Though she guested with John Lodge on his solo tour earlier this year, she leads a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged folk rock, gig, Jim Bernard, Moody Blues, Norda Mullen, Noris Schenk, Quinny and Company, Sarah Bernard | Leave a comment

Gig review: LUKE MORLEY – Bloomsbury Theatre, London, 19 September 2025

Posted on September 24, 2025 by andynathan

With Thunder on indefinite hiatus for some while during Danny Bowes’ long road to recovery, their guitarist and songwriter Luke Morley has been keeping himself extremely busy. In between touring with the Quireboys he has now trebled his solo output … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, Chris Childs, Dean Howard, gig, Luke Morley, melodic rock, Sam Tanner, singer songwriter, Thunder, Willie Dowling | Leave a comment

Gig review: FM – Islington Academy, London, 18 September 2025

Posted on September 24, 2025 by andynathan

FM_London_pic by Adrian Hextall (48) - Copy

FM are on the road so constantly that it is hard to divine where one tour begins and another ends. However the release of their excellent latest album ‘Brotherhood’ marks the start of a long tour, with the set list … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Brave Rival, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Merv Goldsworthy, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Gig review: MARTIN TURNER – 229 Club, London, 11 September 2025

Posted on September 15, 2025 by andynathan

Celebrating a remarkable 55 years since the first Wishbone Ash album, founder member Martin Turner and his band have been a constant touring fixture for many years. Recent Central London sightings have been at the 100 Club, but this show … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Danny Willson, gig, Martin Turner, Misha Nikolic, Tim Brown, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Gig review: STONEDEAD FESTIVAL – Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire, 22-23 August 2025

Posted on August 30, 2025 by andynathan

THE ALMIGHTY - Stonedead Festival, August 2025

‘If you build it they will come’ could almost be the motto of Stonedead, which is one of the undoubted and most heartwarming successes of the crowded festival calendar. The festival was originally founded not by corporates in the business, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Black Oak County, D*A*D, Danny Vaughn, Dead daisies, Enforcer, festival, Florence Black, gig, Jayler, King Kraken, metal, Myke Gray, Ozzy Osbourne, Primal Fear, Ricky Warwick, Stonedead, Sweet, Sweet Electric, The Almighty, the New Roses, Tyketto | Leave a comment

Album review: FM- Brotherhood

Posted on August 20, 2025 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 05.09.25) You can set your watch by the fact that FM will release a new album every other year since 2018, no mean feat considering they seem to be perpetually on tour. Given that the live … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Brotherhood, FM, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Steve Overland | Leave a comment

Album review: ROULETTE – Go!

Posted on August 17, 2025 by andynathan

Black Lodge Records [Release Date 25.07.25] Swedish melodic rockers Roulette have had a chequered history- around since the eighties, they never got as far as releasing an album till 2008. It was another eleven years before a very well received … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Go!, melodic rock, review, Roulette, Thomas Lundgren | Leave a comment

Gig review: TEN – Leo’s Red Lion, Gravesend, Kent, 9 August 2025

Posted on August 15, 2025 by andynathan

Back in the mid-nineties, when melodic rock was at its lowest ebb, Ten were one of the first shoots of hope as a thriving underground scene emerged and I was a huge fan. They were the great white hope of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, Dann Rosingana, Darrell Treece-Birch, Gary Hughes, gig, Leo’s Red Lion, melodic rock, Steve Grocott, TEN | Leave a comment

Gig review: A THOUSAND HORSES- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 1 August 2025

Posted on August 12, 2025 by andynathan

The boundaries between southern rock and country become ever more blurred, and in that thriving scene it is hard sometimes to pick new acts worth discovering from an increasingly crowded field, hoping to capitalise on the success of the Cadillac … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged A Thousand Horses, Bill Satcher, blues rock, country rock, gig, Michael Hobby, southern rock, These Wicked Rivers | Leave a comment

Gig review: MALMO MELODIC – Plan B, Malmo, Sweden, 25-27 July 2025

Posted on August 7, 2025 by andynathan

Last year’s inaugural ‘Malmo Melodic’ was such a success that it was swiftly clear that a 2025 version would build the brand further. The line-up was stronger, and Johan Nylen and his team from Wind Up Productions brought into the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Animalyze, AOR, Arctic Rain, Arkado, Bad Habit, Brother Firetribe, Care of Night, Crazy Lixx, Cruzh, Daytona, Degreed, festival, FM, gig, House Of Shakira, Kissin’ Dynamite, Malmo Melodic, melodic rock, Nick Workman, Nitrate, Pittman Cole, Rian, Seventh Crystal, State of Salazar, Treat, Violet | Leave a comment

Album review: FIRST LIGHT – Elemental

Posted on July 31, 2025 by andynathan

Pride and Joy Music [Release Date 25.07.25] There are not enough British AOR bands around, so it is always a pleasure when one arrives with some pedigree. First Light released an EP a couple of years ago and, on top … Continue reading →