Author Archives: andynathan

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

P1150948 - Copy

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

P1150363 - Copy

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

P1130629 - Copy

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: SHANIA TWAIN- British Summer Time, Hyde Park, 7 July 2024

SHANIA TWAIN- British Summer Time, Hyde Park, 7 July 2024

Shania Twain being reviewed by a website devoted to rock music? Hear me out for a moment. Her multimillion selling ‘Come On Over’ album changed the relationship between the previously insular world of country and the wider rock and pop … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: SCORPIONS – Wembley Arena, London, 8 June 2024

SCORPIONS- Wembley Arena, London, 8 June 2024

As one of my all time favourite bands, and one whose commercial breakthrough came earlier in this country than most, it has been a disappointment that we have not seen more of the Scorpions in recent years. Presumably on the … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: TOBY JEPSON- 02 Academy 2, Islington, 9 June 2024

TOBY JEPSON- 02 Academy 2, Islington, 9 June 2024

The format of a spoken word tour, interspersed with a few songs, is growing in popularity, but not everyone has the right skill set to carry it off. Toby Jepson is one such with his cunningly titled ‘My Life in … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: RICHARD MARX – Royal Albert Hall, London, 22 May 2024

RICHARD MARX- Royal Albert Hall, London, 22 May 2024

Richard Marx only plays the finest London venues when he comes over to the UK. Building on some memorable acoustic shows at the Union Chapel in Autumn  2022, he announced a fuller UK tour which culminated in this show at … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment