Author Archives: david.wilson

Album review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – Another State Of Grace

Posted on September 19, 2019 by david.wilson

Nuclear Blast [release date 06.09.19] Black Star Riders are back with album number 4 and it is the first to feature both drummer Chad Szeliga and newest recruit Christian Martucci on guitar. Martucci took over from the departed Damon Johnson who has been an integral part of the … Continue reading →

Gig review: FISH – Craigiehill Fest, Perth, 31 August 2019

Posted on September 8, 2019 by david.wilson

Craigie Hill Fest is held annually in the carpark of Craigiehill Golf Course on the outskirts of Perth. I must say it hadn’t featured on my gig radar prior to this year and they have an eclectic mix of musical styles on throughout … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 31st August 2019, Craigiehill, Doris Brendal, festival, Fish, Foss Paterson, gig, Golf Club, Internal Exile, Marillion, prog, review, Robin Boult, rock, ska, Steve Vasantis, The Rude Boys | Leave a comment

Gig review: STONEDEAF FESTIVAL – Newark Showground, 24 August 2019

Posted on September 5, 2019 by david.wilson

Bank holiday weekends have their good and bad points. On the good side you get a long weekend to do whatever takes your fancy, hopefully in fantastic weather and with great musical accompaniment. On the bad side however, you get … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24th August 2019, Airbourne. Motorhead, Brian Tatler, Chris Sumby, Deep Purple, Diamond Head, Donington, festival, GEOFF TATE, gig, Glenn Hughes, Inglorious, Krusher, Lemmy, Massive. The Amorettes, metal, Monsters Of Rock, Motley Brew, Newark Showground, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, review, rock, Samarkind, Stonedeaf, Tequila Mockingbird, Toby Jepson, Wayward Sons | Leave a comment

Gig review: BEAUTIFUL DAYS FESTIVAL – Escot Park, Devon, 16-18 August 2019

Posted on August 29, 2019 by david.wilson

Beautiful Days festival, in it’s 17th year, is held in the grounds of Escot Park in Devon and is a festival I’ve attended every year since 2011, with good reason. Founded by punk folk rockers, Levellers, they always offer a high calibre line-up. A smorgasbord … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 16th to 18th August 2019, Beautiful Days, Black Water County, Celtic Socisl Club, Devon, Escot Park, Ferocious Dog Ash, festival, folk, Gaz Brookfield and The Company Of Thieves, Less Than Jake, Levellers, live, Membranes, NOFX, punk, rock, Seth Lakeman, Skunk Anansie, Sleaford Mods, The Bar-Steward Sons Of Val Doonican, The Leylines, The Rails, The Stranglers, Ziggy Marley | Leave a comment

Album review: STATUS QUO – Backbone

Posted on August 20, 2019 by david.wilson

earMusic [Release date 06.09.19] On the release day of this album I will be avoiding social media at all costs. The luddites and trolls will be out in force to decry this album as a travesty and a slur on the Quo legacy, produced, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Backbone, blues, CD, EarMusic, Francis Rossi, Frantic Four, Leon Cave, review, Rhino Edwards, Rick Parfitt, Ritchie Malone, rock, Status Quo | Leave a comment

Gig review: RUNRIG – The Last Dance DVD World Premiere – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow – 17 August 2019

Posted on August 20, 2019 by david.wilson

Exactly one year ago to the day I and around 25,000 other Runrig fans descended on the City Park in my home town of Stirling to witness the band’s final show. After 45 years the guys had decided that retirement beckoned but not without one last … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 17th August 2018, 17th August 2019, Alba, Brian Hurren, Bruce Guthro, Callum McDonald, castle, City park, Donny Munro, DVD, folk, Glasgow, Ian Bain, live, Malcolm Jones, premiere, rock, Roddy Hart, Rory Mcdonald, Royal Concert Hall, Runrig, Scotland, Stirling, The Last Dance | Leave a comment

Gig review: CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL – Cherry Hinton Hall – 1-4 August 2019

Posted on August 18, 2019 by david.wilson

Beginning in 1965, once a year Cambridge Folk Festival transforms the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall into something a bit special. Cambridge Folk Festival is more than just the folk music. The festival pride themselves on hosting a diverse range of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 1st August 2019, Amadou, Amy Montgomery, Bilnd Bos Of Alabama, Calexico, Cambridge Folk Festival, Cherry Hinton Hall, Daori Farrell, Dylan Menzies, Fairport Convention, folk, Foufalah, Graham Nash, Gruff Rhys, Jack Broadbent, Lucinda Williams, Marian, Nick Mulvey, Richard Thomson, Roo Panes, roots, Sarah Darling, The Unthanks | Leave a comment

Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 3 – Mote Park, Maidstone – 21 July 2019

Posted on August 2, 2019 by david.wilson

Andy Nathan writes: Sunday was another day when there was a chance to check out a band in the tent before the main stage opened. This time it was used as the ‘Grooverider’ stage- I have no idea whether this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 21st July 2019, AIRBOURNE, Austen Gold, beth Hart, blues, Chantal McGregor, Chris Robinson, festival, Foreigner, Gin Annie, Inglorious, Jaime Kyle, Joel O'Keeffe, Lemmy, Living Colour, Maidstone, Matt Mitchell and The Cold Hearts, metal, Mick Jones, Mote Park, Ramblin' Man, Ramblin' Man Fair, Ritchie Kotzen, rock, The Black Crows | Leave a comment

Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 2 – Mote Park, Maidstone – 20 July 2019

Posted on August 2, 2019 by david.wilson

Andy Nathan writes: Saturday at the Fair saw the full range of stages. When Ramblin’ Man started they had a dedicated prog stage attracting such heavy hitters as Marillion and Family, but that genre has been steadily marginalised. Saturday was … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20th July 2019, Allman Betts Band, Black Stone Cherry, blues, Cheap Trick, Collateral, festival, Grand Slam, Gregg Allman, Jimmy Barnes, Kent, Lawrence Archer, Maidstone, Mote Park, Outlaw Orchestra, Phil Lynott, Ramblin' Man, Ramblin' Man Fair, Raven Eye, Robert Jon And The Wreck, rock, Ryders Creed, Scardust, The Temperence Movement, Thin Lizzy, Toby Jepson, UGLY KID JOE, Wayward Sons | Leave a comment

Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Mote Park, Maidstone – Day 1 – 19 July 2019

Posted on August 2, 2019 by david.wilson

Once again the rock hordes decended on Mote Park in Maidstone for another weekend of rock, blues, good beer and good company. GRTR! despatched Andy Nathan and Dave Atkinson to cover all the action, come rain or shine… Andy Nathan … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 19th July 2019, AC/DC, AOR, blues, FM, Ginger Wildheart, Justin Hawkins, Kris Barras Band, live, Maidstone, metal, Mote Park, Ramblin' Man, Ramblin' Man Fair, rock, Steve Overland, The Darkness, The Lazys, the Wildhearts | Leave a comment

Gig review: REWIND SCOTLAND – Scone Palace, Perth, 20 – 21 July 2019

Posted on July 26, 2019 by david.wilson

I am sure every generation will lay claim to having all the best music. The music being played on TV and radio during your formative years is what you absorbed and, by default, sticks with you through life. For me and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20th July 2019, 21st July 2019, 80's pop, Abba, Belinda Carlisle, Big Country, Bjorn Again, Blackbox, Brian Ferry, Dire Straits, Eddi Reader, festival, Foreigner, Hazel O'Connor, Hipsway, Joyce Sims, Leo Sayer, Lisa Stansfield, Lulu, Midge Ure, music, Paul Young, Perth, Rewind, rock, Roxy Music, Scone Palace, Scotland, The Primitives, The Skids, The Stranglers, The Undertones, ULTRAVOX | Leave a comment

Gig review: KISS – Hydro, Glasgow, 16 July 2019

Posted on July 17, 2019 by david.wilson

The run up to this gig had me reminiscing, looking back to my first Kiss live encounter in 1983. As a fresh faced 15 year old I went along full of anticipation of a spectacular show and I wasn’t disappointed. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 16th July 2019, Ace Frehley, Alive, Detroit Rock City, Edinburgh Playhouse, End Of The Road, Eric Singer, Final tour, Gene Simmons, gig, Glasgow, Glasgow Apollo, Hydro, Kiss, live, Make up, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, review, rock, Tommy Thayer | Leave a comment

Gig review: RAMMSTEIN – MK Dons Stadium, Milton Keynes, 6 July 2019

Posted on July 10, 2019 by david.wilson

Driving towards MK Dons stadium pre gig I saw a sign which could only mean that Rammstein were in town, it stated ‘Warning Special Effects!’. I can’t think of any other band who would require such a notice, however a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Du Hast, Duo Jatekok, Flake, German, gig, Ich Will, Industrial, live, Milton Keynes, MK Dons, pyrotechnics, Rammstein, review, rock, Till Lindemann | Leave a comment

Gig review: BEARDED THEORY’S SPRING GATHERING – Catton Park, Derbyshire, 23 – 26 May 2019

Posted on June 3, 2019 by david.wilson

Life, Love and Unity. The Dreadzone motto of “Life, love and unity” has never been more perfectly exemplified than at Bearded Theory’s Spring Gathering. It’s a philosophy that seems to be embraced by the Beardy tribe. Fields full of friendly folk, a fantastic line up, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2019, Bearded Theory, Catton Park, Dreadzone, Editors, festival, folk, Idlewild, Imperial Leisure, Little Steven, live, Pulled Apart By Horses, punk, Reef, Rev Hammer, rock, Suede, The Blinders, The Dreadnoughts, The Mahones, The Orb, The Slow Readers Club, Thw Wildhearts | Leave a comment

Gig review: THE WILDHEARTS – Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh, 4 May 2019

Posted on May 6, 2019 by david.wilson

In the spirit of those bastions of journalism The Sun and The Star I am going to start the review with a sensational headline ‘Wildhearts Mime On Stage Shocker!!’. Fake news I hear you cry, but no this really did … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 4th May 2019, Baz Mills, Caffiene Bomb, CJ Wildheart, Danny McCormack, Edinbugh, Full Nelson, gig, Ginger Wildheart, Liquid Rooms, live, Massive Wagons, Renaissance Men, review, rock, Status Quo, the Wildhearts, Towers Of London | Leave a comment

EP review: STORMCHASER – Breaking The Silence

Posted on April 17, 2019 by david.wilson

Self Release [Release date 04.05.19] Stormchaser are a local band for me, they have been playing live around Central Scotland for a few years and have built up a good following and a good reputation. The guys master in all things classic rock … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Alva, Bad Co, Breaking The Silence, CD, classic rock, Doogie White, EP, Free, Journey, Michael Schenker, rock, Stormchaser | Leave a comment

Album review: THE WILDHEARTS – Renaissance Men

Posted on April 17, 2019 by david.wilson

Graphite Records [Release Date 03.05.19] The Wildhearts are back with a new album, their first full release in ten years, and boy is it worth the wait. What we have here are ten joyous slabs of perfect pop rock with more harmonies per chorus than most … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, CD, CJ Wildheart, Dislocated, Ginger Wildheart, Graphite records, pop, punk, rock, the Wildhearts | Leave a comment

Album review: THE TREATMENT – Power Crazy

Posted on April 8, 2019 by david.wilson

Frontiers Music [Release date 22.03.19] The Treatment have been the bridesmaid in rock for far too long. They have been the perennial support band with some major tours under their belts but they have never managed to make the breakthrough into the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged AC/DC, album CD, Buckcherry, Def Leppard, Frontier Records, Kiss, metal, Power Crazy, rock, Tagore Grey, The Treatment, Tom Rampton | Leave a comment

Album review: STATUS QUO – The Vinyl Singles Collection – 2000-2010

Posted on April 8, 2019 by david.wilson

UMC [Release date 26.04.19] This box set is the last release in a series of 5 charting all the single releases from Quo throughout their long career. As with the previous box sets each single is lovingly recreated in its … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 2000 - 2010, All Stand Up (Never Say Never), collection, Francis Rossi, Jam Side Down, live, Rick Parfitt, rock, singles, Status Quo, Vinyl | Leave a comment

Gig review: BIG COUNTRY – Town House, Hamilton, 30 March 2019

Posted on April 8, 2019 by david.wilson

Big Country have been racking up the miles in recent years as they are constantly on tour somewhere in the world. The fact that the guys can still fill halls across the UK and beyond is testament to the quality … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 30th March 2019, Big Country, Brue Watson Simon Haugh, Celtic, Fields Of Fire, gig, Hamilton, live, review, Rianne Downey, rock, Steeltown, Town House | Leave a comment

Gig review: GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL – Butlins, Skegness, 18 – 20 January 2019

Posted on January 29, 2019 by david.wilson

Butlins in Skegness opened its doors to the holidaying masses back in 1936 and since then it has been serving up summertime fun and thrills as Billy Butlin intended. But during the cold winter months the site is mostly deserted, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged 18 to 20 January 2019, AC/DC. Sugarray Rayford, Billy Bremners Rockfiles, blues, Bon UK, Born Hunter, Burnt Out Wreck, Butlins, Dare, Darren Wharton, Dave Edmunds, Felix Rabin, FM, Gary Moat, Geordie, Graham Oliver, Great British Rock And Blues Festival, House Of The Rising Sun, Jack Broadbet, Jethro Tull, JFK Blue, Jim Kirkpatrick, John Verity, Kingdom Of Madness, Magnum, Mark Stanway, Mark Wright, Martin Barre, Mike Ross, Mike Vernon, NINE BELOW ZERO, Oliver Dawson Saxon, Rhinos revenge, RHR, Robert J. Hunter, rock, SKAM!, Skegness, Stan The Band, Status Quo, Steve Dawson, Steve Overland, The Animals And Friends, Thin Lizzy | Leave a comment

Gig review: URIAH HEEP – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 14 December 2018

Posted on December 30, 2018 by david.wilson

Classic Rock doesn’t get much more classic than this, with Uriah Heep promoting their latest opus Living The Dream and this London show, given the amount of friends and family present, a bit like a homecoming. With two support bands, the doors opened at … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 14th December 2018, Bernie Shaw, Dante Gizzi, gig, Gun, Jools Gizzi, live, Living The Dream, London, Mick Box, Phil Lanzon, prog, rock, Shepherds Bush Empre, Uriah Heep, Von Hertzen Brothers | Leave a comment

Gig review: DEF LEPPARD – Wembley Arena, London, 8 December 2018

Posted on December 30, 2018 by david.wilson

In the Def Leppard career chronicles, 1987’s ‘Hysteria’ will always loom large. Although its predecessor ‘Pyromania’ was a 10 million selling phenomenon in the USA and opened a lot of doors for similar bands, ‘Hysteria’ was on a different scale level altogether. Four years in the crafting, the album fused a hard rock image with the crafted sensibilities … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 18th December 2018, Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, gig, Hysteria, Joe Elliott, live, London, Phil Collin, Rick Allen, Rick Neilson, Rick Savage, Robin Zander, Wembley Arena | Leave a comment

Album review: MASSIVE WAGONS – Full Nelson

Posted on December 19, 2018 by david.wilson

Earache Records [Release date 10.08.18] Massive Wagons must be one of the hardest working bands in the UK. Over the last few years they have toured incessantly up and down the country and have gradually built a huge following which is … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Baz Mills, CD, Earache Records, Full Nelson, Massive Wagons, review, Rick Parfitt, rock, Slade, Status Quo, Under No Illusion | Leave a comment

Album review: ALCATRAZZ – Live In Japan

Posted on December 19, 2018 by david.wilson

Frontiers Records [Release date 28.09.18] This live album captures Alcatrazz on their 1984 Japanese tour at the Nankano Sun Plaza in Tokyo. This is the recently discovered full version of the show which has been remastered and features a set … Continue reading →