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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: CHEZ KANE- Fighting Cocks, Kingston upon Thames, 2 April 2026
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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – The Stables, Milton Keynes, 14 March 2026
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Gig review: A VERY SPECIAL EVENING OF MOTT THE HOOPLE – Riverside Studios, London, 27 February 2026
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Gig review: EMERALD MOON – Le Marquee, Peyrignac, Dordogne, SW France, 7 March 2026
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GRTR! Greats
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Author Archives: jason
News: ELLES BAILEY, HELMET, STEVEN WILSON (September 2023)
Bryan Adams releases a 35 track box set ‘Live at the Royal Albert Hall’ on December 8. Bachman Turner Overdrive have announced US tour dates, plus next year the band will release a concert film, shot in 1976, and a … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, blues, blues rock, classic rock, Covers, Elles Bailey, folk, gigs, Helmet, metal, news, prog rock, Re-issues/special editions, RIP, Steven Wilson
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Album review: NINEBARROW – The Colour of Night
Website [Release date 01.09.23] Ninebarrow, Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere, are at the forefront of folk artists building their own musical community. In this case Ninebarrow have the ‘Barrow Bods’, which helps them spread the word about their marvellous music, along with … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, folk, Jay LaBouchardiere, Jon Whitley, melodic, Ninebarrow, review, The Colour of Night, traditional
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Album review: SKINDRED – Smile
Earache Records [Release date 04.11.23] This reviewer knew Skindred by name but never really listened to them (more fool me!) until hearing ‘Gimme That Boom’ on a new arrivals playlist on a streaming service. Then off down to HMV to … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, Benji Webbe, melodic, metal, pop rock, punk, ragga metal, rap, review, Skindred, Smile
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Album review: PROMETHIUM – Bleeding The Ghost
Load 4 Records [Release date 15.09.23] Post-pandemic has seen a lot of bands undergo line-up changes, and in some cases calling it a day, as musicians re-evaluate what they want to do and achieve musically. Promethium are one such band … Continue reading
Gig review: HEARTS & HAND GRENADES – Six Six Bar, Cambridge, Saturday 19 August 2023
Somehow generating the same levels of heat best found on the surface of the sun, Cambridge’s Six Six Bar is a venue whose attributes echo the long gone and much missed Marquee Club when it was in Wardour Street. The … Continue reading
Album review: OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – Jubilee
ATO Records [Release date 25.08.23] Hot on the heels of last year’s enjoyable ‘Paint This Town’, Old Crow Medicine Show are back with their eighth studio album. ‘Miles Away’ was released as the lead single from the album. It was … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, bluegrass, country, folk, Jubilee, Mavis Staples, Old Crow Medicine Show, old time music, review
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Album review: DORIS BRENDEL & LEE DURHAM – Pigs Might Fly
Album link [Release date 15.09.23] With their Steampunk ethos adding a nice twist to their individual take on rocking prog, Doris Brendel and Lee Durham have created and fruitfully harvested their own niche. Seen most recently both opening for Fish … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Doris Brendel & Lee Durham, Pigs Might Fly, progressive, review, rock, steampunk
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Gig review: THE TREATMENT/MANSWORTH – Queens Hall, Nuneaton, Saturday 5 August 2023
Dead Demons opened this triple bill, unfortunately I didn’t arrive in time to catch the majority of their set, but the vibe was good, and the crowd were definitely warmed up by the time they had finished. Next on the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged classic rock, gig, hard rock, Laurie Mansworth, Mansworth, Nuneaton, Piston, Queens Hall, review, rock, Saturday 5 August 2023, The Treatment
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Gig review: SIR TOM JONES – Heritage Live, Audley End House, Saffron Walden, 6 August 2023
The scene is set for the third night of Heritage Live’s Audley End. The likes of Miss Disco, Boney M, The Real Thing and Bjorn Again were followed on Saturday by adverse weather but the Britpop movement was in full … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Audley End House, Classic Albums, gig, Heritage Live, pop, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, Saffron Walden, Sir Tom Jones, Sunday 6 August 2023
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Quick plays: DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS, 19th STREET BAND, PHIL VINCENT
DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS Strangers No More Magnolia Music [Release date 09.06.23] Ninth studio album from Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors who have been gaining critical plaudits and fans in the Americana field since they formed back in 2005. … Continue reading
Album review: JOSHUA BURNELL – Glass Knight
Website [Release date 11.08.23] This reviewer enjoyed Joshua Burnell’s last album, 2020′s ‘Flowers Where The Horses Sleep’ and with an artist not limited by genre boundaries, expectations were raised for ‘Glass Knight’. With all music and lyrics written and arranged … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, folk, Glass Knight, Joshua Burnell, melodic, pop, review, rock, singer songwriter
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News: BRUCE SOORD, MESHUGGAH, OF MICE AND MEN (August 2023)
The Anchoress will release a covers album ‘Versions’ on October 6 through Drowned In Sound. Atlantea, the new progressive rock project by Ten’s Darrel Treece-Birch, has signed a record deal with Lion Music. Ronnie Atkins releases his third solo album, … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, blues, Bruce Soord, classic rock, folk, gigs, Messugah, metal, news, Of Mice And Men, prog rock, Re-issues/special editions, RIP, The Pineapple Thief, tour dates
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Gig review: HEATHEN APOSTLES – Six Six Bar, Cambridge, Monday 24 July 2023
It was the night Bloodgrass came to the dark environs of the Six Six Bar in sleepy university city, an unusually large flock of jet-black crows seen above the ever-reaching spires of Cambridge. The portents were heavy and the anticipation … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Americana, bloodgrass, Cambridge, gig, gothic, Heathen Apostles, Monday 24 July 2023, Old Man Boom, review, Six Six Bar
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Album review: THE FIERCE & THE DEAD – News From The Invisible World
Spencer Park Music [Release date 28.07.23] The Fierce and The Dead have been working on this album over the past five years. It also marks a major change to the band’s sound, lead vocals from bassist Kevin Feazey (Blur’s Damon … Continue reading
Album review: RAY ALDER – II
Inside Out [Release date: 09.06.23] When asked to compile a list of the most influential vocalists of the Progressive Metal genre, Ray Alder’s is, undoubtedly and reservedly so, one of the very first names that comes to mind. Having been … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Pure Metal/Album reviews
Tagged album, Fates Warning, II, Jim Matheos, metal, prog metal, progressive, Ray Alder, review
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Album review: TONY MITCHELL – Radio Heartbeat
Pride & Glory Music [Release date 21.07.23] The fourth solo album from Tony Mitchell, of Kiss Of The Gypsy & Dirty White Boyz fame. Joining him on here are Midnite City guitarist Miles Meakin, bassist Nigel Bailey (Dirty White Boyz, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, hard rock, Kiss Of The Gypsy, melodic rock, Nigel Bailey, Radio Heartbeat, review, rock, Tony Mitchell
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Album review: SEAN TAYLOR – Short Stories
Website [Release date 14.07.23] Sean Taylor returns with another album full of melody and thoughtful lyrics. Joining Sean are Ben Walker (guitars, electric piano), Mike Seal (double bass), Paulina Szczepaniak (percussion), Justin Carroll (Hammond organ), Joe Harvey Whyte (pedal steel) … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, melodic, pop, review, Sean Taylor, Short Stories, singer songwriter
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Album review: BEN REEL – Come A Long Way
Website [Release date 30.06.23] ‘Come A Long Way’ is the 11th album from Ben Reel, with many of his previous releases given favourable reviews by GRTR! reviewer Pete Whalley (who has now, sadly, hung up his keyboard). This album features 11 … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, Ben Reel, Come A Long Way, country, folk, pop, review, rock, singer songwriter
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Album review: SYTERIA – Syteria World
Cargo Records [Release date 11.08.23] Formed in the mid 10s by Jax Chambers, best known as the lead guitarist of Girlschool, Syteria have released a number of albums and singles independently (check out www.syteria.co.uk for more). This Yorkshire based and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, GIRLSCHOOL, hard rock, Jax Chambers, punk, review, rock, Syteria, Syteria World
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Book review: SLADE in the 1970s (Decades) by Darren Johnson
Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.05.23] Slade were one of the biggest British bands of the 1970s, three UK number one albums (and one in Australia), six number one singles in the UK and Irish charts, numerous top 10 hit singles and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS
Tagged book, Classic Albums, classic rock, Darren Johnson, Dave Hill, Don Powell, glam, glam rock, hard rock, Jim Lea, Noddy Holder, review, rock, Slade, Slade in the 1970s (Decades), Sonicbound Publishing
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Quick plays: JOANNA CONNOR, AL STAEHELY, BETWEEN BEACH AND FOREST
Joanna Connor – Best of Me Quarto Valley Records [Release date 09.06.23] Chicago blues guitar great Joanna Connor releases her 15th album. Joining Joanna Connor are her regular “Wrecking Crew” touring band: Shaun Gotti Calloway (bass); Dan Souvigny (guitar, keys); … Continue reading
News: DIO, MARC HUDSON, LINDISFARNE (July 2023)
Angra have signed with Atomic Fire Records who release their new album ‘Cycles Of Pain’ on November 3. Any Given Sin release their latest album ‘War Within’ via Mascot Records on August 4. Asking Alexandria have confirmed the release date … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, blues, classic rock, Dio, Dragonfroce, folk, gigs, Lindisfarne, Marc Hudson, metal, news, prog rock, Re-issues/special editions, RIP, tour dates
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Rising Stars interview: JESSICA LYNN
Jessica Lynn has been described by American Songwriter as “country arena rock”, and her 7-show UK tour will take place this July. Stateside, Jessica Lynn is famed for the spectacle and quality of her live shows and stagecraft — not to mention her TV … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions, Interviews/Rising Stars
Tagged country, country pop, gigs, interview, Jessica Lynn, pop, Richard Marx, Rising Stars, rock, soul, tour dates
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Album review: KEELEY – Floating Above Everything Else
Bandcamp [Release date 30.06.23] To some, music is a drug, constantly searching for that new high that will set the pulses racing and synapses firing. In a world of identikit artists all vying for airplay and sales, it’s a thing of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alan Maguire, album, alt pop, Floating Above Everything Else, Keeley, Keeley Moss, pop. melodic, review, rock
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Album review: SOUNDSCAPISM INC. – Staring Down On Incandescent Cities
EtherealSoundWorks [Release date 20.07.23] Fifth album by Soundscapism Inc., the musical project created by Bruno A, who handles the production and the majority of the instruments on the album, along with composing all the music and writing the lyrics (save for … Continue reading
