Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: BILLY LOCKETT – O2 Academy 2, Oxford, 2 February 2020

We have ventured into the Academy a few times but have never been to the more compact upstairs Academy 2, which was the venue for Billy Lockett’s show. He’s certainly taking a big step and gamble by going out on … Continue reading

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

Gig review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, 30 January 2020

This was my first visit to the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena and on arrival at the venue prior to the doors opening I was greeted with massive queues waiting to get into the sold out venue. Thankfully local boy and crack photographer Darren Griffiths was a … Continue reading

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

Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 24-27 January 2020

Praying Mantis - Giants Of Rock, Butlins, Minehead, 27 January 2020

Another Cold January and another Giants Of Rock.  Enough to warm the cockles following a respectable respite after Christmas and New Year. This was our fourth Giants, although intrepid GRTR! reviewers have reported since the festival’s inception in 2014.  After … Continue reading

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

Gig review: GREAT BRITISH ROCK AND BLUES FESTIVAL – Butlins, Skegness,17th to 20th January 2020

Skegness in early January is a bit of a strange place. Row upon row of empty caravans lie in wait for warmer weather and better times. When once again the sound of laughter and the smell of stale beer, cigarette … Continue reading

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

Gig review: BERNIE MARSDEN/Deborah Bonham – Under the Bridge, London, 24 January 2020

BERNIE MARSDEN/Deborah Bonham- Under the Bridge, London, 24 January 2020

You might say it was a case of ‘Blues is the colour’ as Under the Bridge, located beneath the East Stand at Chelsea FC,  played host to one of London Blues Month’s highest-profile gigs. It lies squarely within the wealthiest … Continue reading

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

Gig review: SAVOY BROWN – 100 Club, London, 18 January 2020

SAVOY BROWN- 100 Club, London, 18 January 2020

The marketing for the now traditional January London Blues Month is a mocked up, retro-style handbill.  Someone who can remember those days is Kim Simmonds. He may not have the high profile of other guitar contemporaries of the British blues … Continue reading

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

Gig review: INTERPLAY – Le Chaudron, Montignac, SW France, 17 January 2020

INTERPLAY STAGE

Jazz is alive, well and prospering in the inventive hands of a French modern quartet called Interplay. There was once a time when jazz fusion and rock almost coalesced and took the music beyond its historical antecedents. And while Interplay … Continue reading

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

Gig review: COLLATERAL – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 10 January 2020

COLLATERAL- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 10 January 2020

2020 promises to be a big year for Collateral, with their debut full-length album out in February to capitalise on the growing buzz around them. Indeed GRTR!’s writers voted the Kentish rockers the breakthrough act for 2020 in our end … Continue reading

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

Gig review: SKERRYVORE/MANRAN – Albert Hall, Stirling, 29 December 2019

The Scottish folk rock scene has been topped for the last 40 odd years by Runrig who had a huge following across the country and beyond. There have been a number of other bands however who have been on a rapid … Continue reading

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

Gig review: DAN REED NETWORK/GUN/FM – Waterfront, Norwich,14 December 2019

Three of the common sights of the 21st century concert scene are bands playing a classic album in its entirety; package tours bringing together acts with a complementary fanbase; and bands that we thought would never get back together again … Continue reading

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

Gig review: ALTER BRIDGE – O2 Arena, London, 21 December 2019

Gig review: ALTER BRIDGE/Shinedown – O2 Arena, London, 21 December 2019

Oh, what to make of Shinedown. Despite their second-billing on this tour, the multi-million selling Floridian quartet smashed out their anthemic tunes to an enthusiastic O2 Arena. The music mostly went down well. My problem is Brent Smith’s grandstanding audience participation … Continue reading

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

Gig review: SWEET – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 18 December 2019

SWEET- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 18 December 2019

After many years as strangers in their home country, Sweet have become a fixture since their well-received support slot to Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow at 2017’s Stone Free Festival. This is the third year running they have played a London show … Continue reading

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

Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – The Tivoli, Buckley, 20 December 2019

CATS IN SPACE - The Tivoli, Buckley, 20 December 2019

As we near the end of 2019, and indeed another decade, Cats In Space should be cherished.  In fact, our year was bookended by the band, an appearance at Giants Of Rock in January and a “Christmas in Narnia” tour … Continue reading

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

Gig review: HEAT FESTIVAL – Ludwigsburg, Germany, 30 November- 1 December 2019

HEAT FESTIVAL- Ludwigsburg, Germany, 30 November- 1 December 2019

Having grown steadily since its inception in 2008, the HEAT Festival in Ludwigsburg, just outside Stuttgart, can lay claim to being one of the longest continuously running melodic rock festivals in Europe.  For most of the last few years their … Continue reading

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

Gig review: RAIDING THE ROCK VAULT – Subterania, London, 5 December 2019

RAIDING THE ROCK VAULT- Subterania, London, 5 December 2019

Proof of the enduring appeal of classic rock is the success over seven years of residencies in Las Vegas of the ‘Raiding the Rock Vault’ show. The concept is deceptively simple,  with live playing from a band of seasoned musicians, … Continue reading

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

Gig review: HAWKWIND – Cambridge Corn Exchange,18 November 2019

Now celebrating their 50th tour, Hawkwind have always been one of the giants of the UK rock scene but have, despite their longevity, never seen the plaudits and respect that are heaped on many acts of their vintage and younger. … Continue reading

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

Gig review: CANCER ON THE ROCKS – Bush Hall, London, 23 November 2019

 CANCER ON THE ROCKS- Bush Hall, London, 23 November 2019

Concerts are one of the more pleasurable staples of charity fundraising activity – vastly preferable, at least in my eyes, to bungee jumps, head shaves or ice buckets. After an event in the North-West last year, the Cancer On The … Continue reading

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

Gig review: LAST IN LINE/Vega – The Tivoli, Buckley, 27 November 2019

LAST IN LINE - The Tivoli, Buckley, 27 November 2019

This gig was nearly, but not quite, ring out the old ring in the new. With some gigs rearranged from early December, this was a chance to see a band of essentially old stagers with two of the “nu-breed” of … Continue reading

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Leave a comment

Gig review: SNOW PATROL – Regent Theatre, Ipswich, 21 November 2019

Sometimes, just sometimes, true magic happens and a band clearly demonstrate the incredible power of music to change the world. With a song or even a phrase or small collection of notes or possibly just a word they can break … Continue reading

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

Gig review: GRAND SLAM/Bad Touch – Camden Underworld, London, 22 November 2019

GRAND SLAM/Bad Touch- Camden Underworld, London, 22 November 2019

One of the great sadnesses of my formative music years was the failure of Philip Lynott’s post- Thin Lizzy outfit to get as far as a record deal- despite their reputation as a live act, including as support to Status … Continue reading

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

Gig review: BUCK & EVANS – 100 Club, London, 19 November 2019

BUCK & EVANS- 100 Club, London, 19 November 2019

When I saw them at the prestigious 100 Club only six months ago, Buck and Evans were still previewing songs from an album that, like Billy Bunter’s postal order or an election manifesto promise, was constantly  about to be delivered- … Continue reading

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

Gig review: THE AMAZONS – O2 Academy, Bristol, 17 November 2019

It’s a cold Sunday night, and raining heavily as I try to navigate the streets of Bristol, armed with Google Maps and a soggy friend in tow to see the Amazons. We finally arrive at the O2 Academy, where the … Continue reading

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

Gig review: HRH FESTIVAL, DAY 3 – Vauxhall Holiday Park, Gt Yarmouth, 9 November 2019

After the high of Saturday there was a more subdued feeling around the smaller arena as the early unplugged sessions got underway with CADENCE NOIR and DEVILFIRE.  A little thin on the ground at this early hour, the previous long … Continue reading

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

Gig review: HRH FESTIVAL, DAY 2 – Vauxhall Holiday Park, Gt Yarmouth, 8 November 2019

First band on the mainstage were Highway To Hell winners, TWISTER.  The Durham band had been popular winners and the early start saw many seeking out breakfast and a brew to join the band in the main arena. The set-up … Continue reading

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

Gig review: MIDNITE CITY – The Lounge, Archway, London, 8 November 2019

MIDNITE CITY- The Lounge, Archway, London, 8 November 2019

The list of successful UK melodic rock acts is a frustratingly short one, but Midnite City must be going about things the right way. After releasing a pair of excellent albums in short succession they recently enjoyed the prestige of … Continue reading

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