Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: NAZARETH – 229 Club, London, 13 October 2017

NAZARETH - 229 Club, London, 13 October 2017

When their seventies hit making days in the UK ended, Nazareth seemed to concentrate on less fickle foreign markets, and opportunities for more recent fans like me to see them in the UK seemed few and far between. Yet in … Continue reading

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Gig review: SIN HOUSE – Spirit Of The Torrington, Old Finchleians, London N12, 15 October 2017

SIN HOUSE – Spirit Of The Torrington, Old Finchleians, London N12, 15 October 2017

It’s take some gumption to start a new band when celebrating the 50th anniversary of your pro career, but then Stevie Smith, the former Bad Manners, Ruthless Blues, Salt and Long John Baldry harp player, is no ordinary performer, and … Continue reading

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Gig review: VOODOO SIX – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes, 29 September 2017

VOODOO SIX – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes, 29 September 2017

Skam were just finishing up their set with a dirty, full blooded version of ‘War Pigs’ as I entered the venue and wished I’d been around for a bit more. Next time maybe. The Leicester power three-piece seemed to go … Continue reading

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Gig review: W.A.S.P. – White Rock Theatre, Hastings, 12 October 2017

WASP - White Rock Theatre, Hastings, 12 October 2017

Loud, brash, obnoxious, Blackie Lawless’s LA metal outfit W.A.S.P. burst on to the scene in the early 80s and were never far from controversy. Over time, however, the band evolved and their output started showing signs of growing maturity. To … Continue reading

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Gig review: WALTER TROUT – Under The Bridge, London, 11 October 2017

WALTER TROUT – Under The Bridge, London, 11 October 2017

There’s always something heart-warming about a Walter Trout show. Indeed, long before his miraculous recovery from ill health, he always made a virtue of making a connection with his crowd, either through socially conscious songs, universally applicable narratives or simply … Continue reading

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Gig review: TRIGGERFINGER – 100 Club, London, 10 October 2017

TRIGGERFINGER – 100 Club, London, 10 October 2017

Belgian power trio Triggerfinger have got something going on. They rock hard with a set of diverse material that has a freshness and purpose too often lacking in cliché ridden rock and they deliver it all with a welcome sense … Continue reading

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Gig review: INGLORIOUS – Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, 30 September 2017

INGLORIOUS - Muni Arts Centre, Pontypridd, 30 September 2017

A rainy South Wales valley in autumn can be a bleak miserable place but today a special double bill rolled into town and brightened up the weekend, the first date of a national tour. The venue – Pontypridd Muni(cipal) Arts … Continue reading

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Gig review: WILKO JOHNSON BAND – Royal Albert Hall, London, 26 September 2017

WILKO JOHNSON BAND – Royal Albert Hall, London, 26 September 2017

The Royal Albert Hall, with its storied boxes, swivel chairs and cavernous auditorium wouldn’t be the most obvious choice for a Wilko Johnson gig. Then again, this is no ordinary gig. Wilko is celebrating his 70th birthday, coinciding with the … Continue reading

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Gig review: SPARKS – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 28 September 2017

SPARKS – Shepherd

Sparks breezed into an extra second night at a packed London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire to deliver a thematically driven show – right down to the band’s sailor tops – to promote the new ‘Hippopotamus’ chart album. The Mael brothers have … Continue reading

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Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – G2, Glasgow, 25 September 2017

CATS IN SPACE - G2, Glasgow, 25 September 2017

After watching Cats In Space tonight I commented to my wife that the most impressive thing about the performance is the fact that the band are so musical. This may sound like a strange comment, surely all bands are musical? … Continue reading

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Gig review: VEGA – University of London Union, 23 September 2017

VEGA - University of London Union, 23 September 2017

Having boasted GRTR!’s album of 2016 with ‘Who We Are’, Vega continue to work hard to bring their modern brand of melodic rock to the masses. After touring with Dan Reed Network in the Spring, Autumn has brought this headline … Continue reading

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Gig review: UFO – Dorking Halls, 14 September 2017

 UFO - Dorking Halls, 14 September 2017

UFO’s long career has in recent times been taking them down the road less travelled. It’s nearly three years now since a Central London date, but after last year’s show in St Albans, capital based fans like me now made … Continue reading

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Gig review: GUN – St Luke’s, Glasgow, 14 September 2017

GUN – St Luke’s, Glasgow, 14 September 2017

With Gun about to unleash their excellent new album ‘Favourite Pleasures’ on an expectant public, what better way to introduce a few of the songs than a short showcase gig. The fact that the show was on home turf for … Continue reading

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Gig review: HAIR METAL HEAVEN – Welly Club and City Hall, Hull, 25-27 August 2017

Sebastian Bach - HAIR METAL HEAVEN - Hull, 25-27 August 2017

If eyebrows were raised at Hull’s designation as European City of Culture 2017, the news that a major rock festival in Hair Metal Heaven was taking place there was an even more unexpected story. The Humberside port city may have … Continue reading

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Gig review: CROPREDY, Oxfordshire, 10-12 August 2017

Fairport Convention - Cropredy, 13-15 August 2015

Fairport Convention’s festival at Cropredy has been an annual fixture for almost four decades now but the big celebration this year was marking the fiftieth anniversary of the band’s formation. In the eight years since I have been going it … Continue reading

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Gig review: SPARKS Album Launch Party – ICA, The Mall London, 7 Sept 2017

SPARKS Album Launch Party – ICA, The Mall London, 7 Sept 2017

In many respects the ICA provides the perfect backdrop for the album launch party of ‘Hippopotamus’, Sparks’ 23rd album. The LA based brothers Ron and Russell Mael have long reached beyond the simple rock and roll format to realize their … Continue reading

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Gig review: BEAUTIFUL DAYS Festival – Devon, 18-20 August 2017

BEAUTIFUL DAYS FESTIVAL - Devon, 18-20 August 2017

Dance Before, During and After the Storm Between Friday 18th and Sunday 20th August 2017 the bizarre, the wonderful and the contradictions of the norm gathered in the grounds of Escot Park to embrace the eclectic bohemian eccentricity that is … Continue reading

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Gig review: CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, 27-30 July 2017

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL 27-30 July 2017

Sometimes I think the term ‘Folk Festival’ puts some people off but if they look under the skin they might see something very special. A glancing look through this year’s programme of events showed a whole array of arts and … Continue reading

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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 3 – Mote Park, Maidstone, 30 July 2017

RAMBLIN

After the deluge on Saturday the forecast for the Sunday was looking a lot brighter and judging by the size of the crowd in the arena the sun had enticed a few extra bodies along for another top day of … Continue reading

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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 2 – Mote Park, Maidstone, 29 July 2017

RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Mote Park, Maidstone, 29 July 2017

I awoke in the hotel with lovely Kent sunshine streaming through the window, however the forecast for later in the day was looking grim and I did pass Noah on his way to B&Q for nails and some MDF. No … Continue reading

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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR – Day 1 – Mote Park, Maidstone, 28 July 2017

RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR –Mote Park, Maidstone, 28 July 2017

The Ramblin’ Man Fair is now in its third year and is going from strength to strength. It is situated in Mote Park right in the centre of Maidstone in Kent, it is a bit bizarre passing a children’s playpark … Continue reading

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Gig review: HUE AND CRY Album Launch – PRS Building, King’s Cross, London, 3 August 2017

HUE & CRY Album Launch - PRS Building, King

Kicking the night off in great humour, Pat Kane informs his attentive audience that tonight we are to be locked in a room 8 floors above the ground for a 20 minute jazz odyssey. Luckily this was a joke. Instead, … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL, Ebbw Vale, 30 July 2017 (Part Two)

British Lion - STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL, Ebbw Vale, 30 July 2017

Mud and music – what more can a hardened rock fan ask for?  Sunshine? Well it was in short supply again today.  Cars had been marooned in the muddy field but it wasn’t going to deter the faithful… The Texas … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL, Ebbw Vale, 28-29 July 2017 (Part One)

Trucker Diablo - STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL, Ebbw Vale, 28 July 2017

The annual pilgrimage climbing the mountain in the valleys of South Wales seems to have come around far quicker this year than any other, and the reliable Welsh weather played a major part in some issues regarding camping and parking.  … Continue reading

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Gig review: CROW BLACK CHICKEN – Robin 2, Bilston, 3 July 2017

CROW BLACK CHICKEN - Robin 2, Bilston, 3 July 2017

So a trip to the Robin 2 on a Monday night must mean something a bit special and indeed it is as Crow Black Chicken are making a welcome return during their current tour. A band who we first caught … Continue reading

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