Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: JOHNNY HATES JAZZ – Darwen Library Theatre, Lancs, 4 March 2016

JOHNNY HATES JAZZ - Darwen Library Theatre, 4 March 2016

In this hour long special, first broadcast as part of his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in February 2016, David Randall chatted to Clark Datchler with tracks from Johnny Hates Jazz past and present, plus a special … Continue reading

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Gig review: THUNDER, KING KING, TERRORVISION – Wembley Arena, 20 February 2016

THUNDER - Wembley Arena, 20 February 2016

Once seen as the cheeky Londoners reliably entertaining loyal crowds in theatre sized venues or livening up a festival crowd halfway up the bill, since returning for a third time a couple of years ago Thunder have hit a purple patch in their career. ‘Wonder Days’ was a … Continue reading

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Gig review: RICHARD HAWLEY – Hammersmith Apollo, London, 23 February 2016

“It’s OK, we’re from the North”, said Richard Hawley on ascending the stage, as if he needed to get the audience on side. There was really no need. The scope, authenticity and quality of his music were more than enough … Continue reading

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Gig review: ENTER SHIKARI – Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, 19 February 2016

The King Blues – Corn Exchange, Edinburgh, 19 February 2016

Enter Shikari, a band renowned for their live performances, be it in the living room of bassist Chris Batten’s parent’s house (see video for ‘Sorry You’re Not a Winner’), the summer festival fields or in this instance, Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange. … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STONE CHERRY, SHINEDOWN, HALESTORM – SSE Arena, Wembley, London, 4 February 2016

Gig review: CARNIVAL OF MADNESS (BLACK STONE CHERRY, SHINEDOWN, HALESTORM) - SSE Arena, Wembley, London, 4 February 2016

‘The Carnival of Madness’, a well known USA touring concept which brings together three or four like-minded bands from the newer generation, was making a first trip to these shores, but the personnel involved were in very familiar circumstances.  Black … Continue reading

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Gig review: RUNRIG – Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 13 February 2016

RUNRIG – Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 13 February 2016

If you were to conduct a street poll asking Joe Public to name Scottish bands you would no doubt get the likes of The Proclaimers, Wet, Wet, Wet and possibly even the Bay City Rollers.  I have a sneaking suspicion … Continue reading

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Gig review: JUST SAY YES/ARFM MELODIC ROCK FUNDRAISER – The Spot, Derby, 30 January 2016

JUST SAY YES/ARFM MELODIC ROCK FUNDRAISER - The Spot, Derby, 30 January 2016

Now in its second year, the ‘Just Say Yes’ and ARFM charity melodic rock fundraiser was a must on several grounds. First of all, in its own right as raising a substantial amount for a charity supporting young people with … Continue reading

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Gig review: NECK DEEP – O2 Academy, Glasgow, 2 February 2016

LIGHT YEARS - O2 Academy, Glasgow, 2 February 2016

The cold Glasgow night was filled with an air of pop-punk and pizza. Yes, Wrexham formed Neck Deep were in town, bringing the teenage angst in full. The band from North Wales stopped by on the UK leg of their … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE WINERY DOGS/ Inglorious – Bristol O2 Academy, 2 February 2016

THE WINERY DOGS - Bristol O2 Academy, 2 February 2016

Mike Portnoy announces to the crowd that The Winery Dogs don’t often play outside of the main cities of London/Manchester, so the Bristol fans wasted no opportunity to sign up for something special and – although not a sell out … Continue reading

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Gig review: THRESHOLD – O2 Islington Academy, London, 24 January 2016

THRESHOLD - O2 Islington Academy, London, 24 January 2016

This was a progressive/symphonic metal triple-header, but sadly I only caught the dying embers of the Damnation Angels as I ascended the stairs. Pretty good it sounded too, but the Northern Line had effectively robbed me of the set. French … Continue reading

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Gig review: GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL – Skegness, 22-24 January 2016

Arthur Brown - GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL - Skegness 22-24 January 2016

Reporting by Simon Dunkerley and Pete Feenstra Pete Feenstra writes:  Perhaps only The Great British Rock & Blues Festival can give you the unlikely opportunity of slipping from the dancing delights of Courtney Pine’s venue filling world music and jazz … Continue reading

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Gig review: MICHAEL SCHENKER’S TEMPLE OF ROCK – Queens Hall, Edinburgh, 22 January 2016

The Best of 2016

Photo: Pako Meria Almost exactly a year ago I got a copy through of the latest Temple Of Rock album, ‘Spirit On A Mission’. One play through was all it took for me to decide that the band had created … Continue reading

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Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – Half Moon, Putney, London, 6 January 2016

CATS IN SPACE - Half Moon, Putney, London, 6 January 2016

One of the more left field bands that emerged in 2015 were the oddly named Cats In Space, with their  affectionate homage to the seventies and in particular the lush soft rock sounds of the latter half of the decade … Continue reading

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News: A Year in Rock – 2015 (Rock Photography)

A Year in Rock - 2015

Over the years Get Ready to ROCK! has gathered an enviable reputation for some of the best online rock photography, complementing its extensive coverage of gigs, festivals and tours. We’ve published a selection of some of the best shots in … Continue reading

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Gig review: STATUS QUO – O2, London, 13 December 2015

STATUS QUO – O2, London, 13 December 2015

What does music during the Christmas season mean to you? For the more traditional minded it may be a carol service. For others the sounds of numerous banal seasonal pop tunes (that means you, McCartney) piped incessantly through high streets … Continue reading

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Gig review: LONELY ROBOT – The Scala, London, 20 December 2015

John Mitchell

So onto the final gig for 2015 for me and one I have been looking forward to as it is Lonely Robot, aka John Mitchell (It Bites/Frost*/Arena), whose debut album ‘Please Come Home’ is one of my top 5 albums … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – Scala, London, 11 December 2015

BLACK STAR RIDERS - Scala, London, 11 December 2015

Quite apart from being one of the best of the current crop of bands, there can surely be no harder working outfit than Black Star Riders. A Spring tour, Summer festival appearances and opening for the Def Leppard and Whitesnake … Continue reading

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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 18 December 2015

GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow, 18 December 2015

The last Friday before Christmas is traditionally party night in Glasgow and what better night out than in the company of two of Scotland’s finest bands namely Gun and King King. It was good to see a healthy audience in … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL IX – Hafan Y Mor, Pwllheli, Wales, 12-14 November 2015

Helloween -  HARD ROCK HELL IX - Hafan Y Mor, Pwlhelli, Wales, 12-14 November 2015

Thursday When the line-up was announced for this year’s 9th chapter of the Hard Rock Hell journey there were the usual naysayers but to be fair it’s the same for every festival… However one thing that topped everything was the … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEF LEPPARD/ WHITESNAKE, Hydro, Glasgow, 10 December 2015

DEF LEPPARD/ WHITESNAKE, Hydro, Glasgow, 10 December 2015

This run of shows must be one of the most hotly anticipated of 2015. A double header of Def Leppard and Whitesnake with Black Star Riders along as support, it promised an evening of classic rock heaven. Horrendous traffic (2.5 … Continue reading

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Gig review: CRACKER – Dingwalls, London, 7 December 2015

A spirit-lifting gig on a miserable Monday night from an inventive band who refuse to be pigeon-holed. Cracker have variously been described as alt rock, alt country, country rock, post-punk and blues-folk. I kid you not. Who needs labels when … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROCK GODDESS/Praying Mantis/Desolation Angels – Islington O2 Academy, London, 3 December 2015

Praying Mantis, Cambridge Rock Festival, 2013

A night of NWOBHM resurrections. First up Desolation Angels. The band ambled on stage to a room of about 50 souls and did a bit of instrument fiddling over David Bowie’s ‘Boys Keep Swinging’ blasting from the PA. Not a … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 3 December 2015

DEEP PURPLE - 02 Arena, London, 3 December 2015

One of the first lessons I ever learned in rock school was it was an (un?)holy British trinity of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple who effectively invented heavy rock, or heavy metal as it was later badged. You … Continue reading

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Gig review: PLANET ROCKSTOCK – Trecco Bay, South Wales, 4-6 December 2015

FM - Planet Rockstock - Trecco Bay, South Wales, 4 December 2015

Friday 4 December This is the third year for the Planet Rock annual festival and the second year at Porthcawl. I thought last year’s line-up would take some beating and, although thinking 2015 was a weak bill by comparison, I … Continue reading

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Gig review: GAMMA RAY – Islington Academy, London, 8 December 2015

Neonfly - The Tivoli, Buckley, 20 April 2014

I missed the opening couple of numbers by Neonfly, however I did catch ‘The Revenant’ the third song in their set. They were very lively as ever on stage with vocalist Willy Norton a livewire singing, jumping around and getting … Continue reading

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