Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – Tivoli, Buckley, 6 August 2014

Posted on August 7, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Black Star Riders - Tivoli, Buckley, 6 August 2014

Do you dream?  Red spotlights bathe a small stage, dry ice drifts into an audience who dream of the 1970s.  Scott Gorham, backstage, dreams of glory days and friendships lost.  Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and relax … the boys … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: BOSTON, CHEAP TRICK – Sandia Casino Amphitheatre, Albuquerque, New Mexico USA, 22 July 2014

Posted on August 6, 2014 by andynathan
BOSTON, CHEAP TRICK - Sandia Casino Amphitheatre, Albuquerque, New Mexico USA, 22 July 2014

In Boston’s own words ‘it’s been such a long time’ for UK fans who would need to be 50 or over to have seen their last shows here in 1979. To catch the legendary band whose self-titled 1976 monster arguably … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Gig review: MOONDANCE JAM – Walker, Minnesota, 17-19 July 2014

Posted on August 5, 2014 by andynathan
Moondance Jam - Walker, Minnesota, 17-19 July 2014

There cannot be many places that match the ambience of Moondance Jam as a rock festival, set in beautiful countryside of woods and lakes in northern Minnesota and with the friendliest atmosphere that can be imagined. Surely the Mid-West of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Gig review: ONSLAUGHT – O2 Islington Academy, London, 20 July 2014

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Yiannis
Artillery, O2 Islington Academy, London, 20 July 2014

Support Act: Artillery, Nightlord, One Machine Review and photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis July is not the best of months to arrange a gig in London. This is the time of the year when most people are either counting their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER – Guilfest, 19 July 2014

Posted on July 20, 2014 by jason

Now you may be wondering what Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer is doing on GRTR! Well he name checked Slayer and he did an indie rock medley accompanied by his trusty banjolele. Plus he’s damn fine and talented chap. He … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: GUILFEST – 19-20 July 2014

Posted on July 20, 2014 by jason

Saturday saw the weather again being kind to Guilfest and a bigger crowd too. Arrived to The Farm doing their hit ‘All Together Now’ on the main stage and they seemed to have gone down well with the crowd. Next … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: GUILFEST – 18 July 2014

Posted on July 19, 2014 by jason

Good to have the Guilfest back after the previous company running it went into liquidation after 2012’s festival. Last year they had two one day line-ups sponsored by Magic FM. The amount of stages has remained the same with two … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gig review: KANSAS – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 17 July 2014

Posted on July 18, 2014 by jason

Kansas were back after a nine year gap since their last London date and this was always going to be a special gig as Steve Walsh had announced a couple of weeks earlier that he was leaving the band after … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Gig review: SNAKECHARMER – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 11 July 2014

Posted on July 14, 2014 by andynathan
Raw Glory - Islington Assembly Hall, London, 11 July 2014

Much like the lovingly recrafted Islington Assembly Hall where this gig took place, Snakecharmer are an example of how to reimagine a vintage classic and create something new. The classic rock ‘supergroup’, boasting respected alumni from the likes of Whitesnake, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Gig review: NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE, British Summer Time Festival, Hyde Park, 12 July 2014

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Davoski
Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Hyde Park, 12 July 2014

How typical of the idiosyncratic, sometimes curmudgeonly, always unique Neil Young to amble on stage and effectively jam for five minutes with his band before turning to the audience and uttering his first lyric. Trends ebb and flow, fashions swell … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: HALL AND OATES – Hammersmith Apollo, 11 July 2014

Posted on July 12, 2014 by jason

At a sold out Apollo it was a chance to witness musical legends Daryl Hall and John Oates, the most successful duo in US chart history, even surpassing the Everly Brothers. They can still draw a crowd (all the UK … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: HOP FARM MUSIC FESTIVAL – Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent 4/5/6 July 2014

Posted on July 11, 2014 by petefeenstra
Hop Farm Festival, 4-6 July 2014

The Hop Farm Music Festival 2014 is a reconfigured broad based festival. While previous years included Neil Young, Dylan and The Eagles, the new promoters focused on striking a musical balance that pleased more than it alienated.  The result was … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: BEARDED THEORY FESTIVAL – Catton Hall, Derbyshire, 22-25 May 2014

Posted on July 7, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Bearded Theory Festival - Catton Hall, Derbyshire, 22-25 May 2014

Bearded Theory Festival – what’s all that about then?  Well apparently they just wanted a theme for a bit of fun and decided on fake beards. That was 7 years ago and here we are now with an award winning … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: EXTREME – 02 Academy, Glasgow, 5 July 2014

Posted on July 7, 2014 by david.wilson
EXTREME – 02 Academy, Glasgow, 5 July 2014

Extreme are a band who eluded me back at their peak. I had all the albums but never had a chance to see the band live, which I have always regretted, so a chance to see the guys playing the … Continue reading →

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

Gig review – DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL, Donington Park, Leicestershire, 13-15 June 2014

Posted on July 6, 2014 by andynathan
Tesla - Download Festival

When it comes to UK festivals that specialise in rock, no one does it bigger than Download and its sheer size offers real choice for a variety of tastes. While not specifically a classic rock festival, there is still enough … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Gig review: DEVIN TOWNSEND – Rock City, Nottingham, 3 July 2014

Posted on July 5, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Devin Townsend - Rock City, Nottingham, 3 July 2014

Rock City tonight hosts the first of two warm up gigs for the Devin Townsend Project before his appearance at Sonisphere this Sunday on the main stage, as he stated on stage ‘to go from months of mixing in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gig review: ANGRA – Camden Underworld, London, 24 June 2014

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Yiannis
ANGRA – Camden Underworld, London, 24 June 2014

Support Act: Stormborn Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Planning a gig in London during the Football World Cup in full swing is equivalent to commercial suicide for most bands but the fact that it’s been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/Gig reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gig review: STEVIE WONDER – Calling Festival, Clapham Common, 29 June 2014

Posted on June 30, 2014 by jason

The Calling Festival continues its nomadic existence having moved from its previous home at Hyde Park to the Queen Elizabeth stadium last year and now at Clapham Common. It has also been reduced to two, one day festivals (Aerosmith headlined … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Gig review: WINGER – Islington Academy, London, 21 June 2014

Posted on June 30, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
WINGER - Islington Academy, London, 21 June 2014

It’s been four years since Winger last toured the UK, playing this very same venue, but in the intervening years Kip Winger’s solo shows have intensified the loyalty of their following here, and the Academy was pretty full for the … Continue reading →

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

Gig Review- TESLA – Islington Academy, London, 12 June 2014

Posted on June 28, 2014 by andynathan
TESLA - Islington Academy, 12 June 2014

Tesla’s UK tour in support of their excellent new album Simplicity was a blink and you miss it affair, this first London date preceding an appearance at Download the following day. But, blending old and new,  it was a timely … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Gig review: ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 25 June 2014

Posted on June 28, 2014 by petefeenstra
ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD – Shepherd

Royal Southern Brotherhood reconfigure the classic rhythm and blues revue to their own ends, with great playing, 3 great lead vocalists, glistening harmonies and an essential harmonic relationship between strong songs that gives the evening its free flowing feel. Their … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: EAGLES – Liverpool Echo Arena, 26 June 2014

Posted on June 27, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Eagles - Liverpool Echo Arena, 26 June 2014

The Eagles are one of those bands I thought the opportunity to see might have passed.  But the lure of the mighty $ has kept the band on the road, some might argue, well past their ‘best before’. Certainly some … Continue reading →

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

Gig review: MORELAND & ARBUCKLE – The Beaverwood Club, Chisehurst, 24 June 2014

Posted on June 26, 2014 by petefeenstra
MORELAND & ARBUCKLE – The Beaverwood Club, Chisehurst, 24 June 2014

Moreland & Arbuckle aren’t like any other blues band. The term Roots Rock hardly encapsulates the breadth of their music. They are a power trio with a difference, comprising harp, drum and guitar, with Aaron Moreland providing the bass lines … Continue reading →

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

Gig review – DESERT MOUNTAIN TRIBE – Bush Hall, London, 16 June 2014

Posted on June 26, 2014 by petefeenstra
Desert Mountain Tribe – Bush Hall, London, 16 June 2014

They came, they saw, they created spine-tingling psychedelic rock and then left quietly. Just like one of those cosmic moments when everything seems crystal clear and the universe is encapsulated in a flash, Desert Mountain Tribe hit a peak, but … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gig review: JEFF SCOTT SOTO – The Tivoli, Buckley, 23 June 2014

Posted on June 24, 2014 by GRTR! HQ
Jeff Scott Soto - The Tivoli, Buckley, 23 June 2014

Setlists.fm is a blessing and a curse.  Notwithstanding the occasional inaccuracy it has proved a boon to lazy or forgetful reviewers but also a useful tool to evaluate the worthiness of a tour.  And recently I used it to decide … Continue reading →

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