Category Archives: GIG REVIEWS

Gig review: ELTON JOHN- The 02 London, 9 April 2023

ELTON JOHN- The 02 London, 9 April 2023

When Elton John announced he was retiring from live shows with a “Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour, it was time to cross one of the very few remaining living artists off my bucket list. I hung the expense and bought … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARDWICKE CIRCUS- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 6 April 2023

HARDWICKE CIRCUS- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 6 April 2023

Hardwicke Circus, from the unlikely rock’ n’.roll hotbed of Carlisle are building a name for themselves. This is no overnight sensation as I actually saw an earlier line-up as long ago as 2017 supporting Southside Johnny (and am vaguely flattered … Continue reading

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Gig review: TED POLEY – The Black Heart, London, 29 March 2023

TED POLEY- The Black Heart, London, 29 March 2023

The irrepressible, infectious figure of singer Ted Poley has been a welcome visitor to these shores regularly over the years, both with Danger Danger and also in a variety of other projects such as Bone Machine and Melodica.  However he … Continue reading

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Gig review: PIXIES – Roundhouse, London, 21 March 2023

Gig review: PIXIES – Roundhouse, London, 21 March 2023

The last time I saw Pixies live, they played the Forum in Kentish Town which was still called the Town & Country Club, and when the band’s brand of punky, indie, noisy alternative rock was still in its first flush. … Continue reading

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Gig review: LAURENCE JONES, Boom Boom Club, Sutton – 10 March 2023

LAURENCE JONES, Boom Boom Club, Sutton- 10 March 2023

The 21st century has seen a huge number of young blues guitar prodigies emerge from the UK and then establish themselves to a greater or lesser degree- Joanne Shaw Taylor, Oli Brown, Virgil McMahon and Aynsley Lister to name but … Continue reading

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Gig review: LUST FOR LIFE – The Lexington, London, 12 March 2023

Gig review: LUST FOR LIFE – The Lexington, London, 12 March 2023

This was a proper throwback gig melding pioneering punk, art rock, new wave and all points in-between,  battered out by a scratch band pulled together specifically to celebrate the forty-fifth anniversary of Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust For Life’ album. Tony Fox … Continue reading

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Gig review: ANA POPOVIC – Islington O2 Academy, London, 10 March 2023

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The last vestiges of winter still had its cold tendrils curling around the country, falls of snow and a chill wind was everywhere, even in the midst of London town. Things though in Islington had rapidly heated up, the arrival … Continue reading

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Gig review: KING KING – Electric Ballroom, London, 9 March 2023

KING KING- Electric Ballroom, London, 9 March 2023

King King are a reliably regular touring act and this spring tour comes exactly a year after the last. If there was a sense of curiosity last year about the new line up with Alan Nimmo joined by big brother … Continue reading

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Gig review: BRAVE RIVAL – Tropic at Ruislip, London, 5 March 2023

BRAVE RIVAL- Tropic at Ruislip, London, 5 March 2023

In an ever more crowded field of new acts, particularly in the world of blues rock, it is hard to sort out the exceptional talent from the merely good. As a shortcut through this minefield, I tend to rely on … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK BEAR KISS – Black Bear Kiss (and album launch – 3 March 2023)

Black Bear Kiss

[Release date 03.03.23] Black Bear Kiss are a 4 piece upbeat rock band, who formed in 2016 by long term collaborators and good friends Rob Jones (guitar) and Chris Leech (vocals), with drummer Chris Bagnall and bassist Rich Sach coming … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STAR RIDERS – Shepherds Bush Empire, 26 February 2023

BLACK STAR RIDERS, Shepherds Bush Empire- 26 February 2023

Prior to the pandemic Black Star Riders were one of the hardest working acts, seemingly constantly on tour or playing festivals. So it was something of a surprise that this was their first tour since Lockdown, though there have been … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARTIN TURNER – Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 24 February 2023

MARTIN TURNER- Boom Boom Club, Sutton, 24 February 2023

For the last few years founder member Martin Turner has delighted his Wishbone Ash fans with a series of tours that have featured one of their classic albums in their entirety. As that particular list has progressed to the lower … Continue reading

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Gig review: THOSE DAMN CROWS – Islington Assembly Hall, London – 24th February 2023

THOSE DAMN CROWS – Islington Assembly Hall, London – 24th February 2023

The Assembly Hall had a celebratory atmosphere about the place and a keen sense of anticipation was in the air ahead of Those Damn Crows. Support came from fellow Welsh rockers, James And The Cold Gun who helped to bubble … Continue reading

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Gig review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Alexanders, Chester, 2 March 2023

ELEANOR McEVOY - Alexanders, Chester, 2 March 2023

Halfway through her UK tour, and a day after our major feature was published, Alexanders in Chester could well be the Grotto to Eleanor McEvoy’s Greatness.  A favourite venue certainly since the early millennium.  Catching up for a chat pre-gig … Continue reading

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Gig review: STONE BROKEN – 100 Club, London, 23 February 2023

STONE BROKEN- 100 Club, London, 23 February 2023

After a fairly conventional tour schedule in 2022 (in which I caught their London show, rearranged for the Scala, and two festival appearances) Stone Broken decided on a new approach for a second leg of dates in support of most … Continue reading

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Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – Powerhaus, London, 11 February 2023

Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – Powerhaus, London, 11 February 2023

My first visit to the renamed Dingwalls since it changed name and ownership in 2020. The venue was near its 500-berth capacity for Robert Jon & The Wreck who have sold out a good few dates on this tour. First … Continue reading

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Gig review: BOTH SIDES NOW: Homage to the Songs of Joni Mitchell – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Wednesday 8 February 2023

Both Sides Now - A Tribute To The Songs Of Joni Mitchell

Without doubt one of the finest and most influential songwriters and performers of the past six decades, Joni Mitchell has a unique style that has seen countless music fans fall under her spell. Since her debut performing in local clubs … Continue reading

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Gig review: KRIS BARRAS BAND – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 7 February 2023

KRIS BARRAS BAND- The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 7 February 2023

If there were a prize for the hardest working band in rock, the Kris Barras Band must be in contention. This second full length tour in 10 months takes in a remarkable 25 dates and despite these difficult times has … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLACK STONE CHERRY AND THE DARKNESS – Wembley Arena, London, 4 February 2023

BLACK STONE CHERRY AND THE DARKNESS- Wembley Arena, London, 4 February 2023

When this joint headline arena tour was announced, my first thoughts were that Black Stone Cherry and The Darkness were not natural bedfellows- the earnest blue collar southern rockers from Kentucky and the eccentric English band from East Anglia who … Continue reading

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Gig review: DIRTY HONEY – The Garage, London, 24 January 2023

DIRTY HONEY- The Garage, London, 24 January 2023

Many American bands are choosing to skip Europe and the UK with the rising cost of touring. And the cost of living crisis and the sheer volume of gigs as the industry tries to make up for the time lost … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEWOLFF – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Thursday 5 January 2023

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New Album – Love, Death & In Between (Album Launch Party Gig) GRTR! has been trumpeting the extraordinarily versatile southern rock, psychedelic/blues uber-combo, DeWolff, for years now and they have really excelled themselves with their new album, “Love, Death & … Continue reading

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Gig review: SKERRYVORE AND MANRAN – Albert Hall, Stirling – 29th December 2022

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This gig was another that felt a bit like being an extra in an episode of Dr Who, you know it’s 2022 but you are handing over a ticket for a show in 2020! Yup, this show has been hit … Continue reading

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Gig review: GUN – Barrowlands, Glasgow – 10th Dec 2022

Christmas comes but once a year and you can be sure that there will be a date with Gun at the Barra’s with the same regularity. This annual event has now become part of many a Christmas schedule in the … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE DEAD DAISIES – 02 Forum, London, 6 December 2022

THE DEAD DAISIES- 02 Forum, London, 6 December 2022

The constantly revolving lineups of travelling supergroup The Dead Daisies, the plaything of rhythm guitarist and businessman David Lowy, seem to have reached some belated stability, fronted by the equally mercurial Glenn Hughes. They were back in London to promote … Continue reading

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Gig review: ALTER BRIDGE – 02 Arena, London, 12 December 2022

ALTER BRIDGE – 02 Arena, London, 12 December 2022

A combination of bitter weather and transport snarl ups meant I missed opening act and Wolfgang Van Halen’s current project, Mammoth WVH. I was, however, in plenty of time to see Halestorm’s fiery, combative set. Plenty of others were too. … Continue reading

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