Category Archives: Special Events

Gig review: ROCKIN’ THE BLUES 2018 – The Garage, London, 17 March 2018

Eric Gales - ROCKIN

In this hour special first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in April 2018, Pete Feenstra chats to Eric Gales, Gary Hoey, Lance Lopez and Quinn Sullivan, with tracks from their respective current albums. The inaugural Rockin’ The Blues … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Friday 9 March 2018 (Day 2)

Night Ranger - HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, Friday 9 March 2018

Having given up the opportunity of the Thursday after-show party, a leisurely start to Friday was rewarded with Scottish rockers The King Lot.  They kicked off the main stage activity and, after a  successful Pledge campaign for their second album, … Continue reading

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Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 3)

Chantel McGregor - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 3)

Day 3 – Sunday As the final day started we wouldn’t have been surprised to see Bobby Kimball sliding out of the curtains reminiscing about his appearance on Toto IV but … instead Chantel McGregor got the juices flowing with … Continue reading

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Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 2)

John Verity - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 2)

Day 2 – Saturday John Verity opened up shop on a damp Saturday with a thoughtful blues rock set, not overplaying his own solo material (new album: Blue To My Soul) and treating us to some familiar standards including ‘Cocaine’ … Continue reading

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Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26-29 January 2018 (Day 1)

FM - GIANTS OF ROCK - Butlins, Minehead, 26 January 2018 (Day 1)

News during the week that Wetherspoons had taken steak off their menu may not have been of great interest until we learn that Butlins also get their meat from the same source that is currently “under investigation”.  The loss of … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL, Skegness, 19-22 January 2018

Nazareth - Giants of Rock 2018

I’ve enjoyed various Butlins music weekends over the years but 2018 will be the first where I’ve done two such weekends on the trot. My Butlins blow-out started off with the Rock & Blues weekend in Skegness – with just … Continue reading

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Gig review: The Choir Boy, A Bullet Belt & Lemmy by Tim Atkinson – Saffron Waldren, 28 December 2017

The Choir Boy, A Bullet Belt & Lemmy by Tim Atkinson - Saffron Waldren, 28 December 2017

It is December 28th 2017 two years to the day of the passing of his lord Lemmy; after a treacherous walk uphill on sheet and black ice, a Jack Daniels and Coke is in my hand and I am compelled … 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: GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 27-30 January 2017

Steve Hackett - Giants of Rock, Minehead, January 2017

David Randall sets the scene… Giants of Rock.  Geriatrics of Rock?  It’s where we’ve ended up.  The bracing sea air, the faded resort town, the surfeit of hand-wash.   These events as much remind us of our own mortality as that … Continue reading

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Gig review: WATCHET FESTIVAL – 27-28 August 2016

WATCHET FESTIVAL - 27-28 August 2016

Watchet Festival – The small festival with a huge heart… Saturday 27th August After spending what felt like half my lifetime sitting in the giant car park that is the M5, he beautiful scenery as we drove along the winding … Continue reading

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Gig review: MOONDANCE JAM – Walker, Minnesota, USA, 21-23 July 2016

CHICAGO - MOONDANCE JAM - July 2016

Considering the previous generation thought rock n roll was a passing fad, and given the pace of change in the industry, it is a substantial feat for any rock festival to reach a 25 year milestone. It is even more … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL – Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 24 July 2016 (Day 2)

The Darkness - STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL - Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 24 July 2016

After the success of the previous day and coupled with great weather, arriving on site on the Sunday morning to damp and drizzly conditions soon brought us back down to earth with a bump. Sunday’s line up for myself was … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL – Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 23 July 2016 (Day 1)

STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL - Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 23 July 2016

As a founding fan from the very first event where a couple of hundred people showed, I have been fortunate to see Steelhouse grow year on year.  Along with many others I heard the rumours almost every year that Thunder … Continue reading

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Gig review: SOS FESTIVAL, Manchester, 15-17 July 2016

Absolva - SOS FESTIVAL, Manchester, 15-17 July 2016

With suitable tunes on the car stereo we headed over to Prestwich, Manchester for the Rocksector Records annual get-together, ‘SOS Festival’.  Now in its ninth year it has a new home and has moved out of the now demolished Civic … Continue reading

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Gig review: Festival D’ete De Quebec, 7-17 July 2016

Festival D

If I was to ask you if you had ever heard of Festival D’ete De Quebec I am betting the answer would be NO … me neither so when I was handed the opportunity to experience this event I jumped … Continue reading

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Gig review: Breaking Bands Festival – Stoke Prior Country Club, 27-29 May 2016

Breaking Bands Festival - Stoke Prior Country Club, 27-29 May 2016

Still in its infancy, Breaking Bands Festival has yet again shown how to organise, run and sell a music festival that was sold out way before the event.  And, over the May bank holiday weekend and following days, it was … Continue reading

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Gig review: DOWNLOAD, Donington Park, 10-12 June 2016

DOWNLOAD, 10-12 June 2016

My last visit to Donington was back in 1988 when – as ‘Monsters Of Rock’ – it also featured Megadeth and headlined by Iron Maiden. I never really embraced the three day event and with not enough bands of interest … Continue reading

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Gig review: BEARDED THEORY FESTIVAL – Catton Hall, Derbyshire, 26-29 May 2016

BEARDED THEORY FESTIVAL - Catton Hall, Derbyshire, 26-29 May 2016

Bearded Theory  A field full of happiness… In May 2013, Bearded Theory festival captured a piece of my heart and has steadfastly refused to give it back since.  It’s impossible not to love this place and I’m not the only … Continue reading

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