Category Archives: Special Events

Gig review: HAMMERFEST VII – Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015 (Day 2)

Kamelot, HAMMERFEST - Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015 (Day 2)

Day 2 Friday starts with a much drier morning with a bit of sun to burn those retinas open, also no doubt some massive hangovers as the over-indulgent among us get over their first night adrenaline/drinking sessions.  Theycan be no … Continue reading

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Gig review: HAMMERFEST VII – Pwllheli, Wales, 12 March 2015 (Day 1)

HAMMERFEST - Pwllheli, Wales, 12 March 2015 (Day 1)

So once again it’s time for the Pirate hordes to invade and take over the Hafan-Y-Mor site and by the amount of water falling out of the sky arriving on the Black Pearl wouldn’t have been out of place. This … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE FINNISH BLUES AWARDS 2015 – Virgin Oil Co, Helsinki, 21 March 2015

Finnish Blues Awards

Europe has long been a creative well for the blues, and while American culture and English language still remain the building blocks, Finnish blues bands and their European counterparts have been busy carving out their own niche. It’s perhaps stretching … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 2)

Nightranger - HRH AOR - Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 2)

Day 2 After a paltry 5 hours sleep and searching the little town of Criccieth for match sticks to keep my eyes open, and copious amounts of Pro Plus, I made my way back to the arenas where I like … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015 (Day 1)

Dare - HRH AOR - Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015

After an early start and a four and a half hour drive, I arrived at Hard Rock Hell  and was immediately struck by how well organised the event was.  The site was immaculate and the staff were friendly and helpful. … Continue reading

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Gig review: LEVELLERS – Opera House, Buxton, 5 March 2015

Levellers - Buxton Opera House, 5 March 2015

Walking up to the majestic Buxton Opera House it was noticeable that the crusty old tour vans of years gone by have been replaced by posh tour coaches but were Levellers still true to their roots?  Well tonight we were … Continue reading

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Gig review: THUNDER – The Attic, Glasgow,19 February 2015

THUNDER – The Attic, Glasgow,19 February 2015

This show was part of Thunder’s whirlwind promotional tour in support of the release of their excellent new album ‘Wonder Days’. The band were doing signing sessions and then playing a short acoustic set for selected prize winners (and the … Continue reading

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Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK – Minehead, 6-8 February 2015

Focus - Giants Of Rock, Minehead, 6-8 February 2015

The Pete Feenstra Rock & Blues Show – 24 February 2015 (Giants of Rock Special) by Get Ready To Rock! Radio on Mixcloud Pete Feenstra presents a weekly Rock & Blues Show, every Tuesday at 19:00 GMT on Get Ready … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL, Skegness, 23-25 January 2015

Lez Zeppelin - Great British Rock & Blues Festival 2015

Despite having an arguably weaker line-up than last year, the 19th Skegness Great British Rock & Blues Festival had an irresistible vibe, and the best moments from the likes of Skinny Molly, Caravan, Del Bromham, Babajack, Roadhouse and Nine Below … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE LEVELLERS – A Curious Life

The Levellers - A Curious Life

In the coming months The Levellers are taking to the road for a series of live acoustic gigs along with the screening of ‘A Curious Life’, a documentary covering the band’s 27 years of folk rock mayhem. The film opens … Continue reading

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Gig review: PLANET ROCKSTOCK – Porthcawl, 7 December 2014 (Day 3: Magnum, The Answer)

Magnum - Planet Rockstock, Porthcawl, 7 December 2014

Jagermeister Second Stage Fireroad have the task of opening the Jagermeister stage on the Sunday, and having just come back from America where they played with Lynyrd Skynyrd on the Simpleman Cruise, getting this crowd going should be no problem. … Continue reading

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Gig review: PLANET ROCKSTOCK – Porthcawl, 6 December 2014 (Day 2: Michael Schenker, Joe Elliott)

Michael Schenker - Planet Rockstock, Porthcawl, 6 December 2014

Jagermeister Stage Day 2 at Rockstock and the first day on the Jagermeister second stage and opening up are local band Serpentine.  The band have recently had line-up changes and it is certainly nice to see them back in action … Continue reading

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Gig review: PLANET ROCKSTOCK – Porthcawl, 5 December 2014 (Day 1: California Breed, Joanne Shaw Taylor)

PLANET ROCKSTOCK - Porthcawl, 5 December 2014

Planet Rockstock is one of a number of festivals springing up all over the country during off seasons in the holiday parks and I think it is safe to say that these will continue to grow in the future. Porthcawl … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL 8 – Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

HARD ROCK HELL 8 - Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

Simon Dunkerley writes: I hadn’t seen opening act MORE play for 33 years.  In fact the last time was at Monster Of Rock – the original Download before all the hype took over and turned it into the money making … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL 8 – Pwllheli, 13-14 November 2014

HARD ROCK HELL - Pwllheli, 13-14 November 2014

Simon Dunkerley writes: The time has come to rally the HRH tribe for the last time this year to yet another sold out celebration of all things rock with a lineup that has so many great names both old and … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE TEXAS FLOOD, Hard Rock Hell, Pwllheli, 14 November 2014

THE TEXAS FLOOD, Hard Rock Hell, Pwllheli, 14 November 2014

The opening slot on any of the stages can be daunting but for The Texas Flood it’s even more so as these young guys take on their biggest gig yet. After going to Glasgow and winning the top slot at … Continue reading

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Gig review: VARDIS – Hard Rock Hell, Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

Vardis - Hard Rock Hell, Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

Band reformations always form differences of opinions but the few thousand people watching Vardis on the main stage at Hard Rock Hell delivered their overwhelmingly positive verdict. After being apart for almost 30 years, drummer Gary Pearson, after a lot … Continue reading

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Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL 8 – Pwllheli, November 2014 (Overview)

HARD ROCK HELL, Pwllheli, 15 November 2014

Photo: David Randall Seeing Grifter on the second stage made me reflect on the current state of the rock scene.  There are many similar bands plying their trade, in this case inspired by the heavy rock first purveyed widely by … Continue reading

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Gig review: NAZARETH – Metropolis Studios, London, 14 November 2014

Nazareth - Metropolis Studios, London, 14 November 2014

A new chapter in Nazareth’s long history was captured for posterity at this very special gig. They used Metropolis, one of London’s top studios in a converted power station in Chiswick, to record a live DVD in front of an … Continue reading

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Gig review: FIREFEST – Nottingham Rock City, 24-26 October 2014 (Day 3)

Axxis - Firefest, Nottingham Rock City, 26 October 2014

DAY 3 -  DANGER DANGER, AUTOGRAPH, CONEY HATCH, BROTHER FIRETRIBE, TOUCH, GUILD OF AGES, AXXIS The final day of ‘the final fling’ began with a slightly left field choice of veteran German rockers Axxis, and yet they blew the cobwebs … Continue reading

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Gig review: FIREFEST – Nottingham Rock City, 24-26 October 2014 (Day 2)

Rage Of Angels -  Firefest - Nottingham Rock City, 25 October 2014

DAY 2 – FIREHOUSE, BLACK N BLUE, PRETTY MAIDS, BABYLON AD, BOULEVARD, FROM THE FIRE, RAGE OF ANGELS Day 2 also began with home grown talent in Rage Of Angels, formed by Ged Rylands who was playing guitar rather than … Continue reading

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Gig review: FIREFEST – Nottingham Rock City, 24-26 October 2014 (Day 1)

Pretty Maids - Firefest, Nottingham Rock City, 25 October 2014

GRTR!’s resident Melodic Rock/AOR expert Andy Nathan has been covering Firefest for us right from the start.  Andy’s informed report and Simon Dunkerley’s inspired photos celebrate ‘The Final Fling’ as the festival bows out in style… The announcement last year … Continue reading

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Gig review: BLUES FEST 2014 – Royal Albert Hall, London, 28 October 2014

Georgie Fame - Blues Fest 2014, Royal Albert Hall, London, 28 October 2014

An afternoon session at the Albert Hall for the 2014 Blues Fest was a pleasant surprise, as the old building opened its doors to some of smaller rooms to house a wide array of exciting blues talent. Perhaps it was … Continue reading

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Gig review: MELODIC ROCK FEST 4, H.O.M.E.Bar, Arlington Heights,Chicago, USA, 3-5 October 2014

The Radio Sun - Melodic Rock Fest 4, Chicago, October 2014

After the success of the third Melodic Rock Fest last September, the attempt to bring to the Americans the cult melodic rock bands that are seen at Firefest and other places, melodicrock.com supremo Andrew McNeice swiftly moved forward with plans … Continue reading

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Gig review: JEFF LYNNE’S ELO – Hyde Park, London, 14 September 2014

A crowd of 50,000 in Hyde Park eagerly anticipating the first full live show from Jeff Lynne (billed as Jeff Lynne’s ELO) since 1986 in the UK and the last full live shows were a couple of US TV concert … Continue reading

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