Category Archives: ALL POSTS

Gig review: QUARANTUNE ROCKS 2022, The Victoria Bikers Pub, Coalville 21 & 22 October 2022

tdmh1

A group of rock music fans who supported each other during Lockdown gathered at the Victoria Bikers Pub, Coalville on 21-22 October, for Quarantune Rocks 2022, a weekend of live music supporting new rock bands and small music venues. “For … Continue reading

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Album review: CACTUS – Evil Is Going On (The Atco Albums 1970-72, 8 CDs)

Cactus_AtcoAlbums1970-72-min

Cherry Red [Release date 28.10.22] Quite some Cactus boxset. Cherry Red have repackaged all of the Blues Rock legends’  releases into a sturdy 8 CD box. It contains the 4 studio albums recorded 1972-74, and 4 albums’ worth of live … Continue reading

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Album review: RICHARD MARX – Songwriter

RICHARD MARX- Songwriter

Shelter Records (Release date 30.09.22) Only a year after releasing his last album. ‘Limitless’, Richard Marx is back with perhaps his most ambitious work yet. The very title suggests that despite a solo career which made him one of the … Continue reading

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Gig review: MONSTER TRUCK- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 11 October 2022

MONSTER TRUCK- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 11 October 2022

The main stage Saturday lineup at this year’s Download Festival was enlivened by two fine mid afternoon performances, one after the other, from Those Damn Crows, then Monster Truck. A bout of severe hay fever had stopped me fully enjoying … Continue reading

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Quick plays: MOON LETTERS, SILVER NIGHTMARES, MITCHELL’S KISS OF THE GYPSY

MOON LETTERS Thank You From The Future

MOON LETTERS Thank You From The Future  Website Moon Letters hail from Seattle having formed in 2016 and this is their second album. Their line-up consists of guitarist Dave Webb, vocalist and flautist Michael Trew, drummer Kelly Mynes, bassist Mike … Continue reading

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Album review: THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – Tubular Bells 50th Anniversary Celebration

THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA - Tubular Bells 50th Anniversary Celebration

Cleopatra Records [Release date 28.10.22] The question has to be asked.  Do we really need another take on the classic ‘Tubular Bells’?  It has to be one of the most re-worked pieces  not least by Mike Oldfield himself. Well, it … Continue reading

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Album review: 25 YARD SCREAMER – Nemesis

25 YARD SCREAMER - Nemesis

White Knight Records [Release date 07.10.22] Welsh trio 25 Yard Screamer, now it seems a duo, captured our attention in 2007 with their magnum opus ‘Cassandra”.  That year they appeared on our Rising Stars stage at Cambridge Rock.  Since that … Continue reading

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Album review: CLIMB ABOARD MY ROUNDABOUT (British Toytown Sounds, 1967-1974)

Climb-Aboard-front-cover-jpeg-min

Cherry Red [Release date: 28.10.22] The British Toytown Pop Sound of the late sixties was not a genre with staying power, but it was fun while it lasted. The very nature of its aesthetic – vaguely humorous songs describing mythical … Continue reading

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Album review: TURKISH DELIGHT – Volume 1

TURKISH DELIGHT - Volume 1

Escape Music [Release date 21.10.22] Turkish Delight celebrates the joy that Escape Music co-owner Khalil Turk has for the kind of music he loves so much, namely AOR and melodic rock. This selection was personally chosen by Khalil, with material … Continue reading

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Album review: STRYPER – The Final Battle

stryper final

Frontiers [Release date: 21.10.22] Stryper are a talented, durable, outspoken band, and well before their gradual drift from AOR to Hard Rock to Heavy Metal they were strongly influenced by what they observed around them, and accordingly expressed their beliefs … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE SHEEPDOGS – Electric Ballroom, London, 9 October 2022

THE SHEEPDOGS- Electric Ballroom, London, 9 October 2022

There seems no end to a newer generation of bands drawing their inspiration from the classic rock sounds of the late sixties and seventies. One such are The Sheepdogs, from Saskatchewan in rural Canada, though they have actually been around … Continue reading

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Album review: TRAGIK – Cry For Love

Tragik-CryForLove-front

Rock Company Records [Release date 14.10.22] Album number eleven I believe by Tragik who feature Phil Vincent (vocals, bass, keys), Dirk Phillips (drums), and Damian D’Ercole (guitars). Once again Jacob Hansen has mastered the album. ‘Thrill Of It All’ and … Continue reading

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Album review: IRON ALLIES – Blood In Blood Out

iron allies blood

AFM Records [release date: 21.10.02] Iron Allies is a band with an impressive Metal heritage. It’s Herman (Accept/ Victory/ Moondoc) Frank’s new band, and if ever an artist invokes the genre it is he. He’s brought in another well known … Continue reading

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Album Review: C85 (3CD Various Artists)

C85-cover-min-800x800

Cherry Red [release date: 21.10.22] Taking its lead from NME’s ultra successful C86, this 72 track, triple CD release, C85, celebrates the rise and rise of the Indie band in the UK. In 1986, NME scribe Neil Taylor had the … Continue reading

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Gig review: HOWARD JONES TRIO – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 16 October 2022

hjones_ac2022

“I just want to reassure you that we are actually here, not holograms.” It’s an usual way to open a show, but, having seen the technological marvel that is ABBA Voyage a few days previously, Howard Jones wants to emphasise … Continue reading

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EP review: BASTETTE – Awakening

BASTETTE - Awakening

Website [Release date 30.09.22] Bastette, is the brain child of singer/songwriter Caroline, the alt-rock goddess and her band hail from Blackburn, having formed in early 2019, they are currently taking the rock scene by storm with lots of live performances … Continue reading

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Album review: SAM SWEENEY – Escape That

SAM SWEENEY - Escape That

Hudson Records [Release date 21.10.22] Renowned fiddle player Bellowhead member Sam Sweeney returns with an album that ties together the threads of Sam’s musical loves; combining pop hooks and his pioneering work in the world of traditional dance tunes. Written … Continue reading

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Album review: THE MOON CITY MASTERS – The Famous Moon City Masters

The Moon City Masters - The Famous Moon City Masters

Facebook [Release date 04.11.22] The Moon City Masters, aka brothers Jordan and Talor Steinberg, unleash their 70s infused debut album upon us. Despite rivalling Nelson in the hair product stakes, the Moon City Masters have their musical roots firmly in the 70s, … Continue reading

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Album review: EDDIE and THE HOT RODS – The Singles 1976-85 (2 CDs)

eddie hot rods singles

Cherry Red [release date: 14.10.22] So much crammed into these two Eddie and The Hot Rods’ compilation CDs. So much history here. Of the band, of the nascent sound of Punk. Of the talent that flowed through the various line-ups. … Continue reading

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Album review: BLUE OCTOBER – Spinning The Truth Around

blue october spinning

Up/Down Records [Release date: 14.10.22] Compulsive songwriter Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October is long past previous compulsions. The only thing he’s tested positive for in recent years is Covid, and he shook that off pretty quickly. And now this authentic … Continue reading

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Album review: THE DOWLING POOLE – Refuse

THE DOWLING POOLE Refuse

Bandcamp [Release date 14.10.22] ‘Refuse’, the new album from The Dowling Poole features all of the ‘digital only’ tracks the group occasionally released for short periods of time and are now collated on this physical release.  Each track has been … Continue reading

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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) 2023

Steel Bars - A Tribute to Michael Bolton

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January – June 2023 To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on a Mac) on the keyboard. The “F” stands for “Find,” and … Continue reading

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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2023)

Blackberry Smoke, O2 Islington Academy, London, 28 February 2014

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Updated 22/12/2023 UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2023) To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, … Continue reading

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Album review: HUMBLE PIE – I Need A Star In My Life

HUMBLE PIE - I Need A Start In My Life

Cleopatra Records [Release date 02.09.22] Humble Pie’s light shone for a few years in the early 1970s  when – with Peter Frampton in the line-up – they released the classic live album ‘Performance Rockin The Fillmore’. By 1974 the band’s … Continue reading

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Gig review: URIAH HEEP – London Palladium, 5 October 2022

URIAH HEEP- London Palladium, 5 October 2022

I wonder what the famous critic of their first album who threatened to commit suicide if they made it would think of Uriah Heep celebrating 50 years. Through that time the band, and sole remaining original member Mick Box in … Continue reading

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