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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2025
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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD/Bluray) 2026
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Upcoming: Festivals UK & Europe (2026)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2026)
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Latest Album Reviews
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Album review: ROSS HARDING – The Blood and the Blues
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Album review: PETE KOSANOVICH – Beauty Within You
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Album review : ROB MORATTI – Sovereign
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Album review : BRAZEN ABBOT – Live And Learn and Guilty As Sin (CD reissues)
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Album review : GRAHAM BONNET – Lost In Hollywood Again (Live)
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JIM PETERIK AND WORLD STAGE – River of Song – The Power Of Duets, Volume 1
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: STEVE OVERLAND AND JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Weir, Brentford, Middlesex, 9 December 2025
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Gig review: JOHN OTWAY – Face Bar, Reading, Thursday 11 December 2025
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Gig review: CURVED AIR – The Sub Rooms, Stroud, 20 November 2025
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Gig review: MARTIN BARRE & FRIENDS – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, 18 November 2025
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GRTR! Greats
Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Category Archives: ALL POSTS
Album review: WILLIE DOWLING – The Simpleton
Bandcamp [Release date 01.11.24] A new Willie Dowling album, whether it be under his own name or as part of one of his many fine groups like the Grip, Honeycrack, the Dowling Poole et al, is always a treat. On … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, classic rock, review, The Simpleton, Willie Dowling
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Album review: BOBBY ‘BORIS’ PICKETT – The Monster Mash
Decca [Release date 11.10.24] Bobby Pickett, a comedian and singer/songwriter, recorded this track after fronting a band called the Cordials by night, while attending auditions by day. Part of his act would include a monologue imitating Boris Karloff (probably best … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett, classic pop, Decca, HaLLoween, pop, review, The Monster Mash
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Gig review: SAMANTHA FISH – Koko, London, 6 October 2024
The splendid Koko was brimming full for the return of Samantha Fish to these shores with her own band, following last year’s shows with Jesse Dayton. And great to see the crowd that welcomed The Zac Schulze Gang’s support slot … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 6 October 2024, band, blues, gig, guitarist, Koko, review, rock, Samantha Fish, Zac Schulze
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Album review: STEVE KNIGHTLEY – The Winter Yards
Website [Release date 04.10.24] With Show of Hands on ‘an indefinite break’, Steve Knightley releases this, his first solo studio album in 17 years. Guest artists on the album include his Show of Hands partner-in-crime Phil Beer, Phillip Henry (Edgelarks), Madrid-based Track … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, contemporary music, folk, melodic, review, Show Of Hands, songwriter, Steve Knightley, The Winter Yards
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Gig review: APOCALYPTICA – SWG3, Glasgow, 3 October 2024
Many years ago I attended a guitar masterclass with the legendary singer/songwriter Gordon Giltrap. It was just one man with an acoustic guitar, but the sound and sheer ferocity of riffage he managed to extract from his poor, tortured acoustic … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 3rd Oct 2024, Apocalyptica, cello, Eicca Toppinen, gig, Glasgow, James Hetfield, live, Master Of Puppets, Metallica, One, Perttu Kivilaakso, Plays Metallica Vol 2, Rob Trujillo, Sad But True, SWG 3
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Album review : NIGHTMARE – Waiting For The Power, The Early Years (3 CD Set)
Cherry Red [Release date : 11.10.24] French cult Metal band, Nightmare, released the album, Encrypted, last year. Their 12th since forming in 1979. We reviewed it in GRTR! a few months ago. In another scoop for Cherry Red, remasters of … Continue reading
Gig review: MARTIN TURNER – 100 Club, London, 3 October 2024
2024 has seen Wishbone Ash founder member Martin Turner tour a set based around the Live Dates Volume Two album: perhaps less heralded than its predecessor, this 1980 release shows the ‘Mark 2’ phase of the band at their finest … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 100 Club, Danny Willson, gig, Live Dates Volume Two, Martin Turner, Misha Nikolic, Sonny Flint, Wishbone Ash
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Album review: CLEANBREAK – We Are The Fire
Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] We Are The Fire is the second album from Cleanbreak, Mike (Riot/Riot V) Flyntz and Frontiers’ wunderkind, James Durbin. While Mark Reale and Rhett Forester were getting all the headlines with Riot and Riot V, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alessandro Delvecchio, Cleanbreak, Frontiers, hard rock, James Durbin, metal, Mike Flyntz, review, Riot V, Stryper, We Are The Fire
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Album review: SMASH ATOMS
M-Theory Audio [Release date 11.10.24] This year SMASH ATOMS have been bubbling under, mainly from the overwhelming and surprising response the Swedish quartet have received from commercial/active rock radio. Servicing their first single/video “Down” inspired a dozen stations to immediately … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, debut, grunge, review, rock, self-titled, Smash Atoms
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Album review : THUNDER – The Complete EMI Recordings 1989-95 (7 CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date 27.08.24] Thunder rose from the ashes of Terraplane, a two album English band who never escaped from label interference. Singer Danny Bowes and guitarist, Luke Morley, along with Gary “Harry” James, Ben Matthews and Mark “Snake” … Continue reading
Gig review: VINCENT FLATTS FINAL DRIVE – Slim Jim’s Liquor Store, Islington, London 4 October 2024
Tonight is the sort of gig that restates the true staples of rock and roll, namely the holy trinity of a great band, a welcoming venue and receptive audience. Birmingham’s Vincent Flatts Final Drive is the kind kick ass band … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 4 October 2024, AC/DC, Americana, Bernard Allison, Bertie, boogie, Captain Beefheart, funk, Gary Harper, live, London, review, Rich Shelton, rock, Russ Cook, Slim Jim's Liquor Store, Starfighters, Steve Burton, The Georgia Satellites, Vincent Flatts Final Drive
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Album review: SUNJAY – I’m Just Like You
Website [Release date 11.11.24] This latest album by singer, songwriter and blues guitarist Sunjay is a tribute to blues legend Chris Smither. The album features 15 of Chris Smither’s original songs, it was originally recorded as a private gift for Smither’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acoustic, blues, Chris Smither, folk, guitarist, I'm Just Like You, review, singer songwriter, Sunjay
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EP review: CLUB PARADISE – Life On TV
Facebook [Release date 11.10.24] Club Paradise is made up of school friends Ryan Young (vocals/guitar), Jackson Vert (lead guitar), Harry Webb (bass) and Nathan Hogg (drums). They have been together for over a decade and it shows in that they have a tight sound/decent production values. The EP features … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Club Paradise, EP, indie, indie pop, indie rock, Life On TV, melodic, pop rock, review
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Album review: RADIOACTIVE – Reset
Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] Swedish musician/songwriter/producer, Tommy Denander has been an integral part of the AOR/Melodic Rock scene for more than 25 years now. He’s worked closely with countless musicians in the genre, most notably Bobby Kimball, Alice Cooper … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Bobby Kimball, Jeff Paris, Jim Jidhed, Jimi Jamison, Mutt Lange, RADIOACTIVE, Reset, review, Robin McAuley, Tommy Denander, Toto
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Album review: SLIK – The Complete Slik Collection (2 CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date : 11.10.24] This is as much a story about two songwriters, Scotland’s Bill Martin and Irishman, Phil Coulter, as it is the story of Scottish band Slik who enjoyed a 3 year lifespan, 1975-1977. Martin and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Band Aid, Bay City Rollers, Bill Martin, Cherry Red, Live Aid, Midge Ure, Phil Coulter, review, Rich Kids, Slik, ULTRAVOX, Visage
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Album review: HOUSE OF LORDS – Full Tilt Overdrive
Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] More of a commitment than an album title, the House Of Lords 12th recording, Full Tilt Overdrive, follows through on the “in your face melodic hard rock” of their 2022 release, Saints and Sinners. It … Continue reading
Gig review: BLUE NATION- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 27 September 2024
Blue Nation are a band making a growing name for themselves. They’ve actually been around quite some while, but about 18 months ago I’d been impressed enough by their support slot with Laurence Jones to buy a CD, so the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Blue Nation, blues rock, gig, Luke Weston, Neil Murdoch, Nick Sharman, The Cavern
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Album review: FANS OF THE DARK – Video
Frontiers [Release date : 11.10.24] There’s a lot to love about Fans Of The Dark’s third album, Video. Their last album, Suburbia, was a nostalgic look at the life we led in the eighties – primarily teen culture, home entertainment … Continue reading
News: JESSE DAMON, NICKY HOPKINS, NEIL YOUNG (October 2024)
After Lapse release their new album ‘Pathways’ on December 13 on Frontiers. Arch Enemy release their twelfth studio album, ‘Blood Dynasty’, on March 28 via Century Media Records. Joan Armatrading has announced that her new album, ‘How Did This Happen And What Does … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, blues, folk, gigs, Jesse Damon, melodic rock, metal, Neil Young, news, Nicky Hopkins, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates
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Album review: KALANDRA – A Frame Of Mind
By Norse Music [Release date 13.09.24] What is it with Scandinavia – still enticing and alluring with it’s Scandi Noir blend of melancholy and repressed emotion? If you want an album to soothe the soul as we head out of … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged A Frame Of Mind, album, ambient, folk, Kalandra, Progressive Rock, review
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Gig review: NICK LOWE AND LOS STRAITJACKETS- London Palladium, 24 September 2024
Nick Lowe is one of rock’s most distinguished statesmen, with a history that includes his time in Brinsley Schwarz, seen as the original pub rockers, then a mainstay of the new wave as producer, songwriter and performer. Indeed there is … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Andy Fairweather Low, gig, Los Straitjackets, New Wave, NICK LOWE, Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets, pub rock
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Album review: MOUNTAIN – Over The Top
Voiceprint [Release date 04.10.24] Formed by guitarist/vocalist Leslie West in the late 60s, Mountain took their name from West’s debut solo album and soon became successful and important in the US hard rock/blues rock scene. Mountain are (or should be) … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged 70's rock, best of, blues rock, classic rock, Corky Laing, Felix Pappalardi, Leslie West, Mountain, Over the Top, re-issue, review, rock
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Album review : D-A-D Speed Of Darkness
AFM Records [Release date 04.10.24] Not often we review a museum piece. Copenhagen’s Peoples Museum is celebrating D-A-D’s 40 years in the music business this year. The band itself is recognising this milestone with a double album of brand new … Continue reading
EP review: ALL I KNOW – Stiletto Nightmare
Website [Release date 01.08.24] This refreshingly ‘80’s inspired slab of keyboard heavy melodic rock would have been all over the radio in years gone by, but for now bands like All I Know are keeping the light flickering for legions of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged All I Know, EP, Europe, hard rock, melodic rock, review, rock, Scorpions, Stage Dolls, Stiletto Nightmare
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Album review: MOONSTONE PROJECT – New Life
Escape Music [Release date 18.09.24] Moonstone Project is masterminded by guitarist and songwriter Matt Filippini. ‘New Life’ is a re-issue, of sorts, as it sees the Moonstone Project’s 2006 album ‘Time To Take A Stand’, being completely remixed and remastered … Continue reading
