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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO- London Palladium, 13 November 2024
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Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-10 November 2024
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Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES- Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024
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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
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Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024
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Gig review: DEFECTS – Key Club, Leeds, 1 November 2024
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Featured Album Reviews
Features
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
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Features
Tag Archives: AOR
Album review : LIONVILLE – Supernatural
Frontiers [Release date 15.11.24] Art for Art’s sake. Lionville’s Italian founder, writer, guitarist and all round mainman, Stefano Leonetti has brought in Swedish vocalist Alexander (Art Nation) Strandell to replace the departed Lars (Work Of Art) Safsund. Strandell has achieved … Continue reading
Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check artist and venue websites for latest information. Your tour not listed? Contact us! To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, or Linux system), or Command+F (on … Continue reading
Posted in Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2025, AOR, gigs, Ireland, melodic rock, metal, pop, progressive, rock, tour dates, tours, uk
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News: BONFIRE, MOGWAI, KID KAPACHI (November 2024)
Ambush have signed with Napalm Records with a view to release a new album next year. Tori Amos releases a new live album, ‘Diving Deep Live’, via Decca on December 6. A remastered 2CD/2DVD box set version of ‘An Evening Of Yes Music Plus’ … 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, Bonfire, folk, gigs, Kid Kapachi, melodic rock, metal, Mogwai, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates
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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025)
Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Updated 11.11.24 UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2025) To search quickly within this page (“Find In Page”): Press Ctrl+F (on Windows PC, Chromebook, … Continue reading
Posted in Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, Upcoming (Tours & Releases)
Tagged 2025, AOR, dates, Europe, gigs, melodic rock, metal, our, pop, progressive, rock, ROW, USA
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Gig review: FM – The Carlisle, Hastings, 17 October 2024
Recently in the news, we heard how tours have shrunk and cover fewer towns and cities than they did 30 years ago. For FM the opposite seems to be the case – as well as playing the established big cities, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, FM, gig, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Steve Overland, The Carlisle, White Skies
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Gig review: FIREFEST – Manchester Academy, 11-13 October 2024
For a decade through to 2014, Firefest built a reputation that most festivals would kill for. It wasn’t just the stellar line ups of melodic hard rock acts, from the rising stars through to long dormant bands from the eighties … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Atlantic, Cats In Space, Coney Hatch, festival, Firefest, Gabrielle de Val, gig, Grand Prix, Heavy Pettin', Hurricane, Jaded Hard, Jelusick, Kingdom Of Madness, Lionheart, Lost Weekend, Mad Max, melodic rock, Michael Bomann, Midnite City, Oliver's Army, Overland, Quiet Riot, Robin McAuley, Skagarack, Supremacy, Touch
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Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Time Machine
Esoteric Antenna [Release date 25.10.24] Studio album number six for Cats In Space, their third with vocalist Damien Edwards and first for new label Esoteric Antenna, part of the Cherry Red Records empire. Opening with the title track, we have … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 10CC, 70's rock, album review, AOR, Cats In Space, classic rock, melodic rock, Queen, rock, Sweet, THE WHO, Time Machine
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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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News: AUSTIN GOLD, WARREN HAYNES, HOUSE OF LORDS (September 2024)
Lee Abraham releases his latest album ‘Origin Of The Storm’ through F2 Music on October 21. Bryan Adams releases ‘Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024′ on November 15. It will feature complete performances of three of his iconic albums: … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP
Tagged albums, AOR, Austin Gold, blues, folk, gigs, House of Lords, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, tour dates, Warren Haynes
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Gig review- H.E.A.T, TYKETTO, DARE – Chepstow Castle, 17 August 2024
The Great British outdoors now caters to the infinite demand for outdoor summer gigs in a variety of settings: farms and country parks, stately homes and now concerts in the grounds of historic castles seem to be the latest concept, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Castell Roc, Chris Childs, Danny Vaughn, Dare, Darren Wharton, Dave Dalone, Don Crash, gig, H.E.A.T., Harry Scott Elliott, Jimmy Jay, Jona Tee, Kenny Leckremo, Marc Roberts, melodic rock, Tyketto, Vinny Burns
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Gig review: MALMO MELODIC – Plan B, Malmo, Sweden, 27-29 July 2024
Scandinavia, and Sweden in particular, is the undisputed epicentre of the melodic rock community with a seemingly endless stream of bands emerging. There have been festivals in Malmo pre-pandemic (Melodic Rock Fest and the Swedish AOR Convention) so when last … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 7th Crystal, Alicate, AOR, Boys From Heaven, Care of Night, Chez Kane, Dare, Darren Wharton, festival, Gaeleri, gig, Grand, Houston, JD Miller, melodic rock, Nubian Rose, Perfect Plan, Pretty Maids, Remedy, Romeo's Daughter, Ronnie Atkins, Roulette, Streetlight, Transatlantic Radio, Wildness
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News: Albums of the Month (April – June 2024)
ATLANTIC Another World (Escape Music) This summer’s AOR album has arrived! Lush keys, harmonies, plenty of lovestruck lyrical themes, soaring guitar solos and the vocals of Mark Grimmett, who adds that extra bit of class to the whole musical proceedings. … Continue reading
Posted in Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS
Tagged 2024, albums of the month, AOR, April, Atlantic, Big Big Train, Black Country Communion, blues rock, heavy rock, June, May, melodic rock, Nestor, Progressive Rock, rock, Son Of Man, These Wicked Rivers
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Album review : JIM PETERIK and WORLD STAGE – Roots and Shoots Vol 2
Frontiers [Release date : 09.08.24] Peterik needs no introduction, but we’ll introduce him anyway. Most famously, he was guitarist and songwriter with Survivor, as well as several other charting bands. It’s all well documented online. But that was then. Nowadays, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Chicago, Frontiers, Jason Scheff, Jim Peterik, melodic rock, Neil Donnell, review, Survivor
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News: STEEL PANTHER, FLEETWOOD MAC, VON HERTZEN BROTHERS (August 2024)
Photo: Steve Goudie Bryan Adams (pictured) has launched his own label Bad Records with the release of two songs – ‘War Machine’ and ‘Rock And Roll Hell’ – both of which were written by Adams alongside Jim Vallance, and Gene Simmons for the KISS album … 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
Tagged albums, AOR, blues, Fleetwood Mac, folk, gigs, melodic rock, metal, news, re-issues, RIP, special editions, Steel Panther, tour dates, Von Hertzen Brothers
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Gig review: TOWER OF FIRE FESTIVAL – Rebellion, Manchester, 29 June 2024
Although the UK live scene is thriving, thanks largely to the efforts of the New Wave of Classic Rock movement, those of us with a specific interest in the melodic rock and AOR scene, weaned on the glory years of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Atack, festival, Gabrielle de Val, gig, melodic rock, Nitrate, Remedy, Saracen, Tower Of Fire, White Skies
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Album review : JOHN MILES – The Albums 1983 – 1993 (3 CDs)
Cherry Red [Release date : 19.07.24] Behind the John Miles’ name and his launchpad hit single ‘Music (Was My First Love)’ in 1976, there lay a musician whose full-on career in music can barely be crammed into a Wikipedia page. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alan Parsons, AOR, Jimmy Page, JOE COCKER, John Miles, Night Of The Proms, Play On, review, soft rock, Tina Turner, Transition, Upfront
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Album review: ATLANTIC – Another World
Escape Music [Release date 21.06.24] Atlantic is the brainchild of guitarist and songwriter Simon Harrison, who released their debut album ‘Power’ back in 1994 (re-issued by Escape in 2008). It was originally planned to be a one-off – until now … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Another World, AOR, Atlantic, Dare, Escape Music, FM, Grim Reaper, Journey, Lionsheart, Mark Grimmett, melodic rock, review, Simon Harrison, Steve Grimmett
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Gig review: RICHARD MARX – Royal Albert Hall, London, 22 May 2024
Richard Marx only plays the finest London venues when he comes over to the UK. Building on some memorable acoustic shows at the Union Chapel in Autumn 2022, he announced a fuller UK tour which culminated in this show at … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, gig, J. Blynn, John Oates, melodic rock, Nathan East, Richard Marx, singer songwriter
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Album review : AXE – The Offering (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date 24.05.24] Third time lucky for Axe. The Offering, released in 1982, got enough sales and radio airplay to put them firmly on the USA’s Melodic Rock map, leading directly to tours with Kiss, The Scorpions … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, Axe, Bobby Barth, Edgar Riley, Kiss, melodic rock, Mike Osborne, remaster, review, Rock Candy Records, Scorpions, ZZ Top
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Album review : THE LADDER – S/T (Remaster)
Rock Candy Records [Release date : 24.05.24] Another “obscure” 1980’s American AOR album, rescued by Rock Candy Records. It was “big in Japan” though. Aren’t they all. The Ladder – writers Joe and Lou Parente, with vocalist Frank Mancano – … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged AOR, ATCO, Chicago, David Foster, Frank Mancano, Joe Parente, Lou Parente, Philadelphia, review, Rock Candy, The Ladder
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Album review: ATLANTIS DRIVE – Atlantis Drive
Pride & Joy Music [Release date 14.06.24] Composer and guitarist Markus Pfeffer (Barnabas Sky, Lazarus Dream) is the mastermind behind Atlantis Drive. As Markus explains – “I had a very clear goal with this album: To take up the sound … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Atlantis Drive, hard rock, Lazarus Dream, Mark Boals, Markus Pfeffer, melodic, melodic rock, Pride & Joy Music, review
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Gig review: BRYAN ADAMS – Royal Albert Hall, London, 14 May 2024
Two years ago, I was present all three nights as Bryan Adams played a memorable residency at the Albert Hall, playing a classic album each night (subsequently released in less than satisfactory fashion on DVD). I thought that was a … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Bryan Adams, Gary Breit, gig, Keith Scott, melodic rock, Pat Steward, Reckless, Sol Walker
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Album review: FM – Old Habits Die Hard
Frontiers Records (Release Date 03.05.24) FM appear to be constantly on tour, and yet between that activity they somehow find time to consistently write and release a new album every two or three years. ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ actually marks … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, FM, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, Old Habits Die Hard, Steve Overland
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Gig review: FM – Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury, 18 May 2024
To quote Led Zeppelin, “It’s been a long time since I rock and rolled”, and as much as I love music my live mojo has been in retirement, bar supporting local folk gigs. However, when a band as classy as … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Arlington Arts Centre, classic rock, Collateral, FM, gig, melodic rock, Newbury, review, rock, Saturday 18 May 2024, Steve Overland
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Album review: MANDOKI SOULMATES – A Memory Of Our Future
Red Rock Music/Inside Out Music [Release date 10.05.24] I think it fair to say that Leslie Mandoki doesn’t do things half-arsed. Several years ago a couple of reissues were accompanied by an expansive press kit, a real thick tome that … Continue reading
