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Tag Archives: blues
Gig review: BONNIE RAITT – New Theatre, Oxford, Wednesday 7 June 2023

A sold out show at Oxford’s lovely New Theatre and whilst most of the audience have doubtless been Bonnie Raitt fans since her early days, it was good to see some younger fans dotted around the audience. Support for Bonnie … Continue reading
Gig review: CONNOR SELBY – Amazing Grace, London, 16 May 2023

A new venue for this intrepid reviewer, and one that he will want to return to soon. The Church of St Thomas, dating from the 18th Century now hosts a small auditorium with something of a cocktail bar, modern jazz … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 16 May 2023, Amazing Grace, blues, blues rock, Connor Selby, gig, live, Logan J Parker, review
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Gig review: JOE BONAMASSA – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, 14 May 2023

Joe Bonamassa is a regular visitor to these shores. Having wrapped up a short tour last Spring, he was back with his band for another five UK dates playing venues he skipped last time. Indeed this was his first gig … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 14 May 2023, Birmingham, blues, blues rock, gig, guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, live, Reese Wynans, review, rock, Utilita Arena
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Album review: MICK PINI & AUDIO54 – Way Ahead

House Of Happiness [Release Date 22.03.23] Described in some quarters as; “blues for the 21st century”, Mick Pini and Audio 54 (aka producer Craig Marshall) ‘Way Ahead’ album, is the strongest restatement of the view that blues is at its … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Audio 54, beats, blues, Captain Beefheart, Craig Marshall, dance, Dr John, dub-step, Fantastic Negrito, funk, jazz, Mick Pini, Miles Davis, Mothers of Invention, Prince, psychedelia, review, rhythm & blues, RL Burnside, swamp, Yerba Buena
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Album review: MIKE ROSS – Third Eye Open

Taller Records [Release date 28.04.23] This latest album Mike Ross certainly hits the listener like the proverbial musical freight train. Joining Mike Ross (vocals, guitar, organ) on engine’s footplate are Derek Randall (vocals, bass) and Darren Lee (drums). Jack Hutchinson adds … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, guitarist, hard rock, Jack Hutchinson, Mike Ross, review, rock, Third Eye Open
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Gig review: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 23 April 2023

It’s hard to believe that Kenny Wayne Shepherd was a mere 18 years old when he wrote and released ‘Trouble Is..’. A mature, complex blues rock album launched into the world as part of an exciting vanguard of fresh-faced US … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 23 April 2023, BB King, blues, Bob Dylan, concert, country, gig, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Krown, Kenny McCormack, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, live, London, Noah Hunt, rock, Shepherd's Bush Empire, Trouble Is..
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Album review: IVY GOLD – Broken Silence

A1 Records [Release date 26.05.23] Ivy Gold’s ‘Broken Silence’ is a step up from their debut ‘Six Dusty Winds’ album. It’s built round the same muscular rock antecedents, but features stronger songs which are unafraid to let the funk, blues … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Anders Olinder, blues, Broken Silence, funk, gospel, Ivy Gold, Kevin Moore, Manou, review, rock, Sebastian Eder, soul, sprechgesang, Tal Bergman
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Album review: JIM KIRKPATRICK – Dead Man Walking

US One Records [Release date 21.04.23] Second solo album from FM guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick, who is joined by fellow FM band member Jem Davis on keyboards and Status Quo’s rhythm section of bassist John ‘Rhino’ Edwards and drummer Leon Cave. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, blues rock, Dead Man Walking, FM, guitarist, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, review, rock, Solo
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Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – WALTER TROUT (May 2023)

Photo: John Bull/Rockrpix Walter Trout has consolidated his solo career, overcome major health issues, and remained relevant at the forefront of blues rock… Damn right Walter’s got the blues! But he’s thrown out the clichés, blown away the cobwebs, and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness
Tagged anniversary, blues, blues rock, feature, GRTR!@20, guitar, guitarist, history, overview, summary, Walter Trout
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Album review: ARIELLE – ’73

ww.iamarielle.com [Release date 20.04.23] Arielle has had a stop-start career which has involved record label issues and rehab. Now an independent artist, the new album ’73 is her true second coming. It’s suitably titled because (whilst referencing her classic VW … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged '73, album, Arielle, blues, guitar, guitarist, review, rock, roots
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News: WALTER TROUT enters The Grotto of Greatness in May 2023

The latest inductee to “The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness” is blues/rock guitarist Walter Trout. A major retrospective following Trout’s career in the millennium will be published on 1 May by rock website Get Ready to ROCK! and throughout the month … Continue reading
Posted in 20th Anniversary 2003-2023, ALL POSTS, NEWS
Tagged anniversary, blues, blues rock, GRTR!@20, guitar, guitarist, history, news, overview, summary, Walter Trout
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Feature: GRTR!@20 Anniversary – Blues and Blues Rock – Primer

They say “popular” music goes in cycles and fifteen years after the latest blues/rock revival spearheaded by the likes of Jeff Healey and Gary Moore, the genre received a boost from the arrival of Joe Bonamassa, especially in Europe which … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The Primer
Tagged blues, blues rock, Joe Bonamassa, Pete Feenstra, primer, summary, survey, Walter Trout
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Album review: ROB ORLEMANS & HALF PAST MIDNIGHT – Shake Them Down

Metal Horse Records & Media [Release date 21.04.23] It’s just over 20 years since Rob Orlemans struck out on his own with his Half Past Midnight band after being mentored by the late Curtis Knight (he of Jimi Hendrix fame). … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alvin Lee, Billy Gibbons, Black Sabbath, blues, boogie, Bukka White, Canned Heat, Curtis Knight, Ernst van Ee, Furry Lewis, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin Hopkins, Michael Katon, Ozzy Osbourne, Piet Tromp, review, Rob Orleman & Half Past Midnight, Rob Orlemans, rock, Rose Tattoo, Shake Them Down, Uriah Heep, ZZ Top
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Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – JOE BONAMASSA (April 2023)

Photo: Simon Dunkerley Bonamassa brings the blues to a new generation, at least until 2039… “Let’s start by doctoring the immortal phrase, ‘He came, he saw, (he blinked twice, took a deep breath), and conquered”! Joe Bonamassa and his gifted … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness
Tagged blues, blues rock, feature, guitar, guitarist, Joe Bonamassa
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Album review: ALLY VENABLE – Real Gone

Ruf Records [Release date: 24.03.23] When we reviewed the previous Ally Venable album we suggested that whilst the young guitar slinger/singer/songwriter had made great progress the perfectly formed finish was yet to come. ‘Real Gone’ takes things a step further … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Ally Venable, blues, blues rock, Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Real Gone, review
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EP review: TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN – Dirty Work

Facebook [Release date 24.03.23] Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown’s ‘Shake The Roots’ album released last year was a real treat, mixing blues rock, southern rock, country and rock n roll to great effect. The EP features Tyler Bryant’s wife Rebecca … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged blues, blues rock, country, Dirty Work, EP, melodic, review, rock, southern rock, the Shakedown, Tyler Bryant
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Album review: FOGHAT – Road Fever – The Complete Bearsville Recordings 1972-75 (6 CD boxset)

Cherry Red/HNE [Release date 24.03.23] Britband Foghat clocked up a considerable number of tour miles after relocating to the USA in 1970, road testing their material, looking to kickstart their career. It worked a treat. It’s on the road that … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bearsville, blues, boogie, boxset, Cherry Red, Dave Peverett, Foghat, Nick Jameson, review, Rod Price, Roger Earl
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Gig review: ANA POPOVIC – Islington O2 Academy, London, 10 March 2023

The last vestiges of winter still had its cold tendrils curling around the country, falls of snow and a chill wind was everywhere, even in the midst of London town. Things though in Islington had rapidly heated up, the arrival … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 10 March 2023, Ana Popovic, blues, blues rock, funk, gig, guitarist, Islington O2 Academy, jazz, London, review, soul, Stax, Toby Lee
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Album review: WILL POUND & JENN BUTTERWORTH – Volume 1

Bandcamp [Release date 24.02.23] Two of the finest instrumentalists in traditional music combine to produce an album full of musical wonders. Jenn Butterworth won the 2019 Scots Trad Music Awards Musician of the Year accolade while Will Pound has been … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, classical, folk, harmonica, instrumental, Jenn Butterworth, review, traditional music, Volume 1, Will Pound
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Gig review: ROBERT JON & THE WRECK – Powerhaus, London, 11 February 2023

My first visit to the renamed Dingwalls since it changed name and ownership in 2020. The venue was near its 500-berth capacity for Robert Jon & The Wreck who have sold out a good few dates on this tour. First … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 11 February 2023, blues, Camden, gig, gospel, live, Powerhaus, review, Robert Jon & The Wreck, southern rock
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EP review: SEAMUS FOLEY – Into The Night

Website [Release date 24.02.23] Séamus Foley releases a six song EP and as Séamus explains, “This EP came about after I recorded the single (of the same name) remotely during lockdown. I realised I wanted to further explore these ways of recording, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Americana, blues, country, EP, folk, Into The Night, melodic, review, Seamus Foley
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