Tag Archives: Christmas

Album review : LUMINARE CHRISTMAS – Mistletoe Magic

Posted on November 18, 2024 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date : 22.12.24] Founded by Chip Davis, leader of the 28 million selling, neoclassical ensemble Mannheim Steamroller, Luminare Christmas is a relatively new venture. Mannheim have two albums in the Top Ten Best Selling Christmas albums of all … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS | Tagged Chip Davis, Christmas, Denis DeYoung, Frontiers, Luminare, Mannheim Steamroller, Nutcracker, review, Styx, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi | Leave a comment

Album review: WIZZARD – The Singles

Posted on November 28, 2023 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release Date : 1.12.23] Roy Wood’s Wizzard, a singular seventies’ UK pop phenomenon, burned brightly for 5 hugely entertaining years. A band immortalised (whether they liked it or not) by perennial seasonal hit, ‘I Wish It Could Be … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Cheap Trick, Christmas, ELO, Graham Bonnet, Nancy Sinatra, pop, review, Roy Wood, Status Quo, The Move, Wizzard | Leave a comment

Album review : STATUS QUO – Official Archive Series Vol 2

Posted on November 19, 2023 by brianmc

earMUSIC [Release date 24.11.23] World leading experts at mining their own back catalogue, Status Quo stake another claim with SQ Volume 2 (2 CDs/23 tracks). It’s a 2012 gig, recorded live at the O2 Arena, on the “Quo Festive” tour. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 2 CDs, Christmas, live, O2 Arena, Quo Festive Tour, review | Leave a comment

Gig Review – STATUS QUO – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow – 26th November 2022

Posted on November 28, 2022 by david.wilson

One sure sign of life getting back to normal post Covid is Status Quo rocking into the Christmas period with their festive concerts. Long a staple of the Winter touring schedule, Quo’s annual jaunt is much anticipated and as predicted … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 26th November 2022, Andy Bowen, Caroline, Christmas, country, Down Down, Francis Rossi, gig, Glasgow, Glasgow Apollo, Green Door, Leon Cave, live, Rhino Edwards, Richie Malone, Rick Parfitt, rock, Rockin' All Over The World, SEC Armadillo, Shakin' Stevens, Status Quo, This Ole House, What Your Proposing | Leave a comment

Feature: IT’S CHRISTMAS! (2022 Style)

Posted on November 6, 2022 by jason

Love - Expressions Tell Everything (Box set)

Here we round-up the Christmas offerings for this year, be they singles, EPs or albums. Get your favourite tipple and mince pies at the ready as we delve into 2022′s Christmas offerings… Pylon Poets give us ‘Say That You’ll Stay, a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, FEATURES, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, blues, Bryan Adams, Christmas, EP, folk, metal, music, pop, Pylon Poets, review, rock, single, The Albion Band, the Albion Christmas Band, Tony Mitchell | Leave a comment

Album review: ORLEANS – New Star Shining

Posted on December 17, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sunset Blvd Records [Release date 22.10.21] The 2021 Christmas offering from Orleans is something of a welcome surprise. The band have existed in some shape or form since their glory days in the late 1970s on the Asylum label, although … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Christmas, classic rock, festive, melodic rock, New Star Shining, Orleans, Xmas | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to Christmas (rock) Music

Posted on December 4, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Christmas comes but once a year, and with it the usual mixed bag of toons. But not for us the familiar stylings of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ or ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’. We like to dig deep, a bit like … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Alan Davey, album, carols, Christmas, feature, Hawkestrel, Hawkwind, instrumental, Jethro Tull, playlist, review, Rick Wakeman, Thea Gilmore, Thijs van Leer, Xmas | Leave a comment

Album review: JOSH TURNER – King Size Manger

Posted on October 9, 2021 by brianmc

Spinefarm Records [release date 08.10.21] On his latest album, King Size Manger, Josh Turner has put his own self penned/co-written material up against famous 19th century Christmas Carols like ‘Angels We Have Heard On High’, ‘The First Nowell’ and ‘Silent … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Christmas, Church, Classic Carols, Country Music, review | Leave a comment

Album review: RUNRIG – One Legend – Two concerts (Live At Rockpalast 1996 & 2001)

Posted on November 29, 2020 by david.wilson

MiG Records [Release date 30.10.20] A year or so ago I went along to the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow for the world premiere of the Final Dance DVD which was recorded at the band’s final show in Stirling. It … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alba, album, Bruce Guthro, CD, Christmas, Cologne, Donny Munro, Dusseldorf, DVD, live, Malcolm Jones, Mara, MiG Records, Pete Wishart, review, Runrig, Skye, Stamping Ground, The Last Dance | Leave a comment

EP review: BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – Here We Come A-Caroling

Posted on November 17, 2020 by jason

Edel/EarMUSIC [Release date 04.12.20] Blackmore’s Night have been around since 1997, founded by Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night to stage their mutual love for traditional medieval and folk-rock music. This seasonal EP is released ahead of the band’s next album … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged album, Blackmore's Night, Candice Night, Christmas, Deep Purple, EP, folk, folk rock, Here We Come A-Caroling, Rainbow, review, Ritchie Blackmore, traditional music | Leave a comment

Gig review: THEA GILMORE – Telford’s Warehouse, Chester, 12 December 2017

Posted on December 13, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

No, the GRTR! Christmas Party was not being held in a phone booth this year, but my fellow scribe Pete Whalley and I instead felt the glow of Thea Gilmore’s traditional gathering at a favourite venue in Chester. In a … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 12 November 2017, acoustic, Chester, Christmas, festive, gig, Nigel Stonier, party, review, singer, songwriter, Telford's Warehouse, Thea Gilmore, Xmas | Leave a comment

Album review: BLACKMORE’S NIGHT – Winter Carols

Posted on December 6, 2017 by jason

Minstrel Hall Music [Release date 20.10.17] Ritchie Blackmore’s move from the hard rock of Rainbow and Deep Purple to the renaissance folk of Blackmore’s Night, with his wife Candice, has always been controversial among rock fans, When I reviewed the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, Blackmore's Night, Candice Night, Christmas, Deep Purple, review, Ritchie Blackmore, Winter Carols | Leave a comment

Single & EP reviews: RED CAIN, MICHAEL ARMSTRONG, BLINK

Posted on December 6, 2016 by jason

RED CAIN [Release date 25.11.16] Hailing from Alberta, Canada Red Cain consist of Evgeniy Zayarny (vocals), Nik Ryzhenkov (guitar), Rogan McAndrews (bass), William Lancaster (synths/orchestration) and Samuel Royce (drums). This is a self-released EP and of very good standard it … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Blink, Christmas, EP, indie, metal, Michael Armstrong, pop, Red Cain, review, rock, singles, symphonic | Leave a comment

News: HAREM SCAREM, MAJOR INSTINCT, DEE SNIDER – Tuesday 29 September 2015

Posted on September 29, 2015 by jason

Dee Snider - STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL Day 2 - Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 26 July 2015

Dave Gilmour topped the UK album charts this week with his new album ‘Rattle That Lock’. Major Instinct release their debut album, ‘High Five’ on Nov 27th via AOR Heaven. The band features M.ILL.ION founder, main songwriter and bass guitarist B.J. Laneby. Harem Scarem … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, Re-issues/special editions | Tagged AOR, AOR Heaven, B.J. Laneby, Chickenfoot, Christmas, Dave Gilmour, Dee Snider, Harem Scarem, M.ILL.ION, Major Instinct, melodic, news, rock, upcoming albums | Leave a comment

Gig review: THEA GILMORE – Telford’s Warehouse, Chester, 9 December 2014

Posted on December 10, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Thea Gilmore’s Office Christmas bash was a somewhat conservative affair this year. As always, Thea was on sparkling form and buoyed with festive cheer, office manager Nigel Stonier orchestrated with his usual aplomb, and secretary Fluff and temp Liz Hanks … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 9 December 2014, acoustic, Chester, Christmas, gig, Nigel Stonier, review, singer, songwriter, Telford's Warehouse, Thea Gilmore | Leave a comment

News: Get Ready to ROCK! Radio – December 2014 highlights

Posted on November 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

December 2014 Highlights More information at the dedicated website Check back here as we add new features throughout the month. All times, GMT We are posting selected shows to our Mixcloud page. Photo: Simon Dunkerley Special features this month Christmas … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged Biff Byford, blues, Christmas, December 2014, feature, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, interview, Mike Vernon, progressive metal, radio, rock, Saxon, session | Leave a comment

Album review: HEART & FRIENDS – Home For The Holidays

Posted on November 6, 2014 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 10.11.14] www.frontiers.it I am not normally a fan of these seasonal type efforts, particularly if they have been recorded in June, and even worse if it is somewhere warm and sunny like the Bahamas (a la most … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Christmas, Frontiers, Heart, Home for The Holidays, Pat Monahan, review, Richard Marx, Sammy Hagar, seasonal, Shawn Colvin, Train | Comments Off

Gig review – RAY JACKSON’S LINDISFARNE – Newcastle City Hall, 20 December 2013

Posted on December 24, 2013 by david.wilson

I’m sure everyone is aware of the concept of a ‘bucket’ or ‘wish’ list, a physical or mental note of things you would like to do before shuffling off this mortal coil. I have several things on mine including an … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 20 December 2013, Alan Hull, Barry McKay, Christmas, Dave Hull Denholm, Fog On The Tyne, folk, gig, Lindisfarne, live, Newcastle City Hall, Ray Jackson, Ray Jackson's Lindisfarne, review, Rik Walton, rock | Leave a comment

Gig review: THEA GILMORE, Telford’s Warehouse, Chester, 17 December 2013

Posted on December 18, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

In a week that saw Sam Bailey crowned Queen of X Factor and announcing that her first album may be one of cover versions, you can’t help feeling that the true musical troopers suffer in silence. Enter, Thea Gilmore, who … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 17 December 2013, Chester, Christmas, festive, folk, gig, Liz Hanks, Nigel Stonier, pop, review, singer, songwriter, Telford's Warehouse, Thea Gilmore | Leave a comment

Single reviews: STEVE BLOOD, TESS CUNNINGHAM

Posted on November 27, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

STEVE BLOOD The Last Xmas [Release date 8.12.13] www.thelastxmas.com Christmas songs. Bah. Humbug. Who’d have ‘em? Frequently cheesy, easily forgotten. Here at GRTR! Towers we get our share. This offering is refreshingly different. Steve Blood has an interesting career plying … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged Andrew Lee, Christmas, festive, remix, review, Scarey Men, single, Steve Blood, The Last Xmas, Wide Receiver, Woof Records | Leave a comment

Album review: NICK LOWE – Quality Street

Posted on September 23, 2013 by jason

Proper Records (released 28th October) Nick Lowe has had a long and varied career, with ‘Cruel To Be Kind’ perhaps his best known hit, that and ‘Milk And Alcohol’ he co-wrote with Dr. Feelgood, plus he’s worked with Elvis Costello, … Continue reading →