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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
Latest Album Reviews
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Album review : RAVEN Screamin’ Down The House (4 CD set)
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Album review : DEAR MR.FANTASY Featuring the Music of Jim Capaldi and Traffic (2cd+DVD remaster)
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Album review: ERJA LYYTINEN – Smell The Roses
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Album review : RUSS BALLARD – Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired (2CDs)
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Album review: PYLON POETS – Demise of the Divine
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Album review: ALLY VENABLE – Money & Power
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: JOHN REILLY AND LEWIS NITIKMAN – Crazy Coqs, London, 16 April 2025
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Gig review: THEA GILMORE – Nantwich Civic Hall, 17 April 2025
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Gig review: MATT PEARCE AND THE MUTINY /JACK J HUTCHINSON- The Grace, London, 12 April 2025
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Gig review: SWEET – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 5 April 2025
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Gig review: ROMEO’S DAUGHTER- The Garage, London, 28 March 2025
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Gig review: SOUTH OF SALEM – Thekla, Bristol, 27 March 2025
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Featured Album Reviews
Features
Interviews
Single & EP Reviews
DVD Reviews
Book Reviews
News
Tag Archives: FM
Gig review: HARD ROCK HELL AOR – Pwllheli, 9-12 March 2017
The HRH franchise is probably the most successful of these three day indoor events and rightly so, they found a spot in the market and have developed a fluid, tightly run operation that always delivers. The AOR weekend was slightly … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 9-12 March 2017, AOR, Bonafide, FM, gig, Hard Rock Hell AOR, Lita Ford, melodic rock, Michael Monroe, Mike Tramp, Paul Laine, Pwllheli, review, Romeo's Daughter, Slaughter, Vega
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Gig review: JUST SAY YES/ARFM MELODIC ROCK FUNDRAISER – The Spot, Derby, 28 January 2017
From initially modest ambitions, the ‘Just Say Yes’ fundraiser is rapidly establishing itself as a must on the festival calendar for melodic rock fans, sandwiched between Autumn’s Firefest and latterly Rockingham, and Spring’s HRH. I hugely enjoyed my first festival … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Blood Red Saints, COP UK, Dante Fox, Dirty White Boyz, festival, FM, gig, JSY, Just Say Yes, melodic rock, review, Romeo's Daughter, Steve Overland, Vega
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Gig review: WINTERSTORM FESTIVAL – Concert Hall, Troon, 25/26 November 2016
The town of Troon is better known for its championship links golf course rather than as a hub for all things rock, but one man with a vision, Iain McCaig, is set to change all that. Going by the old … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 25-26 November 2016, Bloodlines, Concrete Kingdom, Dio, FM, gig, Inglorious, Last In Line, Mason Hill, metal, Praying Mantis, review, Ricky Warwick, rock, Steve Overland, The Amorettes, The Hyena Kill, The King Lot, Tom Russell, Toseland, Troon, Troon concert hall, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Vega, Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell, Winterstorm Festival
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Gig review: FM – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 19 November 2016
Since reforming a few years ago, Britain’s premier homegrown melodic rockers FM have steered a delicate balance between moving forward and looking backwards. The new line up with Jim Kirkpatrick on guitar has perhaps been the best in their history, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Bernie Marsden, FM, gig, Indiscreet, Jem Davis, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, review, Steve Overland
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News: WINTERSTORM – Troon rocks in November with FM, Ricky Warwick, Last In Line and more
On Sunday 21 August, in his weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, David Randall previewed the Winterstorm event playing tracks by some of the artists appearing including Tygers of Pan Tang and FM. (20:09) Troon’s only real rock … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, NEWS
Tagged 25-26 November 2016, AOER, Ayrshire, event, festival, FM, gig, hard rock, Inglorious, Last In Line, melodic rock, NWOBHM, Ricky Warwick, Toseland, Troon, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Vega, Winterstorm
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Gig review: HEART – O2 Apollo, Manchester – 30 June 2016
In 2014 GRTR!’s David Randall chatted to Ann Wilson about her influences and Heart (First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, 23 March 2014) One of the the main trends in the topsy-turvy music industry in the past 10 … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview
Tagged 30 June 2016, Ann Wilson, AOR, FM, gig review, hard rock, Heart, interview, Manchester, Nancy Wilson, O2 Apollo, rock, Steve Overland
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Gig review: BERNIE MARSDEN – The Horn, St Albans, 8 June 2016
The back room of a Hertfordshire pub, which is also one of the South-East’s longest running music venues, was the unlikely setting for a one off date with guitarist Bernie Marsden, shaking off his jetlag from a trip to the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 8 June 2016, Bernie Marsden, blues, blues rock, FM, gig, Jim Kirkpatrick, review, St Albans, The Horn, Whitesnake
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Gig review: GREAT BRITISH ROCK & BLUES FESTIVAL – Skegness, 22-24 January 2016
Reporting by Simon Dunkerley and Pete Feenstra Pete Feenstra writes: Perhaps only The Great British Rock & Blues Festival can give you the unlikely opportunity of slipping from the dancing delights of Courtney Pine’s venue filling world music and jazz … Continue reading
News: BEST OF 2015 rock radio special on Sunday 27 December
On Sunday 27 December, at 22:00 GMT David Randall presents a two-hour special on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio featuring the Get Ready to ROCK! reviewer choices for ‘Best of 2015′. The show will also reflect the popular vote that … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS, The Best Of 2015
Tagged Best of 2015, Blackberry Smoke, blues, feature, FM, Get Ready to ROCK!, King King, melodic rock, Michael Schenker, progressive, radio, rock, special, Steve Rothery, Steven Wilson, Thunder, UFO
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News: Melodic rockers FM top popular poll for top rock album of 2015
FM and Vintage Trouble scoop popular poll In the Get Ready to ROCK! end of year popular poll melodic rockers FM were voted top album with ‘Heroes And Villains’ whilst readers and listeners confirmed the reviewers rating by making Vintage … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, The Best Of 2015
Tagged album, AOR, Best of 2015, FM, live act, melodic rock, poll, rock, Vintage Trouble, vote
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Gig review: PLANET ROCKSTOCK – Trecco Bay, South Wales, 4-6 December 2015
Friday 4 December This is the third year for the Planet Rock annual festival and the second year at Porthcawl. I thought last year’s line-up would take some beating and, although thinking 2015 was a weak bill by comparison, I … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 4-6 December 2015, blues, Buffalo Summer, Crobot, Dan Patlansky, Danko Jones, festival, FM, Fozzy, gig, Heavens Basement, Inglorious, Planet Rockstock, review, Rival Sons, rock, Scorpion Child, South Wales, The Darkness, The Dead Daisies, Trecco Bay
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Gig review: FM/Vega – Guildhall, Gloucester, 7 November 2015
A Saturday night gig with two of the best melodic rock bands in the country, a two hour drive away but totally worth it. A four date trot around the country playing in some venues that you don’t often hear … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 7 November 2015, AOR, FM, gig, Gloucester, Guildhall, melodic rock, review, Steve Overland, Vega
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Gig review: STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL Day 2 – Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 26 July 2015
Photo: Simon Dunkerley What a difference twelve hours can make, from beautiful blue skies to masses of mud, the lovely Welsh rain has made an appearance but, no matter, the show goes on. Skam had the unenviable task of starting … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 26 July 2015, Colour Of Noise, Danny Vaughn, Day 2, Dee Snider, Doro, Ebbw Vale, FM, gig, heavy rock, melodic rock, metal, review, South Wales, Steelhouse Festival, Twisted Sister, Tyketto
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Gig review: RAMBLIN’ MAN FESTIVAL Day 1 – Mote Park, Maidstone, 25 July 2015
Photo: Paul Rodgers Another summer and yet another new festival joins the ranks of the many. This one however had the classic rock fraternity foaming at the mouth with a line up which comprised some of the biggest names in … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 25 July 2015, Anathema, Biff Byford, Blue Oyster Cult, Camel, Dream Theater, FM, gig, Klaus Meine, Maidstone, metal, Mote Park, No Hot Ashes, prog, Ramblin' Man Festival, review, rock, Rudolf Schenker, Saxon, Scorpions, Toseland, Touchstone
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Album review: OZONE – Self Defence
Escape Music [Release date 25.09.15] This album is a little bit special as it sees two of the UK’s premier rock vocalists team up, namely FM’s Steve Overland and Chris Ousey, currently fronting Snakecharmer and Heartland, plus he fronted Virgina … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Billy Greer, Chris Ousey, City Boy, FM, Heartland, Kansas, melodic rock, Mike Slamer, Ozone, review, Self Defence, Seventh Key, Steve Overland, Tommy Denander
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Album review: FM – Heroes and Villains
Frontiers Records [Release date 17.04.15] FM may have spent last autumn on a 30th anniversary tour, but they are neither a nostalgia band nor one to let the grass grow under their feet. Two years after a pair of new … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, FM, Heroes and Villains, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, review, Steve Overland
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Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 2)
Day 2 After a paltry 5 hours sleep and searching the little town of Criccieth for match sticks to keep my eyes open, and copious amounts of Pro Plus, I made my way back to the arenas where I like … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 14 March 2015, Eclipse, festival, FM, gig, Houston, HRH AOR, melodic rock, Night Ranger, Pwllheli, review, Romeo's Daughter, Wales, White Widdow
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News: HOOBASTANK, FM, JETHRO TULL – 11 February 2015
HOOBASTANK + P.O.D. + ALIEN ANT FARM Thu May 07 LONDON KOKO Fri May 08 WOLVERHAPTON Wulfrun Hall Sat May 09 NOTTINGHAM Rock City Sun May 10 PLYMOUTH Univeristy Tue May 12 READING Sub 89 Wed May 13 WREXHAM William … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS
Tagged AC/DC, alternative, AOR, FM, Heroes & Villains, Hoobastank, Jethro Tull 'Minstrel In The Gallery, melodic, metal, news, POD, rock, Steven Wilson
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Gig review: PLANET ROCKSTOCK – Porthcawl, 7 December 2014 (Day 3: Magnum, The Answer)
Jagermeister Second Stage Fireroad have the task of opening the Jagermeister stage on the Sunday, and having just come back from America where they played with Lynyrd Skynyrd on the Simpleman Cruise, getting this crowd going should be no problem. … Continue reading
Posted in GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 7 December 2014, FM, gig, Magnum, Porthcawl, Review of Planet Rockstock, review.rock, The Amorettes, THE ANSWER, Voodoo Six
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Gig review: FM – The Globe, Cardiff, 22 November 2014
A packed house in the Globe for this much loved band and huge respect should be given to the promoter at Major Minor Productions for delivering a sold out show with a fantastic sound quality in a city that is … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 22 November 2014, AOR, Cardiff, FM, gig, Hand of Dimes, Kooga, melodic rock, Nev MacDonald, review, Skin, Steve Overland, The Globe
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Gig review: FM – The Brook, Southampton, 21 November 2014
Can it really be 30 years since the Overland brothers from Wildlife and former members of Samson and Diamond Head formed a new band, inspired by the then fashionable radio-friendly AOR sounds of the likes of Journey, Foreigner and Survivor, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 21 November 2014, AOR, FM, gig, Hand of Dimes, melodic rock, Neville Macdonald, review, Southampton, Steve Overland, Summers, The Brook
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Gig review: CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL – 8-10 August 2014
Photo: Darran Scott Arriving early afternoon on Saturday, and focusing on the main stage, I was blown away by the confidence and vitality of my first band, Walkway. Somehow the young Suffolk band had slipped under my radar as their … Continue reading
Album review: SEVEN – 7
Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Out now] Back in the late 80’s and into the early 90’s the AOR/melodic rock scene was thriving and record labels were signing up UK based acts like FM, Airrace, Little Angels, Dare and this band Seven … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 7, 80's music, album, AOR, Escape Music, FM, melodic rock, review, Seven
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Album review: DIESEL – Into The Fire
Escape Music [Release date 23.05.14] www.escape-music.com This is an interesting one, as it sees the return of Robert Hart, formerly of Bad Company, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and the excellent Distance album working with FM’s guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick. Drummer Jimmy … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bad Company, DIESEL, FM, Into The Fire, Jim Fitzpatrick, Jimmy Copley, review, Robert Hart, Steve Overland
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Album review: FM – Futurama
www.fmofficial.com [Released 31.03.14] FM really are in a fine run of form of late, two great albums last year ‘Rockville I & II’, plus successful live dates and now we have this EP. Well you say EP, but this is … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged AOR, EP, FM, Futurama, melodic rock, review, Steve Overland
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