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Tag Archives: singer songwriter
News: Albums of the Month (April 2020 – June 2020)

KATATONIA City Burials Peaceville Records …what we are dealing with here is a flawless piece of work one that both critics and fans of the band will refer to as a classic in years to come. Brilliant just brilliant! ***** … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS, NEWS
Tagged 20/20, albums of the month, April, Bad Touch, blues, blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, House of Lords, jazz funk, June, Katatonia, Lettuce, May, melodic rock, Myrath, Ronan Furlong, singer songwriter
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Feature: Gigs of the Millennium – Steve Tilston, Argent, Camel, The Tubes

David Randall surveys a near-20 year period, reflecting on what constitutes a great gig… What makes a good gig? It can often be the events surrounding it – a pre-gig meal or drink for example - your fellow gig-goer(s), the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, FEATURES, Gigs of the Millennium
Tagged Argent, Camel, classic rock, Dan Reed Network, David Gilmour, Europe, feature, gig, hard rock, Jeff Scott Soto, melodic rock, Progressive Rock, review, Saxon, singer songwriter, Steve Lukather, Steve Tilston, The Tubes, Winger
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Single review: RAGZ – Don’t You Forget

Ragz Nordset brings her otherworldly music of the spheres from her native Nordic roots and the result is one of the most sublime things you’ll probably ever hear. With the haunting notes of a piano that sounds like it is … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Don’t You Forget, emotive, melodic, Ragz, review, singer songwriter, single
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Album review: KIERAN CONAWAY – Your Ghosts

Buoy 58 Records [Release date 29.05.20] Kieran Conaway is a singer/songwriter from Delaware, USA. Kieran began his musical studies as a classical pianist and cellist, later receiving instruction in orchestral arranging and composition. Kieran developed his acoustic guitar, piano and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, country, folk, Kieran Conaway, melodic, pop, review, singer songwriter, Your Ghosts
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Album review: MIKE BATT – The Penultimate Collection

Dramatico [Release date digital 08.05.20; physical 26.06.20] Mike Batt’s long and varied career is celebrated on this double album, which highlights his work as performer, composer and arranger. This collection features Mike Batt’s original solo material, along with his own … Continue reading
Quick plays: KIRSTY MERRYN, TOM KITCHING, GRACES COLLIDE

KIRSTY MERRYN Our Bright Night [Release date 24.04.20] Kirsty Merryn has only been on the folk scene for a few years, yet already she has been making a name for herself with glowing reviews for her debut album and supporting … Continue reading
Album review: PAVEY ARK – Close Your Eyes and Think of Nothing

Bandcamp [Release date 20.03.20] Some music transcends its place and time and becomes truly a work of art for the ages. Pavey Ark’s ‘Close Your Eyes and Think of Nothing’ has joined that elite club and is truly one of … Continue reading
Album review: SIOBHAN MILLER – All Is Not Forgotten

Songprint Records [Release date 03.04.20] ‘All Is Not Forgotten’ is the fourth solo album from Scottish folk singer Siobhan Miller, three times winner of MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards and a 2018 BBC Folk Awards recipient. Miller is backed … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, All Is Not Forgotten, folk, review, singer songwriter, Siobhan Miller, traditional
1 Comment
Gig review: JAKE BUGG – Cambridge Corn Exchange, 5 March 2020

A cold Thursday night at the start of March with the country gripped in panic bog roll and hand wash buying, cowering with the media wiped up fear of the Coronavirus. A 26-year-old young man from Nottingham steps out onto … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 5 March 2020, blues, Cambridge Corn Exchange, gig, indie, Jake Bugg, live, review, rock, rock 'n' roll, singer songwriter
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Gig review: JON BODEN – Cornerstone, Didcot, 5 March 2020

Back at the Cornerstone, after a very enjoyable gig here back in November 2017, Jon Boden is out on a short solo tour to promote his latest album ‘The Rose In June’. Surrounded by three guitars, fiddle, concertina, an adapted … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Bellowhead, Cornerstones, Didcot, folk, gig, Jon Boden, live, March 5 2020, Remnant Kings, review, singer songwriter
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Album review: SNAKE OIL & HARMONY – Hurricane Riders

Zero One Entertainment [Release date 28.02.20] Five years ago, Danny Vaughn (Tyketto) and Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network) decided to combine their talents in to form a live acoustic touring act called Snake Oil & Harmony. Since then they have … Continue reading
Album review: RICHARD THOMPSON – Live At Rock City, Nottingham 86

Angel Air/Store For Music [Release date 13.03.20] An archive live performance from Richard Thompson from 1986 where he has backed by a veritable array of top notch folk musicians including Clive Gregson & Christine Collister (who were forging a successful … Continue reading
Gig review: BILLY LOCKETT – O2 Academy 2, Oxford, 2 February 2020

We have ventured into the Academy a few times but have never been to the more compact upstairs Academy 2, which was the venue for Billy Lockett’s show. He’s certainly taking a big step and gamble by going out on … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 2 February 2020, acoustic, Billy Lockett, gig, live music, Mabes, melodic, Oxford, piano, pop, review, singer songwriter
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News: THE BEST OF 2019 – Vote for your favourites in our popular poll (albums, live acts, breakthrough acts)

Every year the GRTR! Reviewers choose their favourite albums, live acts and breakthrough artists. We reduce this selection to a list of ten in each category, reflecting also the top choices of each reviewer. Vote for your own favourite from … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, NEWS, The Best of 2019
Tagged best of 2019, breakthrough acts, classic rock, melodic rock, poll, Progressive Rock, singer songwriter, top albums, top live acts, vote
1 Comment
News: The Best of 2019 – Get Ready to ROCK! reviewer top albums and live acts of the year

In this two hour special, first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 22 December, David Randall plays ‘The Best of 2019′ and announces the results of the popular poll. The Get Ready to ROCK! end of year … Continue reading
Album review: THEA HJELMELAND – Kulla

Proper Music [Release date 25.10.19] The third album by Thea Hjelmeland, KULLA, is the definition of artistic freedom. Hailing from Norway, Hjelmeland is a singer, writer and a multi-instrumentalist and demonstrates a genre-hopping confidence that suggests an artist completely at … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Bjork, dreamy, Kate Bush, Kulla, pop, review, singer songwriter, Thea Hjelmeland
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Gig review: SQUEEZE – New Theatre, Oxford, 25 October 2019

A packed out New Theatre were eagerly awaiting Squeeze, however before the main event we had Heaven 17, a band who had plenty of chart success in the early-mid 80’s. Still featuring two thirds of the original line-up in vocalist … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Chris Difford, classic pop, concert, gig, Glenn Gregory, Glenn Tilbrook, Heaven 17, New Wave, Oxford, pop, pop rock, review, singer songwriter, Squeeze, synth pop
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Album review: ALLAN CLARKE – Resurgence

BMG [Release date 20.09.19] Former Hollies singer Allan Clarke returns with his first new album in 29 years after he had seemingly retired from music back in 1990. However, his son Toby set him on the road to recording this … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Allan Clarke, country, GarageBand, Graham Nash, pop, Resurgence, review, rock, singer songwriter, The Hollies
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Album review: RALPH McTELL – Hill Of Beans

Leola Music [Release date 20.09.19] ‘Hill Of Beans’ is Ralph McTell’s first album of originals since 2010’s ‘Down The Road’. This album also sees McTell reunited with producer Tony Visconti, who worked on his earlier albums. Another link to the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, blues, folk, guitarist, Hill Of Beans, jazz, ragtime, Ralph McTell, review, singer songwriter, Tony Visconti
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Quick plays: ROBERT TEPPER, JEREMY IVEY, INTO THE UNKNOWN

ROBERT TEPPER Better Than The Rest AOR Heaven [Release date 27.09.19] Robert Tepper is best known for his song ‘No Easy Way Out’, which was the theme to ‘Rocky IV’ and has been subsequently released in various dance remix guises, … Continue reading
Gig review: DANNY VAUGHN – Eleven, Stoke, 29 August 2019

Eleven has been going a couple of years now and although it is a converted warehouse, it has that rock club/gig venue vibe that suggests it has been here a lot longer. Excellent sound on the night too, plus a … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged acoustic, Danny Vaughn, DEMON, Dirty White Boyz, Eleven, folk, gig, Kiss Of The Gypsy, melodic, review, rock, singer songwriter, Solo, Stoke, Tony Micthell, Tyketto, Waysted
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Quick plays: DUFFY & BIRD, DREW HOLCOMB, TIM GRIMM, BOB BRADSHAW, 3TIMES7

DUFFY & BIRD Spirit Level [Release date 20.09.19] You can’t go wrong with a voice and an acoustic guitar. That is, if you’ve a decent singer, a decent song, and decent player. It’s a formula as old as the hills. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged 3Times7, acoustic, album, Americana, blues, blues rock, Bob Bradshaw, Dragons, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Duffy & Bird, Heart Land Again, Queen Of The West, Rain In Chicago, review, roots, singer songwriter, Spirit Level, Tim Grimm
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Interview: BEN FEATHERSTONE

Ben Featherstone has just released his debut album ‘Prisoner to the Wind’, an album some ten years in the making. Ben tells us more about the recording and songs on the album, along with what inspired him to start playing music … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions
Tagged album, Ben Featherstone, classical, folk, interview, jazz, melodic, Prisoner To The Wind, singer songwriter
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Album review: IAN McNABB – Our Future In Space

Fairfield Records [Release date 08.03.19] I will be honest I have not really followed Ian McNabb’s musical journey since 1994’s excellent ‘Head Like A Rock’ he did with Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse. He’s been regularly releasing albums and touring … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Britney Spears, Cold Shoulder, Crazy Horse, Ian McNabb, Icicle Works, melodic, Peter Buck, R.E.M., review, rock, singer songwriter
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