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Tag Archives: songwriter
Gig review: COLIN BLUNSTONE – Waterside Arts Centre, Sale, 19 April 2016

The first part of a two-part radio feature was first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 3 April. The second part is also available via Mixcloud It must be an age thing, but increasingly I am being … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 19 April 2016, acoustic, Alan Parsons, Americana, Colin Blunstone, gig, pop, review, rock, Rosalie Deighton, Sale, singer, songwriter, Steve Balsamo, The Zombies, Waterside Arts Centre
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Album review: NERINA PALLOT – The Sound And The Fury

INgrooves/Idaho Records [Release date 11.09.15] It’s almost a decade since GRTR!’s last dalliance with the hugely underrated Nerina Pallot. 10 years ago it seemed that with her sophomore release, Fires, she was on the verge of becoming one of Britain’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, Nerina Pallot, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter, soul, The Sound And The Fury
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Album review: JOHN ILLSLEY – Long Shadows

Pete Feenstra chatted to John Illsley about his new album and his influences in a one-hour special broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio on Sunday 24 April. This is repeated on Thursday 28 April at 23:00 GMT. In this … Continue reading
Album review: SANDS HALL – Rustler’s Moon

[Release date 01.08.14] Better known as a writer, theatre director, and actor, Sands Hall has played the guitar since the age of 16, but it’s taken her until her sixties to release her first album. Inspired since an early age … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged acoustic, album, jazz, review, Rustler's Moon, Sands Hall, singer, songwriter
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Quick plays: HORSE PARTY, ELIZA NEALS, CHRISTA COUTURE

HORSE PARTY Horizons REPEAT Records [Release date 01.04.16] Bury St Edmunds three-piece rockers, fronted by guitarist/singer Ellie Langley have been getting plenty of plaudits over the past 12 months from the likes of 6music, Radio One, and Radio X. Formed … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged acoustic, album, blues, blues rock, Breaking And Entering, Christa Couture, Eliza Neals, Horizons, Horse Party, indie, Long Time Leaving, pop, review, rock, singer, songwriter
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Album review: JUDITH OWEN – Somebody’s Child

Twanky Records [Release date 06.05.16] Pianist-singer-songwriter Judith Owen has come up with just about the perfect ‘easy listening’ album. Genre hopping, from the influences of the very best from Laurel Canyon to Stevie Wonder and everything in between, she puts … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, jazz, Judith Owen, MOR, pop, review, rock, singer, Somebody's Child, songwriter
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News: COLIN BLUNSTONE UK Tour Dates April 2016 and Interview

On Sunday 3 April (Part 1) and Sunday 10 April (Part 2) at 18:00 GMT Colin Blunstone chatted to Get Ready to ROCK! about his career, with tracks from The Zombies and his solo albums. This interview edit discusses recent … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, INTERVIEWS, NEWS, Radio interview
Tagged Alan Parsons Project, April 2016, Colin Blunstone, gigs, interview, pop, radio, rock, Rod Argent, singer, songwriter, The Zombies, Tour, uk
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Quick plays: SOUTHERN COMPANION, RACKHOUSE PILFER, MATT WOOSEY

SOUTHERN COMPANION 1000 Days Of Rain [Release date 23.02.15] On first listen you’d be forgiven for thinking The Southern Companion were from across the pond with their soulful brand of blues / rock infused Americana / country. In fact, you … Continue reading
Quick plays: THE STRUTS, CORINNE WEST, PETE LASHLEY

THE STRUTS Everybody Wants I’ve always had a weakness for camp, bubblegum rock. It’s a long line that stretches back to the Sweet, through Queen, and perhaps most recently evident in The Darkness. Derby four-piece, The Struts are the latest … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, At The Station, Corinne West, Daze Of Grace, Everybody Wants, Grandma Strange, Magic Corner, Nightingale, Pete Lashley, pop, psychedelic, review, rock, Rumours Of Glory, singer, songwriter, Starlight Highway, The Struts, Wildflower
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Quick plays: TIM HOCKENBERRY, JOSH HARTY

TIM HOCKENBERRY Tim Hockenberry [Release date 04.03.16] You know with an ex-America’s Got Talent performer (Hockenberry made the semi-finals in 2012) you’re going to get a decent vocal performance. And his debut release doesn’t disappoint in that respect – his … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, America's Got Talent, Americana, country, Holding On, Josh Harty, review, roots, singer, songwriter, Tim Hockenberry
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DVD Review: ELVIS COSTELLO – Detour Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Eagle Rock [Release date 12.02.16] Elvis Costello brought his Detour (scouse for ‘the tour’) show ‘home’ to the Liverpool Phil in June 2015. Performing solo with just guitar or piano (apart from when joined by Larkin Po sisters Rebecca and … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged Americana, Detour, DVD, Elvis Costello, Larkin Poe, Live At Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, review, rock, singer, songwriter
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Album review: JENNIFER WARNES – The Well

BMG [Release date 04.03.16] It comes to something when it takes a fifteen year old album – getting its first UK release – to highlight just how sterile and bland the singer songwriter scene has become. Warnes’ eighth studio album, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, Jennifer Warnes, pop, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, The Well
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Quick plays: JULIA FORDHAM (1988 reissue), UNDERHILL ROSE

Cherry Pop [Release date 29.01.16] Julia Fordham is one of those artists who could only really flourish in the 1980s when there were expansive label budgets, solid production values, and exposure on national radio. Her exquisite blend of self-penned pop … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays, Reissues
Tagged album, Americana, bonus tracks, folk, Julia Fordham, live, pop, reissue, review, roots, singer, songwriter, The Great Tomorrow, Underhill Rose
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News: ELEANOR MCEVOY – New album 5 February, Archive Interview – Sunday 24 January 2016

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio favourite Eleanor McEvoy is featured on Sunday 24 January, ahead of the release of her latest album ‘Naked Music’ (17:00 GMT). The radio station is replaying their 2009 interview when Eleanor chatted about her career … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS
Tagged blues rock, Dale Griffin, Eleanor McEvoy, feature, interview, Magnum, Mott the Hoople, NWOBHM, radio, Simo, singer, songwriter, Tygers Of Pan Tang
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News: WILL ROBERT BRAND NEW EP AND DEBUT HEADLINE TOUR
Ahead of the release of his new ‘Mountain’ E.P. on 19th February through Virgin EMI, acclaimed Cambridge-based troubadour Will Robert will embark on fifteen-date debut headline tour of the UK. The life-affirming five-track E.P. will be available to buy before … Continue reading
Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS
Tagged EP, Mountain, news, rock, singer, songwriter, UK tour, Will Robert
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Album review: PETER SARSTEDT – England’s Lane

Angel Air Records [Release date 15.01.16] For most, Peter Sarstedt will forever be associated with his 1960s hit ‘Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?’. This wider success has masked a long and productive solo career and the release of … Continue reading
Album review: ELEANOR McEVOY – Naked Music

Moscodisc [Release date 05.02.16] The closest we’ve got to a live album from Eleanor McEvoy, ten studio albums down the line was 2011′s Alone a record lifted from practice sessions never intended for release. It was pretty good proxy for … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, The Best Of 2016
Tagged acoustic, album, Eleanor McEvoy, Naked Music, review, rock, singer, songwriter
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Gig review: THEA GILMORE – Liverpool Philharmonic, 17 November 2015

I have been following Thea Gilmore from the early days of her career when I heard her being championed by Bob Harris on his Radio 2 Saturday show back in the late nineties. I’ve seen her develop from a bile-spitting … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 17 November 2015, gig, indie pop, Kelly Oliver, Liverpool Philharmonic, Nigel Stonier, pop, review, singer, songwriter, Thea Gilmore, Tracey Browne. folk
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Gig review: JUDIE TZUKE – The Met, Bury, 12 November 2015

Six months on since we last caught up with her – at The Lowry in Salford – Judie Tzuke’s Songs And Stories tour continues to wend it’s way happily around the UK. It’s her most extensive tour for decades, crisscrossing … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 12 November 2015, Bury, gig, Judie Tzuke, review, singer, songwriter, The Met
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Album review: KIRT DEBIQUE – Things Left Unsaid

Brick Lane Records [Release date 23.10.15] This is the debut album by Kirt Debique, a self-taught musician who also owns Brick Lane Records and amazingly he has only been serious about making music these past six or seven years. He … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Depeche Mode, electro, Kirt Debique, pop, review, songwriter, Things Left Unsaid
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Album review: TOWNES VAN ZANDT – The Late Great Townes Van Zandt

Charly [Release date 30.10.15] The sense of irony in Townes Van Zandt’s 1972 album title ‘The Late Great Townes Van Zandt’ hasn’t lessoned with the passing of the years. If it was an attempt by long time friend, manager and … Continue reading
Album review: AMY HELM – Didn’t It Rain

Membran [Release date 02.10.15] Amy Helm reminds me of Joss Stone. An unquestionable vocal talent. But lacking in material to exploit it commercially. First a member of the post 9/11 alt-country collective Ollabelle, and subsequently working extensively with her late … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, Amy Helm, Bill Payne, Didn't It Rain, Levon Helm, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter
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Quick plays: GEORGIA SOUND, BOB BRADSHAW

GEORGIA SOUND Love Can Change [Release date 20.02.15] If you like a decent soft rock singer/songwriter tune, look no further than self-released indie folk / pop debut from Georgia Sound – Ryan Roy and Shannon Magee, a duo from Calgary, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Bob Bradshaw, folk, Georgia Sound, Love Can Change, pop, review, rock, roots, singer, songwriter, Whatever You Wanted
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Album review: DANNI NICHOLLS – Mockingbird Lane

Danni Nicholls Music [Release date 23.10.15] You’d never guess Danni Nicholls was from Bedford. Mockingbird Lane, her second album, is an album that has the hallmarks of classic American folk, county and splashes of rock ‘n’ roll. Re-uniting with producer … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Americana, blues, country, Danni Nicholls, folk, Mockingbird Lane, review, singer, soft rock, songwriter
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