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Welcome to FabricationsHQ
Home to the musical articles, reviews and features by
Ross Muir
Independent Music Reviewer & Music Promotion
Freelance Writer
"Putting the Words to the Music"
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Welcome to FabricationsHQ
Home to the musical articles, reviews and features by
Ross Muir
Independent Music Reviewer & Music Promotion
Freelance Writer
"Putting the Words to the Music"
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Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News
Following his sold-out Perfection Kills March 2018 UK Tour, South African singer-songwriter and blues rock guitarist Dan Patlansky returns to the UK in late November for nine headline dates.
Patlansky’s latest album Perfection Kills is the follow up to 2016’s Introvertigo which was met with universal critical acclaim and voted #1 Blues Rock Album 2016 by Blues Rock Review.
'Too Far Gone,' from Perfection Kills, a feisty, full-on gritty-riff number that shows why Patlansky's blues rock is spelt blues rawk, has just been released as a single.
Patlansky’s latest album Perfection Kills is the follow up to 2016’s Introvertigo which was met with universal critical acclaim and voted #1 Blues Rock Album 2016 by Blues Rock Review.
'Too Far Gone,' from Perfection Kills, a feisty, full-on gritty-riff number that shows why Patlansky's blues rock is spelt blues rawk, has just been released as a single.
Dan Patlansky has also just released his first ever live material, the four-track Live 2018 EP, which is available digitally,
The EP was recorded at the Rockwood Theatre in Pretoria earlier this year and released to dovetail with the upcoming UK tour; all fours song on the EP are lifted from Perfection KIlls. The EP is available from:
https://danpatlansky.lnk.to/LiveBootlegPR
Dan Patlansky was nominated as one of Classic Rock magazine’s hotly tipped new artists of 2015 when his Dear Silence Thieves album received numerous accolades and praise from the British blues and rock press.
He’s been voted Most Promising Male Blues Artist by Blues & Soul Magazine and was also nominated as Best International Solo Artist at the Planet Rock Radio ‘Rocks’ Awards.
Dan Patlansky – November 2018 UK Dates
(Special Guests: Gorilla Riot)
Tickets - thegigcartel.com, danpatlansky.com
Nottingham, Rescue Rooms - Wednesday 21st November
Norwich, The Waterfront - Thursday 22nd November
Newbury, Arlington Arts Centre - Friday 23rd November
Chester, The Live Rooms - Saturday 24th November
Bury, The Met - Sunday 25th November
Leeds, Brudenell Social Club - Tuesday 27th November
Bromsgrove, Artrix - Wednesday 28th November
London, O2 Academy Islington - Thursday 29th November
Bristol, The Tunnels - Friday 30th November
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The EP was recorded at the Rockwood Theatre in Pretoria earlier this year and released to dovetail with the upcoming UK tour; all fours song on the EP are lifted from Perfection KIlls. The EP is available from:
https://danpatlansky.lnk.to/LiveBootlegPR
Dan Patlansky was nominated as one of Classic Rock magazine’s hotly tipped new artists of 2015 when his Dear Silence Thieves album received numerous accolades and praise from the British blues and rock press.
He’s been voted Most Promising Male Blues Artist by Blues & Soul Magazine and was also nominated as Best International Solo Artist at the Planet Rock Radio ‘Rocks’ Awards.
Dan Patlansky – November 2018 UK Dates
(Special Guests: Gorilla Riot)
Tickets - thegigcartel.com, danpatlansky.com
Nottingham, Rescue Rooms - Wednesday 21st November
Norwich, The Waterfront - Thursday 22nd November
Newbury, Arlington Arts Centre - Friday 23rd November
Chester, The Live Rooms - Saturday 24th November
Bury, The Met - Sunday 25th November
Leeds, Brudenell Social Club - Tuesday 27th November
Bromsgrove, Artrix - Wednesday 28th November
London, O2 Academy Islington - Thursday 29th November
Bristol, The Tunnels - Friday 30th November
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Jason Becker, the one-time rock guitar virtuoso who was destined for true six-string superstardom until diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) has just announced that his long-awaited new album, Triumphant Hearts, will be released on Mascot Records on the 7th of December.
Jason Becker’s story is one of brilliance, talent, determination, adversity, and, ultimately, triumph.
A child prodigy on guitar, Jason rose to prominence as a teenager when he was one half of the technical guitar duo Cacophony, with his great friend Marty Friedman.
In 1989, at only 19 years old, he became the guitarist for David Lee Roth, following in the huge footsteps of Steve Vai; he wrote and recorded for Roth’s third solo album A Little Ain’t Enough and was poised to tour the album when a nagging pain in his leg was diagnosed as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (the same condition Stephen Hawking had).
A fatal condition, the life expectancy given was three to five years – that was twenty-nine years ago.
Jason Becker lost the ability to play guitar, walk, talk, and breathe on his own but he never lost his will to live or his desire to create music.
Communicating through a series of eye movements with a system developed by his father, Jason spells out words as well as musical notes and chords; he imparts his musical vision to his team who then can input the notes into a computer, edit the parts to his exacting standards, and then generate charts for session musicians.
The fourteen tracks on Triumphant Hearts showcase Jason Becker’s gift for melody and his deep knowledge of classical composition and orchestral arrangement; many of the guitar parts are performed by a who’s who of guitar greats including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert and Joe Bonamassa.
Additionally, as an added bonus and delight for his fans, Jason Becker’s amazing guitar playing, recorded in the 80s and 90s, features throughout.
The first song to be released from the album is the mesmerizing nine minute instrumental 'Valley of Fire' featuring "The Magnificent 13" (Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Paul Gilbert, Neal Schon, Marty Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, Mattias IA Eklundh, Greg Howe, Jeff Loomis, Richie Kotzen, Gus G, Steve Hunter and Ben Woods).
Jason Becker’s story is one of brilliance, talent, determination, adversity, and, ultimately, triumph.
A child prodigy on guitar, Jason rose to prominence as a teenager when he was one half of the technical guitar duo Cacophony, with his great friend Marty Friedman.
In 1989, at only 19 years old, he became the guitarist for David Lee Roth, following in the huge footsteps of Steve Vai; he wrote and recorded for Roth’s third solo album A Little Ain’t Enough and was poised to tour the album when a nagging pain in his leg was diagnosed as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (the same condition Stephen Hawking had).
A fatal condition, the life expectancy given was three to five years – that was twenty-nine years ago.
Jason Becker lost the ability to play guitar, walk, talk, and breathe on his own but he never lost his will to live or his desire to create music.
Communicating through a series of eye movements with a system developed by his father, Jason spells out words as well as musical notes and chords; he imparts his musical vision to his team who then can input the notes into a computer, edit the parts to his exacting standards, and then generate charts for session musicians.
The fourteen tracks on Triumphant Hearts showcase Jason Becker’s gift for melody and his deep knowledge of classical composition and orchestral arrangement; many of the guitar parts are performed by a who’s who of guitar greats including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert and Joe Bonamassa.
Additionally, as an added bonus and delight for his fans, Jason Becker’s amazing guitar playing, recorded in the 80s and 90s, features throughout.
The first song to be released from the album is the mesmerizing nine minute instrumental 'Valley of Fire' featuring "The Magnificent 13" (Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Paul Gilbert, Neal Schon, Marty Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, Mattias IA Eklundh, Greg Howe, Jeff Loomis, Richie Kotzen, Gus G, Steve Hunter and Ben Woods).
Other highlights include the stunning title track (featuring Jason Becker's friend and ex bandmate Marty Friedman and an astounding violin performance from Glauco Bertagnin), 'Magic Woman' (featuring Uli Jon Roth and ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick) and the inclusion of two previously unreleased outtakes from the A Little Ain’t Enough sessions, the hard rocking 'Taking Me Back' and the blues-infused 'Tell Me No Lies.'
"Some people feel sorry for me and I understand that. I really feel lucky though. I don’t miss playing guitar anymore. I’m sure that’s out of necessity, but I am grateful for so much more. I am surrounded by loving people, and I can still make music." - Jason Becker
Pre-order Triumphant Hearts: http://smarturl.it/JasonBecker
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"Some people feel sorry for me and I understand that. I really feel lucky though. I don’t miss playing guitar anymore. I’m sure that’s out of necessity, but I am grateful for so much more. I am surrounded by loving people, and I can still make music." - Jason Becker
Pre-order Triumphant Hearts: http://smarturl.it/JasonBecker
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Fresh off his G3 European and UK tour with Joe Satriani and John Petrucci, former Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth, widely regarded as one of the great rock guitar players, will celebrate his upcoming 50th Anniversary as a performer (he played his first ever show in December 1968 at the age of 13) with six very special UK concerts.
The two hour-plus show will consist of selected highlights from Uli Jon Roth’s entire musical career, including revisiting his Scorpions days, as was done in such fine fashion with the Scorpions Revisited 2CD set in 2015 and the Tokyo Tapes Revisited - Live in Tokyo 2015 DVD/Blu-Ray, released in 2016.
The 50th Anniversary shows will naturally include the best of that timeless material, including 'The Sails of Charon,' 'In Trance' and 'Fly to the Rainbow,' among others.
Joining Uli Jon Roth as special guest on the tour dates will be Kaleb McKane.
The British newcomer recently released his first EP Universe in Reverse, which was produced by Miles James (Michael Kiwanuka, Emile Sande).
Kaleb McKane will release his debut album in 2019.
Uli Jon Roth – 50th Anniversary UK Tour with Special Guest Kaleb McKane
Tickets: www.seetickets.com, stables.org, www.ulijonroth.com/tourdates
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The two hour-plus show will consist of selected highlights from Uli Jon Roth’s entire musical career, including revisiting his Scorpions days, as was done in such fine fashion with the Scorpions Revisited 2CD set in 2015 and the Tokyo Tapes Revisited - Live in Tokyo 2015 DVD/Blu-Ray, released in 2016.
The 50th Anniversary shows will naturally include the best of that timeless material, including 'The Sails of Charon,' 'In Trance' and 'Fly to the Rainbow,' among others.
Joining Uli Jon Roth as special guest on the tour dates will be Kaleb McKane.
The British newcomer recently released his first EP Universe in Reverse, which was produced by Miles James (Michael Kiwanuka, Emile Sande).
Kaleb McKane will release his debut album in 2019.
Uli Jon Roth – 50th Anniversary UK Tour with Special Guest Kaleb McKane
Tickets: www.seetickets.com, stables.org, www.ulijonroth.com/tourdates
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Multi-award winning American blues guitarist singer-songwriter Samantha Fish will return to the UK for a nationwide tour in May 2019.
Tickets will go on sale on Friday 2nd November via www.alttickets.com/samantha-fish-tickets
The tour will dovetail with the noted roots-based musician’s new studio album, scheduled for release in early 2019; it will be the follow-up to her critically acclaimed brace of albums from 2017, Belle of the West and Chills & Fever.
Since launching her recording career in 2009, Samantha Fish has become a rising star and powerful live performer; her series of acclaimed albums have highlighted a creative spirit that continues to take her music in new and exciting musical directions.
As far as Samantha Fish is concerned, her musical future is an open road:
"I'm never gonna be a traditional blues artist, because that's not who I am. But it's all the blues for me.
When Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf came out, what they were doing didn't sound like anything that had been done in blues before. You've gotta keep that kind of fire and spirit. I'm never gonna do Muddy Waters better than Muddy Waters, so I have to be who I am and find my best voice."
"An impressive blues guitarist who sings with sweet power… one of the genre's most promising young talents." - The New York Times
"Samantha Fish displays more imagination and creativity than some blues veterans exhibit over the course of their careers." - The Kansas City Star
"This particular Fish has gone so deep in to the bluesy waters of the famous Mississippi River that they could have put the recording studio on the riverbed." - FabricationsHQ in review of Belle of the West
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Tickets will go on sale on Friday 2nd November via www.alttickets.com/samantha-fish-tickets
The tour will dovetail with the noted roots-based musician’s new studio album, scheduled for release in early 2019; it will be the follow-up to her critically acclaimed brace of albums from 2017, Belle of the West and Chills & Fever.
Since launching her recording career in 2009, Samantha Fish has become a rising star and powerful live performer; her series of acclaimed albums have highlighted a creative spirit that continues to take her music in new and exciting musical directions.
As far as Samantha Fish is concerned, her musical future is an open road:
"I'm never gonna be a traditional blues artist, because that's not who I am. But it's all the blues for me.
When Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf came out, what they were doing didn't sound like anything that had been done in blues before. You've gotta keep that kind of fire and spirit. I'm never gonna do Muddy Waters better than Muddy Waters, so I have to be who I am and find my best voice."
"An impressive blues guitarist who sings with sweet power… one of the genre's most promising young talents." - The New York Times
"Samantha Fish displays more imagination and creativity than some blues veterans exhibit over the course of their careers." - The Kansas City Star
"This particular Fish has gone so deep in to the bluesy waters of the famous Mississippi River that they could have put the recording studio on the riverbed." - FabricationsHQ in review of Belle of the West
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To dovetail with her upcoming UK dates, European Blues Award winner Erja Lyytinen has released a new single 'Another World,' complete with Official Music Video.
Self-released on Erja Lyytinen’s own label, Tuohi Records, it’s the second single (following 'Without You') to be taken from her upcoming new studio album, due for release in early 2019.
You can order the song from iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and Google Play here.
'Another World' describes a fictional love story in a parallel universe; the video was made by Darknoise Productions, who worked with Erja Lyytinen on her previous music videos, 'Stolen Hearts' and '24 Angels.'
"The song has a lot of meanings," says Erja Lyytinen. "First of all, it is a love story. It´s a dream about loving somebody in another dimension, because it´s not possible in this world. Also, it is pointing at how important it is for us to be aware of environmental aspects. Do we need to find another planet someday to be able to breathe? All this has been wrapped together by these two worlds happening at the same time, and how in the end it is important that we as lovers, and as a human race, could survive."
Self-released on Erja Lyytinen’s own label, Tuohi Records, it’s the second single (following 'Without You') to be taken from her upcoming new studio album, due for release in early 2019.
You can order the song from iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and Google Play here.
'Another World' describes a fictional love story in a parallel universe; the video was made by Darknoise Productions, who worked with Erja Lyytinen on her previous music videos, 'Stolen Hearts' and '24 Angels.'
"The song has a lot of meanings," says Erja Lyytinen. "First of all, it is a love story. It´s a dream about loving somebody in another dimension, because it´s not possible in this world. Also, it is pointing at how important it is for us to be aware of environmental aspects. Do we need to find another planet someday to be able to breathe? All this has been wrapped together by these two worlds happening at the same time, and how in the end it is important that we as lovers, and as a human race, could survive."
Erja Lyytinen UK dates:
London, Borderline - Tuesday 6th November
Bridgwater, Bar Brunel - Wednesday 7th November
Wolverhampton, Robin 2 - Thursday 8th November
Darlington, R&B Club - Friday 9th November
Bude, Blues Festival - Sunday 11th November
London, 100 Club (supporting Focus - Saturday 10 November (SOLD OUT)
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London, Borderline - Tuesday 6th November
Bridgwater, Bar Brunel - Wednesday 7th November
Wolverhampton, Robin 2 - Thursday 8th November
Darlington, R&B Club - Friday 9th November
Bude, Blues Festival - Sunday 11th November
London, 100 Club (supporting Focus - Saturday 10 November (SOLD OUT)
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Austin Gold, the melodic rock-blues outfit from Cambridgeshire, recently released a new single, the radio friendly 'See The Light.'
The track, an edit of which can be played/ streamed below, is lifted from last year's debut album, Before Dark Clouds.
The track, an edit of which can be played/ streamed below, is lifted from last year's debut album, Before Dark Clouds.
The release of the single is a timely musical reminder that Before Dark Clouds is one of many rock albums that should have done far bigger business than it did; an outstanding debut, it showcases all sides of Austin Gold’s rock blues from weightier material and melodically framed blues ballads to the more atmospheric.
A review of Before Dark Clouds can be found at the top of the FabricationsHQ 2017 Reviews page; click here to go directly to that page.
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A review of Before Dark Clouds can be found at the top of the FabricationsHQ 2017 Reviews page; click here to go directly to that page.
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Melodic rock-metal exponents Eden's Curse will release the compilation album Testament - The Best Of Eden's Curse on AFM Records on 2nd November.
The two disc set features 28 songs in total.
CD1 is a 14 track Best Of that covers all five of the band’s studio albums while CD2 is a 14 track ‘Best Of The Bonus Tracks' compilation.
A brand new song, 'Forever,' which also features on CD 2, is now available as a single, the Official Video for which you can view below.
Testament – Track listing:
CD1: The Best Of Eden’s Curse
01. Symphony Of Sin; 02. Masquerade Ball; 03. Black Widow (Featuring Andi Deris); 04. The Great Pretender; 05. Fly Away; 06. No Holy Man (Featuring James Labrie) 07. Sell Your Soul; 08. Jerusalem Sleeps; 09. Unconditional (Featuring Liv Kristine); 10. Judgement Day; 11. Jericho; 12. Unbreakable; 13. Evil & Divine
14. Angels & Demons (Featuring Pamela Moore)
CD2: The Best Of The Bonus Tracks
01. Forever (New Song); 02. Man Against The World (2016) 03. Time To Breathe (2013); 04. Fallen From Grace (Acoustic); 05. Unchain The Night; 06. Children Of The Tide (Piano); 07. Never The Sinner; 08. Guardian Angel (Acoustic); 09. Prisoner Of The Past; 10. Sail On (Acoustic); 11. After The Love Is Gone (Acoustic)
12. Fly Away (Acoustic); 13. The Voice Inside (Acoustic) 14. Eden's Curse (Acoustic)
As regards the release, track choice and track sequencing of CD1, founder and bassist of the band Paul Louge comments "We have two very definite periods of the band, with two vocalists, almost like the Old and New Testaments, which was the influence behind the title and the artwork.
Working closely with AFM we compiled a one disc collection that flows exactly like a concert set-list and gives the new listener a perfect introduction to our music and the avid fan a collection of the greatest songs in our arsenal."
There’s also a very specific reasoning behind the Bonus Track collection on CD 2, as Logue continues:
"One thing we have been asked a lot is – can we have all the bonus tracks on one CD? It’s taken a while, but it’s here at last, with the added bonus of a brand new song called Forever.
I actually wrote Forever way back in 2005 and I always knew it would see the light of day; (Eden's Curse guitarist) Thorsten Koenhe and I reworked it and made it more in keeping with where we are today as a band.
Back then, I had just read Dan Brown’s brilliant novel ‘Angels & Demons‘ and the lyrics are based around that whole story."
The two disc set features 28 songs in total.
CD1 is a 14 track Best Of that covers all five of the band’s studio albums while CD2 is a 14 track ‘Best Of The Bonus Tracks' compilation.
A brand new song, 'Forever,' which also features on CD 2, is now available as a single, the Official Video for which you can view below.
Testament – Track listing:
CD1: The Best Of Eden’s Curse
01. Symphony Of Sin; 02. Masquerade Ball; 03. Black Widow (Featuring Andi Deris); 04. The Great Pretender; 05. Fly Away; 06. No Holy Man (Featuring James Labrie) 07. Sell Your Soul; 08. Jerusalem Sleeps; 09. Unconditional (Featuring Liv Kristine); 10. Judgement Day; 11. Jericho; 12. Unbreakable; 13. Evil & Divine
14. Angels & Demons (Featuring Pamela Moore)
CD2: The Best Of The Bonus Tracks
01. Forever (New Song); 02. Man Against The World (2016) 03. Time To Breathe (2013); 04. Fallen From Grace (Acoustic); 05. Unchain The Night; 06. Children Of The Tide (Piano); 07. Never The Sinner; 08. Guardian Angel (Acoustic); 09. Prisoner Of The Past; 10. Sail On (Acoustic); 11. After The Love Is Gone (Acoustic)
12. Fly Away (Acoustic); 13. The Voice Inside (Acoustic) 14. Eden's Curse (Acoustic)
As regards the release, track choice and track sequencing of CD1, founder and bassist of the band Paul Louge comments "We have two very definite periods of the band, with two vocalists, almost like the Old and New Testaments, which was the influence behind the title and the artwork.
Working closely with AFM we compiled a one disc collection that flows exactly like a concert set-list and gives the new listener a perfect introduction to our music and the avid fan a collection of the greatest songs in our arsenal."
There’s also a very specific reasoning behind the Bonus Track collection on CD 2, as Logue continues:
"One thing we have been asked a lot is – can we have all the bonus tracks on one CD? It’s taken a while, but it’s here at last, with the added bonus of a brand new song called Forever.
I actually wrote Forever way back in 2005 and I always knew it would see the light of day; (Eden's Curse guitarist) Thorsten Koenhe and I reworked it and made it more in keeping with where we are today as a band.
Back then, I had just read Dan Brown’s brilliant novel ‘Angels & Demons‘ and the lyrics are based around that whole story."
Dovetailing with the release of Testament is the return to the UK of Eden’s Curse as special guests to Michael Schenker Fest on their Resurrection UK Tour in November - see next article for full details.
Eden's Curse will make a number of other live appearances in November, at the Hard Rock Hell, WinterStorm and Winter's End Festivals, and a headline show at the Fuel Rock Club in Cardiff.
Headline Show:
7th Nov - Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff
Festival appearances:
8th Nov - Hard Rock Hell XII, Pwllheli
24th Nov, WinterStorm, Troon
10th March 2019, Winter's End, Poole
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Eden's Curse will make a number of other live appearances in November, at the Hard Rock Hell, WinterStorm and Winter's End Festivals, and a headline show at the Fuel Rock Club in Cardiff.
Headline Show:
7th Nov - Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff
Festival appearances:
8th Nov - Hard Rock Hell XII, Pwllheli
24th Nov, WinterStorm, Troon
10th March 2019, Winter's End, Poole
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The Michael Schenker Fest, featuring a sextet of ex MSG alumni - vocalists Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley and musicians Chris Glen (bass), Ted McKenna (drums) and Steve Mann (keys/ guitars) - play their anticipated UK dates in November.
The MSF band, who also feature Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock front man Doogie White, will be performing classic Barden-Bonnet-McAuley era MSG songs as well as tracks from Temple of Rock and MSF album Resurrection, which was released earlier this year.
Scottish fans and ticket holders for the Glasgow date should note the venue is now SWG3 and not the O2 ABC as originally scheduled.
Special Guests across all dates are multinational melodic metal exponents Eden’s Curse, a band who have made their melodic metal mark with albums such as Symphony of Sin and latest and strongest release to date, 2016’s Cardinal.
Michael Schenker Fest with Special Guests Eden's Curse, UK Dates:
5th November - SWG3, Glasgow
6th November - O2 Institute, Birmingham
8th November - Hard Rock Hell Festival, North Wales (SOLD OUT)
9th November - O2 Academy, Newcastle
0th November - O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London
11th November - Academy, Manchester
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The MSF band, who also feature Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock front man Doogie White, will be performing classic Barden-Bonnet-McAuley era MSG songs as well as tracks from Temple of Rock and MSF album Resurrection, which was released earlier this year.
Scottish fans and ticket holders for the Glasgow date should note the venue is now SWG3 and not the O2 ABC as originally scheduled.
Special Guests across all dates are multinational melodic metal exponents Eden’s Curse, a band who have made their melodic metal mark with albums such as Symphony of Sin and latest and strongest release to date, 2016’s Cardinal.
Michael Schenker Fest with Special Guests Eden's Curse, UK Dates:
5th November - SWG3, Glasgow
6th November - O2 Institute, Birmingham
8th November - Hard Rock Hell Festival, North Wales (SOLD OUT)
9th November - O2 Academy, Newcastle
0th November - O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London
11th November - Academy, Manchester
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Photo by Alwyn R Coates
Blues rocking Scottish siblings Alan and Stevie Nimmo may be making musical waves via the celebrated and multi-award winning act King King and with the Stevie Nimmo Trio/ as solo artist (Sky Won’t Fall) respectively, but as the highly regarded Nimmo Brothers the guitar and vocal pair have been producing high-energy performances and delivering blues-rock solid albums for nigh on twenty years.
Or were, until the success of the aforementioned King King and the Stevie Nimmo Trio took touring and performing priority.
Good news indeed then that the Manhaton Records recording artists have returned to the stage as The Nimmo Bothers for their eleven date reunion tour across the UK.
Nov 2 – Glasgow, Oran Mor (SOLD OUT)
Nov 4 – Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
https://www.ents24.com/aberdeen-events/the-lemon-tree/the-nimmo-brothers/1073903898
Nov 5 – Preston, Live Room @ The Guild Hall
https://prestonguildhall.co.uk/shows/the-nimmo-brothers-the-stumble/
Nov 6 – Darlington, The Forum (SOLD OUT)
https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/the-nimmo-brothers-darlington-forum-music-centre-tickets/8624995
Nov 7 – Carlisle, Old Fire Station
https://www.oldfirestation.carlisle.city
Nov 8 – York, Fibbers
https://www.ents24.com/york-events/fibbers-moved/the-nimmo-brothers/5381537
Nov 10 - The Hammersmith Club, London (SOLD OUT)
ttp://www.feenstra.co.uk
Nov 11 Derby, Flowerpot (SOLD OUT)
https://www.ents24.com/derby-events/the-flowerpot/the-nimmo-brothers/5381445
Nov 12 Southampton, 1865 Club
https://www.ents24.com/southampton-events/the-1865/the-nimmo-brothers/5381505
Nov 13 Shoreham, Ropetackle Arts (SOLD OUT)
https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk
Nov 14 Exeter, Barnfield Theatre
http://www.barnfieldtheatre.org.uk/whats-on/
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Or were, until the success of the aforementioned King King and the Stevie Nimmo Trio took touring and performing priority.
Good news indeed then that the Manhaton Records recording artists have returned to the stage as The Nimmo Bothers for their eleven date reunion tour across the UK.
Nov 2 – Glasgow, Oran Mor (SOLD OUT)
Nov 4 – Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
https://www.ents24.com/aberdeen-events/the-lemon-tree/the-nimmo-brothers/1073903898
Nov 5 – Preston, Live Room @ The Guild Hall
https://prestonguildhall.co.uk/shows/the-nimmo-brothers-the-stumble/
Nov 6 – Darlington, The Forum (SOLD OUT)
https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/the-nimmo-brothers-darlington-forum-music-centre-tickets/8624995
Nov 7 – Carlisle, Old Fire Station
https://www.oldfirestation.carlisle.city
Nov 8 – York, Fibbers
https://www.ents24.com/york-events/fibbers-moved/the-nimmo-brothers/5381537
Nov 10 - The Hammersmith Club, London (SOLD OUT)
ttp://www.feenstra.co.uk
Nov 11 Derby, Flowerpot (SOLD OUT)
https://www.ents24.com/derby-events/the-flowerpot/the-nimmo-brothers/5381445
Nov 12 Southampton, 1865 Club
https://www.ents24.com/southampton-events/the-1865/the-nimmo-brothers/5381505
Nov 13 Shoreham, Ropetackle Arts (SOLD OUT)
https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk
Nov 14 Exeter, Barnfield Theatre
http://www.barnfieldtheatre.org.uk/whats-on/
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Germany’s hottest young rock band The New Roses embark on an 11-date UK Headline Tour in November and December, presented by Shock City Productions in association with Brainstorm Music Marketing AG.
Special guests on the tour are British hard rock band Departed, except for the shows in Carlisle (Heartbreak Remedy), Newcastle (Saints Of Arcadia) Southampton (Voodoo Vegas) and The Brink.
The band, whose song 'Without a Trace' (the title track of their 2013 debut) was featured on the soundtrack of the US cult series Sons Of Anarchy, made their breakthrough when their 2017 album One More For The Road became a Top 20 success on the German Album Charts.
The album also received rave reviews from the British media, Powerplay Magazine stating that One More For The Road was "an album for any self-respecting hard rock fan."
Special guests on the tour are British hard rock band Departed, except for the shows in Carlisle (Heartbreak Remedy), Newcastle (Saints Of Arcadia) Southampton (Voodoo Vegas) and The Brink.
The band, whose song 'Without a Trace' (the title track of their 2013 debut) was featured on the soundtrack of the US cult series Sons Of Anarchy, made their breakthrough when their 2017 album One More For The Road became a Top 20 success on the German Album Charts.
The album also received rave reviews from the British media, Powerplay Magazine stating that One More For The Road was "an album for any self-respecting hard rock fan."
Just before hitting the road in the UK The New Roses will hit the high seas as the only European act to be featured on the KISS KRUISE VIII, from 31st October to 5th November, from Miami to Nassau to Key West.
This year the band have already toured Germany and France, were special guests on The Dead Daisies European tour and will play more than thirty festivals this summer including Sweden Rock, Open Road Fest, Matapaloz, Rock Of Ages and Rock Hard Festival.
THE NEW ROSES – ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 UK HEADLINE TOUR
With Special Guests Departed except at *(Heartbreak Remedy), **(Saints Of Arcadia), ^(Voodoo Vegas)
Tickets: www.thenewroses.com/tour
*The Brickyard, Carlisle - Wednesday 21st November
Yardbird Rock, Grimsby - Thursday 22nd November
Winter Storm, Troon - Friday 23rd November
Corporation, Sheffield - Saturday 24th November
**Trillians, Newcastle - Sunday 25th November
The Louisiana, Bristol - Tuesday 27th November
^The 1865, Southampton - Wednesday 28th November
The Underworld Camden, London - Thursday 29th November
Rebellion, Manchester - Friday 30th November
Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff - Saturday 1st December
The Robin 2, Bilston - Sunday 2nd December
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This year the band have already toured Germany and France, were special guests on The Dead Daisies European tour and will play more than thirty festivals this summer including Sweden Rock, Open Road Fest, Matapaloz, Rock Of Ages and Rock Hard Festival.
THE NEW ROSES – ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2018 UK HEADLINE TOUR
With Special Guests Departed except at *(Heartbreak Remedy), **(Saints Of Arcadia), ^(Voodoo Vegas)
Tickets: www.thenewroses.com/tour
*The Brickyard, Carlisle - Wednesday 21st November
Yardbird Rock, Grimsby - Thursday 22nd November
Winter Storm, Troon - Friday 23rd November
Corporation, Sheffield - Saturday 24th November
**Trillians, Newcastle - Sunday 25th November
The Louisiana, Bristol - Tuesday 27th November
^The 1865, Southampton - Wednesday 28th November
The Underworld Camden, London - Thursday 29th November
Rebellion, Manchester - Friday 30th November
Fuel Rock Club, Cardiff - Saturday 1st December
The Robin 2, Bilston - Sunday 2nd December
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Following the success of 2017’s The Night Siren, acclaimed guitarist Steve Hackett has announced the release of his new, and twenty-sixth, studio album, At The Edge Of Light.
The album, to be released on the 25th January 2019, features ten songs and will once again unite a vast range of styles (from rock, orchestration and world music to the reflective and atmospheric) in Steve Hackett’s inimitable style.
"In these dangerous times, deep shadows feel even sharper than usual and we find ourselves standing at the edge of light... The contrast between dark and light weaves its way throughout the album in many ways, from the sense of good fighting evil through to the interplay of dark and light opposites magically combining in cultures, including the heartbeat of India and primal tribal rhythms.
Ultimately, this album embraces the need for all musical forms and cultures to connect and celebrate the wonder of unity in this divided world." Steve Hackett
At The Edge Of Light will be released in a number of formats including Mediabook CD (plus DVD with 5.1 surround sound mix & behind the scenes documentary), Double Vinyl LP + CD, Jewel Case CD and Digital.
The album will feature members of Steve Hackett’s touring band – Rob Townsend (saxophone, bass clarinet, duduk), Amanda Lehmann (vocals), Gary O’Toole (drums), Roger King (keyboards) – as well as Steve Hackett’s brother, John Hackett (flute).
A number of international players and guest musicians will also feature, including Durga and Loreley of Pink Floyd vocal fame, drummers Nick D'Virgilio and Simon Phillips, sitar player Sheema from India, Icelandic drummer/percussionist Gulli Briem, tar player Malik Mansurov and Swedish bass player Jonas Reingold.
Steve Hackett – At the Edge of Light – Track listing
Fallen Walls and Pedestals; Beasts In Our Time; Under the Eye Of the Sun; Underground Railroad; Those Golden Wings; Shadow and Flame; Hungry Years; Descent; Conflict; Peace.
The album is released shortly before Steve Hackett performs as special guest on the Cruise To The Edge in February 2019 and the On The Blue cruise featuring Justin Hayward, also in February.
Steve Hackett also recently announced a UK tour in November 2019 with a much anticipated show featuring Genesis’s Selling England By The Pound in its entirety and selected highlights from Hackett’s Spectral Mornings album. (see News Item further below)
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The album, to be released on the 25th January 2019, features ten songs and will once again unite a vast range of styles (from rock, orchestration and world music to the reflective and atmospheric) in Steve Hackett’s inimitable style.
"In these dangerous times, deep shadows feel even sharper than usual and we find ourselves standing at the edge of light... The contrast between dark and light weaves its way throughout the album in many ways, from the sense of good fighting evil through to the interplay of dark and light opposites magically combining in cultures, including the heartbeat of India and primal tribal rhythms.
Ultimately, this album embraces the need for all musical forms and cultures to connect and celebrate the wonder of unity in this divided world." Steve Hackett
At The Edge Of Light will be released in a number of formats including Mediabook CD (plus DVD with 5.1 surround sound mix & behind the scenes documentary), Double Vinyl LP + CD, Jewel Case CD and Digital.
The album will feature members of Steve Hackett’s touring band – Rob Townsend (saxophone, bass clarinet, duduk), Amanda Lehmann (vocals), Gary O’Toole (drums), Roger King (keyboards) – as well as Steve Hackett’s brother, John Hackett (flute).
A number of international players and guest musicians will also feature, including Durga and Loreley of Pink Floyd vocal fame, drummers Nick D'Virgilio and Simon Phillips, sitar player Sheema from India, Icelandic drummer/percussionist Gulli Briem, tar player Malik Mansurov and Swedish bass player Jonas Reingold.
Steve Hackett – At the Edge of Light – Track listing
Fallen Walls and Pedestals; Beasts In Our Time; Under the Eye Of the Sun; Underground Railroad; Those Golden Wings; Shadow and Flame; Hungry Years; Descent; Conflict; Peace.
The album is released shortly before Steve Hackett performs as special guest on the Cruise To The Edge in February 2019 and the On The Blue cruise featuring Justin Hayward, also in February.
Steve Hackett also recently announced a UK tour in November 2019 with a much anticipated show featuring Genesis’s Selling England By The Pound in its entirety and selected highlights from Hackett’s Spectral Mornings album. (see News Item further below)
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It’s Blues Girl Power once again as the third Ladies of the Blues showcase, presented by Solid Entertainments, gets under way in November…
Featuring Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm, The Zoe Green Band and Eliana Cargnelutti, the 2018 edition of Ladies of the Blues will play nine dates in England, starting on the 19th of November with a show at the Komedia Studio in Brighton and culminating nine days later at the Corn Exchange Theatre in Stamford.
Featuring Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm, The Zoe Green Band and Eliana Cargnelutti, the 2018 edition of Ladies of the Blues will play nine dates in England, starting on the 19th of November with a show at the Komedia Studio in Brighton and culminating nine days later at the Corn Exchange Theatre in Stamford.
Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm is a unique vocal pairing of mother and daughter, Lee and Tori Ainley, accompanied by the talent of teenage guitarist Elliot Young.
Add the driving rhythms delivered by one of the South Coast’s most in demand drummers, Simon Griffin and musical director of the band, bassist Mike Howell (a former A&R manager who worked with John Mayall, Peter Green, Buddy Whittington and John Lee Hooker) and you end up with a quintet that can kick up a Blues Storm.
The Zoe Green Band have become a force to be reckoned with and put on shows that leave audiences wanting more every time. Zoe Green started as a singer at the age of fifteen and was a professional singer of many styles until settling into her area of expertise, the blues.
Green’s gritty powerhouse vocals and stage presence complement guitarist Gaz Morris’ guitar skills, backed by rock-blues solid drums from Phil Carter and David Clarke’s funk bass.
Eliana Cargnelutti is a guitar player/singer songwriter from North Italy.
Graduating in jazz guitar, her band plays has a distinct rock blues flavour with a bit of everything mixed in - electric funk, pop and jazzy instrumentals, rock and tight blues grooves, all illuminated by Cargnelutti’s skills on guitar.
In 2015 Eliana Cargnelutti was named one of the five best female guitarists in the rock blues scene at the American Jimi Awards.
For more details and to purchase tickets, please visit: http://www.solidentertainments.com/presents.htm#LADIES-OF-THE-BLUES
Add the driving rhythms delivered by one of the South Coast’s most in demand drummers, Simon Griffin and musical director of the band, bassist Mike Howell (a former A&R manager who worked with John Mayall, Peter Green, Buddy Whittington and John Lee Hooker) and you end up with a quintet that can kick up a Blues Storm.
The Zoe Green Band have become a force to be reckoned with and put on shows that leave audiences wanting more every time. Zoe Green started as a singer at the age of fifteen and was a professional singer of many styles until settling into her area of expertise, the blues.
Green’s gritty powerhouse vocals and stage presence complement guitarist Gaz Morris’ guitar skills, backed by rock-blues solid drums from Phil Carter and David Clarke’s funk bass.
Eliana Cargnelutti is a guitar player/singer songwriter from North Italy.
Graduating in jazz guitar, her band plays has a distinct rock blues flavour with a bit of everything mixed in - electric funk, pop and jazzy instrumentals, rock and tight blues grooves, all illuminated by Cargnelutti’s skills on guitar.
In 2015 Eliana Cargnelutti was named one of the five best female guitarists in the rock blues scene at the American Jimi Awards.
For more details and to purchase tickets, please visit: http://www.solidentertainments.com/presents.htm#LADIES-OF-THE-BLUES
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Ear and eye-catching blues rock power-trio Wille & The Bandits, who mix 60s and 70s blues rock with contemporary rock and roll and more modern influences, have just released their new single, 'Find My Way.'
The weighty track, which epitomises the sound of the band, is taken from forthcoming album Paths, released on February 1st, 2019.
Wille & The Bandits will support the album with an twenty-four date tour of the UK (plus two festival appearances) through January to March 2019.
Special Guests on the majority of the March dates are the excellent blues soul rock outfit, Rainbreakers.
Paths, on Fat Toad Records and distributed by Proper, has captured not just the band’s live energy but manages to encapsulate the band’s multi-influenced style that shapes their blues rock and roll sound, as vocalist and guitarist Willie Edwards confirms:
"I feel that we have finally managed to capture the various soundscapes and unusual instrumentation of our sound on one album without losing the raw, live energy of Wille and the Bandits"
The weighty track, which epitomises the sound of the band, is taken from forthcoming album Paths, released on February 1st, 2019.
Wille & The Bandits will support the album with an twenty-four date tour of the UK (plus two festival appearances) through January to March 2019.
Special Guests on the majority of the March dates are the excellent blues soul rock outfit, Rainbreakers.
Paths, on Fat Toad Records and distributed by Proper, has captured not just the band’s live energy but manages to encapsulate the band’s multi-influenced style that shapes their blues rock and roll sound, as vocalist and guitarist Willie Edwards confirms:
"I feel that we have finally managed to capture the various soundscapes and unusual instrumentation of our sound on one album without losing the raw, live energy of Wille and the Bandits"
Wille & The Bandits have toured with the likes of Deep Purple, Status Quo, Joe Bonamassa, the Jon Butler Trio and Warren Haynes.
In 2014 the band was voted in the Top Ten bands to see at Glastonbury. They also played the Isle of Wight festival and the London Olympics; they were picked to play at the latter by being voted one of UK’s best live acts.
Paths is the follow-up to 2017’s studio album Steal; the band released the double live album Living Free earlier this year.
Wille & The Bandits – UK Tour, March 2019
Special Guests: Rainbreakers (except *)
* Giants of Rock, Minehead* - Saturday 26 January
* Phoenix, Exeter* - Wednesday 30 January
* The Factory, Barnstaple* - Thursday 31 January
* The 1865, Southampton* - Friday 1 February
* The Cobblestones, Bridgwater* - Friday 8 February
* The Old Bakery, Truro* - Saturday 9 February
* Guildhall, Gloucester* - Friday 15 February
Ropetackle, Shoreham - Wednesday 6th March
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff - Thursday 7th March
The Junction, Plymouth - Friday 8th March
Thekla, Bristol - Saturday 9th March
The Bodega, Nottingham - Wednesday 13th March
O2 Academy 2, Liverpool - Thursday 14th March
O2 Academy 2, Sheffield - Friday 15th March
* The Continental, Preston - Saturday 16th March
* Victoria Hall, Settle - Sunday 17th March
Fibbers, York - Tuesday 19th March
The Hug & Pint, Glasgow - Wednesday 20st March
Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh - Thursday 21st March
O2 Academy 2, Newcastle - Friday 22nd March
* Top Secret Blues, Scarborough - Saturday 23rd March (festival appearance)
Junction 2, Cambridge - Sunday 24th March
The Waterfront, Norwich - Wednesday 27th March
O2 Academy 3, Birmingham - Thursday 28th March
O2 Academy 2, Oxford - Friday 29th March
O2 Academy 2 Islington, London - Saturday 30th March
Tickets on sale now: https://www.willeandthebandits.com/tour-dates
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In 2014 the band was voted in the Top Ten bands to see at Glastonbury. They also played the Isle of Wight festival and the London Olympics; they were picked to play at the latter by being voted one of UK’s best live acts.
Paths is the follow-up to 2017’s studio album Steal; the band released the double live album Living Free earlier this year.
Wille & The Bandits – UK Tour, March 2019
Special Guests: Rainbreakers (except *)
* Giants of Rock, Minehead* - Saturday 26 January
* Phoenix, Exeter* - Wednesday 30 January
* The Factory, Barnstaple* - Thursday 31 January
* The 1865, Southampton* - Friday 1 February
* The Cobblestones, Bridgwater* - Friday 8 February
* The Old Bakery, Truro* - Saturday 9 February
* Guildhall, Gloucester* - Friday 15 February
Ropetackle, Shoreham - Wednesday 6th March
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff - Thursday 7th March
The Junction, Plymouth - Friday 8th March
Thekla, Bristol - Saturday 9th March
The Bodega, Nottingham - Wednesday 13th March
O2 Academy 2, Liverpool - Thursday 14th March
O2 Academy 2, Sheffield - Friday 15th March
* The Continental, Preston - Saturday 16th March
* Victoria Hall, Settle - Sunday 17th March
Fibbers, York - Tuesday 19th March
The Hug & Pint, Glasgow - Wednesday 20st March
Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh - Thursday 21st March
O2 Academy 2, Newcastle - Friday 22nd March
* Top Secret Blues, Scarborough - Saturday 23rd March (festival appearance)
Junction 2, Cambridge - Sunday 24th March
The Waterfront, Norwich - Wednesday 27th March
O2 Academy 3, Birmingham - Thursday 28th March
O2 Academy 2, Oxford - Friday 29th March
O2 Academy 2 Islington, London - Saturday 30th March
Tickets on sale now: https://www.willeandthebandits.com/tour-dates
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New Danish kids on the rock block, Before Fire, have released a new single and video 'There She Goes.'
As contemporary as it is old school, with a groove that’s built on both the beat and the riff, the feisty little number follows on from the band’s debut EP Temper of Two, released in 2017.
'There She Goes' also features new lead vocalist Mathias Bang Fischer, who joined Konrad Liam (guitar), Tobias Hahn (drums) and Mikkel Ottosen (bass) earlier this year.
While Temper of Two, featuring previous singer Oscar Lauridsen, showed promise (such as on opening track, the psychedelically-tinged blues rock of 'Don’t Wanna Fight') 'There She Goes' and Mathias Bang Fischer sound like a step up, and step forward, for the Copenhagen based band.
As contemporary as it is old school, with a groove that’s built on both the beat and the riff, the feisty little number follows on from the band’s debut EP Temper of Two, released in 2017.
'There She Goes' also features new lead vocalist Mathias Bang Fischer, who joined Konrad Liam (guitar), Tobias Hahn (drums) and Mikkel Ottosen (bass) earlier this year.
While Temper of Two, featuring previous singer Oscar Lauridsen, showed promise (such as on opening track, the psychedelically-tinged blues rock of 'Don’t Wanna Fight') 'There She Goes' and Mathias Bang Fischer sound like a step up, and step forward, for the Copenhagen based band.
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British progressive luminaries Marillion return to the road in the UK and Europe late in 2019 with an extended line up of musicians joining the band.
The Friends From The Orchestra shows will feature the In Praise of Folly String Quartet plus Sam Morris (French Horn) and Emma Halnan (Flute), all of whom will feature on select numbers throughout the show.
In December 2017 Marillion played a sold-out show at The Royal Albert Hall which was the fastest selling concert of the band’s career; it featured this same ensemble of musicians who featured on the spring 2018 UK tour.
The concert at the Royal Albert hall was hailed by fans and critics alike as one of the best concerts of Marillion’s history. The recording of the show, All One Tonight, has since been released on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD and vinyl, topping the charts in five countries.
On the November 2019 tour Marillion will play a selection of songs that span their fourteen album career with lead vocalist Steve Hogarth; 2019 celebrates thirty years of Hogarth joining the band.
Says the front man "Has it really been 30 years?! (guitarist) Steve Rothery tells me it’s his 40th anniversary so it’s a double celebration! It’s amazing to be in this position after all this time. We’ve added this wonderful six-piece to the band for this entire tour. They’re brilliant players, good friends, and the chemistry we have together has already spoken for itself. I thought we’d never beat that night at the Royal Albert Hall... but there’s going to be two nights and two different RAH set lists this time, so let’s see what we, and our legendary fans, can do."
Tickets are on sale now and available from https://myticket.co.uk/ and venue box offices.
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The Friends From The Orchestra shows will feature the In Praise of Folly String Quartet plus Sam Morris (French Horn) and Emma Halnan (Flute), all of whom will feature on select numbers throughout the show.
In December 2017 Marillion played a sold-out show at The Royal Albert Hall which was the fastest selling concert of the band’s career; it featured this same ensemble of musicians who featured on the spring 2018 UK tour.
The concert at the Royal Albert hall was hailed by fans and critics alike as one of the best concerts of Marillion’s history. The recording of the show, All One Tonight, has since been released on DVD, Blu-Ray, CD and vinyl, topping the charts in five countries.
On the November 2019 tour Marillion will play a selection of songs that span their fourteen album career with lead vocalist Steve Hogarth; 2019 celebrates thirty years of Hogarth joining the band.
Says the front man "Has it really been 30 years?! (guitarist) Steve Rothery tells me it’s his 40th anniversary so it’s a double celebration! It’s amazing to be in this position after all this time. We’ve added this wonderful six-piece to the band for this entire tour. They’re brilliant players, good friends, and the chemistry we have together has already spoken for itself. I thought we’d never beat that night at the Royal Albert Hall... but there’s going to be two nights and two different RAH set lists this time, so let’s see what we, and our legendary fans, can do."
Tickets are on sale now and available from https://myticket.co.uk/ and venue box offices.
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Thunder have just announced details of their forthcoming studio album.
The British hard n' bluesy rockers will celebrate their 30th Anniversary by releasing Please Remain Seated via BMG on January 18th 2019; the album will be supported by a nine date UK tour through February 2019. Special Guest support will come from Dan Reed (solo acoustic).
Please Remain Seated is both a re-imagining and a re-recording of a dozen numbers from the band’s back catalogue. Avoiding the more common and all-too-predictable re-recording of the greatest hits, as so many other classic rock bands have done, Thunder have spread the net wide to record a lot of deeper cuts along with a handful of their more famous songs.
They have also purposely avoided the pitfall of striving for meticulous performance, like-for-like re-records or applying too much attention to detail – the results are set of songs recorded fairly quickly, all of which are a little different from the originals….
The British hard n' bluesy rockers will celebrate their 30th Anniversary by releasing Please Remain Seated via BMG on January 18th 2019; the album will be supported by a nine date UK tour through February 2019. Special Guest support will come from Dan Reed (solo acoustic).
Please Remain Seated is both a re-imagining and a re-recording of a dozen numbers from the band’s back catalogue. Avoiding the more common and all-too-predictable re-recording of the greatest hits, as so many other classic rock bands have done, Thunder have spread the net wide to record a lot of deeper cuts along with a handful of their more famous songs.
They have also purposely avoided the pitfall of striving for meticulous performance, like-for-like re-records or applying too much attention to detail – the results are set of songs recorded fairly quickly, all of which are a little different from the originals….
Thunder – Please Remain Seated – Track listing:
1. Bigger Than Both Of Us; 2. Future Train; 3. Girl’s Going Out Of Her Head; 4. I’m Dreaming Again
5. Fly On The Wall; 6. Just Another Suicide; 7. Empty City; 8. Miracle Man; 9. Blown Away; 10. Loser
11. She’s So Fine; 12. Low Life In High Places
The album can be pre-ordered from the band’s online store, in multiple formats, including Deluxe CD, double vinyl (splatter and standard black) and exclusive bundles.
Please Remain Seated 2019 UK Tour with Special Guest Dan Reed (solo acoustic)
Feb. 1st – Cardiff, St David’s Hall
Feb. 2nd – Ipswich, Regent Theatre
Feb. 4th – Manchester, Bridgewater Hall
Feb. 5th – York, Barbican
Feb. 6th – Gateshead, Sage
Feb. 8th – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
Feb. 9th – Leicester, De Montfort Hall
Feb. 11th – Bath, Forum
Feb. 12th – Birmingham, Symphony Hall
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1. Bigger Than Both Of Us; 2. Future Train; 3. Girl’s Going Out Of Her Head; 4. I’m Dreaming Again
5. Fly On The Wall; 6. Just Another Suicide; 7. Empty City; 8. Miracle Man; 9. Blown Away; 10. Loser
11. She’s So Fine; 12. Low Life In High Places
The album can be pre-ordered from the band’s online store, in multiple formats, including Deluxe CD, double vinyl (splatter and standard black) and exclusive bundles.
Please Remain Seated 2019 UK Tour with Special Guest Dan Reed (solo acoustic)
Feb. 1st – Cardiff, St David’s Hall
Feb. 2nd – Ipswich, Regent Theatre
Feb. 4th – Manchester, Bridgewater Hall
Feb. 5th – York, Barbican
Feb. 6th – Gateshead, Sage
Feb. 8th – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
Feb. 9th – Leicester, De Montfort Hall
Feb. 11th – Bath, Forum
Feb. 12th – Birmingham, Symphony Hall
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The big man of New York Blues, Popa Chubby, will release Prime Cuts : The Very Best Of The Beast From The East, on November 13th.
In celebration of a career spanning close to thirty years, the New York City based singer, guitarist and songwriter has handpicked thirteen tracks from his prolific back catalogue for Prime Cuts as well as including the previously unreleased 'Go Fuck Yourself' (serving up Popa Chubby's forthright social commentary on current state of affairs and featuring the violin stylings of his daughter, Theodora Horowitz).
The album's final and fifteenth track is another previously unreleased number, 'There on Christmas,' a Popa Chubby composition that celebrates the holiday with a big Phil Spector beat.
From classics such as 'Sweet Goddess of Love and Beer' and 'Stoop Down Baby' to fan favorites such as 'Life Is a Beatdown' and 'San Catri,' along with his stylized and defining versions of 'Hey Joe' and 'Hallelujah,' the collection should satisfy both the long-time fan and those new to the distinct and highly respected New York Blues of Popa Chubby.
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In celebration of a career spanning close to thirty years, the New York City based singer, guitarist and songwriter has handpicked thirteen tracks from his prolific back catalogue for Prime Cuts as well as including the previously unreleased 'Go Fuck Yourself' (serving up Popa Chubby's forthright social commentary on current state of affairs and featuring the violin stylings of his daughter, Theodora Horowitz).
The album's final and fifteenth track is another previously unreleased number, 'There on Christmas,' a Popa Chubby composition that celebrates the holiday with a big Phil Spector beat.
From classics such as 'Sweet Goddess of Love and Beer' and 'Stoop Down Baby' to fan favorites such as 'Life Is a Beatdown' and 'San Catri,' along with his stylized and defining versions of 'Hey Joe' and 'Hallelujah,' the collection should satisfy both the long-time fan and those new to the distinct and highly respected New York Blues of Popa Chubby.
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Solid Entertainments have announced an eye and ear catching three day event in Bude.
The Bude Blues, Rhythm and Rock Festival will take place at Penstowe Manor Resort across the Friday 9th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of November.
Traditionally held in Ilfracombe, the 2018 edition has been relocated 17 miles down the road across the border into North Cornwall to Penstowe Manor.
To celebrate the new venue and location, Solid Entertainments are presenting one of their most ambitious events and certainly the largest as regards their previous festivals held in the region.
With a mix of noted classic rock and blues rock names and from the UK and around the world, the three day event – featuring Focus, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado and Wishbone Ash as headliners - will be one not to miss for blues and rock fans in the South West of England.
Friday 9th November:
Focus – Aynsley Lister – John Verity Band – Storm Warning – Federal Charm – Chris King Robinson
With their unique brand of progressive primarily instrumental rock, Focus manifested themselves at the start of the '70s as the most successful and appreciated of all the Dutch pop-rock exports.
Fronted by founding member, keyboardist and flautist Thijs Van Leer, and best known for their hits 'Hocus Pocus,' 'House of The King' and 'Sylvia,' as well as a number of critically acclaimed albums including Moving Waves, Focus 3 and Hamburger Concerto, the iconic Dutch music masters returned with the acclaimed Focus X in 2012 followed by Golden Oldies, which features newly recorded versions of some of their most popular songs from their classic back catalogue.
Saturday 10th November:
Thorbjørn Risager & the Black Tornado - Grainne Duffy – Steve Hill – The Luke Doherty Band - Connor Selby Band - Born Healer
Now in their fourteenth year, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado have opened new doors in many new territories; and with all the hard work they put into their artistry, they surely deserve it.
The Danish outfit have become one of the most successful blues & roots bands on the European continent, so it’s no surprise when they sell out most venues when they return to play for only the second time.
Sunday 11th November:
Wishbone Ash – Chantel McGregor - Erja Lyytinen – Billy Walton Band - Lightnin' Willie & The Poor Boys – The Zoe Green Band
Wishbone Ash remain one of the most enduring and popular bands in British Rock.
With millions of albums sold, their iconic twin-guitar sound inspired bands from the classic rock of Thin Lizzy to the iconic metal of Iron Maiden; the band have written and delivered countless classic tracks including 'The King Will Come,' 'Throw Down The Sword' and 'Blowin’ Free.'
Combining old songs with the new, Wishbone Ash still deliver quality live sets, one year short of fifty on the road.
The Bude Blues, Rhythm and Rock Festival will take place at Penstowe Manor Resort across the Friday 9th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of November.
Traditionally held in Ilfracombe, the 2018 edition has been relocated 17 miles down the road across the border into North Cornwall to Penstowe Manor.
To celebrate the new venue and location, Solid Entertainments are presenting one of their most ambitious events and certainly the largest as regards their previous festivals held in the region.
With a mix of noted classic rock and blues rock names and from the UK and around the world, the three day event – featuring Focus, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado and Wishbone Ash as headliners - will be one not to miss for blues and rock fans in the South West of England.
Friday 9th November:
Focus – Aynsley Lister – John Verity Band – Storm Warning – Federal Charm – Chris King Robinson
With their unique brand of progressive primarily instrumental rock, Focus manifested themselves at the start of the '70s as the most successful and appreciated of all the Dutch pop-rock exports.
Fronted by founding member, keyboardist and flautist Thijs Van Leer, and best known for their hits 'Hocus Pocus,' 'House of The King' and 'Sylvia,' as well as a number of critically acclaimed albums including Moving Waves, Focus 3 and Hamburger Concerto, the iconic Dutch music masters returned with the acclaimed Focus X in 2012 followed by Golden Oldies, which features newly recorded versions of some of their most popular songs from their classic back catalogue.
Saturday 10th November:
Thorbjørn Risager & the Black Tornado - Grainne Duffy – Steve Hill – The Luke Doherty Band - Connor Selby Band - Born Healer
Now in their fourteenth year, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado have opened new doors in many new territories; and with all the hard work they put into their artistry, they surely deserve it.
The Danish outfit have become one of the most successful blues & roots bands on the European continent, so it’s no surprise when they sell out most venues when they return to play for only the second time.
Sunday 11th November:
Wishbone Ash – Chantel McGregor - Erja Lyytinen – Billy Walton Band - Lightnin' Willie & The Poor Boys – The Zoe Green Band
Wishbone Ash remain one of the most enduring and popular bands in British Rock.
With millions of albums sold, their iconic twin-guitar sound inspired bands from the classic rock of Thin Lizzy to the iconic metal of Iron Maiden; the band have written and delivered countless classic tracks including 'The King Will Come,' 'Throw Down The Sword' and 'Blowin’ Free.'
Combining old songs with the new, Wishbone Ash still deliver quality live sets, one year short of fifty on the road.
Situated in a beautiful part of the country and set in private grounds, the Penstowe Manor holiday resort has a wide range of self-catering accommodation with facilities that include two bars, a restaurant (and a take-away), indoor heated swimming pool, on site gymnasium, coffee shop and an amusement room.
Additionally, car parking is free for the weekend.
The festival itself will also have a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available and a varied food menu.
Situated close to the Hartland Cornwall Heritage Coast and a stone’s throw from the historic village of Kilkhampton, Penstowe Park is ideally located for exploring the many delights of North Cornwall.
The Bude Blues, Rhythm and Rock Festival - 9th, 10th and 11th November 2018
Penstowe Manor Resort, Penstowe Road, Kilkhampton, Bude, North Cornwall EX23 9QY
Advance Ticket of £129 per person based on 4, 5 or 6 persons sharing 2 or 3 bedroom apartment
Advance Ticket of £139 per person based on 3 persons sharing 2 bedroom apartment
Advance Ticket of £149 per person based on 2 persons sharing 1 or 2 bedroom apartment
Above prices Include 3 Nights Self Catering Accommodation and 3 Day Festival Ticket
PLEASE NOTE Advance Single Tickets (own apartment) have now sold out
Advance Ticket of £85 per person 3 day festival ticket (accommodation NOT included)
£60 for 3 nights of Motor Home or Caravan serviced pitches are now available
Tickets can be purchased at 01472 349 222 and online at: http://www.solidentertainments.com/blues/bude/tickets.html
To find out more about line up and the festival in general, please visit: http://www.solidentertainments.com/blues/bude/index.html
Doors open at 1.30 p.m., Music starts at 2.00 p.m. Festival ends at 11.30 p.m. each day.
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Additionally, car parking is free for the weekend.
The festival itself will also have a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available and a varied food menu.
Situated close to the Hartland Cornwall Heritage Coast and a stone’s throw from the historic village of Kilkhampton, Penstowe Park is ideally located for exploring the many delights of North Cornwall.
The Bude Blues, Rhythm and Rock Festival - 9th, 10th and 11th November 2018
Penstowe Manor Resort, Penstowe Road, Kilkhampton, Bude, North Cornwall EX23 9QY
Advance Ticket of £129 per person based on 4, 5 or 6 persons sharing 2 or 3 bedroom apartment
Advance Ticket of £139 per person based on 3 persons sharing 2 bedroom apartment
Advance Ticket of £149 per person based on 2 persons sharing 1 or 2 bedroom apartment
Above prices Include 3 Nights Self Catering Accommodation and 3 Day Festival Ticket
PLEASE NOTE Advance Single Tickets (own apartment) have now sold out
Advance Ticket of £85 per person 3 day festival ticket (accommodation NOT included)
£60 for 3 nights of Motor Home or Caravan serviced pitches are now available
Tickets can be purchased at 01472 349 222 and online at: http://www.solidentertainments.com/blues/bude/tickets.html
To find out more about line up and the festival in general, please visit: http://www.solidentertainments.com/blues/bude/index.html
Doors open at 1.30 p.m., Music starts at 2.00 p.m. Festival ends at 11.30 p.m. each day.
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Steve Hackett might currently be in the throes of his this year’s well-received Genesis Revisited tour (with 41 piece Orchestra no less) but that hasn’t stopped him announcing the 2019 version, which will be formed around a 20 date tour next November featuring two classic albums from the acclaimed guitarist's illustrious career.
The 2019 Genesis Revisited and Classic Hackett shows will showcase the seminal Genesis album Selling England By The Pound in its entirety, together with most of Steve Hackett’s classic solo album Spectral Mornings, which will be then celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Released in 1973, Selling England By The Pound went to No. 3 in the UK Album Charts; it has been described as the definitive Genesis album and remains a firm fan favourite.
The album includes classic Genesis cuts such as 'Dancing with the Moonlit Knight,' 'Firth of Fifth,' 'Cinema Show' and 'I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe).'
Other classic Genesis tracks will also feature in the show.
2019 marks the 40th anniversary of one of Steve Hackett’s most popular solo albums, Spectral Mornings; the anniversary milestone will be celebrated by Hackett and his band (Roger King - keyboards, Jonas Reingold - bass, Gary O’Toole - drums/percussion, Rob Townsend - saxophones/flutes), Nad Sylvan – vocals) performing numbers from the album on the 2019 tour.
Fans will also be able to hear songs from Steve Hackett’s new album, to be released in 2019.
The 2019 Genesis Revisited and Classic Hackett shows will showcase the seminal Genesis album Selling England By The Pound in its entirety, together with most of Steve Hackett’s classic solo album Spectral Mornings, which will be then celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Released in 1973, Selling England By The Pound went to No. 3 in the UK Album Charts; it has been described as the definitive Genesis album and remains a firm fan favourite.
The album includes classic Genesis cuts such as 'Dancing with the Moonlit Knight,' 'Firth of Fifth,' 'Cinema Show' and 'I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe).'
Other classic Genesis tracks will also feature in the show.
2019 marks the 40th anniversary of one of Steve Hackett’s most popular solo albums, Spectral Mornings; the anniversary milestone will be celebrated by Hackett and his band (Roger King - keyboards, Jonas Reingold - bass, Gary O’Toole - drums/percussion, Rob Townsend - saxophones/flutes), Nad Sylvan – vocals) performing numbers from the album on the 2019 tour.
Fans will also be able to hear songs from Steve Hackett’s new album, to be released in 2019.
Tickets for the Genesis Revisited Tour 2019 go on sale Friday 5th October, at 9am.
Tickets will be available from https://myticket.co.uk/ and venue box offices
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Glenn Hughes, known to millions of music fans as the 'Voice of Rock,' a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with Deep Purple and front man for rock super group Black Country Communion, has announced a further set of UK dates for his currently running and highly successful Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live tour.
The eight date 2019 tour will be a dynamic, turn-back-the-clocks, two-hour live homage to Glenn Hughes’ tenure in the MKIII and MK IV incarnations of Deep Purple.
"I'm excited to be touring the 'Classic Deep Purple Live' in the UK in May 2019. I first toured Classic Deep Purple Live in Australia and New Zealand last year and it went down like a storm. We’re currently touring a first set of dates in the UK and are looking forward for a second round in 2019"
Glenn Hughes
Tickets are on sale now.
GLENN HUGHES PERFORMS CLASSIC DEEP PURPLE LIVE – MAY 2019 UK TOUR
Tickets: 08444 780 898 (24HR Box Office) and www.thegigcartel.com
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The eight date 2019 tour will be a dynamic, turn-back-the-clocks, two-hour live homage to Glenn Hughes’ tenure in the MKIII and MK IV incarnations of Deep Purple.
"I'm excited to be touring the 'Classic Deep Purple Live' in the UK in May 2019. I first toured Classic Deep Purple Live in Australia and New Zealand last year and it went down like a storm. We’re currently touring a first set of dates in the UK and are looking forward for a second round in 2019"
Glenn Hughes
Tickets are on sale now.
GLENN HUGHES PERFORMS CLASSIC DEEP PURPLE LIVE – MAY 2019 UK TOUR
Tickets: 08444 780 898 (24HR Box Office) and www.thegigcartel.com
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The Downes Braide Association (DBA), on the back of the success of their first ever live show at Trading Boundaries in East Sussex on 28th September, have announced the release of a total remix of their acclaimed album Suburban Ghosts.
The remix, set for a 30th November release, features a number of new, additional musicians.
DBA is a musical collaboration between Geoff Downes and Chris Braide; the results of their musical partnership have been, thus far, three melodically framed progressive-pop albums - Pictures of You, Suburban Ghosts and current release, 2017’s Skyscraper Souls.
The latter features guest appearances from Marc Almond, Kate Pierson (B-52s), Andy Partridge (XTC) and David Longdon (Big Big Train).
The 2018 edition of their 2015 album Suburban Ghosts features new musicians and has been remixed by Chris Braide and mastered by Mike Pietrini.
Joining Chris Braide (vocals, programming, piano, bass and electric guitars, keyboards) and Geoff Downes (programming, piano, keyboards) on the remix are Patrick Howley (electric guitar), Dave Gregory (slide guitar), Lee Pomeroy (bass guitar), Andy Hodge (bass guitar) Ash Soan (drums).
"Working with Geoff on the Skyscraper Souls album and its two predecessors has reacquainted me with the kind of music I love. Epic and euphoric. To be able to make music like this with my dear friend is a real pleasure and reminds me why I got into music in the first place."
- Chris Braide
"It’s been both a revelation and inspiration for me, working with Chris on our DBA project together, and long may it continue. He is extremely gifted, both as a writer and producer, and I am very proud of our collaboration. Our motto has always been: DBA = Joy and Fun!"
- Geoff Downes
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The remix, set for a 30th November release, features a number of new, additional musicians.
DBA is a musical collaboration between Geoff Downes and Chris Braide; the results of their musical partnership have been, thus far, three melodically framed progressive-pop albums - Pictures of You, Suburban Ghosts and current release, 2017’s Skyscraper Souls.
The latter features guest appearances from Marc Almond, Kate Pierson (B-52s), Andy Partridge (XTC) and David Longdon (Big Big Train).
The 2018 edition of their 2015 album Suburban Ghosts features new musicians and has been remixed by Chris Braide and mastered by Mike Pietrini.
Joining Chris Braide (vocals, programming, piano, bass and electric guitars, keyboards) and Geoff Downes (programming, piano, keyboards) on the remix are Patrick Howley (electric guitar), Dave Gregory (slide guitar), Lee Pomeroy (bass guitar), Andy Hodge (bass guitar) Ash Soan (drums).
"Working with Geoff on the Skyscraper Souls album and its two predecessors has reacquainted me with the kind of music I love. Epic and euphoric. To be able to make music like this with my dear friend is a real pleasure and reminds me why I got into music in the first place."
- Chris Braide
"It’s been both a revelation and inspiration for me, working with Chris on our DBA project together, and long may it continue. He is extremely gifted, both as a writer and producer, and I am very proud of our collaboration. Our motto has always been: DBA = Joy and Fun!"
- Geoff Downes
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Currently on a European tour as special guests to hard melodic rock giants Europe, having recently played the Royal Albert Hall as part of the UK leg of the Europe tour, King King have now announced their own headline tour of the UK through January and February 2019.
The champions of British blues rock, King King played more than twenty festivals this summer and in May of this year picked up three more UK Blues Award to add to their growing collection:
Band of the Year, Songwriter of the Year (Alan Nimmo) and Album of the Year (Exile & Grace).
King King’s current album and fourth studio release Exile & Grace, was released in October of 2017 on Manhaton Records; the album featured the singles '(She Don’t) Gimme No Lovin’, 'Long Time Running' and 'Broken,' all of which garnered airplay on Planet Rock and other rock radio stations.
Exile & Grace was also a Top 40 success in the Official UK Album Charts.
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Band of the Year, Songwriter of the Year (Alan Nimmo) and Album of the Year (Exile & Grace).
King King’s current album and fourth studio release Exile & Grace, was released in October of 2017 on Manhaton Records; the album featured the singles '(She Don’t) Gimme No Lovin’, 'Long Time Running' and 'Broken,' all of which garnered airplay on Planet Rock and other rock radio stations.
Exile & Grace was also a Top 40 success in the Official UK Album Charts.
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UFO, with ever-present Phil Mogg second from left, on their Starters and Last Orders for the 2019 UK tour
UFO will embark on a very special 50th anniversary UK & Ireland tour next spring.
The influential British hard rockers will play a total of 22 shows, opening at Bristol O2 Academy on Thursday 7th March and wrapping up four weeks later at London Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Thursday 4th April.
Tickets are on sale now.
As well as commemorating the band’s half-century, the dates will also be their last UK & Ireland shows with co-founder and only sole, constant member, vocalist Phil Mogg.
The band’s ever-present front man announced his retirement in May, with a statement that confirmed he had considered stepping away from the UFO microphone earlier but that the time was now right:
“I’ve considered stepping down at the end of UFO’s previous two tours. I don’t want to call this a farewell tour as I hate that word, but next year’s gigs will represent my final tap-dancing appearances with the band.
2019 marks UFO’s 50th anniversary, so the timing feels right.
Being out on the road isn’t always tremendously luxurious and although the playing is as great as it ever was, the stuff that surrounds it becomes very tiresome. I always told myself that when I reached that stage I would step down, and that’s what I’m going to do. This is the right time for me to quit.”
UFO 50th Anniversary / Last Orders Tour:
MARCH 2019
Bristol O2 Academy – Thu 7th
Leamington Spa The Assembly – Fri 8th
Oxford O2 Academy – Sat 9th
Bournemouth O2 Academy – Sun 10th
Cardiff Tramshed – Tue 12th
Birmingham Town Hall – Thu 14th
Pwllheli Hard Rock Hell AOR Fest – Fri 15th
Manchester O2 Ritz – Sat 16th
Leeds O2 Academy – Sun 17th
*Dublin Academy – Tue 19th
*Belfast The Limelight 1 – Wed 20th
Cambridge The Junction – Fri 22nd
Northampton Roadmender – Sat 23rd
Norwich The Waterfront – Sun 24th
Nottingham Rock City – Tue 26th
Newcastle O2 Academy – Thu 28th
Edinburgh Queen’s Hall – Fri 29th
Inverness Ironworks – Sat 30th
Glasgow O2 Academy – Sun 31st
APRIL 2019
Hull City Hall – Tue 2nd
Southampton The Brook - Wed 3rd
London Shepherd’s Bush Empire – Thu 4th
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The influential British hard rockers will play a total of 22 shows, opening at Bristol O2 Academy on Thursday 7th March and wrapping up four weeks later at London Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Thursday 4th April.
Tickets are on sale now.
As well as commemorating the band’s half-century, the dates will also be their last UK & Ireland shows with co-founder and only sole, constant member, vocalist Phil Mogg.
The band’s ever-present front man announced his retirement in May, with a statement that confirmed he had considered stepping away from the UFO microphone earlier but that the time was now right:
“I’ve considered stepping down at the end of UFO’s previous two tours. I don’t want to call this a farewell tour as I hate that word, but next year’s gigs will represent my final tap-dancing appearances with the band.
2019 marks UFO’s 50th anniversary, so the timing feels right.
Being out on the road isn’t always tremendously luxurious and although the playing is as great as it ever was, the stuff that surrounds it becomes very tiresome. I always told myself that when I reached that stage I would step down, and that’s what I’m going to do. This is the right time for me to quit.”
UFO 50th Anniversary / Last Orders Tour:
MARCH 2019
Bristol O2 Academy – Thu 7th
Leamington Spa The Assembly – Fri 8th
Oxford O2 Academy – Sat 9th
Bournemouth O2 Academy – Sun 10th
Cardiff Tramshed – Tue 12th
Birmingham Town Hall – Thu 14th
Pwllheli Hard Rock Hell AOR Fest – Fri 15th
Manchester O2 Ritz – Sat 16th
Leeds O2 Academy – Sun 17th
*Dublin Academy – Tue 19th
*Belfast The Limelight 1 – Wed 20th
Cambridge The Junction – Fri 22nd
Northampton Roadmender – Sat 23rd
Norwich The Waterfront – Sun 24th
Nottingham Rock City – Tue 26th
Newcastle O2 Academy – Thu 28th
Edinburgh Queen’s Hall – Fri 29th
Inverness Ironworks – Sat 30th
Glasgow O2 Academy – Sun 31st
APRIL 2019
Hull City Hall – Tue 2nd
Southampton The Brook - Wed 3rd
London Shepherd’s Bush Empire – Thu 4th
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As a South Ayrshire based music writer and reviewer it’s exceptionally gratifying to have, and be able to to report on, a rock weekender event in the county – it's even more pleasing to be able to report that it's now a sold out rock weekender event, nearly three months before it kicks off, in only its third annual outing.
WinterStorm 2018 is also an excellent mix of name bands (including Magnum, GUN, Dead Daisies and Geoff Tate), breaking bands and those that are just starting to emerge outside of their own territories and hopefully on to bigger things.
Of the latter, Welsh heavy blues rockers Everyday Heroes recently picked up the Stormbreakers Battle of the Five Bands win at the Dreadnoughtrock in Bathgate; their thoroughly deserved win sees them opening up the Saturday 24th November running order at WinterStorm, which includes such acts as the Dead Daisies, Geoff Tate, Girlschool, Wayward Sons and their fellow Welsh men and women, Kane'd.
WinterStorm 2018 is also an excellent mix of name bands (including Magnum, GUN, Dead Daisies and Geoff Tate), breaking bands and those that are just starting to emerge outside of their own territories and hopefully on to bigger things.
Of the latter, Welsh heavy blues rockers Everyday Heroes recently picked up the Stormbreakers Battle of the Five Bands win at the Dreadnoughtrock in Bathgate; their thoroughly deserved win sees them opening up the Saturday 24th November running order at WinterStorm, which includes such acts as the Dead Daisies, Geoff Tate, Girlschool, Wayward Sons and their fellow Welsh men and women, Kane'd.
Second place at Stormbreakers 2018, which wins them an opening slot at WinterStorm on the Friday 23rd November, went to Tyneside’s weighty rock quintet Tomorrow is Lost, fronted Cass King, who has a voice as big as the band’s sound...
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Wigan based hard rock band Bigfoot recently confirmed the replacement for departed lead vocalist Antony Ant Ellis.
Sean Seabrook is the band's new front man; he and his new band-mates can be seen and heard when they hit the UK road again from mid-September (starting with a home town gig in Wigan) through to mid-December.
Bigfoot have also recently released an Official Music Video for 'Uninvited;' the song is lifted from their excellent self-titled debut album, which was released last year.
Sean Seabrook is the band's new front man; he and his new band-mates can be seen and heard when they hit the UK road again from mid-September (starting with a home town gig in Wigan) through to mid-December.
Bigfoot have also recently released an Official Music Video for 'Uninvited;' the song is lifted from their excellent self-titled debut album, which was released last year.
Bigfoot on tour : remaining 2018 dates
12.10.18 NEWCASTLE, Cluny 2
13.10.18 CARLISLE, Brickyard
14.10.18 SHEFFIELD, Corporation
18.10.18 BLACKPOOL, Waterloo
19.10.18 LEEDS, Key Club
20.10.18 NOTTINGHAM, Rockingham Festival
03.11.18 PONTYPRIDD, Muni Arts Centre
30.11.18 WOLVERHAMPTON, Slade Rooms
01.12.18 TRECCO BAY, Planet Rockstock
14.12.18 BRADFORD, Underground
15.12.18 PRESTON, 53 Degrees
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12.10.18 NEWCASTLE, Cluny 2
13.10.18 CARLISLE, Brickyard
14.10.18 SHEFFIELD, Corporation
18.10.18 BLACKPOOL, Waterloo
19.10.18 LEEDS, Key Club
20.10.18 NOTTINGHAM, Rockingham Festival
03.11.18 PONTYPRIDD, Muni Arts Centre
30.11.18 WOLVERHAMPTON, Slade Rooms
01.12.18 TRECCO BAY, Planet Rockstock
14.12.18 BRADFORD, Underground
15.12.18 PRESTON, 53 Degrees
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Burnt Out Wreck, the hard rock quintet fronted by ex Heavy Pettin’ drummer (and the band’s primary songwriter) Gary Moat, have just released their own branded Whisky.
The blended Scotch Whisky is available now from WVA Whisky Auctions and will be available soon from Amazon and all good Whisky sales outlets.
The Whisky, and Burnt Out Wreck branded wine (which will follow at the end of September), are a Moat And Norrie venture (Scottish winemaker, whisky aficionado and rock fan Andrew Norrie blended the whisky and wine exclusively for Burnt Out Wreck).
For those with the nose, palate and taste for a wee dram the whisky is described by Tim Shepherd of Whisky Master Class as a "well-structured and balanced blend, which shows its quality.”
Nose: Light floral notes, undiluted it has barley sugar, ginger and oak which opens up with a drop of water to show chocolate and vanilla.
Palate: a creamy and buttery texture, well rounded and silky.
Taste: dried Fruits and candied peel develop on the tongue with some peppery spicy notes.
An article in Tom Cannavan's Wine Pages.com provides further background and blended detail on the wine:
"This wine was made/blended for a British hard rock band called Burnt Out Wreck, a project and musical genre close to Andrew Norrie’s heart.
The wine is 80% Touriga Nacional and 20% Touriga Franca from the Tua Valley, foot trodden in lagars before four months in French oak. Deeply coloured, there's a lovely violet edge to the fruit, pepper and a sense of elegance to red and black berries.
Very pure, essence of blackberry fruit on the palate, a nice biting edge of cherry skin and plum skin acidity."
It can’t be coincidence that phrases such as "well-structured," "quality," "spicy notes," and "biting edge" are being used in product connected to Burnt Out Wreck, a band who delivered an excellent and equally tasty, hard hitting debut album entitled Swallow last year.
The blended Scotch Whisky is available now from WVA Whisky Auctions and will be available soon from Amazon and all good Whisky sales outlets.
The Whisky, and Burnt Out Wreck branded wine (which will follow at the end of September), are a Moat And Norrie venture (Scottish winemaker, whisky aficionado and rock fan Andrew Norrie blended the whisky and wine exclusively for Burnt Out Wreck).
For those with the nose, palate and taste for a wee dram the whisky is described by Tim Shepherd of Whisky Master Class as a "well-structured and balanced blend, which shows its quality.”
Nose: Light floral notes, undiluted it has barley sugar, ginger and oak which opens up with a drop of water to show chocolate and vanilla.
Palate: a creamy and buttery texture, well rounded and silky.
Taste: dried Fruits and candied peel develop on the tongue with some peppery spicy notes.
An article in Tom Cannavan's Wine Pages.com provides further background and blended detail on the wine:
"This wine was made/blended for a British hard rock band called Burnt Out Wreck, a project and musical genre close to Andrew Norrie’s heart.
The wine is 80% Touriga Nacional and 20% Touriga Franca from the Tua Valley, foot trodden in lagars before four months in French oak. Deeply coloured, there's a lovely violet edge to the fruit, pepper and a sense of elegance to red and black berries.
Very pure, essence of blackberry fruit on the palate, a nice biting edge of cherry skin and plum skin acidity."
It can’t be coincidence that phrases such as "well-structured," "quality," "spicy notes," and "biting edge" are being used in product connected to Burnt Out Wreck, a band who delivered an excellent and equally tasty, hard hitting debut album entitled Swallow last year.
Burnt Out Wreck - live dates:
10th November - Monster Fest (featuring The Dead Daisies and Dan Reed Network)
11th November - Pontins, Southport
13th November - Robin 2 (with Pat McManus Band)
17th November - New Cross Inn, London (with Pure DC)
24th November – Jägermeister Stage, WinterStorm Rock Weekender, Troon, South Ayrshire
14th December - Trillians Rock Bar, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
15th December - The Cave, Paisley
16th December - Church, Dundee
Confirmed for 2019
18th January - Great British Rock and Blues Festival, Skegness
15th February - Hard Rock Café, Glasgow
16th February - Bannermans, Edinburgh
Burnt Out Wreck:
Gary Moat - vocals, Adrian Dunn - guitar, backing vocals, Alex Carmichael - bass, backing vocals
Miles Goodman, guitar, Paul Gray - drums
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10th November - Monster Fest (featuring The Dead Daisies and Dan Reed Network)
11th November - Pontins, Southport
13th November - Robin 2 (with Pat McManus Band)
17th November - New Cross Inn, London (with Pure DC)
24th November – Jägermeister Stage, WinterStorm Rock Weekender, Troon, South Ayrshire
14th December - Trillians Rock Bar, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
15th December - The Cave, Paisley
16th December - Church, Dundee
Confirmed for 2019
18th January - Great British Rock and Blues Festival, Skegness
15th February - Hard Rock Café, Glasgow
16th February - Bannermans, Edinburgh
Burnt Out Wreck:
Gary Moat - vocals, Adrian Dunn - guitar, backing vocals, Alex Carmichael - bass, backing vocals
Miles Goodman, guitar, Paul Gray - drums
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Early days for The Chosen Few (labelled as "New Blues & Rock from Cornwall") but this is as tasty as the pasties they seemingly demolished during the one-day session...
"Back in April We got together to do a bit of recording. We just had the one day – we were using a large canteen building, and a cobbled together set of microphones, but had the talents of Ramsey Racekite at the mixing desk and keyboards.
On vocals we have Bill Smith of The Salt Flat Rats, Archie Fugill on guitar and Alan Williams on drums.
A good day all round (we took a break for pasties, thank you Archie Fugill) and then back to it... a lot of fun to do!" - Tim Chapple, July 2018.
The Chosen Few – The Pasty Sessions – recorded in Cornwall, April 2018
Archie Fugill - Guitar; Bill Smith - Vocals; Alan Williams - Drums
Tim Chapple - Bass; Ramsey Racekite - Keyboards
1. Sent By Angels (Arc Angels); 2. Feeding Time (The Hoax); 3. Living In A Dream (Arc Angels); 4. Full Time Lover (Fabulous Thunderbirds); 5. White Room (Cream)
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On vocals we have Bill Smith of The Salt Flat Rats, Archie Fugill on guitar and Alan Williams on drums.
A good day all round (we took a break for pasties, thank you Archie Fugill) and then back to it... a lot of fun to do!" - Tim Chapple, July 2018.
The Chosen Few – The Pasty Sessions – recorded in Cornwall, April 2018
Archie Fugill - Guitar; Bill Smith - Vocals; Alan Williams - Drums
Tim Chapple - Bass; Ramsey Racekite - Keyboards
1. Sent By Angels (Arc Angels); 2. Feeding Time (The Hoax); 3. Living In A Dream (Arc Angels); 4. Full Time Lover (Fabulous Thunderbirds); 5. White Room (Cream)
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"Cream was a chemical explosion like no other" reads part of the text on the promo video for The Music of Cream 50th Anniversary Tour.
If the original was a chemical explosion The Music of Cream, who celebrate and perform Cream’s timeless and truly classic material, is rooted in the DNA and familial ties that link directly to Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton.
The Music of Cream touring band, hugely successful on their inaugural visits to Australia and New Zealand in 2017, feature Malcolm Bruce, son of Jack Bruce, on bass and vocals, Ginger Baker’s son Kofi Baker on drums and guitarist & vocalist Will Johns, son of noted Rolling Stones engineer and producer, the late Andy Johns.
To complete the family circle, Will Johns is also the nephew through marriage of Eric Clapton.
The Music of Cream 50th Anniversary tour will play the UK for the first time this November; the shows will feature all of Cream’s seminal songs while the band is accompanied by a giant screen showing archive footage of Cream plus rare family snaps of Malcolm Bruce and Kofi Baker with their fathers.
The results are a true multi-media concert and a fitting tribute to one of the most successful and greatest ever power-trios.
If the original was a chemical explosion The Music of Cream, who celebrate and perform Cream’s timeless and truly classic material, is rooted in the DNA and familial ties that link directly to Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton.
The Music of Cream touring band, hugely successful on their inaugural visits to Australia and New Zealand in 2017, feature Malcolm Bruce, son of Jack Bruce, on bass and vocals, Ginger Baker’s son Kofi Baker on drums and guitarist & vocalist Will Johns, son of noted Rolling Stones engineer and producer, the late Andy Johns.
To complete the family circle, Will Johns is also the nephew through marriage of Eric Clapton.
The Music of Cream 50th Anniversary tour will play the UK for the first time this November; the shows will feature all of Cream’s seminal songs while the band is accompanied by a giant screen showing archive footage of Cream plus rare family snaps of Malcolm Bruce and Kofi Baker with their fathers.
The results are a true multi-media concert and a fitting tribute to one of the most successful and greatest ever power-trios.
Roger Brooks Photography
In a recent interview for The Sunday Post with Scottish music journalist and DJ Billy Sloan, Malcolm Bruce stated that "We honour the music in the right way.
We’re not just apeing it, we’re improvising on what already exists. We’re also integrating some home video footage of my dad, Eric and Ginger playing together – and Tony Palmer has given us permission to use shots from his movie.
There will be times you will see Cream on the big screens and we’re playing along with them.”
You can read the full interview by clicking here
The four-date UK tour starts at the Glasgow O2 Academy on Friday 23rd November; the UK dates also celebrate fifty years since Cream’s farewell UK concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on November 26th, 1968.
The Music of Cream 50th Anniversary World Tour.
UK Dates:
Glasgow, O2 Academy - Friday 23rd November
Leamington Spa, Assembly - Saturday 24th November
London, O2 Forum - Sunday 25th November
Manchester, Ritz - Monday 26th November
Book Tickets at www.themjrgroup.com/moc50th/
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We’re not just apeing it, we’re improvising on what already exists. We’re also integrating some home video footage of my dad, Eric and Ginger playing together – and Tony Palmer has given us permission to use shots from his movie.
There will be times you will see Cream on the big screens and we’re playing along with them.”
You can read the full interview by clicking here
The four-date UK tour starts at the Glasgow O2 Academy on Friday 23rd November; the UK dates also celebrate fifty years since Cream’s farewell UK concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on November 26th, 1968.
The Music of Cream 50th Anniversary World Tour.
UK Dates:
Glasgow, O2 Academy - Friday 23rd November
Leamington Spa, Assembly - Saturday 24th November
London, O2 Forum - Sunday 25th November
Manchester, Ritz - Monday 26th November
Book Tickets at www.themjrgroup.com/moc50th/
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It’s easy to see, hear and assume the new wave of classic rock is just that; a contemporary variation on the musical themes that made 60s and early 70s blues-rock, later 70s heavy rock, the melodically rocking 80s and grungier, weightier 90s the successes they were.
But there’s rootsier based materials being re-imaginatively mined too.
Providing a serious slice of hillbilly home brewed, double bass, banjo picking, down home, dirty country bluegrass that’s full of contemporary-fied (or should that be contemporary Cajun-fried) Dixie goodness are the Outlaw Orchestra, released their The Devil Made Me Do It EP earlier this year.
It might only be an EP but the songs, including 'Back To Georgia,' sound like the band (a line-up change means these Outlaws are now orchestrated around David Roux - guitars/ lead vocals, Ryan Smith - drums/ percussion/ vocals, Stephen Welch - banjo and Alex Barter - double bass/ vocals) are becoming an even stronger proposition than heard on 2017 debut album Dirty Diesel (although it’s hard to argue with the cheekily titled 'Too Much Willie Nelson' and the barn dancin' bluegrass in overdrive of 'Hangin’ Tree').
Keep on Cajun rockin', boys.
But there’s rootsier based materials being re-imaginatively mined too.
Providing a serious slice of hillbilly home brewed, double bass, banjo picking, down home, dirty country bluegrass that’s full of contemporary-fied (or should that be contemporary Cajun-fried) Dixie goodness are the Outlaw Orchestra, released their The Devil Made Me Do It EP earlier this year.
It might only be an EP but the songs, including 'Back To Georgia,' sound like the band (a line-up change means these Outlaws are now orchestrated around David Roux - guitars/ lead vocals, Ryan Smith - drums/ percussion/ vocals, Stephen Welch - banjo and Alex Barter - double bass/ vocals) are becoming an even stronger proposition than heard on 2017 debut album Dirty Diesel (although it’s hard to argue with the cheekily titled 'Too Much Willie Nelson' and the barn dancin' bluegrass in overdrive of 'Hangin’ Tree').
Keep on Cajun rockin', boys.
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Cambridgeshire-based rock band Hollowstar have released a new single 'All I Gotta Say.'
The single follows on from their Some Things Matter EP, a critically acclaimed six track release that featured 'Lay Down' and the slow build 'Feel the Burn.' The 2017 EP made #13 on the iTunes rock chart.
Hollowstar have been cited as taking inspiration from Blackstone Cherry, Thunder and Slash but as 'All I Gotta Say' emphatically declares, with some serious swagger and a whole dose of sonic energy, they are fast developing their own contemporary rockin’ sound with storytelling lyricism, as front man and bassist Joe Bonson explains:
"The song is about that moment when you reach your end and you come to the realisation that something isn’t right for you. You no longer have the desire to fight for something you recognise as wrong and are happy to walk away and start again. With every end comes a new beginning."
The single follows on from their Some Things Matter EP, a critically acclaimed six track release that featured 'Lay Down' and the slow build 'Feel the Burn.' The 2017 EP made #13 on the iTunes rock chart.
Hollowstar have been cited as taking inspiration from Blackstone Cherry, Thunder and Slash but as 'All I Gotta Say' emphatically declares, with some serious swagger and a whole dose of sonic energy, they are fast developing their own contemporary rockin’ sound with storytelling lyricism, as front man and bassist Joe Bonson explains:
"The song is about that moment when you reach your end and you come to the realisation that something isn’t right for you. You no longer have the desire to fight for something you recognise as wrong and are happy to walk away and start again. With every end comes a new beginning."
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Edinburgh heavy soul-blues outfit The Rising Souls have released a new song entitled 'Escape.'
The contemporary soul-blues meets spacious, Zeppelin-esque sound of the song also acts as a precursor to a full album that the band are currently working towards.
The contemporary soul-blues meets spacious, Zeppelin-esque sound of the song also acts as a precursor to a full album that the band are currently working towards.
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Diamond Black, the London based dark-rock quartet founded by Sisters of Mercy guitarist Ben Christo have just released a new single entitled 'Ghost in the Glass.'
The new song and debut single 'Sorrow,' released in October of last year, help define and describe what Diamond Black are all about musically and lyrically - intense riffs, electronica and cinematic choruses; powerful and muscular musicality that can also be fragile and haunting, with lyrical themes that are often nuanced, introspective and emotive with vocals ranging from brooding whispers to venomous screams.
The band’s influences are as musically diverse as Katatonia, Depeche Mode, Type O Negative and The Cult but with Finnish singer J.I. Turunen’s distinctly Scandinavian melancholy, backed by Ben Christo’s thick riffs and emotive lead-lines and a powerful rhythm section in the shape of drummer Jan-Vincent Velazco and bassist Adam Lightspeed (all encased within the darkwave/electro-rock production of noted Finnish musician and producer Jaani Peuhu) the results are definitively, and dynamically, Diamond Black.
The new song and debut single 'Sorrow,' released in October of last year, help define and describe what Diamond Black are all about musically and lyrically - intense riffs, electronica and cinematic choruses; powerful and muscular musicality that can also be fragile and haunting, with lyrical themes that are often nuanced, introspective and emotive with vocals ranging from brooding whispers to venomous screams.
The band’s influences are as musically diverse as Katatonia, Depeche Mode, Type O Negative and The Cult but with Finnish singer J.I. Turunen’s distinctly Scandinavian melancholy, backed by Ben Christo’s thick riffs and emotive lead-lines and a powerful rhythm section in the shape of drummer Jan-Vincent Velazco and bassist Adam Lightspeed (all encased within the darkwave/electro-rock production of noted Finnish musician and producer Jaani Peuhu) the results are definitively, and dynamically, Diamond Black.
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"A language works best when we have something interesting to say. Many music teachers never find out what their students have to say; we only tell them what they are supposed to say."
Victor Wooten
Victor Wooten