Opinion

First up tonight was Stone trigger from Dublin. They’re a great fit for the tour with their sleaze/hard rock sound. Despite being on quite early there’s already a good sized crowd before they start, and It got busier and busier as their set went on. It’s a sign of how …

The autumn gig season of 2018 has already started and after a while, the NWOBHM fathers of Thrash Raven came for a show, on a Wednesday afternoon in north London. Support bands for them are the Thrash metallers from San Fransisco Hatchet and the punk-Motorhead-metallers Heavy Sentence. The Boston Music …

We reached out to rock n rollers DIRTY OL’ CROW, who dispatch an engulfing cocktail of rock & roll, mixing classic heavy metal with the danger of punk. The Londoners release their debut single, Sex Dictator, on 14th September. We talked about their background and more….   What is the …

Rowdy punk rockers crew PIRATE COPY unveil their forthcoming album, Swashbuckle & Swagger, out on Friday 26th October, via Black Sail Records. We nailed the pirate punks down for a chat over a glass of rum…. What is the full band line-up, who plays what? Captain Kernow – Vocals; Johnny …

Final Rockwich 2018  day and somehow event organisers Mik Matzen and Colesia Price have managed to squeeze thirteen bands into twelve hours! First up was Quiet The Thief at the hangover worrying midday slot and no quarter was given as they dished up a heavy dollop of gritty heavy rock …

Another year and another fantastic Rockwich Festival returns courtesy of Prometheus Promotions! Two days of fantastic music starting with the Saturday night of acoustic soiree before the full on main event the next day. Local covers band Baxter made up of the very talented Paul Senior and Hayley Strangelove (but …

Sunday is always a sad day when it’s the last day of Bloodstock so it was the final journey from our hotel in Tamworth (getting too old to sleep on the ground now) to just catch the start of the rain and opening Ronnie James Dio Stage band Monument. Fronted …

As the kids TV programme TISWAS used to say, Today Is Saturday Watch And Smile and with another packed day ahead at Bloodstock Open Air Festival, there was loads to smile about! First up was The Brood laying waste to a full New Blood Stage with some full on grind. …

My annual deja vu quote of “Another year, another Bloodstock Open Air Festival” returns and 2018 saw a wealth of talent spread along four stages in the beautiful location of Catton Hall. First band up at the eye rubbingly time of 10.30am on the New Blood Stage were Dumfries based …

Arriving at Bloodstock feels like coming home. I’ve been coming here for years (this is my tenth Bloodstock), and while the bands are the advertised attraction, it’s also about meeting up with friends that you havent seen for a while (often since the last Bloodstock). Even before the bands start, …

Tonight I headed out to The Picturedrome in Holmfirth as The Dead Daisies brought their Summer Tour 2018 to Yorkshire. The Dead Daisies aren’t actually a group, as such, but a collective of musicians assembled, only five years ago, by David Lowy and Jon Stevens. The Antipodean Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller? As …

Iron Maiden’s Legacy of the beast tour reached Birmingham tonight. It’s fair to say fans were excited and ready to party with the bars nearby all full of Iron Maiden fans for hours before the doors opened with some bars running out of Trooper. The ticketless entry seemed to work …

Black Star Riders (BSR) turned up the heat, bringing their Heavy Fire tour to the city of Wakefield at venue, Warehouse23.  Approximately 900 rock fans sold out the show, as they travelled far and wide to support one of the best British/American rock bands.  Black Star Riders feature former members …

ENGLOMANATIC GLITCH are a highly dedicated quintet who create captivating stoner psychedelic rock with alluring drum and bass elements. The band avoid digital sounds and samples, and look to utilise analog equipment of all kinds, from guitar pedals and old mixing desks to cooking pots. The experimental fivesome are now …

We had a chat with rising garage rock duo THE MAGIC LOTUS, here’s what happened: How and when did the band form? Tell us anything interesting about your hometown. The band formed in late 2014 in the capital of Greece, Athens. John and George were standing at the same music …

Tonight’s support act was due to be Ginger Wildheart, but as he’s currently dealing with some health issues he was replaced by Gaz Brookfield. While Ginger is a great performer, this was clearly a popular substitution among Levellers fans. I’d heard plenty of good things about Gaz Brookfield from friends …

Brit Alt-metallers FROM INSIDE are back with their blistering new EP, When I’m Breathing Without You, which arrives on 14th September. Before then, we grilled the guys about their history and beginnings……   How and when did the band form? The band formed in 2016 but it wasn’t until 2017 …

ICARUS DIVE have been making waves on the scene for the past few years. Ahead of the release of the band’s new EP, Among The Thorns, out 21st September, we sat down with lead vocalist and guitarist Joe Crook to gain an insight into the band’s background……   What is …

This year’s North West Calling, an annual event held at O2 Ritz Manchester, took place on the 30th June. I haven’t been to this prestigious event before, as I’ve always had other arrangements in place. I hadn’t actually intended to go but plans change, so the day before the gig …

With an ambient lit stage, Leeds Stylus hosts a sold out show for Myles Kennedy in its 1000 capacity venue.  The crowd are packed in and are eager for some entertainment, and whilst the fans endure the heat of the place some chants emerge from the back audience in reference …