Event Reviews

2016 saw the debut of a new venue for Rocksector Records’ SOS Festival following the demolition of their previous home at Radcliffe Civic Hall. The Longfield Suite in Prestwich turned out to be a good choice, easy to get to (apart from a bit of congestion on the M60) with …

For Glaswegian doom mongers Headless Kross, their annual trips to the island of Ireland have become something of a pilgrimage. This evening their latest visit is well-rewarded, as, despite the gig’s early hour, Voodoo’s intimate upstairs club is rammed almost to capacity with those who enjoy their rock at the …

The first leg of the ‘Rabies Is Rising’ tour, featuring Northern Ireland’s Rabid Bitch Of The North and Sunderland classic metallers Risen Prophecy, had battered its way through Scotland and the north of England at the beginning of the month. Now, as July prepares to fade into oblivion, the English …

There’s something exciting about a sold out gig, you know in advance the atmosphere is going to be good and Slade Rooms tonight was no exception. When Inglorious came on stage the venue was already hot, sweaty and full to the back. Evident from the number of band t-shirts coming …

By the second day, it had been made apparent that the unheard of was about to occur – an outdoor British festival that had managed to avoid the rain! It’s incredible how much of a difference good weather can actually make to a festival, not only in regards to the …

After a six-hour journey from the North on Friday, it’s safe to say I was more than ready to let my hair down, listen to some good music, and enjoy a hyped weekend at this year’s Ramblin’ Man Fair in Maidstone. Upon my arrival, a huge proportion of the weekend’s …

The second day of Steelhouse dawned with an incessant mizzle in the air.  Not the sort of torrential downpour which had turned the mountain top site into a quagmire last year, but a constant enough drizzle to make itself known it was there, and at times annoying in its persistence. …

The weather can invariably play an important role in the enjoyment of a festival – just look at the experiences of many at this year’s Drownload!  The first day of last year’s Steelhouse had been preceded by one of torrential rain, meaning that the mountain top site was already a …

On a scorching hot day then spending a few hours stuck in a hot venue wouldn’t normally be most people’s idea of fun, but when Warren Haynes plays then that’s different and the venue was full.  Normally gigs at the Stables have an interval either after the support act or …

You know, sometimes you go to a gig not expecting anything more than a good night out and come away with your perception of what ‘a good night out’ actually is. At Chester Live Rooms, as a part of his ongoing Battle Scars tour, Walter Trout and his band – …

I guess if you are going to wait 30 years to come and play the UK, the gig had better be better than okay. Rest assured, then, that if you are planning to take in The Kentucky Headhunters on their first ever UK tour, including a set at the upcoming …

It’s not every day that you see history made, but tonight it happened.  While it may not have been a record-breaking number of appearances at the venue, The Dead Daisies bassist Marco Mendoza became the first artist to take to this hallowed stage on four separate occasions with four different …

Day three of Tuska Open Air Metal Festival 2016 is about to begin: today’s big three are Gojira, Katatonia and headliners Children of Bodom. There’s been ominous rain all morning and as we head up to the arena we get a nice respite as the sun glistens over the harbour. Block Buster: …

It’s day two of Tuska Open Air Metal Festival 2016 already and it is the hottest day of the weekend so far. I cannot wait to see some more top quality bands throughout the day at this fantastic site. Looking forward to Primordial, Obscura, Anthrax, Havok and Ghost in particular. Brymir: …

This weekend is going to be a bit exciting to say the least. Finland’s premier metal event, Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, starts tomorrow and we have just reached our comfortable apartment in Helsinki, a fifteen minute walk from the arena. Friday’s schedule has an incredible line up and I am …

Sunday:- The third and unfortunately the last day of Wildfire Festival 2016 but there are bands to be watched all day as Canterbury based Wretched Soul proceed to try and darken the blue skies at 11.30am with a visceral six song set. Opener ‘Bury The Heretic’ was nothing less than face melting …

Joanne Shaw Taylor: Special Guest of Joe Bonamassa, The Preston Guild Hall. July 2nd, 2016 She may be quite diminutive in stature, but what Joanne Shaw Taylor lacks in physique she certainly makes up for in musical and vocal strength, tearing The Preston Guild Hall apart with her sultry smooth …

Saturday :-  Day two of Wildfire Festival and after a bleary eyed walk to Wiston Lodge for a handful of bacon baps, it was time to head off for a full day of bands. A major improvement this year was having the two stages side by side with literally a few yards …

 Friday :- So here I am again, third year running for me at the fantastic Wildfire festival, run by the ever smiling Dave Ritchie. Situated in the rolling hills in the grounds of Wiston Lodge, the views are nothing short of stunning. Due to finishing work at 6.15am, catching an 8.00am …

The night after Tarja headlined the Rock on Green festival at the Forum, she played a very different show at a recording studio in West London.  In front of a tiny audience of maybe 30-40 people she played material from both her new albums – the newly released “The Brightest …