Welcome to our December 2023 newsletter!
Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This newsletter outlines latest developments at Get Ready to ROCK!
 

The melodic pomp rockers are the last inductees in our year-long promotion, reflecting 20 years of coverage

Magnum have entered "The GRTR! Grotto" following November's entrants Saxon.

A major retrospective charts the band's progress in the millennium, as reflected in our reviews and interviews.  More of the band's music is featured throughout the month in the general playlists at Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.

We've named a different artist or band each month throughout 2023 recognising their quality and consistency over an extended period as part of our 20th anniversary celebrations.

>> Magnum feature

Courtesy of SPV/Steamhammer, to tie in with our Magnum celebration, we are giving away various formats of the band's new album scheduled for release 12 January 2024.  This will be followed by an extensive European tour starting in April. 

>> Magnum competition

On Christmas Eve, in a special interviews show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, we chat to Magnum's Bob Catley (22:00 GMT)

There is a dedicated Twitter page for GRTR@20 activity, we're posting review highlights over two decades and signposting latest additions.

The Best of 2023

The Get Ready to ROCK! Reviewers name their favourites

At this time of year we publish the Best of the year choices of the GRTR! review team.  Whilst it has been almost impossible to collate overall placings in each category, as always our editors have selected Top Albums by genre.  In addition we've surveyed Live Acts, Reissues and Breakthrough Acts.

>> The Best of 2023

Christmas Eve radio special

Canadian singer-songwriter Josh Taerk has been entertaining us each month with an hour livestream direct from Toronto, relayed also via the radio station.

On Christmas Eve we bring together Christmas highlights from three years (2020-23) plus Josh's choice of Christmas tunes and chatting about his year.

The sessions take place once per month, with a mix of original and cover versions.  You can catch up on previous shows via our radio Facebook page.

Christmas Eve Mix, Sunday 24 December, 18:00 GMT
Christmas Sessions, Sunday 24 December, 21:00 GMT

>> Radio

There are several bands operating in the psych/blues rock space and female fronted such as Dead Feathers and Blues Pills, and even label mate Crystal Jacqueline. But Hanford Flyover are less late sixties Jefferson Airplane and arguably of even wider appeal.  ****1/2

Review by David Randall

ROBIN TROWER with SARI SCHORR Joyful Sky (Mascot)

‘Joyful Sky’ reaffirms the qualities of a truly great guitar player who delivers enough quality songs for Sari Schorr to transform them into a slice of mature, groove laden rock- blues. ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

TREVOR RABIN Rio (InsideOut Music)

'Rio' may have been an album with one of the longest gestation periods in the history of rock, but Trevor can be rightly proud of the results. ****

Review by Dave Wilson

ANN WILSON & TRIPSITTER Another Door (Dualtone)

Ann Wilson shows no signs of slowing down, either creatively or touring wise. An album of quality musicianship and songwriting, perfect musical escapism. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

CARE OF NIGHT Reconnected (Frontiers)

(Calle) Schonberg takes the fragile quality of the lyrics and amplifies the emotions.

His voice is electrifying at times. He never under-commits. Even on the rockier tracks, like ‘Follow Through’ and ‘End Of A Chapter’, every word, every line is delivered with conviction.  ****1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

WILL PIKE Under A Delphic Moon (Indie)

There’s never a wasted note and tone colour is sacred. Each musical element finds its space in an ethereal musical journey that spans space-rock, ambient-rock, prog, funk, fusion, psychedelia and electronica..  ****

Review By Pete Feenstra

>> Albums of the Month (including July-September 2023)

• In 1962 Mike Smith of Decca Records sees The Beatles at The Cavern in Liverpool and arranges their unsuccessful audition for the label
• In 1967 Ian Anderson and Glenn Cornick form Jethro Tull
• Paul McCartney files a writ in London High Court seeking dissolution of The Beatles in 1970
• Ian Hunter leaves Mott The Hoople in 1974
• In 1976 an inflatable pig being used by Pink Floyd for cover photography drifts across London after breaking its moorings

Our previous newsletter was October 2023. 
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