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Welcome to our December 2024 newsletter!
Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This newsletter outlines latest developments at Get Ready to ROCK!
 

Our end of year reviewer selections are published on 9 December

We started 2024 with the sad news that Tony Clarkin of Magnum had passed away just days before the release of the band's latest album. The band have been venerated over the years by GRTR! and were celebrated in our GRTR!@20 promotion in December 2023 when they entered our "Grotto of Greatness".

Whilst Magnum's future may now appear doubtful hopefully the Tony tribute gigs in early 2025 will restore confidence and momentum. Clarkin's passing does underscore our comments last year that rock is getting old and, frankly, a little infirm. Several tours have been cancelled this year due to illness whilst some artists have retired from touring altogether.

Again this year we have refrained from an overall top placing in each poll category (due to the sheer diversity of selections) but we have included the top genre selections of our specialist editors. We've also included one generalist category - classic rock - which was shared by two bands of the moment - at least in the ears and eyes of our reviewers - Brave Rival and Scarlet Rebels.  Both bands also featured strongly in the Live Acts category.

On Sunday 22 December a special show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio will celebrate "The Best of 2024".

>> Check out the full listings!

Win the new Thin Lizzy Album

Our December competition offers three winners the choice of vinyl or CD

The Acoustic Sessions features founder member Eric Bell and a reimagining of material from Thin Lizzy's early albums, plus the original vocals of Phil Lynott in a fascinating new take on a classic band.

>> Competition
 

Tune in over the Christmas period for a selection of end of year specials

Tuesday 17 December

19:00 The Pete Feenstra Rock & Blues Show - Best of the year

Sunday 22 December

20:00 Josh Taerk Merry Sunday Session
21:00 New to GRTR! - 2024 highlights
22:00 The Best of 2024 - Reviewer selections

Sunday 29 December

21:00 New to GRTR! - 2024 highlights and forward look
22:00 Top 30 albums of 2024 - compiled by Jason Ritchie

Tuesday 31 December

19:00 Pete Feenstra New Year's Eve Special
21:00 New Year Countdown

>> Radio

MARY COUGHLAN Repeat Rewind (Strange Brew)

... it is everything you might expect from a vocalist who has a rare ability to unravel, explore and ultimately deliver a universal emotion with a soulful voice which wrings every last drop of meaning from every last word. ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

MASSIVE WAGONS Earth To Grace (Earache Music)

Massive Wagons have released their best album since ‘Full Nelson’ in this reviewer’s humble opinion. Bangers the lot of ‘em! ****1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

THE QUIREBOYS Wardour Street (Cadiz Music)

... there really isn’t a skippable track on “Wardour Street”, an album which is the very heart and soul, the spirit of The Quireboys – but that could easily be said about Spike himself. Welcome back!! *****

Review by Nikk Gunns

CATS IN SPACE Time Machine (Esoteric Antenna)

Cats In Space are in a field of their own as nobody really does music with all the pomp, melody and musical shenanigans that these guys do. Recalling the glory days of Queen, the Who, Sweet, Slade and 10cc with their own modern twist, these Cats have still got it! ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

WILLIE DOWLING The Simpleton (indie)

Perhaps this album will see piano led songs back in vogue? Even if it doesn’t you can hear that Willie Dowling had fun creating these songs and as ever, his lyrics pack a powerful punch wrapped in sugar coated melodies. Simply marvellous. ****1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

ECLIPSE Megalomanium II (Frontiers)

So, is it their best yet?

Who cares…comparisons are pointless… suffice to say that this is an outstanding album. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

>> Albums of the Month (including July-September 2024)

• APRIL - David Gilmour is to release his first studio album in nine years. ‘Luck And Strange’ is released on September 6 on Sony Music, whilst lead single ‘The Piper’s Call’ was released on April 25. The lyrics were composed by his wife Polly Samson.

• JUNE - UK Music has written to the leaders of the UK’s political parties urging them to pledge support for the music industry in the run up to the General Election on July 4. The letter calls for specific action on AI, touring and tax credits, as well as new investment in music education and a ban on for-profit ticket resale.

• JULY - RIP Influential blues musician John Mayall OBE, whose band The Bluesbreakers was a springboard for stars including Eric Clapton, Walter Trout and Peter Green.

• AUGUST - Oasis have reunited for the first time since 2009 and play a series of UK and Irish shows next July and August.

• SEPTEMBER - Mick Box (pictured) has announced Uriah Heep will retire from full scale touring and plan to announce farewell tour dates soon. The tour is expected to start in February.

• OCTOBER - Kate Bush revealed in an interview on BBC Radio 4 that she is ready to create new music.

>>More

Our previous newsletter was December 2023. 
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