Country music might pretend to be the most honest, but it isn’t. Instead, it’s often the most contrived. Artists trying to eke out a living from Country music know they can fall back on the well-worn tropes of religion, trucks, and, of course, America itself, and the algorithms that dictate …
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As Bjork said: “It’s oh, so quiet. Shhhh, shhhh.” So quiet that, as the haunting, sweeping set opener ‘Golden’ fades out with stark piano strokes, the space that is normally filled by whoops from the crowd is filled by applause, and then respectful silence as A.A. Williams and her 2-piece …
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As the headliner herself alluded midway through her set, it’s been a while since Orianthi toured the UK. Was it really 2016 as RSO alongside Richie Sambora on Bad Company’s Swan Song tour? Before that, an appearance with Sambora on his 2014 solo tour that also included a slot at …
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A simple enough premise: a musician who has experienced the highs and lows, and the highs again, of the music business, talking about the music business. Or as the man himself puts it: “Here I talk about new music, very old music, the music industry, and what’s going in the …
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Running through until March 22nd, the ‘Arcane Dimensions’ tour is an uber-strong triple-bill that is already setting a high standard for other tours to follow. The pick of the 20+ dates is the eye-watering date at the cavernous Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on February 7th, where co-headliners Epica will perform …
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Arena TorquaySunday 7th December 2025Final gig of the year and it is back to our favourite new venue, Arena Torquay. Showing that the SW finally has a venue to attract the bigger bands, tonight it is the turn of the Wildhearts on their “More Satanic Rights of the Wildhearts” tour.Arriving …
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KK’s Steel Mill, WolverhamptonSaturday 29th November, 2025Review and photos – Rob WilkinsHeading back from a few days rest and recuperation in Cheshire, we realised that as we passed thought the West Midlands we had an opportunity to catch an evening of awesome music at one of my favourite venues. A …
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Cardiff Utilita ArenaThursday 20th November 2025Review and photos – Danni Wilkins/Rob WilkinsIf there is one band we would crawl over hot coals to see whenever they are in the UK, it is Halestorm and the incomparable Lzzy Hale.Our first encounter with them was at Download Festival in 2012 when Lzzy …
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Arena TorquayFriday 7th November 2025Back to the new jewel in the SW music scene crown tonight, with a return to the new Arena venue in Torquay. This time to catch a far bigger band in the shape of Skindred, showcasing just how needed a venue this size is in the …
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“I just don’t believe that anyone is going to get sick of drums, bass, guitar and badass vocals…” – Brent Smith, Shinedown. The rather lovely Mr. Smith was waxing lyrical about his appreciation for the fundamental lineup of a rock band. Any rock band. Nobody in particular. But he could …
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