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On a blisteringly hot summer night, your RGM scribe finds himself walking the red carpet with knights on horseback and burning torches for company. It’s a surreal but fitting introduction to Knights of the Rose a new production at the boutique Arts Theatre in London’s West End. Knights of the Rose takes us on an epic journey full of romance, brotherly love and jealousy told through an unlikely mix of Chaucer, Shakespeare and Bon Jovi.
Read MoreThe Barbican complex in London seems to be undergoing something of a renaissance in recent times as people are able to see past the Brutalist 70’s Architecture and enjoy the large open communal areas, the conservatory (a lush tropical garden in the concrete bowels… who knew), cinemas and a wonderfully varied musical palate. Don’t get me wrong, the covered walk from Barbican Station past the car parks is beyond ugly and the convoluted journey down multiple levels to find the correct area of the actual venue could be a little intimidating, but the concert hall is superb with comfy seats, plenty of legroom (I’m 6’ 2”), great sightlines and impressively clear sound. It was also refreshing to find a ban on photography and mobile phones, people actually had to pay attention to the acts which made a welcome change.
Read MoreAs a venue, The Union Chapel rises serenely above the sticky floors of its close neighbours The Hope & Anchor and The Garage. It balances its roles as fully functioning church and celebrated concert hall with ease and, if you’re after a sense of reverence and ceremony, there aren’t many London venues that can match it. On this balmy May evening, Scott Matthews' disciples gather respectfully along the ridiculously up-at-heel Compton Terrace long before doors open and I have the distinct impression that I am in for one of the more civilised gig-going experiences of my modest career. I install myself in pew 77 with a Coke (no alcohol allowed in the church itself) and begin to contemplate my manifold sins.
Read MoreWe’re getting increasingly excited at the thought of a full-length debut from transatlantic duo Son of Town Hall. Filled with much hope and a little trepidation, the RGM team head to Cecil Sharp House for the London date on their current UK tour...
Read MoreI pride myself on never being late for anything. But unavoidably late I am for Glen Hansard’s show at The Royal Festival Hall (it’s a long and boring story involving a room full of teenage guitarists - I will spare you) and I kick myself as I am ushered by torchlight to my seat and Hansard’s eleven-strong band (3 strings, 3 horns, 2 keys, drums, bass and guitar) promptly leave the stage in order that the man himself can take the piano alone. What?! I’ve arrived in the lull?! Dammit! I discover later than I’ve missed eight whole songs but, luckily for me, there’s plenty still to come.
Read MoreMy introduction to the band of musicians that form the Texas Gentlemen was via Paul Cauthen’s excellent ‘My Gospel’ album. Browsing the credits, which is pretty refreshing to be able to do in this digital age, and the names of Beau Patrick Bedford, for his terrific production work, and guitarist Nik Lee stood out. Bedford is effectively the leader of The Texas Gentlemen a band of session musicians who’ve become go-to players for a host of artists including Joe Ely and Kris Kristofferson, which really tells you all you need to know about how good these guys are. With so many great players on tap, eleven Texas Gentlemen worked on ‘TX Jelly’ their debut album; you’re never quite sure who’ll turn up which is bound to keep things interesting.
Read MoreI'm bright and early for tonight's entertainment, but there's already a really large crowd massed outside the London Palladium and it's not even Sunday (a small in-joke for those of us of a certain age). The Palladium is one of those iconic West End venues that slip in a gig or two to seemingly allow the cast of their latest musical a night off and tonight the 2200+ capacity venue is playing host to The Mavericks, which is an impressive achievement for a band who had their biggest UK hit back in 1998. Tonight's crowd obviously know their stuff as The Mavericks proved to be a hell of a live band, with a ton of cool tunes, and a singer for the ages.
Read MoreUpper Street in Islington on a Tuesday night is pretty busy, the bars are doing decent business and Dionysis Savvopoulos (I'm told) is playing a rare London show at The Union Chapel, but the reason for my visit this evening is the oddly named Deer Tick are in town on their ‘Twice Is Nice’ tour. The Providence, Rhode Island act recently released not one, but two albums that have featured heavily in recent weeks on the RGM stereo. I’m not quite sure what to expect, but I’m looking forward to it all the same.
Read MoreA jam packed Country Music Week concluded for yours truly with my second visit of the week to Shepherd's Bush. Following a stunning show from Randy Houser on Monday at Bush Hall, where a great show seems to be guaranteed these days, we’ve moved down the road to the more palatial O2 Empire (capacity 2000) for tonight's proceedings. Needless to say with Kip Moore and Drake White in town I'm expecting things to rock and they sure did.
Read MoreArguably the biggest name performing during Country Music Week is Little Big Town. The quartet bought their 'The Breaker' tour to the UK and included a stop at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, which handily coincided with an already dream week for country fans. An unexpected last minute invite, and the cancellation of a planned tube strike, found your RGM scribe with a seat, a Loggia box seat no less, in a truly stunning building for which the term iconic was probably penned.
Read MoreLondon is my usual stomping ground for gigs so the announcement of Country Music Week was most welcome. From October 2nd – 8th some of the best and the brightest artists of the genre are popping up all over town in various musical configurations be it with full bands, acoustic sets or the much loved, and quintessentially Nashville, songwriters circle, CMW had all the bases covered
Read MoreBack in the early seventies, a young songwriter was attempting to find a home for a slew of ridiculously overblown songs that featured the perfect American storm of sex, motorcycles and rock n roll. This heady stew of teen angst and raging hormones, delivered with Wagnerian excess, would prove to be a very hard sell. The songwriter was Jim Steinman and he'd already been working in musical theatre for some years when he crossed paths with a budding actor/singer, with the voice to match his imposing frame, who went by the unusual moniker of Meat Loaf. The larger than life singer possessed the vocal power, range, and bravado to bring Steinman's songs to life and they began the search for a record label which would prove very difficult. In other words, they were turned down flat by pretty much every label executive in America until the Cleveland label (an Epic offshoot) took a chance and the slow build to rock legend status commenced.
Read MoreSummer seems to have arrived in London and a trip down to one of my preferred gig venues The Borderline sounded like the ideal thing to do on a Tuesday evening. Well at least I think I'm in The Borderline...the old Mexican Cantina ambience has been replaced with a more upmarket and modern club vibe. We are, most definitely, not in Kansas anymore and it’s so refreshing to see a venue investing in the future with a very cool refit. For those of us who've been visiting the place since the early 90s it might seem a little strange initially but it works for me.
Read MoreFor his first shows in the UK the Sold Out signs are up and Brent Cobb finds himself, to his surprise I’m sure, welcomed with open arms for his London debut. The musical grapevine has been working overtime and Brent is playing to full houses two months before the UK release of his debut album ‘Shine On Rainy Day’ (March 24th is the date). A respectful and knowledgeable crowd obviously knows the album, which was released stateside late in 2016, and have an appreciation for good songs well played and sung. Brent Cobb covers all these bases with aplomb which, when coupled with the relaxed Southern charm he demonstrated on the night, ensures artist and audience are on the same page and destined to have a great time.
Read MoreLewis & Leigh are a transatlantic duo comprised of Al Lewis from Wales and Mississippi born Alva Leigh and on the day before this show they were nominated for 3 UK Americana awards including Album of the Year for their debut album 'Ghost' and 'The 4.19' had been singled out for Song of the Year. Needless to say, as I'd not been lucky enough to catch the duo live before, I was very much looking forward to their opening slot on the Deacon Blue tour.
Read MoreEarlier this year Ian Hunter released his first record in four years the excellent ‘Fingers Crossed’ which displayed that the former Mott The Hoople frontman had lost none of his ability to recognise a good tune and coin an interesting phrase. The album really is terrific and still gets regular spins at RGM towers (check out our review of the album here). The announcement of a date at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire had me very keen to pop along and check out the man and his Rant Band in the flesh.
Read MoreHaving chairs set in rows tends to have a civilising effect on a crowd but tonight at Bush Hall the attendees need no reminders when it comes to audience etiquette. A respectful silence falls over them long before support act Dietrich Strause has got himself comfy behind the mic and we're sat so still and expectant I suspect we're actually starting to freak him out. Undeterred, Strause paddles through his set of deftly fingerpicked and tender folk songs perhaps a little too apologetically but is nonetheless warmly received.
Read MoreThe opportunity to catch John Paul White in the intimate confines of Bush Hall where the acoustics pretty much guarantee a lovely vocal sound was one not to be missed. Obviously plenty more people were following my line of thinking as the website claimed Sold Out and there was definitely a healthy crowd on the night.
Read MoreThe Crooked Brothers hail from Winnipeg in the province of Manitoba, Canada. “The Gateway To The West” according to Wiki and the home to numerous music festivals at which I’m sure The Crooked Brothers are always welcome with their impressive range of musical influences that resulted in one hell of a live show at Green Note London.
Read MoreThe highly acclaimed The Stray Birds visited London recently for a date on their 2016 UK tour to promote their ‘Magic Fire’ release. The show was promoted by those lovely folks at Green Note who moved from their bijou Camden home to Shepherds Bush and the more palatial (if a 350 capacity can be considered palatial) confines of Bush Hall to allow for the anticipated attendance. This turned out to be excellent decision as The Stray Birds and opening act The Goat Roper Rodeo Band pulled out all the stops before a very appreciative and attentive audience.
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