Rock Regeneration

Apr24

Magnum/Gwyn Ashton(Two Man Blues Army)

on April 24th, 2011 at 11:59

The Brook, Southampton

I have been a fan of Magnum since 1986 when I first saw them at Poole Arts Centre on their ‘Vigilante’ tour. The production was brilliant and the band pulled off an impressive performance that added another young fan to their legion of admirers and I have followed the band’s career ever since. Fast Forward to 2011 and Magnum are back on the road promoting their 16th studio album ‘The Visitation’ with the Southampton date being part of a 15 date UK tour.
↓ Read the rest of this entry…

Apr23

Preview: Big Country to Play dates either side of the Isle of Wight Festival

on April 23rd, 2011 at 13:53

Posted In: Reviews, Chinners, Preview

Big Country have announced two dates either side of their forthcoming appearance at The Isle of Wight Festival on Friday 10th June.

Currently in the middle of a hugely successful tour of the UK with Mike Peters from The Alarm on lead vocals, Big Country will continue their welcome return to the fold with a pre-festival warm-up date at The Brook in Southampton on Thursday 9th of June, and will then celebrate with a post-festival date at The Phoenix in Exeter on Saturday 11th June, where the band will work in some new material.

Tickets for both dates are £20 and go on sale at 9.00am from Friday 15th April.
↓ Read the rest of this entry…

Apr23

Preview: The Alarm to play the Brook in Southampton Tuesday 10th May

on April 23rd, 2011 at 13:36

Posted In: Reviews, Chinners, Preview

The Brook, Southampton

The Alarm – new album, and single, plus 30th Anniversary Tour

On June 6th 2011 it will be 30-years since Welsh rockers The Alarm performed their debut concert in their hometown of Rhyl. 17 Top 50 UK singles and 5 million album sales later, The Alarm will mark the occasion with the release of their new studio album, “The Sound And The Fury”.

The album’s release will be preceded by a 20-date 30th Anniversary Tour of the UK throughout May including a date at the Brook on the Tuesday 10th, which itself is preceded by a new single, ‘Unbreak The Promise’, on May 2nd .
↓ Read the rest of this entry…

Apr23

Dorset Music Awards, The Final

on April 23rd, 2011 at 11:16

Posted In: Reviews, Chinners, Gigs

O2 Academy, Bournemouth

The Longest Day/New Volunteer/County Hospital/Evolver/Cella Creeps/Fearne

The five bands in the Final have all had to go through the same process of playing through the various heats and Semi Finals to get to this point, they all have deservedly earned their right to be here and to perform in front of the judges for the final time to win the recognition and prizes they seek.
↓ Read the rest of this entry…

Apr22

EP: Harbourtown

on April 22nd, 2011 at 12:44

Posted In: CD, Reviews, Jon

‘Harbourtown’ is a 7 track EP from The Midnight Disco Patrol. The Midnight Disco Patrol are a six piece currently unsigned indie-rock band, originally hailing from Weymouth, Dorset, but are now spread across the South of England. With an energetic sound that seems to hark back to the 80’s alternative indie styles.
↓ Read the rest of this entry…

Apr22

Hot Vamp Club

on April 22nd, 2011 at 11:12

Posted In: Reviews, George, Gigs

As I entered Champions, I was hit by a heat wave as I saw a flood of indie kids spread across the venue. Hot Vamp Club are the headliners and they have come a long way in the few years they have been a band. They recently spent six months in the studio to produce their first EP, ‘I Dream of Fires’ which is popping up on iTunes and being sold at shows with only one hundred hard copies produced.
↓ Read the rest of this entry…

Apr18

Kids Can’t Fly/Mimi Soya/This Fall/The Bottom Line

on April 18th, 2011 at 12:42

Posted In: Reviews, George, Gigs

Champions, Bournemouth

Kids Can’t Fly and Mimi Soya are two of the most promising upcoming pop punk bands in the UK at the moment and Champions was the last stop on their joint UK tour this month. The bands both originate from the South of England with Kids Can’t Fly emerging from Southampton and Mimi Soya originating in Brighton, which meant that the night had a very local feel to it, despite the obvious talent of the two headliners.
↓ Read the rest of this entry…

Apr16

Western Sand

on April 16th, 2011 at 13:15

Posted In: Reviews, DanO, Gigs

Chaplins Cellar bar, Boscombe, Bournemouth

Hell yeah, I’d been looking forward to seeing these guys play an extended show and I was lucky enough to have been invited to the launch of their debut album ‘Truckload Of Trouble’ at the Cellar Bar in Boscombe.
↓ Read the rest of this entry…

Apr15

The Frequency/The Push/Kings Of Hearts/Lauren Bannen

on April 15th, 2011 at 12:41

Posted In: Gigs, Reviews, Ross

The Winchester, Bournemouth

Its Friday night at The Winchester and it’s launch night for The Frequency’s debut single ‘High Society’. But what about the supports you ask me? Due to a late line-up re-shuffle Lauren Bannen is tonight’s opener. This reviewer is predictably late so misses her performance. Nevertheless, I’m reliably informed she gives a great performance.
↓ Read the rest of this entry…

Apr14

Preview: Dom Remi

on April 14th, 2011 at 20:30

Posted In: Reviews, Jon, Preview

Today sees new Bournemouth band Dom Remi hit the scene, formed from the ashes of the alternative rock 4 piece The Metropolise.
↓ Read the rest of this entry…