Prog-meister Steve Hackett tours with a 41 piece orchestra in October, plus there is the release of a 6-CD/2-DVD box set covering the years 1984-2006.

Steve’s orchestral tour stems from a one-off performance in March 2017 in the USA.  He’ll bring a symphonic slant to his “Genesis Revisited” catalogue.

October also sees the release of Broken Skies – Outspread Wings (1984 – 2006) a multi-disc collection of albums including the world music-inspired ‘Til We Have Faces’ and the live album ‘Feedback 86′ – all newly remastered, alongside a host of bonus tracks.

In addition to this, 2 DVD’s feature several recent live rarities and 5.1 mixes of selected songs, including the ‘Somewhere in South America’ live set.  This limited edition is rounded off by brand new artwork from Roger Dean and a 60-page book with liner notes, rare photos, lyrics and more.

On Monday 24 September (16:00 GMT; repeated Thursday 27, 23:00) he chats to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio in a new interview as part of the radio station’s ’10 Years in the making’ celebration in September.

More information
Steve Hackett website

Photo: Steve Goudie

UK Tour dates

1st October – Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
3rd October – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester SOLD OUT
4th October – Royal Festival Hall, London SOLD OUT
5th October – Symphony Hall, Birmingham SOLD OUT
7th October – The Sage, Gateshead
8th October – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
10th October – Regent, Ipswich
11th October – Palladium, London

As Steeleye Span approach their their 50th anniversary in 2019 they embark on a UK tour starting 1 October.  The band is working on a new studio album and some of the new tracks will feature in the setlist.

Steeleye Span are an English Folk Rock band formed in 1969. Still active today, along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British Folk Revival and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles ‘Gaudette’ and ‘All Around My Hat’ which achieved a certified gold record.

The present Steeleye line-up is:  Maddy Prior (vocals), with long term member Liam Genockey (drums), Julian Littman,(guitar/keyboards and vocals) Andrew Sinclair (guitar), Jesse Mae Smart (violin and backing vocals), Benji Kirkpatrick (guitar and backing vocals – whose father John Kirkpatrick played with the band in 1977-1978) and Roger Carey (bass).

The band will be joined on the tour by another folk-rock legend, Jacqui McShee from Pentangle.

Win a pair of tickets to the Cambridge gig on Monday 8 October!  Please use the contact form and put “Steeleye Span Comp” in the message section.  Competition closes on Tuesday 2 October at 23:59 GMT.  Usual competition rules apply.

Steeleye Span Tour Dates 2018

Mon 1st October       Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen
Tues 2nd October     The Subscription Rooms, Stroud
Wed 3rd October     The Stables, Milton Keynes
Thurs 4th October     Swan Theatre, Worcester
Sat 6th October        Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne
Sun 7th October     Chelmsford Theatre, Chelmsford
Mon 8th October     Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Tues 9th October     Opera House, Buxton
Wed 10th October     Palace Theatre, Mansfield
Fri 12th October     The Core at Corby Cube, Corby
Sat 13th October     Holy Trinity Church, Sudbury
Sun 14th October     Theatre Royal, Margate
Mon 15th October     Hexagon,  Reading
Wed 17th October     Royal Philharmonic,  Liverpool
Thurs 18th October     The Courtyard,  Hereford

A month long promotion highlights the station’s 10 year interview archive

As part of the station’s 10th anniversary celebrations, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio will be replaying a selection of interviews gathered since 2008.  Most tie in with the artists’ imminent UK tour dates.

Station manager David Randall comments: “We are very proud of our modest archive and this led directly to the Featured Artist concept at our website and in the playlists.”

“Whilst the selection of featured artists may be highly subjective we have tried to reflect those who have featured regularly on the station either in our playlists or, more specifically, in interviews. We’ve also aimed to reflect the interests of our reviewers at getreadytorock.com”

“We’ve always endeavoured to give wider attention to, and support, those established artists who get overlooked by the modern mainstream. And of course we like to support upcoming artists in our weekly showcases.”

“Pete Feenstra has worked tirelessly interviewing a whole range of blues/rock-related people which gives the station real depth and not least reflecting the continued popularity of that particular genre. Pete promoted some of Joe Bonamassa’s early UK gigs and has also been a long-time supporter of Walter Trout. He’s also been a great advocate of the “new breed” of blues rockers such as Danny Bryant, Laurence Jones and Joanne Shaw Taylor.”

Amongst the highlights to be featured in September:

6 September (23:00) – Ian Anderson
The Jethro Tull mainman chats about the band’s 50th anniversary.

9 September (18:00) – Andrew Latimer of Camel Part 1
A two hour special celebrating the music of Camel – on tour in the UK 7-17 September. (Part 2, Monday 10 September, 16:00).

11 September (21:00) – Roger Mayer
The guitar effects maestro chats about his work.  (pictured with Pete Feenstra)

16 September (18:00) – Joey Tempest of Europe
The frontman of melodic hard rockers Europe chats to GRTR! in 2013. The band play UK dates 14-24 September.

16 September (22:00) – The Sound of GRTR!
A two-hour special reflecting ten years of broadcasting.

17 September (16:00) – Glenn Hughes
The “Voice of Rock” chats about his music.  He plays UK dates 2-15 October performing “classic Deep Purple”.

18 September (21:00) – Sari Schorr
Including tracks from her 2016 album ‘A Force Of Nature’.  A new album is released in September with UK tour dates.

23 September (18:00) – Martin Turner ex-Wishbone Ash
Founder member of Wishbone Ash chats about his music with Wishbone Ash and beyond. (He plays UK dates from 13 September)

24 September (16:00) – Steve Hackett
Progmeister Steve in conversation ahead of UK dates with orchestra (1-11 October).

25 September (21:00) – Joanne Shaw Taylor
One of the rising stars in the blues rock world since her debut album in 2009.  She tours in the UK this October.

30 September (18:00) – The Sound of GRTR!
A two-hour special reflecting ten years of broadcasting.

More information

Following the release this year of the multi-disc ‘The Vintage Years (1970-1991)’ box set, founder member Martin Turner plays UK dates from 13 September.

He’ll be featuring the 1970 debut album ‘Wishbone Ash’ in its entirety.  This follows previous outings when he’s featured ‘Argus’ (in 2017) and, earlier this year, 1974′s ‘There’s The Rub’.

In addition to the box set, there has been the release of a live album recorded in 2017 – The Beauty of Chaos – Live at the Citadel – via Cherry Red Records.

The limited edition deluxe 30-CD career retrospective boxset (via Madfish) includes many rarities, memorabilia, a new interview and a lavish 156-page hardback book.

Wishbone Ash was formed by Martin Turner and Steve Upton who, by 1969, had recruited two lead guitarists Ted Turner and Andy Powell.  The band went on to produce some classic albums and influencing many of their contemporaries.

As lead vocalist and key creative force, founding original member Martin Turner was central to the critical and commercial success of Wishbone Ash’s classic albums, with his passionate vocal delivery, songwriting ability, keen melodic sense and production values being a key ingredient in the definitive Wishbone Ash sound.

Martin Turner continues to perform the band’s best loved works with his current line-up, which features guitarists Danny Willson and Misha Nikolic, and drummer Tim Brown.

The Autumn 2018 tour will feature classic tracks from the extensive Wishbone Ash repertoire, as well as new music that remains true to the original Wishbone Ash style plus, a full performance of the debut album.  Released in December 1970 ‘Wishbone Ash’ contained an eclectic mix of progressive rock, hard-rock, blues, jazz and folk influences.

September
Thurs 13th Chislehurst Beaverwood Club
Fri 14th Worthing Pier Southern Pavilion,
Sat 15th Maidenhead Norden Farm Centre for the Arts
Fri 21st Buckley Tivoli
Sat 22nd St. Helens Citadel Arts Center
Sat 29th Deal The Astor
Sun 30th Colchester Arts Centre

October
Fri 5th London Boom Boom Club @ Sutton FC
Sat 6th Pocklington Arts Centre
Sun 7th Sutton in Ashfield The Diamond
Sun 21st Cardiff The Globe
Thurs 25th Bilston Robin 2
Fri 26th Darlington The Forum Music Centre
Sat 27th Rotherham Cutlers Arms

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio 23 September – Martin Turner ex-Wishbone Ash
Founder member of Wishbone Ash chats about his music with Wishbone Ash and beyond. (He plays UK dates from 13 September)

Martin Turner photo: Andy Nathan/GRTR!

Artist website
Gig review (October 2017)