The queue to get in to Nantwich Civic Hall began forming a whole hour before the doors were due to open for Thea Gilmore’s home-town gig – testament to the high esteem in which she’s held.

This is what you would call a “Brucie Bonus” gig following her sold-out UK tour and was part of the annual Nantwich Jazz, Blues and Music Festival. Thea almost always plays Nantwich – the Cheshire town she has called home for twenty six years – and the people love her for it.

There was barely a seat to be had as support Martin Reynolds came onstage.

Apparently a drummer initially, he chose to abandon the kit in favour of an acoustic (couldn’t see Ginger Baker doing that) and performed admirably, the highlight of his set being an excellent cover of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Dead Flowers’. There’s always a but and this but is that some of his own songs were a little repetitive and he could do with a little in-between-song banter.

The other but is that he’s young – and supporting an artist as good as Thea Gilmore will have been a great learning experience in how to do it.

Thea’s entrance was a bit like ‘Casey’s Court’ as she came onstage unannounced, with the house lights still on and loud music playing through the PA – and probably couldn’t hear the roar that greeted her appearance. Amateur hour on the part of the venue.

No matter, as what followed was a consummate performance from an artist who, to these ears and I suspect those of most of the crowd, sounds like she’s at the top of her game both performance-wise and creatively.

Having said all that, opener ‘Girl Mercury’ seemed an odd choice as Thea went full ‘Ed Sheeran’ on our asses with looping vocals and effects and I could see a few people looking at each other in confusion. I know, from having seen Thea Gilmore many times, that she does employ this technique during her sets, it just seemed a little strange to begin the gig looping and with a somewhat obscure track from a limited edition EP.

Swapping to acoustic guitar (yay!) she then introduced her son Egan on violin to accompany two tracks from the ‘Small World Turning’ album – ‘Glory’, a classic Thea song if ever there was one, and a song she wrote for Egan when he started senior school ‘Don’t Dim Your Light For Anyone’.

He hasn’t, and Thea must be very proud of the man, and musician, he’s becoming.

The highlights started coming thick and fast, including two songs from her latest album ‘These Quiet Friends’ – Echo And The Bunnymen’s ‘The Killing Moon’ and a superb ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ featuring some exquisite violin from Egan.

The looping returned for ‘This Girl Is Taking Bets / Nice Normal Woman’ juxtaposing a song she wrote at 21 with one written in her forties – this time entirely apposite.

There were exquisite versions of ‘Rise’ and ‘She Speaks In Colours’ before a trio of jaw-dropping renditions of ‘Liejacker’s ‘The Lower Road’, ‘The Bright Service’ from her self-titled album and, best of all, the a cappella ‘Josephine Knots’ during which a pin dropping would have sounded like a jackhammer.

For an encore, the lilting ‘I Lift My Lamp’ sent the emotionally drained audience back onto the streets of Nantwich, knowing that, once again, they had been superbly entertained by an artist who is criminally ignored by the music ‘biz’ but, for those in the know, we know.

If she’s ever playing near you, don’t pass up the opportunity to see her – artists like Thea Gilmore are to be treasured.

Review by Alan Jones

Setlist: Girl Mercury / Glory / Don’t Dim Your Light For Anyone / The Killing Moon / Harm’s Way / This Girl Is Taking Bets – Nice Normal Woman / Rise / Sweet Child o’ Mine / She Speaks In Colours / Josephine Knots / The Lower Road / The Bright Service. Encore: I Lift My Lamp

GRTR! Greats (March 2025)

Album review (These Quiet Friends, 2025)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 15 June 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 24 June 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 30 June 2025

THE DAMN TRUTH – Addicted (indie)
MANNIFESTO – Human Kind (indie)
STRIPPING THE PISTOL – Sunshine In The Rain (TLG/Zoid)
SEVEN BLOOD No Breakout (indie)
VAN ROYALE Gold (indie)
MORNINGSTAR Free (indie)
THE VIOLENT HOUR The Violent Hour (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 30 June 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.