The two songs that book-ended tonight’s gig give a clue about Morganway’s current positioning and maybe dilemma. In between we had a mix of tunes mainly from the current album but indicating the band can just as easily slip into roots rock/country folk as much as the more mainstream. Perhaps confusing – or frustrating – for some listeners.

Following the opening rallying call of ‘Hurricane’ (from their debut album) and ‘Feels Like Letting Go’ we were treated to the more poppy, even seventies-vibe, ‘Boy On The Train’ and ‘Goddamn Time’ both with lead vocals by bassist Callum Morgan.

A new song bemoaning Spotify called ‘Machine’ lacked the immediacy of much of the new album. This meant that the initial momentum dipped a little revealing that dichotomy between the rootsy and the more rocky.

The band’s major asset is the terrific vocal of SJ Mortimer. She might look and sound a little like a young Janis Joplin, giving full belt on a song like ‘Surrender’ and the rip roaring ‘Devil’s Canyon’. Her vocal easily transforms from a raunchy growl to the more emotive. The latter song also signposting a band like Larkin Poe whilst overall I am reminded of the long lost River City People (See Bands That Time Forgot).

SJ’s vibrant personality carried this gig and also very genuine when later she said she didn’t want the night to end (this was the penultimate gig of the tour) fronting the evocative ‘Don’t Turn The Lights On Yet’.

The band’s more folky credentials were given full rein on the piece ‘London Life’. with Nicole Terry’s fiddle to the fore whilst the somewhat enchanting “campfire sessions” (complete with strip light!) saw the band (and support artists Dylan Taylor and Gina Larner) come in to the audience for a communal version of “Halfway Tonight”.

The band rallied with the wonderful groove of ‘Kill The Silence’ and the superb ‘I Feel The Rain’.

Welcome Spotify gibes aside the question has to be asked why this band is not playing bigger venues. At the moment their enterprise seems very much a cottage industry with the girls even tie-dyeing the shirts for the merch stall.

Several festivals beckon this summer. Hopefully they’ll be back touring in the autumn when their audiences will be able to make up for lost time.

Reviewed early on by our News and Reviews editor Jason Ritchie, “Kill The Silence” will surely remain as one of this year’s finest and evidently backed up with great live performance.

Morganway’s time has come.

Review and photos by David Randall

Setlist: Hurricane/ Feels Like Letting Go/ Boy On The Train/ Come Over/Machine/ Goddamn Time/ Devil’s Canyon/ Frozen In Our Time/ Halfway Tonight/ Wait For Me / Kill The Silence/ London Life/ Don’t Turn The Lights On Yet / I Feel The Rain

Facebook Photo Gallery

Album review (Kill The Silence, 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 1 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 3 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 16 June 2025

LOVE NOR MONEY Blood Will Tell (Golden Robot Records)
DISCIPLES OF VERITY Break The Cycle (TLG/Zoid)
BLACKLIST UNION Up In Smoke (BLU Records)
ANDY AND THE ROCKETS Cyanide (Valley Music Delapop)
ARCHERS Crooked Smile (SBG Records)
ZETRA So (Nuclear Blast)
HOLLOW SOULS Shotgun (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 16 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.