busy week of gigs for the WRC - who better to reflect and listen to about last Wednesday's knockout ZZ Top Wembley gig than Route 66 host Rory Auskerry. As you know Rory and his brother Hamish joined the WRC ranks that night and got a few polite suggestions before the gig (see pic) on a number of bands currently on the WRC radar. So make sure you listen to Pure Radio 107.8FM here tonight between 6pm and 8pm and in recognition of Wednesday night we have also made Thunder our Vid Of The Day!

As you are no doubt aware we campaign to 'Keep Music Live' and indeed the WRC are off to see Aynsley Lister tomorrow night. But did you know it's Independent Venue Week - a 7 day celebration of small music venues around the UK and a nod to the people that run them, week in, week out. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England, Independent Venue Week brings together these venues along with breaking and established artists, promoters, labels, media, bloggers and tastemakers to create a nationwide series of gigs from Monday 26th January – Sunday 1st February! See you at the 100 Club tomorrow evening then!

Hardtail play their first gig under the WRC banner tonight at The Railway Tavern in Longfield. That's the good news - the bad news is that sadly the band have announced it will be their last gig. Shame as they are a talented band fronted by Jamie Bull from our good friends and Wrinklystock 3 veterans Stone Blind. Anyway, why not pop along and make it a party night for the guys - entry is free - band on stage at 9pm!

The Blues Club Podcast returns today as our Track Of The Day after a short break to bring you an eclectic mix of Blues, Rock, Jazz, Soul, Americana, Funk, UK Independent Blues Broadcasters Association (UK IBBA) Presenters Picks for August 2015, new releases and oldies, plus more, in two hours of non stop 'More Music with Less Chat!' This week's music features Joe Bonamassa (pictured), Buddy Guy, Gregg Allman, Jesse Davey, Wily Bo Walker, King King, Barry Levenson, Canned Heat, The King's Parade, Gary Clark Jr., Philipp Fankhauser, Joel Zoss , Steve Gibbons Band, Brothers Groove, B. B. & The Blues Shacks, Richard Townend & The Mighty Boss Cats, Sonny Landreth, Ronnie Earl, Dave Hunt, Zkye Blue, Clayton Doley, Robert Cray, Deanna Bogart, Malaya Blue, Jon Cleary, The Kentucky Headhunters, Sugaray Blues, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes plus others!

Further to yesterday's news of a new live music venue - with its inaugural gig tonight - we're delighted to advise that on production of your WRC card, members can gain admission for a discounted £8 instead of £10! The brainchild of Andy Davies, the very first 'Blues at The Woodlands' at the Woodlands Art Centre, Gillingham ME6 2DU begins with Glenhain Gold Reserve - today's Vid Of The Day. Why not support this new Blues/Roots club offering first class live music every month? Doors open at 7.30pm. For more information call 0300 065 8210 or e-mail r&abrother@aol.com

For those poor unfortunate WRC members stuck on a train who missed T.Rextasy's Hampton Pool gig recently (you couldn't make it up) - well the good news it is now only 4 months to T.Rextasy headlining our Mick Jagger Centre Charity gig on Saturday 21st November. Don't forget that tickets are moving fast so go here to book your £21 tickets for Wrinklystock IV as we would hate it if you guys missed out again!

The WRC caught up with our Canadian correspondent The Moose in a watering hole in London on Wednesday night. After a few beers we presented him with the new style WRC t-shirt which Moose is proudly wearing in the picture above. To commemorate our meet we dedicate our Vid Of The Day to Moose - One Bad Son - one of the many band's he reviewed during Canadian Music Week. Don't forget to follow him on his own excellent website here 'Danger Canadian Content'. And if you too would like to have a new WRC t-shirt then simply drop us a line below.

Yes tonight is WRC gig night - all roads leading to the Brooklyn Bowl under the O2 Arena, London big top. It's the WRC's first visit to the new BB venue plus it's the first time we have seen 'Hats of To Led Zeppelin' - so we are eagerly anticipating a great evening. Give us a shout if you are going or if you see us there - in the meantime today's Track Of The Day is another HOTLZ acoustic track - the classic 'Gallows Pole'!

Introducing .... our Vid Of The Day and UK band Audial featuring David Domminney Fowler (2014 WRC Award winners Australian Pink Floyd, ex. Juice & Domminney), Dean Howard (ex. T'Pau, Ian Gillan Band, Bad Company, Toby Jepson & Air Race), Jason Sawford (Australian Pink Floyd), Andres Luengo (Juice, Toby Jepson), Ricky Dean Howard (guest bass & vocals) and Sarah Bayley. They started recording in Rogue Studios, Germany, in November 2013 after David (pictured) made (and resurrected) some demos and played them to various musician friends - and Audial was born. Their album 'Perceived Through The Sense Of Hearing' including samples - if you haven't heard it before - are available here.

With just four night's and counting till The Rainbreakers gig at The Red Lion this Friday - the band were featured on Sunday night on Rory Auskerry's Route 66 show! Our 'Track Of The Day' is also packed with new music with tracks from albums by King King, Whitesnake, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Samantha Fish, Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip, Beth Hart and as promised Aaron Keylock!

Blues guitarist, singer & songwriter Laurence Jones is featured on Route 66 this week. He won ‘best young artist’ at the 2014 British Blues Awards and at the age of 23 is about to release his third studio album ‘What’s It Gonna Be?’ later this April. On our 'Track Of The Day' Rory Auskerry chats to Laurence about the new album, writing songs, touring and performing with his heroes. In addition there are two new numbers from Scottish Blues Rock outfit King King (pictured) who release their latest album ‘Reaching For The Light’ in May.

We were then back in familiar ‘Different Shades Of Blue’ territory with ‘Love Ain’t A Love Song’ and ‘I Gave Up Everything for You, 'Cept the Blues’ which again showcased the tightness of the 8 piece and just when I was ready to sign up on the dotted line - wouldn’t you believe it – we were back on familiar ground with his big hitters ‘Sloe Gin’ and ‘The Ballad Of John Henry’. As for the encore – as Wrinkly will testify – I don’t remember JB encores (in-joke). What I do know is that his fan’s general indifference to the direction of Joe’s latest CD, would have certainly been allayed by this gig and they should go out and buy it. Strangely enough my favourite track off of ‘Different Shades Of Blue’ – ‘Heartache Follows Wherever I Go’ was omitted. What we witnessed tonight was the sorcerer in action with his apprentices – but despite his magic and more to the point – his magical back catalogue – I don’t think Joe will ever be able to cast a spell to satisfy everyone within a two hour setlist. AJ.