Unfortunately, earlier this year Finnish slide goddess Erja Lyytinen had to postpone her UK tour given international travel uncertainty due to Covid, however the good news is that she will be back next February with Chantel McGregor (pictured), and for today's Podcast Of The Day, we take you back exactly five years ago to the day before Erja's 'Stolen Hearts' album launch at London's iconic 100 Club, when had the privilege of interviewing Erja after her private unplugged set at Soho's Ain't Nothing But Blues venue.

London Prog Gigs present a pairing of two top eclectic bands, where Art and Avant Rock meet Prog, when Salzburg-based Blank Manuskript (Video Of The Day) and Southampton's A Formal Horse, both play London's Fiddler's Elbow in Camden on Thursday 21st April. The Austrian outfit boast an internationally successful chamber of uncompromisingly bizarre Rock music, which has gained them a reputation for their originality, characterised by their sophisticated symphonic arrangements as well as extensive Psychedelic improvisations. As for the spicy quartet from Hampshire, consisting of Hayley McDonnell, Russell Mann, Benjamin Short and Mike Stringfellow, their mix of Avant-Garde, Progressive Alternative, Alternative, Prog-Rock, Avant-Prog and Rock, has been deservedly recognised, given they were nominees in 2015's Prog Magazine awards. Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/196959678727556 for further information, https://www.wegottickets.com/event/536934/ for advance tickets priced £12 (plus fees), or just pay £15 on the door.

Following their latest, chart-breaking album, 'Heat Wave' (2020, AFM Records), that has been lauded by both fans and the international music press alike, Sweden’s all-female Heavy Rock band Thundermother, not only complete the UK leg of their current European tour at Camden's The Underworld in London on Easter Sunday 17th April, but they have also unleashed a brand new song, 'Watch Out', taken off their upcoming album, 'Black And Gold', which is also one of today's six of the best 'Sunday Rocks!' Tracks Of The Day, complemented by five further new and recent releases from Church Of The Sea, Sandness, Signal Collapse, Nouveau Arcade And The Anix and Ekko Park.

"For me, the gig and the album were both more consistent than some of Eric’s other recent work; more Blues and less Funk and Soul and all the better for it. Perhaps having Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith on board as co-producers of the album might be one factor. Anyone who wishes to judge for him- or herself will be pleased to know that Eric will return to the UK in June (supported then by Dom Martin) for half a dozen gigs in Leamington, Chester, York, Newcastle, Bury and Basingstoke." Today, Gary Smith gives us his considered opinion of both Eric Gales and Danny Bryant's recent O2 Academy Islington gig in London from Friday 25th March, plus check out our photos courtesy of Tim Russell and our Eric Gales Video Of The Day.

Today's latest Blues Club Podcast Of The Day has another two hours of non stop Best in Blues and a bit of this and that, with More Music and Less Chat, including Bonnie Raitt, The Blue Chevys, Midnite Johnny, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Greig Taylor, Buddy Guy, Larry McCray, Black Pearl (pictured), Whiskey Myers, Sari Schorr, Tommy Castro, Mess Of Blues, The Jive Aces, Tinsley Ellis, Paul Rodgers, The James Hunter Six, Kaz Hawkins, The Nighthawks, Kokomo and many more.

Yesterday, comprised of vocalist Robin McAuley (Schenker Group), guitarist Reb Beach (Whitesnake), bassist Jeff Pilson (Foreigner) and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley), Supergroup Black Swan released, 'Generation Mind', an even more audacious follow-up to their stunning 2020 debut, ‘Shake The World’, a fresh, heavy, yet intensely Melodic, killer slice of Hard Rock, of which the title track is one of today's six of the best 'Frontiers Rocks!' Tracks Of The Day, complemented by three similarly timed Frontiers releases from Treat, First Signal and Fortune, plus two further new/recent releases from Apate and Midnite Hellion.

Ahead of their second EP, ‘I AM’, out on Thursday 6th May, and following on from their previous singles, ‘Witches and Thieves’, ‘Blackened Hands’ and ‘Ode’, Irish rockers Vendetta Love have just released their latest powerful single, ‘Walk Alone’, that continues to showcase their boisterous fusion of ‘90s Grunge and ‘80s Hard Rock, plus their compelling ability to pen heart-soaring melodies, with striking lyrics, vocalised with a Cobain-esque delivery from frontman/guitarist, Shawn Mullen, of which the new track is also one of today's six of the best 'Friday Rocks!' Tracks Of The Day, complemented by five further new and recent releases from Ghosts of Sunset, Dying Light, Turbo Lovers, Lockjaw and Dethonator.

US-based Blues-Rock singer/songwriter Sari Schorr tonight continues the UK leg of her massive headline tour throughout Europe at The Forum Music Centre in Darlington, and thanks to our Swiss correspondent Marlène Rivet, today's Video Of The Day and photo was taken last week when Marlène caught Sari and her band at Seewen's Gaswerk on Wednesday 30th March. Like most musicians, Schorr went from preparing to embark on her original tour, to adapting to life during Covid-19, and her latest album, 'Live in Europe', released via Manhaton Records, indeed reminds us to be grateful for the ordinary things in life that we may have taken for granted pre-pandemic.

Originally broadcast on Tuesday on Ridge Radio, listen again to today's Simply Country Podcast Of The Day featuring Nashvillains, Colin Lillie, Cliona Hagan, Ariel Hutchins, Celine Ellis, Eric Paslay, Brian Kerrigan, Chris Rose & Chelsea Berman, Noel Boland, Dan Higgins and Brendan Smoother, DBK Country Radio, Perley Curtis, Auntie G, Everette, Nancy Su, Hugh Reed, Jake Blocker, Pete Kennedy, Dave Caley, Raspin Stuwart, Fools, Sara Berki, Ellinor Springstrike (pictured), John Glenn, Sinead Black, Adele & Andy, Keith McLoughlin, Michael Tyler, Mandy Collins, Aaron Allen, Marie Conniffe, AJ Penta and more.

Progressive pioneers, Yes, have announced a change to their forthcoming, The Album Series Tour 2022, as they will now celebrate the 50th anniversary of their iconic album, 'Close to the Edge', performed in full (Video Of The Day), along with other classic tracks from their extensive catalogue, an itinerary of which includes London's Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 21st June. The tour, twice rescheduled due to Covid, was originally intended to showcase Yes’s 1974 classic 'Relayer' album, which will now be featured in a future tour in The Album Series. Their line-up will feature Steve Howe (guitars), Alan White (drums), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar and backing vocals), with additional drums and percussion by Jay Schellen, plus the show will comprise full production and a high-definition video wall directed by Roger Dean, who will also be joining the tour with an exhibition of Yes related art.

Their first recording with new drummer Levre, on Friday 6th May Italian alchemists and power trio, Ufomammut, return with their ninth studio album, 'Fenice' (meaning Phoenix in Italian), via Neurot Recordings and Supernatural Cat, that symbolically marks a new chapter in their twenty year history of combining the heaviness and majesty of a dynamic riff with Psychedelic tradition, such as their new track, 'Metamorphoenix', that oozes with curious synth patterns and noises, before descending into sinister chords and an oddly choral chant, which is also one of today's six of the best 'Thursday Rocks!' Tracks Of The Day, complemented by five further new and recent releases from Loss, Kaixo featuring Fight The Fade, Armored Saint, The Now and Malus Dextra.

Today's The Zach Moonshine Show Podcast Of The Day has interviews from both Goat Blood Fetish and Dark Funeral respectively, talking about and playing their new albums, plus there's new releases from Watain, Day Of Doom, Summoner's Circle, Pillaging Villagers, and some classics, by request, from Urgehal, Season Of Arrows, Nine Inch Nails and Totally Overrated Sellouts!