A Blues Review featuring Jim Kahr, takes place on Thursday 20th February from 7.30pm at the original Ealing Club - the Birthplace of British Rhythm and Blues - at the Red Rooms, 42A The Broadway, London W5 2NP. The Chicago guitar legend has worked with some of the biggest names in Blues, including John Lee Hooker, Freddie King, Junior Wells, Bobby Blue Bland and Buddy Guy. Indeed, the venue is sacred ground - the original premises where Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies started out in 1962! Hosted by The Paul Cook Blues Band, there will also be sets from special guests Robert Hokum, Emma Wilson and Half Moon Panic.

Neil Peart, the virtuoso drummer of iconic Canadian band Rush, who was revered by fans and fellow musicians as one of the greatest drummers of all time, has died at the age of 67. The influential musician and lyricist died on Tuesday in Santa Monica, California, after having been diagnosed with brain cancer. Consequently, our Rush Video Of The Day is dedicated in Neil's memory.

Today's October Drift Track Of The Day is the emotive acoustic video for their single, ‘Forever Whatever’, part of their series of Songs In Strange Places, and ahead of the release of their debut album of the same name on Friday 24th January via Physical Education Records. Following the album’s release, the band will embark on a ten-date headline tour starting with a sold out show in Bristol on Friday 7th February, including dates in Manchester, Glasgow, Brighton and London on Saturday 8th February at the Old Blue Last. Musically, they cite their influences as My Bloody Valentine, The National, Sonic Youth and Radiohead, while lyrically they take inspiration from the likes of Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake.

Our final category in our 2019 WRC Awards sees Eagles tribute band Talon (Video Of The Day) win Best Tribute Band. We caught them on their Greatest Hits Tour at Stevenage's Gordon Craig Theatre last October, and they're back on the road again this Autumn with ‘The Legacy Tour'. Congratulations to all of our eleven winners and we look forward to catching up with you in 2020 to present your well deserved awards!

For the first time this year, Camden Rocks Festival Presents returns with an all-day Rock-n-Roll bonanza featuring Playdead, Love Reptiles, Hunted By Elephants, Principle, Electric Black, Vandampire, Insolace, Eight Rounds Rapid and Bring The Onslaught - all live at Nightclub Kolis, 1 Archway Close N19 3TD between 2.30pm and 10.30pm. Meanwhile, also today, Katie Bradley hits the Blues At Barleylands stage at 2pm with Dave Ferra on guitar, Paul Dickinson on double bass and Rick Kent on drums, at Barleylands Social Club, Barleylands Road, Billericay CM11 2UF.

Legendary Saxon frontman Biff Byford launches his first ever solo album, 'School Of Hard Knocks' (see today's Track Of The Day), on Friday 21st February, through Silver Lining Music. With his roots firmly in The North of England, Biff has earned the right to be considered The Heavy Metal Bard Of The North and his debut album reflects the man and his personality, his loves and his musical versatility. To coincide with his album launch, Byford embarks on his first ever solo tour in April including London's Islington Assembly Hall on Tuesday 28th, with European dates to be announced later. The show, in the form of ‘An evening with...’, will be split into two halves. The first features Biff in conversation with Don Jamieson (American comedian and star of VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show) on all aspects of his life and career. After the break Biff and his band will play some new songs, covers and, maybe, a Saxon song or two!

Drummer & Songwriter 12 September 1952, Hamilton, Canada - 7 January 2020, Santa Monica, California, USA Neil Ellwood Peart was a Canadian musician, songwriter, and author, recognised as one of the best rock drummers in history. He was best known as the drummer and primary lyricist of the rock band Rush of which he was a member of for almost 45 years, from 1974 -2018. He died from brain cancer at just 67 years of age. Legend In 2016 Rolling Stone magazine put Peart at No 4 in its list of 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, after John Bonham, Keith Moon and Ginger Baker. As the Nirvana drummer and FooFighters frontman, Dave Grohl, said: “Neil Peart – that’s a whole other animal, another species of drummer”. Peart enjoyed such a reputation for his deft, powerful drumming with the Canadian rock band Rush that he became adept at deflecting praise from interviewers on the subject. “What is a master but a master student?” was a common response on Peart’s part, a hint at his interests in esoteric philosophy as well as an indicator of the reflective thinking that made him also an acclaimed lyricist for the band. ​ The many songs that Peart wrote for Rush, for all but one of their 19 studio albums, were inspired by subjects as diverse as libertarianism, fantasy fiction, religious thought and the pressures of fame – the last of these expressed most clearly in the 1981 single Limelight, in which he used Shakespearean phrases to illustrate his points. Discography Rush (1974) Fly By Night (1975) Caress Of Steel (1975) 2112 (1975) All The World's A Stage [live] (1976) A Farewell To Kings (1977) Hemispheres (1978) Permanent Waves (1980) Moving Pictures (1981) Exit...Stage Left [live] (1981) Signals (1982) Grace Under Pressure (1984) Power Windows (1985) Hold Your Fire (1987) A Show Of Hands [live] (1989) Presto (1989) Roll the Bones (1991) Counterparts (1993) Test For Echo (1996) Different Stages [live] (1998) Vapor Trails (2002) Rush In Rio [live] (2003) Feedback [EP] (2004) Snakes & Arrows (2007) Clockwork Angels (2012)

"Their set squeezed in a lot of numbers but not as many as the closing set on the Outlaw stage. Kenny Wayne Shepherd's set lasted just over two hours from opening track 'Woman Like You', a cover of Buffalo Springfields' 'Mr. Soul' through a seriously rocking setlist that included his version of 'Voodoo Child'. Nice." That was our take on the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band's set at Maidstone's Ramblin' Man Fair back in July (pictured) and KWSB (Video Of The Day) has duly won our 'Best Blues Rock' performance in our 2019 WRC Awards. Following their hugely successful UK Summer tour and the release of their latest album ‘The Traveler’, KWSB will be coming back to the UK for five shows this October, calling through Bexhill-On-Sea, Salisbury, Edinburgh, Gateshead and Warrington.

Five years ago, Danny Vaughn (lead vocalist of Tyketto) and Dan Reed (frontman of Funk rockers Dan Reed Network) decided to combine their talents in a joint project: a live acoustic touring act called Snake Oil & Harmony. The project led to two acclaimed tours, where they shared their songs and the stories behind them with audiences throughout Europe, building a rep for their singing, musicianship and spellbinding rapport with their audiences. The tours sparked the pair into further creative partnership, kindling their considerable talents to create new, original songs, which they added to their repertoire on tour. Now, Snake Oil & Harmony are releasing their debut album, ‘Hurricane Riders’, which will be released on Friday 28th February. To coincide with its release, both artists will be taking the brand-new album out on the road, kicking off with London's Half Moon in Putney on Wednesday 12th March, along with their respective solo material, plus classic Dan Reed Networkand Tyketto songs on the bill, showcasing the unique chemistry and kinship of two master singers, songwriters and storytellers, not to mention infectious melodies and thought-provoking lyrics.

DeCarlo's debut album 'Lightning Strikes Twice' (Track Of The Day), out on Friday 24th January, is a fine slice of Melodic Rock, deeply rooted in the sound of genre masters such as Boston, Foreigner, Survivor and REO Speedwagon. Originating from Charlotte, North Carolina, DeCarlo are fronted by Tommy DeCarlo (best known for having performed with Boston since 2007), who co-founded the band with his son, guitarist Tommy DeCarlo Jr. No band is complete without a great supporting cast, which in the case of DeCarlo is provided by drummer Dan Hitz, bassist David Netta and Payton Velligan, who is a multi-talented keyboard player, guitarist and vocalist. Classic AOR/Melodic Rock fans simply can’t afford to miss this debut album.

We saw Beth Hart (Video Of The Day) grace the Ramblin' Man Fair Blues Stage at Maidstone's Mote Park last July (pictured), and as result of that performance, Beth has won our 2019 WRC 'Best International' award. After selling out her biggest UK concert at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall in May 2018, the Grammy nominated singer-songwriter and her band will be returning to the UK next month to tour her latest album 'War In My Mind'. Her 10-date tour, plus an acoustic set from special guest Kris Barras, will start at the Brighton Dome on Wednesday 5th February and includes dates in London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester.

Following their success at Wrinklystock 8 (pictured), 2019 WRC 'Best Tribute' Award nominees Jamie & The Jets return to Kent tonight with their Elton John show to play Real Music Live at Chislehurst's The Beaverwood Club. Meanwhile, also tonight, the UK’s hottest new Rock ‘n’ Blues band, Bad Day Blues Band, are making their debut at the first gig of the decade at The Eel Pie Club, The Patch, 67 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SZ. Featuring a unique mix of classic Blues harp, entwined bass and lead vocals, dirty guitar and driving rhythm, Bad Day Blues Band are hailed by the critics as one of the must see musical acts of modern times. Doors open at 8.15pm with music from 9-11pm. WRC members are reminded that they can use their cards to get discounted admission.