"The downbeat Blues burner 'Slowly Burning' with its Lyytinen a cappella "Can You Feel My Pain Now People" was another opportunity for Erja to take it out on her Fender Strat with a smooth controlled vocal delivery given the song's emotional context plus a delightful 'Parisienne Walkways' outro. Before Erja belted out the title track 'Stolen Hearts' - she fittingly paid tribute to legendary producer Chris Kimsey for his contribution to the album. Erja then managed to get some audience participation in singing "Stolen Hearts" before she once more demonstrated both her strong vocals and fret board skills with a Hendrix twist that effectively turned into a very tasty little jam." That was part of our take on Erja Lyytinen at London's The Borderline in September last year and Erja returns to play the same venue tonight.

Our Hard Rock Hell 12 countdown, to be held at Hafan y Môr Holiday Park, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, North Wales, from this Thursday, continues with Smoking Martha who play this Saturday 10th November. Coincidentally, their debut album 'In Deep' (complete with bonus tracks) gets its UK/European official release the day before via Bad Reputation Records. The Aussie Alternative Rock band (today's Video Of The Day) are also doing a run of UK shows including London's The Black Heart on Friday 30th November. Hailing from Brisbane/Gold Coast, their debut album is brimming with hooky riffs and alluring smoky vocals. Recorded at Loose Stone Studios with Matthew Bartlem (Matt Corby, Dead Letter Circus) in the producer’s chair, it perfectly encapsulates the bands heavy hitting, but versatile sound. Combine all this with a stack of shows impressing audiences with the likes of Wolfmother, Thunder, Seether, Hardcore Superstar, Fuel, Everclear, P.O.D., Cherie Currie (The Runaways) and more, Smoking Martha continues to grow their fanbase and the potency of an intense reputation as one of Australia's must see Rock bands live in the UK this November.

Today's Blues On The Radio Podcast Track Of The Day is an hour filled with music from Eric Bibb, Jonny Lang, The Ragtime Rumours, Dave Ferra, Rene Trossman, Detonics, Kris Barras Band, Rainbreakers, Dr. Bob and the Bluesmakers, Walter Trout, RHR Redfern, Hutchinson & Ross and, ahead of their show at The Tuesday Night Music Club, The Comrades Club, Coulsdon CR5 2NF, two tracks from Sam Kelly's Station House.

Having sold out the iconic London Palladium 10 months in advance, renowned Space Rock band Hawkwind consequently added further UK dates for their brand new concept show ‘In Search of Utopia - Infinity and Beyond’ and they complete their five day schedule with a second gig at the Palladium tonight. For the very first time in their illustrious career, the band will be joined by a live orchestra in what promises to be amongst their most exciting and ambitious live concerts to date. The score for the show is produced by the legendary Mike Batt. Known as both the man who discovered Katie Melua and the musical mastermind behind The Wombles, he has had a stellar career across radio, film and TV working with musicians such as Roger Daltrey, Lemmy, Status Quo and Huey Lewis. He has also has conducted some of the world’s greatest orchestras including the London Symphony and Royal Philharmonic.

"Following on are what can best be described as the explosion that is Vambo. The Epsom four-piece have exploded onto the scene with airplay on Planet Rock and shows both home and abroad. Indeed, following the set, the band are off to Hungary to do a couple of shows in the homeland of guitarist Pete Lance. Vambo are a great young band influenced by the Rock bands of the seventies. Lance's searing guitar goodness - a Les Paul through a fantastic Kemper modelling amp - are pure rocky filth and goodness and he show some considerable skills up and down the fretboard. Vocalist Jack Stiles, taking his looks and styling from 70's legend Roy Wood of Wizard, has an extremely powerful voice. Their closing track - a copy of Deep Purple's 'Burn' - showcases what final vocal talents he has. You don't cover such iconic Rock tracks like that lightly and he nailed it." That was part of our take on Vambo at London's Stone Free Festival at The O2 Arena in June this year and in our HRH Countdown - the guys (Video Of The Day and who we also interviewed here) are on stage this Friday 9th November at 2pm.

This week's Black On Blues Podcast Track Of The Day features music from Heidi Blasmo, Deborah Coleman, Teresa James, Amanda Fish, Dana Fuchs (pictured) and Chloe Watkinson.

With Hard Rock Hell 12, held at Hafan y Môr Holiday Park, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, North Wales, due to kick off with their HRH awards next Wednesday 7th November, today we continue our HRH 12 countdown with Walkway who are playing Stage 2 on Saturday 10th at 5.45pm. Now in their 11th year, having played over 1000 shows, and still only in their twenties; Walkway (today's Video Of The Day) firmly have the reputation as one of the UK’s brightest up and coming Rock bands. Hailing from Diss, East Anglia, Walkway take on the old fashioned approach of hard work by consistently touring around the UK, performing 100+ shows each year in music venues, pubs, bars, clubs and festivals - thus resulting in them often being described as “The hardest working band in Britain”. With the driving force of founding members the Ready Brothers, Walkway have opened for Status Quo (electric and acoustic), The Darkness, Black Stone Cherry, Slade, Bernie Marsden, Eric Martin (Mr. Big) and Graham Bonnet, plus had national airplay on BBC Radio 2. In 2017 the band also released their highly anticipated third album 'WWIII', which has received rave reviews from the press and public with comments of "best Rock album of 2017".

Notable new German/American Metal band Them, who merge the most significant components of US power and Thrash Metal, to meld their own singular musical potion with lyrics focusing on spooks and horror, released their consummate second album, ‘Manor Of The Se7en Gables’ through Steamhammer/SPV just before Halloween. ‘Manor Of The Se7en Gables’ (see today's Track Of The Day) takes up thematically from where 2016’s debut ‘Sweet Hollow’ album left off but goes on to explore the stylistic extremes of this musical genre even further. German main songwriter and guitarist Markus Ullrich, who was one of the founder members of Prog Metal band Lanfear before joining Them in Autumn 2013 (and continues to be a member of Speed/Thrash Metal act Septagon and instrumental project A Cosmic Trail), was assisted on the album by US bassist Mike Lepond (Symphony X, Ross The Boss), who contributed as a guest musician in the studio, and - as on ‘Sweet Hollow’ - put the icing on the cake (or rather the songs) with his musical experience, as did Paul Sabu (Alice Cooper, David Bowie), who further refined the material as a chorus vocalist.

Just a heads up that Kyla Brox, The Mojo Preachers and Deep Blue Sea are playing London's iconic 100 Club on Tuesday 27th November. It's Kyla's album launch and a bit of a party to celebrate that she's off to play Memphis as the UK winner of the International Blues Challenge. And if you buy your tickets directly in advance from Deep Blue Sea for a bargain £12, you not only save £2 on the door price plus a booking fee, but you'll also get a free copy of their album 'Live It Up' (CD or download) of which they will be playing live on the night! To purchase tickets or for further information, please e-mail littledevilmusic@btinternet.com

With Hard Rock Hell 12, held at Hafan y Môr Holiday Park, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, North Wales, due to kick off with their HRH awards next Wednesday 7th November, today we begin our HRH 12 countdown with Snew who are appearing on Friday. The Californian Rockers are caught somewhere between the vocal prowess of Bon Scott and Ian Gillan plus the solid 80's-inspired riffage of Motley Crue, and have spent the last decade making a lot of noise and a lot of friends. All of which lead to the release in mid-September of their fourth and latest album, 'You’ve Got Some Nerve'; a thrilling ride of high octane Hard Rock, that streams from the heart and keeps the fist-pumping party vibe every step of the way. From the opening salvo of first single 'UR Freaking Me Out' (today's Video Of The Day) , to the Blues driven, early Whitesnake bite of 'Revolution Is A Closed Loop', through to the raucous self-titled closer. Come in, get up and dance, because all are welcome.

Following the news that their 2012 album 'Carolus Rex' has reached quadruple platinum status in their home country Sweden, Sabaton are excited to reveal a new lyric video for the song 'The Lion From The North' which is our Track Of The Day. The concept album - which is the band's biggest success to date - charts the rise and fall of the Swedish Empire, in particular the life of Charles XII ("Carolus Rex") who ruled it for 21 years. In an amazing coincidence, the album's quadruple platinum certification comes exactly 300 years after the King's death in 1718! The band will be presented with their quadruple platinum disc later this year, when 'Carolus Rex' will take its place as one of Sweden's most successful home-grown Rock albums. To celebrate the album's success, and to commemorate the Swedish King who inspired it, Sabaton will release a special 300th year anniversary edition of 'Carolus Rex' on Friday 30th November 30th which is the date Carolus Rex was killed in Norway.

Hollywood Rockers Junkyard began their UK tour supporting their long-time buddies Blackberry Smoke in Newcastle last night, and today they head south to play Croydon Rocks. Raucous, Blues-based and uncompromising, the eleven songs that made up their last album ‘High Water' marked a triumphant return on their first official album since 1991. While odds and sods had been released over the intervening years, ’High Water’ provided a firm statement of the band’s ongoing intent upon its release in April 2017. The album also boasts writing and lead guitar credits from Brian Baker, a Junkyard founding member who played with the band for many years but now plies his trade full time with Bad Religion, while on the road they are joined by Jimmy James (The Hangmen), with founding member Pat Muzingo and bassist Todd Muscat (who joined in 1991) rounding out the line-up. Junkyard’s classic sound also got some help from a fan and friend, with Charlie Starr of the aforementioned Blackberry Smoke writing the dramatic, forthright statement ‘Til the Wheels Fall Off’ specifically for the band.