It was great to hear that one of John Verity's tracks was used in the HBO series 'Sharp Objects' - recently shown on Sky Atlantic in the UK. The series, featuring Amy Adams in the lead part was an instant success and the inclusion of JV's version of 'I'd Rather Go Blind' (today's Video Of The Day) was featured in Episode 2 and is taken from the 'It's A Mean Old Scene' album originally released back in 2012. The track is also to be included in a CBS Records album featuring music from 'Sharp Objects'. Following the release of JV's latest album 'Blue To My Soul' towards the end of last year, JV is always on the road, with his next stop this Sunday 2nd September at the Leeds Bradford Guitar Show on the ScottDixon stand (10am 'til 4pm) and then later at Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre at 8pm.

Gary Grainger is the latest addition to next year's Durham and Cleethorpes Blues, Rhythm & Rock Festivals that take place on Saturday 15th June and Sunday 16th June respectively. With Mungo Jerry and the Connor Selby Band already on the bill, many people know Gary as the British Blues Award winning host of The Blues Show on BishopFM. But Gary’s interest in Blues goes back a long way, influenced by radio shows of Alexis Korner & Mike Raven. Gary’s current acoustic set includes a mixture of traditional & modern Blues tunes and also includes songs not so much from left field, rather from the West Coast – of the USA. Gary features songs by bands such as Little Feat, Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers - & ZZ Top!

Album title of the year, anyone? Helion Prime (Track Of The Day) and their mascot - the mighty Saibot - return with their sophomore effort ‘Terror Of The Cybernetic Space Monster’ tomorrow. The album consists of nine brand new tracks - with the seventeen minute monster title song marking a stunning finale. The Sacramento (California) based Power Metal band’s new piece of work was mixed and mastered at LSD studio by Lasse Lammert (known for his work with bands like Alestorm and Gloryhammer). Helion Prime continues their theme of blending science fiction with science fact. This album will mark the first time the full band line up is joined together on a release. This also marks the debut of Sozos Michael on vocals with Jason Ashcraft (rhythm guitar), Chad Anderson (lead guitar), Jeremy Steinhouse (bass guitar) and Alex Bosson (drums). The cover art was once again done by Marc Whisnant, who was already responsible for the artwork of the band’s self-titled debut album, which was released via Divebomb Records in early 2016 before AFM Records signed the band to a worldwide deal and re-issued 'Helion Prime' almost exactly a year after its initial release. The press hailed the album as a breath of fresh air in the Power Metal scene and called it one of the most innovative Power Metal records in a long time.

It's been a long time since we brought you news from our mates Walkway. Well at the end of last month they released the official lyric video for 'Leap Of Faith', which was created and edited by Lee Waters and is today's Video Of The Day. The track was written by Chris Ready, James Ready and Ross Griggs, and is taken from their last album 'WWIII'. Alternatively, if you want to catch the guys in the flesh, so to speak, they are headlining The Oddfellows Pakefield Real Ale Festival this Sunday 2nd September at 4pm.

This week's Blues On The Radio Podcast Track Of The Day is devoted to female vocalists. So enjoy music today from Kyla Brox (pictured), Katie Bradley, Rebecca Downes, Broken Levee & Lindsay Hannon, Sari Schorr, Laura Holland, Aretha Franklin, Connie Lush, Elles Bailey, Ruby & The Revelators, Yoka & The SugarBeats and Lisa Mann.

The festival season rolls on, with the announcement of the official running times for this year's Whitby and Clitheroe Blues, Rhythm & Rock Festivals that take place on Saturday 13th October and Sunday 14th October respectively. With doors opening at 1.30pm, Southbound kick off proceedings at 2pm, followed by Catfish at 3.10pm, Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion at 4.25pm, Stevie Nimmo Trio at 5.40pm, Chantel McGregor at 7pm and Corky Laing at 8.30pm.

With the Supersucker odometer clicking on three decades this very year, the self-proclaimed ‘Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World’ is marking the occasion with a loud, resounding ‘Suck It’ due to be released on Friday 21st September on Steamhammer/SPV. Off the blocks, this 12th studio album from the band showcases a ruthless, get-it-done trio that sounds rebuilt from Motorhead parts, with singer-bassist Eddie Spaghetti transmuting Lemmy’s mojo, which he and core Suckers Marty Chandler (guitar) and drummer Chris Von Streicher (drums) recorded early this year at Bismeaux Studio in Austin, Texas, cutting all ten tracks in four days. Supersuckers are set to bring their 30th anniversary tour, playing songs from ‘Suck It’, some country faves, plus two of their Sub Pop records in their entirety, to the UK in November, including London's Oslo on Friday 16th.

Russell Swallow is one of those lucky pre-Brexit kids who has spent the last two years living between London and Berlin. As a result his sound is a refreshing synthesis of the classic British singer-songwriter tradition with ambient Berlin soundscapes. He uses confessional lyrics and allegorical storytelling to create songs that range from hushed, prayer-like confessionals to soaring, Indie epics. Inspired by the likes of Bon Iver, Jack Savoretti, James Bay, Ray Lamontagne and Jeff Buckley, he taught himself to write songs by blending his passion for poetry and short stories with his newfound love of Indie-driven sounds. Swallow's stunning new EP 'My Lover, Her Lover And Me' blends Folk, Electronica and Soul, so not only check out today's Track Of The Day but also his gig at The Finsbury in London next Tuesday 4th September.

On Friday 14th September Frontiers Music Srl will release an album following the formation of a brand new band featuring legends of the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal scene. Dream Child boasts the amazing line-up of Craig Goldy: guitars (ex-Dio, Giuffria), Wayne Findlay: guitars and keyboards (ex-Michael Schenker Group), Simon Wright: drums (ex-AC/DC, Dio, Operation: Mindcrime), Rudy Sarzo: bass (ex-Quiet Riot, Ozzy, Whitesnake, Dio) and Diego Valdez: vocals (Helker) - so why not check out today's Video Of The Day!

Today's Black On Blues Podcast Track Of The Day is an international playlist featuring Matt Waltlake (England), Yury Apsy (Brazil), The Blues Bones (Belgium), Sugar Blue (USA), Riot And The Blues Devils (Canada), Hardchargers (Northern Ireland) and Dan Patlansky (pictured from South Africa).

The Unity, the superb Melodic Power Metal band formed by Gamma Ray members Michael Ehré (drums) and Henjo Richter (guitar), are set to release their storming second album, ‘Rise’, on Steamhammer/SPV on Friday 14th September. ‘Rise’ is an even more accomplished offering than the band’s self-titled debut album, which garnered glowing reviews throughout Europe on release in Spring 2017, and led to Unity being nominated ‘Newcomer Of The Year’ in Germany’s leading Metal Hammer and Rock Hard magazines. All fired up, the band subsequently embarked on tours with Edguy and Sinner and wowed the crowds with their dynamic performances on the main stages of renowned festivals such as Bang Your Head, Metalfest and the Winter Masters Of Rock.

"The music itself is top quality from the start and I’m sure everyone may pick different tracks as their own personal favourites; the guitar solos usually choose mine for me, so ‘Found Out The Hard Way’ probably edges the vote, although the closing pair of ‘Let Me Be’ and ‘Holding On’ (the latter apparently influenced by Hendrix’s ‘Manic Depression’) run it mighty close." Today read Gary Smith's complete take here on Ben Poole's new CD 'Anytime You Need Me' (Video Of The Day), due to be released on Friday 14th September.