Well the big day has arrived folks! Camden Rocks finally kicks off today for us with Dirty Thrills at The Underworld at midday. Midlands based Hard Rock band The Bad Flowers (pictured) are also on our itinerary (The Fiddler's Elbow at 6.30pm) and they have just announced that they will co-headline a UK Planet Rock Presents tour with Stockport-based Blues Rockers Federal Charm starting at the Thekla Bristol on Wednesday 19th September finishing up on Sunday 30th September at London’'s Borderline. Anyway, watch out for our WRC t-shirts today as we also hope to take in Tequila Mockingbyrd, Doomsday Outlaw, Colt 48, Sulpher, At The Sun, Soapgirls, The Professionals, 10 Gauge, Massive Wagons, Raveneye, Hollowstar, Black Orchid Empire, Ryan Hamilton, Black Map and British Sea Power. See you down the front!

Unlike last year (pictured) - the bad news is that Big Boy Bloater & The LiMiTs are not appearing at Camdon Rocks this year. However, the good news is that they will be releasing their brand new album 'Pills' on Friday 15th June via Provogue/Mascot Label Group. Following on from 2016’s 'Luxury Hobo', Britain's larger-than-life Blues personality re-focusses himself and 'Pills' is a reflection of him having a clearer head. Recorded in December 2017 with producer Adam Whalley, the band trimmed down to a power trio of Big Boy (vocals/guitar), Matt Cowley (drums) and Steven Oates (bass) for the new album and today's Video Of The 'Friday Night's Alright For Drinking' is taken from the new album. Not only that but the guys are hitting the road this September and October in support of 'Pills' including London's The Black Heart on Wednesday 19th September.

This weekend also sees the launch of two new Blues, Rhythm & Rock Festivals today at Newport and tomorrow in Leicester, which sees award winning headline and guest acts including legendary names and some of the best new talent on the Blues circuit. As a very special thank you to everyone who has supported these festivals and bought tickets, your ticket is now going to be valid for both dates, so Newport tickets keep and they can also be used in Leicester, and everyone with Leicester tickets can also use them for Newport, a real 'two for one!' Indeed Newport headliner King King have just won 'Best Bues Band' in the UK Blues awards, together with 'Best Album' and 'Best Songwriter', whilst Leicester headliner Walter Trout has just won 'Lifetime Contribution' at the European Blues awards.

The Blues Club Podcast Track Of The Day returns today with another two hours of non-stop Best in Blues with More Music and Less Chat, featuring New Releases, Classic Tracks, UK Independent Blues Broadcasters Association Presenters' Picks and much more. Music this week Includes tracks from The Lucky Losers, Chris Bevington, Joe Shelton, Ronny Aagren & His Blues Gumbo, Too Slim and the Taildraggers, James Harman, Dana Fuchs, Kris Barras Band, The Love Light Orchestra, Mike Zito, Joyann Parker, The Achievers, The BluesBones, Nick Moss Band, Victor Wainwright, Rick Estrin and The Nightcats, Richard Koechli, Danielle Nicole Band, Joe Bonamassa, Dr. John, Bruce Springsteen (pictured), Wily Bo Walker, Peggie Perkins, Mitch Laddie, Dale Storr, Professor Longhair, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Michael Kaeshammer, Kathy Murray & The Kilowatts, B. B. & The Blues Shacks and more.

Today's June 2018 WRC Bulletin looks back at our May gigs including Danny Bryant, Machine Head, Slow Readers Club, Nine Below Zero, City Of Thieves plus our Joe Bonamassa, Bad Pennies and Steve Hill CD/DVD reviews. We also look forward to festival season including tonight Fantastic Negrito (pictured) supported by Miraculous Mule, Camden Rocks, Joe Bonamassa, Jeff Beck, Stone Free, The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters and Ramblin' Man Fair. If you didn't receive our Bulletin then go to our WRC membership page here and simply fill out the membership form and we will be in touch!

With just one day to go to the Camden Rocks Festival, Press to MECO are playing Dingwalls at 4.15pm tomorrow. Press to MECO recently released their second album 'Here's To The Fatigue' to rave reviews and you can check out their Sweeney Todd-style video for 'Familiar Ground' which is today's Video Of The Day. Consisting of guitarist/vocalist Luke Caley, bassist/vocalist Adam Roffey and drummer/vocalist Lewis Williams - the trio have found creative inspiration in bands like SikTh, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Reuben, Everything Everything, Manchester Orchestra and Deftones; to pop artists ABBA and Michael Jackson. 2017 was a pivotal year for Press to MECO, building on their unconventional take on riffs, Pop hooks and 3-part vocal harmonies that have become a trade mark. The debut album ‘Good Intent’ was shortlisted for the 2016 AIM Independent Album of the Year, alongside Radiohead, Frank Carter and Skepta. This nomination gave the band a sense of legitimacy and renewed belief, that propelled them into writing their new album.

Just over a month ago since they played a very special show at London’s Nambucca in support of their colossal debut album 'Eclipse', British Rock trio Reigning Days return to England's capital city this Saturday 2nd June playing an acoustic session at the Camden Rocks Festival at the Brewdog at 8.30pm. Reigning Days also recently played The Autonomy stage at the Great Escape Festival plus they are also heading to Wheels and Fins festival in Kent on Sunday 9th September.

"Fans of the SRC are almost evangelical in their support of the band, placing the new album in more prominent positions on the shelves in HMV, encouraging friends and relatives to listen to the music and in an almost football crowd way, chanting ‘Readers, Readers’ to encourage the band onto the stage. Aaron thanks the crowd and asks how many are seeing them for the first time – and it is no real surprise that the newbies are in the minority! The set is opened with the opening track from the new album – 'Lunatic' and the crowd are soon bouncing along, some swaying, some more energetically. Something pretty close to a ‘mosh pit’ soon forms with arms waving and eventually bodies raised onto shoulders to get closer to the band." Today read Chris Bourlet's Slow Readers Club gig review from last Friday at London's Islington Assembly Hall here plus check out our Track Of The Day.

Well we were promised Heavy Rock in its purest form that would send you straight to the front of the stage with no nonsense sledgehammer riffs, hooks and melodies - and City Of Thieves certainly delivered that last night. It was our first visit to The Big Red in Holloway Road and it certainly won't be our last. Not only was it free but City Of Thieves grabbed Rock by the scruff of its neck and give it a good shake, including their brilliant debut single 'Buzzed Up City' - think Airbourne meets AC/DC meets Wolfmother! Anyway, with their long anticipated debut album, entitled ‘Beast Reality’, due to be released on Friday 12th October - in the meantime check out today's Video Of The Day.

The buzz has been spreading about City Of Thieves ever since they made their initial debut in 2015. Indeed their brilliant debut single 'Buzzed Up City' was released last month plus the guys are playing London's The Big Red tonight - and it's free. No frills, no messin', no gimmicks – just Heavy Rock in its purest form that will send you straight to the front of the stage with no nonsense sledgehammer riffs, hooks and melodies. Working with acclaimed artist/producer Toby Jepson (Little Angels, The Answer, The Virginmarys), band members Jamie Lailey - vocals/bass, Ben Austwick - guitar and Will Richards - drums, knew from the outset that City Of Thieves wanted to take Rock by the scruff of its neck and give it a good shake. With Jepson at the helm, Mike Fraser on mixing duties and mastering by Simon Francis (Kodaline, Kaiser Chiefs, Primal Scream), the group’s long anticipated debut album, entitled ‘Beast Reality’, due to be released on Friday 12th October, is in the best of hands.

On today's WRC Award winning Rock On The Ridge Track Of The Day, originally broadcast on Saturday night, there's music from Marco Mendoza, Framing The Red, Mystic Prophecy, Otis, Radio Moscow, Black Coffee, Aviator Shades, Church of the Cosmic Skull, Red Sun Rising, Rick Springfield, The Who (pictured), Chris Cornell, The Black Delta Movement, Palace Of The King, Rainbreakers, Brother Dege, Catfish, Judas Priest, Doomsday Outlaw and on their Introducing Stage - two in a row from Rob Palladino.

Fresh from their own headline UK tour in January/February - UK Rock trio RavenEye (Video Of The Day) return to Dingwalls in London this Saturday 2nd June at 6.45pm as part of this year's Camden Rocks Festival. Since releasing their wildly successful EP ‘Breaking Out’, and debut album ‘NOVA', RavenEye has toured globally, supporting Slash, Deep Purple, The Darkness, Kiss, Bush, Aerosmith, Chevelle and Halestorm, amongst others. The band has headlined their own tours through Europe and America as well as performing at major international Rock festivals. Their incendiary live shows have captivated crowds and put them on the map as a ‘must see live’ band.