The Music Venue Trust is a UK Registered Charity which was created in January 2014 to protect the UK live music network. Its immediate focus is on securing the long term future of the iconic venues which make up the grassroots circuit. These venues have played a crucial role in the development of British music over the last 40 years, nurturing local talent, providing a platform for artists to build their careers and develop their music and their performance skills. Ironically, following the latest Independent Venue Week, London's Proud, Camden (pictured) has just announced that it is closing its doors for the last time on Sunday 4th March. So why not support The Music Venue Trust's 'Fightback' campaign here and their clear five year plan to ensure these venues continue to play their vital role in supporting the British music success story?

Multi-platinum selling three-piece X Ambassadors begin their UK and European headline tour next month kicking off their nine-date run at London’s Electric Brixton on Monday 19th March. The tour comes ahead of their eagerly anticipated new album, co-written with American multi-platinum selling songwriter, producer and musician Scott Harris (Shawn Mendes, Chainsmokers) and due for release in Spring 2018. The album’s lead single ‘Ahead Of Myself’ (today's Track Of The Day) has clocked up over three million views on YouTube. The band also sold out their headline show at London’s ULU last year and also pulled in one of the biggest crowds on the Radio 1 stage at the Reading and Leeds Festival's.

'The Nature Of Time”' is Secret Sphere's latest and ninth studio album and they are playing Camden's Underworld in London tonight. 'TNOT' celebrates twenty years of hard work that started back in 1997 with the release of their widely praised debut album, 'Mistress Of The Shadowlight'. Since then, the band has evolved and developed their unique sound that has become a trademark and they have been one of an elite group of bands putting the Italian Metal scene on the global map! The addition of extraordinary singer Michele Luppi (also currently serving as keyboardist and background vocalist for the legendary Hard Rock act, Whitesnake) in 2012 brought the band to the next level, which was evidenced by his first release with the band, 'Portrait Of A Dying Heart', receiving wide fan and critical acclaim and landing on many Metal journalists best releases of 2012 lists.

Today's Blues Club Podcast Track Of The Day returns 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 including tracks from Billy Walton Band, Josh Smith, Thunder (pictured), Leon Russell, Megson, Amy Winehouse, Dr. Feelgood, Libertalia, Hurricane Ruth, Brian Setzer, Jo Harman, Gregory Porter, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, B. B. & The Blues Shacks and many more.

Escape The Fate, who are playing London's Koko in Mornington Cresecent tonight, release their new album 'I Am Human' on Better Noise Records next Friday 16th February. They are not only supporting 'IAH' with this headline tour, but also recently released a new song from the album 'Broken Heart' which is today's Video Of The Day. 'IAH' is the bands sixth studio album and is the new era of Escape The Fate, featuring the previously unveiled tracks 'Do You Love Me', 'Empire' plus the album's title track.

"Jones' opening drums heralded 'Pressure Valve', the first song on the album, again with great guitar work from Black accompanied by haunting vocals from Turner - critical comparisons to an early Elkie Brooks totally understandable. However, after the hard paced rocker 'Healing Hand' with excellent vocal jousting harmonies between Black and Turner - they saved their best for last - with Zep's 'Since I've Been Loving You' - which was awesome. Turner's diction and delivery was spellbinding as was Black's guitar homage to JP." That was part of our take on Born Healer's set at BluesRockfest in September 2016, so we were delighted to hear from Helen and the crew recently re: their great new song/video 'Forgot To Forget' which is today's Video Of The Day.

Lynne Jackaman (Track Of The Day), now a part of the recording legacy at Fame Studios, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, is playing live at London's Islington tonight. Like Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Candi Staton before her, Lynne too possesses that same emotive raw power. A fireball of femininity, authenticity, love and pain in equal measure which is evident in her songwriting and performance - her (as yet untitled) debut album was cut in twelve days back in the summer of 2017 in Fame studios. There are guest appearances on the album from Spooner Oldham, Clayton Ivey, Bob Wray and Will McFarlane to name but a few, and since returning from America, Lynne has been preparing to release the record in 2018 and take the album out into the live arena featuring her new band.

"Peter Donegan's classy mainly originals set was crowned by a breathless, rousing rendition of his father's favourite 'Rock Island Line', a perfect fit for a night intentionally harking back to the earliest days of British Blues including, this time, their Skiffle roots." That was part of our review of Peter Donegan at The Proud in Camden in September 2016 and Lonnie's son returns to London tonight at The Eel Pie Club, The Patch, 67 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SZ. Doors open at 8.30pm with music from 9-11pm. WRC members are reminded that they can use their cards to get discounted admission.

If you ever wanted to witness a mix of musical genres then you should have been at Camden's Underworld on a very cold night last Monday in London. First up were Alternative Rock outfit Stereo Juggernaut delivering their own brand of New Dirt/Electropunk to their healthy following. Contrast this to the high energy in yer face Pop and Rock of Tokyo Taboo (pictured), which nicely set up all those present for headliners Esprit D'Air, with their unique and fresh sound and an ability to fuse hard-hitting aggression with melodic interludes and blistering guitar solos. Time for us to have a lie down - but in the meantime check out our Photo Gallery from the gig here.

"Powell heralded the first taste of their debut album with "Yeah Phoenix man!" - a ten minute monster totally encapsulating Wishbone Ash's unique sound and genre before cries of "We want more" saw them return with two final classics from 'Argus' - namely 'Time Was' and 'Blowin' Free'. A truly awesome night all round of live music, contrasting the old and the new. Andy Powell's Wishbone Ash continue their UK tour in October and November. About time I checked out their back catalogue!" That was our take on Wishbone Ash when we saw them at London's O2 Academy in Islington last October (pictured) and we're once again indebted to our Swiss 'correspondent' Marlene Rivet for today's Video Of The Day of Wishbone Ash playing 'Phoenix' in Rubigen last Sunday!

Today's 2017 WRC Award winning Rock On The Ridge Track Of The Day, originally broadcast last Saturday night, features Dead City Ruins, We Three Kings, Fozzy, Turbonegro, Rebel Flag, Richie Kotzen, The Poodles, Rick Springfield (pictured), Dukes of the Orient, Memphis May Fire, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - AKA What A Life, Steve Michael & The Artisans, AC/DC, Electric Light Orchestra, Bedrokk, The Treatment, The Dust Coda, The Black Delta Movement, The Sheepdogs and on their introducing Stage two in a row from Wolftooth.

Reformed in 2016, DIY and self-signed Rock/Metal band Esprit D'Air performed their new album 'Constellations' back-to-back on their biggest headline tour yet at Camden's Underworld in London last night. A Space Metal band based in London, the band is comprised of Kai (guitar & vocals), Ellis (bass), and Daishi (drums). Currently, the band are not seeking a major record label, but instead follow a strong DIY ethos and produce everything themselves to be as self-sufficient as possible. Consequently, they record, mix and master their own releases in their own home recording studio and produce the artwork and music videos themselves. Anyway with more gig photos to come, including support bands Tokyo Taboo and Stereo Juggernaut, check out today's Video Of The Day.