The SoapGirls recently unveiled their new video for the primal and emotional break up song 'Rather Be Dead' (Track Of The Day) which is an outsider anthem that’s both androgynous and audacious. Hailing from South Africa, the alluring, hypnotic and nonchalant SoapGirls were given their name by the general public. “We have been The SoapGirls since we were 8 and 9 selling hand made soap and street performing for various causes, we did this 365 days of the year for 9 years”. Armed with a venomous swagger and catchy, riff-oriented guitar grind, backed up by their strong songwriting abilities, dedication and determination to their craft, The SoapGirls have earned them a formidable live reputation, with a devoted group of followers known as the ‘The SoapSuds’, following the band across the globe!

Swedish Power Metallers Manimal are playing London's The Underworld in Camden tonight in support of rockers Firewind. The band’s latest album 'Trapped In The Shadows' was released in late November 2015 and this is their first European Tour to come to the UK after a successful tour of Europe in 2016 with AFM label-mates Orden Ogan. AFM Records has released two full albums with the Gothenburg four-piece so far and their tour concludes on Tuesday 21st February at the Engine Rooms in Southampton.

"A key feature of Johnossi is their unique guitar sound, achieved by running an acoustic guitar through effects pedals and electric guitar amplifiers. As well as providing a myriad of pedal effects, this approach enables John to switch quickly and easily between acoustic and full-on Rock anthem guitar sounds, supporting a wide range of musical styles. However, although their music style may shift dramatically, Johnossi’s lyrical themes rarely do, invariably revolving around personal soul-searching, existentialism and/or angsty situations." Read the whole of Big Ian's Johnossi gig review from last Wednesday night at Hackney's Oslo Bar here plus check out today's Vid Of The Day!

"Progdate: Saturday 2nd August 2003. Deputising for the the missing Oxygen8 and supporting headliners Caravan - we had just witnessed The Pineapple Thief's first ever gig at The Whitchurch Prog Rock Musical Festival. It was a cracking set - so much so that we headed straight over to their merchandise stall and bought a signed version of 'Variations On A Dream/8 Days'. Now turn the clock forward 13 years or so plus eleven quality studio albums later and the Testbourne School Theatre gig is all but a distant memory as TPT marched into a sold out Islington Assembly Hall last Saturday night." Read the whole of AJ's The Pineapple Thief gig review from last Saturday night at the Islington Assembly Hall here plus check out our photo gallery here.

Described as Hard Rock with a soft underbelly, we saw the awesome Black Orchid Empire headline at Camden's Monarch in early February. At yet another Camden Rocks showcase, The Monarch is a real rock pub, a microcosm of today's music business as bands bartered equipment with each other during their sound checks, whilst we were interviewing BOE consisting of New Zealander Dave Ferguson (bass/vocals), American Billy Freedom (drums) and Brit Paul Visser (vocals/guitar) backstage beforehand. In fact the interview was so good and long that we have split it into two parts - the first part is today's Track Of The Day where the guys tell us here about life before BOE, life with BOE, their musical influences, the making of 'Archetype' and Emergenza 2013.

It was meant to be our night off - but we just had to tell you about the awesome screening last Thursday night of the legendary concert film, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (Vid Of The Day), which was screened at Hammersmith’s Apollo for the first time since the concert took place on July 3rd 1973. The event kicked of with a DJ set from female duo The Smoking Guns, followed by the group Animal Noise, who are massively influenced by Bowie’s work, before the 1973 documentary and concert film by D. A. Pennebaker, was shown. Bowie made the surprise announcement that the show would be "the last show that we'll ever do", later understood to mean that he was retiring his Ziggy Stardust persona. Pure Rock history.

The Krissy Matthews Band (Vid Of The Day) are set to embark on a UK tour in March and April to celebrate the release of their first live album 'Live At Freak Valley'. Released by Proper Records on Friday 14th April, the live album was recorded at the Freak Valley Festival in Siegen, Germany on 27th May 2016. It really catches the adrenalin and pure excitement of the band in all their glory. The tour begins at The Bullingdon, Oxford, on Wednesday 29th March and concludes at The Arches, Coventry on Thursday 27th April. Originally from Oxford, Krissy’'s band has often been described as an exciting, high octane, Power Rock trio steeped in Blues roots. 24 year old Matthews has performed at some of Europe’'s most iconic music venues including Ronnie Scott’s, Loreley, Tanzbrunnen and Festa Avante. He’s also opened for many high profile recording artists at the top of their game including Joe Bonamassa, Toto, Gregg Allman and Tedeschi Trucks Band. See you at Krissy's London The Fiddler's Elbow gig on Wednesday 19th April!

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 Presenter's Picks and much more. Music this week Includes tracks from The Knickerbocker All-Stars, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Tas Cru, Marcus Malone Band, Beth Hart, Paul DesLauriers, Paul Carrack, Trudy Lynn, Lew Jetton, Catfish, Meena Cryle & Chris Fillmore, Jonny Lang, Peter Karp, The Hexmen, Elvin Bishop, Kathleen Pearson, John Mayall, Moreland & Arbuckle, The Troy Redfern Band (pictured), Jon Gindick, Gerry Jablonski Band, Chris Rea, Jo Harman, Richard Townend & The Mighty Bosscats, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado, Rebecca Downes, B. B. & The Blues Shacks and more.

"But hidden amongst the back streets, in wafting distance of Brick Lane’s finest, is a growing number of live music venues like 93 Feet East, hosting the up and coming bands that are the future of today’s real music scene. Not the commercially produced pap that fills our supermarket aisles but real artists who write their songs from the heart and tour the country in small dark clubs to a growing following. The people outside may be young and trendy, but the music is as down and dirty as the old meat market ever was. I suggest you check the area out." Read the whole of Mother's Where The Fires Are, Kid Kapichi, Knites and Kryer gig review from Wednesday night here.

"One of the things most noticeable upon repeated plays of this debut album is how restrained Aaron Keylock is with regards to his playing, with his youth and talent it would be easy to get carried away and make each song a lengthy overindulgent shred fest, however he definitely understands the concept of less is more as no song outlasts its welcome, making for a perfectly paced CD. It's the sound of a guy for whose future is so bright it's no wonder he wears shades on the cover." Read the whole of Phil C's review of Aaron Keylock's 'Cut Against The Grain' CD here. Aaron (Vid Of The Day) is also playing Planet Rock Winter’s End Fest in Poole, Dorset, on Friday 24th February and is supporting Sari Schorr at London's Borderline on Monday 20th March.

London's O2 Stone Free Festival, which opens its doors at midday on Saturday 17th June, have announced that legendary British Glam Rock giants Sweet, who during the ‘70s had thirteen Top 20 hits including ‘Blockbuster’, ‘Hell Raiser’, ‘Fox On the Run’ and the evergreen feel-good anthem ‘The Ballroom Blitz’, will be joining headliners Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow in the main arena. Indigo at The O2 will also be hosting a full afternoon of entertainment including Northern Ireland’s The Answer, who have hit new heights with their most recent album Solas plus Scottish rockers Gun, with iconic New York hard rockers Blue Öyster Cult playing a full headline set and closing the afternoon festivities, who throughout their four-decade career have garnered huge critical acclaim, in particular for the hit single ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’ and other fan favourites including ‘Godzilla’ and ‘Burning For You’.

This week's Route 66 show features new tracks from Thunder (pictured), Chickenfoot, Jo Harman, Aaron Keylock and Matt Andersen. Today's Track Of The Day also has classic tracks from The Doors, Ted Nugent, AC/DC and Annie Lennox and many more plus this week's music news, social media and top jockin' from host Rory Auskerry!