The WRC first caught the impressive Black Stone Cherry supporting Alter Bridge at Wembley Arena five years ago. So we were delighted to learn earlier this year that the fiery American Southern rockers were headlining this year's Ramblin' Man Fair on the Sunday. Consequently we snapped up tickets for the first of two nights last night at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire as they returned to the UK for a new tour. Supporting their latest album, Kentucky, the band promised intimate shows without support bands or gimmicks – just the group’s hardcore fans! Anyway, check out today's Vid Of The Day with a review and more photo's to come.

"But Alter Bridge are about the power and the technical brilliance of tracks like ‘Addicted To Pain’ and ‘Isolation’ that required a couple of local power stations to up their game. One of those nights when you truly get lost in the music. At least the sore pain in my constantly banging head was relieved, but at the expense of my vocal chords, when anthemic song ‘Blackbird’ moistened every eye in the house. Album of the year, 2007 for me. Rapture. And the already moist eyes were further moved when the bountiful Tremonti presented his gorgeous guitar to one lucky punter in the front row. That will be one treasured memento of what was a treasure trove of a gig. It was a truly religious experience. Mr Tremonti, I worship you." Read the whole of Mother's Alter Bridge recent London O2 Arena gig review here plus check out our Vid Of The Day.

With all the great music we have witnessed during 2016 - it wasn't easy - but yes we have finally come up with our nominees here in this year's WRC Awards. Simply choose your favourite from each of the eleven categories provided here and hit the vote button. You have until midnight 31st December to make your choice and only one vote per category per e-mail address is allowed - so there. So what are you waiting for? Spread the good news and make sure your favourite band gets the votes it deserves! In the meantime, today's Track Of The Day is last year's Best Tribute band Purple Zeppelin!

"Tonight though they are the headline act on the Main Stage and it's obvious the meaning this has to the band. Unfortunately they suffer from some bad luck and a lot of their gear hasn't arrived in time for the show including their backdrop, meaning it's a pretty bare stage that they are performing on. This doesn't mean much however because for both the band and their passionate fans it's all about the music. The main set is closed with crowd favourites 'In My Dreams', 'White Trash Millionaire' and 'Blame It On The Boom Boom' smashed out in bombastic fashion, before the band return and close out Ramblin' Man Fair 2016 with appropriately 'The Rambler', 'Lonely Train' and a quick run through of 'Ace Of Spades' in honour of Lemmy which was a stroke of genius." That was our take on Black Stone Cherry at Ramblin' Man Fair earlier this year (pictured) - but how will they fair tonight at Shepherds Bush Empire? Watch this space!

"The hits of Lizzy were a treat to any Lizzy fan in fact I was enjoying the music so much that I nearly forgot that I was meant to be taking pictures of the whole thing. Wayne Ellis (bass), Tim Read (guitar), Greg Alcock (guitar) and Lee Morris (drums) were on top form the whole evening and did Phil and the boys proud with a great show of Thin Lizzy music and I must say I, like the crowds that were there, really appreciated the evening. Wayne then asked if there was anyone in the audience with a little Irish in them. The crowd whooped then asked if there was anyone out there would like a little more? The house lights bathed the stage in a green glow 'Emerald' one of my favourites and after that straight into 'Don’t believe a Word'." Read the whole of Bob & Jules' Wrinklystock V review here plus check out our updated photo gallery here.

Last Friday saw the long-awaited announcement that headlining the Ramblin' Main Fair main stage next year (and a UK festival exclusive) - and bringing that Texas boogie to Mote Park - are none other than ZZ Top (Vid Of The Day)! Joining them will be Canada's very own favourite sons and award winning Rock n' Rollers Monster Truck plus the much admired young guitar slinger Jared James Nichols. The Prog In The Park headliners are none other than Topeka's multi-platinum album selling wayward sons Kansas and joining them will be Britain's Melodic Rock icons Magnum. Probably the finest female Blues Rock singer and guitarist of our time Joanne Shaw Taylor will be headlining the Blues Stage, where JST will be joined by The Quireboys and WRC favourite Big Boy Bloater! More announcements coming soon!

The Blues Club Podcast Track Of The Day returns this week on a Sunday 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 Rolling Stones, Hamish Stuart, Molly Duncan and Steve Ferrone, Beth Hart (pictured), Richard Ray Farrel, Tape Five, Doña Oxford, John Weeks, Lisa Lystam Family Band, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Tas Cru, Jools Holland, Misty Blues, Malaya Blue, Bruce Katz, David Bromberg Quintet & Band, Trudy Lynn, Rebecca Downes, Donald Ray Johnson, Mike Zito, Colin James, Fiona Boyes, Starlite Campbell Band, Richard Townend & The Mighty Bosscats, Kaz Hawkins, Nine Below Zero, The Alabama 3, Red Butler, King King, Enrico Jerimiah Marques, B. B. & The Blues Shacks and more.

"Right from the start, Eden’s Curse successfully engage with the crowd, and vocalist Nikola Mijic does a great job at keeping it that way. His smooth, versatile voice maintains the audience’s admiration, handling power metal equally as well as mainstream melodic rock. The instrumental support is equally versatile, Thorsten Koehe on guitar and Paul Logue on bass provide trademark Eden’s Curse melodies, hooks and riffs. Newcomers John Clelland (drums) and Christian Pulkkinen (keys) have fitted in perfectly: you’d think they’d been with the band since its inception." Read the rest of Big Ian's Eden's Curse review here from last Sunday's gig at London's The Underworld plus check out our Vid Of The Day and photo gallery here.

It was a new venue for the WRC - but what a great night we had on Thursday at The Dome in Tufnell Park - principally for Bad Touch's album launch of 'Truth Be Told'. Despite being a freezing cold evening - the guys kindly agreed to a last minute outside interview with the WRC before they went on stage for an explosive 45 minute set before headliners Whiskey Myers rounded off a brilliant gig. So with an interview and review to come - in the meantime take a gander here at our photo gallery from the night. plus our CD review here.

Formed in November 2013, Sugarman Sam and the Voodoo Men (Track Of The Day) combine classic elements of Blues and combine them with the raucous power of Rock. Sugarman Sam is a Bluesman through-and-through; being brought up on a diet of high-profile names like B.B. King, Led Zeppelin and Gary Moore to name a few. As well as taking influences from contemporary acts such as Matt Schofield, Joe Bonamassa and Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Sam is backed by the outfit known as The Voodoo Men, a trio of musicians who create the perfect backdrop for his guitar pyrotechnics. See them headline Leo's Red Lion in Gravesend tonight when they are supported by The Voodoo Sheiks.

Wretched Soul (Track Of The Day) is a modern sounding British Blackened Heavy Metal outfit formed in the historic city of Canterbury, with its current line up assembled in 2011. The follow-up to ‘Veronica’, their acclaimed debut released in 2013, is ‘The Ghost Road’ released today and produced by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Exodus, King Diamond etc) and mastered by Dan Swanö (Opeth, Dissection, Katatonia etc). The result is an old-school vibe with modern power!

"Co-headliners for the night were the Dead Daisies. A supergroup of international proportions, these boys are good, old school loud rock. If Steel Panther are the humorous parody of 80’s hair metal grown up, these boys are the serious contenders. Everything you wanted those now decrepit acts to be but can sadly no longer do. But the Dead Daisies have aged well - really well. Who wants to see reformed acts who can’t quite do what they used to do when the Dead Daisies do it better now?" Read the rest of Mother's The Dead Daisies and The Answer review here from last Wednesday's gig at London's Electric Ballroom.