"Kicking off the night were fellow-Canadian southern rock band Monster Truck. who brought a very 70’s swagger to the stage along with a lot of noise to boot!! AJ told me they were good and he wasn't wrong!! These guys are coming off the release of their second album ‘Sittin' Heavy’ from the start of the year, and made it clear in their short set that they are one to keep an eye on. Shirt off guitarist Jeremy Widerman was riffing like mad and running all over the place and their stoner rock went down well with the massed ranks who grew in numbers during the set. Bluesy riffs, catchy melodies, upbeat tunes and amp-heavy offerings from their debut album ‘Furiosity’ made for a great start to the night, capturing everyone’s attention and creating further hype for what was to come. They looked right at home on the 02 Arena stage I must say. ‘Old Train’ had plenty of woah woahs and bringing Ryan Peake out early for the guitar solo in ‘For The People’ was a great touch and ‘For The Sun’ showed a slower Bluesy feel to the material.. An excellent support slot and I for one will check them out next time round. AJ has converted me....!!!" We look back at 2016 for the final time in our WRC Awards and congratulate Monster Truck who have won our Best Support category as reviewed above by Wrinkly The Silver at London's O2 Arena with Nickelback last October. Well done to all our winners and nominees and here's to a rockin' 2017!

This week's Route 66 Track Of The Day plays pre-release tracks from Jo Harman, The Outsiders UK and Backbone Cast as well as a new track from young British Blues/Rock guitarist, Aaron Keylock (pictured). Host Rory Auskerry also remembers Elvis Presley and David Bowie who were both born this week plus he also plays classic tracks from The Doors, Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, Iggy Pop, Pat Benatar and The Rolling Stones.

Danny Bryant's first three Big Band shows of 2017 at Jazzhaus, Freiburg, Germany on 27th January; W2, Den Bosch, Netherlands on 28th January and Harmonie, Bonn, Germany on 29th January are being recorded for a brand new double live album. The new Big Band is a specially selected nine-piece ensemble featuring keys and a four piece horn section! Be part of the experience and grab your tickets now for what promises to be a very special experience!

Taking into account that the Tuesday Night Music Club is for members only and consequently those who might go weren't sure they'd get in - plus the fact that at this time of year money is tight for everyone - the TNMC are pleased to announce that entrance for all is free tonight! So now's your chance to go and see why more and more people are making The Tuesday Night Music Club their regular night out. Great live music, fabulous sound, a cheap bar (£2.50 for a pint of real ale for example), the friendliest crowd around and, for just one night, free to get in! So spread the word, bring your friends and go and see The Delta Ladies in the best Club around at Hooley Village Club, St Margaret’s Road, Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5 3RB!

2016 WRC Best Radio Show Award winners Rock On The Ridge kicked off 2017 last Saturday night with a playlist (today's Track Of The Day) including Conny Bloom, 3 Wheeler Band, Twister, Empire Signal, Monster Magnet, The Sword, Art Of Anarchy, Rev Theory, Devilskin, AFI, Bedrokk, The Answer (pictured), Red Light Revival, The Virginmarys, UFO, The New Black, Vant, Albany Down, Blacktop Mojo, Alter Bridge and on their introducing stage Basement Saints!

"Anyway, first band up to kick things off were local lads Wicked Stone on the newly added Rising Stage, which is the fourth stage at the Festival. Wicked Stone are a 5 piece Hard Rock/Southern Metal band. Bringing amp blistering riffs, hard hitting grooves and spine tingling vocals, they were the perfect band to kick off the ritual of head banging and air guitar thrashing mayhem. I was really impressed with them. This was a band that took its opportunity having only been announced 3 weeks beforehand and absolutely nailed it. I understand they have not been together very long and I freely admit I had not heard of them and my only musical association with Wicked Stone up until that moment was Slash's song of the same name !! If you like Guns n’ Roses, Skid Row, heavier Whitesnake and Motley Crue then you will love these guys !! They played a track called ‘Ain't No Rest’ which was excellent and also ‘Another Round’ which could also be found on a 2 track freebie CD which in a very smart PR move was presented to fans (including us!) afterwards... They started off Sunday very well and I shall be monitoring their progress very closely from now on..." Following Wrinkly The Sliver's praise of Wicked Stone at Ramblin' Man last July - the guys have been duly voted 'One's To Watch' in our 2016 WRC Awards. With just the Best Support category announcement to go - check out today's Vid Of The Day!

Our first Black On Blues Track Of The Day in 2017 is another Blues women special featuring Jo Harman (pictured), Fran McGillvray Band, Renee Austin, Petra Bornerova, Val Starr & The Blues Rocket and the Ally Venable Band.

One of the best bands to grace The Woodman in Blackfen, Kent, was The Herbs in August 1995. The band was formed by former T’Pau lead guitarist Dean Howard - the guy who added a more heavy rock style of guitar work first featured on the re-recording of ‘China in your Hand’ from ‘Bridge of Spies’ which subsequently stayed at number one in the UK single charts for five weeks and was the band's biggest hit. Anyway, Howard had a studio in his garden and recruited well-respected Medway vocalist Jim Riley, Russ Kennedy from ‘The Absolute’ on bass and a certain John Keeble on drums (ex-Spandau Ballet) to record their one and only album ‘The Other Side’. Dean's current band will be sandwiched in between Damo Fawsett with Big River plus ex-Bad Company guitarist Dave "Bucket" Colwell and his band at Leo's Red Lion, Gravesend, on Saturday 4th March. For further information go here.

"However, it's a measure of Schorr's versality, with her roots originally in Jazz - and perhaps sometimes overpowering vocals (she was once compared to a hybrid between Tina Turner and Janis Joplin) - she's had to learn to hold back to get the guts of the Blues. Anders Olinders' beautiful keyboard intro took Sari into another dimension. There's certainly nothing ordinary about this ballad - the crystal clarity of Schorr's vocals all for everyone to see and hear. A beautiful end to an awesome set. A special mention literally for the 'Engine Room' of Jefferies and O'Rourke plus with Sari, Innes and Anders in such excellent form off the stage as well as on it - there was still time to chat and of course buy the CD. An awesome evening - just make sure you the buy the CD and catch them on tour!" This was AJ's take on Sari Schorr & The Engine Room's Half Moon, Putney gig in early September last year - and we are so pleased to announce that the guys have been voted the Best Blues Rock Performance in our 2016 Awards! In the meantime watch our Vid Of The Day and keep a look out for penultimate One's To Watch Award tomorrow!

"While I love the unique sound of Procol Harum I must confess to only never ever having owned a Procol Harum album ! So after taking us on a stunning journey as dusk arrived through the likes of opener ‘Shine on Brightly’, ‘Pandora's Box’, ‘Conquistador, A Salty Dog’ and ‘Homburg’ there was just one song left. Finally the band hit on the familiar chords of ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’, one of the most recognizable, most majestic and surely one of the most beautiful songs of the late 60’s. A powerful end to a magnificent performance." This was Wrinkly The Silver's conclusion to a wonderful Ramblin' Man Fair weekend last July - with Procol Harum accordingly taking our 2016 WRC Best Prog Performance Award. Anyway, have a look at today's Vid Of The Day plus watch out for our Best Blues Performance Award announcement tomorrow!

Yorkshire, UK Alternative Rock band Hellbound Hearts have announced the release of their first full-length studio debut album ‘'Film Noir’' which is out on Friday 7th April. The new release is preceded by the premiere of a new single/lyric video ‘'Suffering The Radio’' which is today's Track Of The Day'. Produced by Matt Ellis at Axis Studios (Black Spiders, Terrorvision), ‘'Film Noir’' is a commanding collection of songs that range from feel-good melodies to dark, sinister hooks, whilst all the while packing in stand out singalong choruses and heavy grooves. Taking their cue from previous EP releases like ‘'The Proximity Effect’', ‘'Outside’' and stand-alone single 'Nancy's House', Hellbound Hearts are more than the sum of their parts, they are a live force to be reckoned with, and as shown countless times on ‘'Film Noir’', they make astonishing heavy, catchy and standout music laced with wicked jagged riffs and pop-smart melodies. Be prepared, it’s time to go dark!

Glenn Hughes, the legendary British Rock singer and bassist, who is currently in the studio in LA recording a new studio album with rock supergroup Black Country Communion, has released an official statement to his fans about touring the UK later this month. "I’'m thrilled to be coming over to tour the UK and Europe this month and February,” says Hughes. “My band will now be a four piece - on guitar is Søren Andersen, on drums Pontus Engborg, and on keyboards Jay Boe. Song selections will be a mix from my new album 'Resonate', and from my well of historic songs through the decades. This tour is all about Rock and what it means to us all, including my band, and to my fans and friends. Let's get 2017 going with a killer night for Rock lovers, movers and shakers. I'm in. Let's go! See you down the front!”" Hughes’ special guests are Stone Broken with the tour kicking off at The Riverside, Newcastle, on Friday 20th January, ending with The Fleece, Bristol, on Thursday 2nd February. Meanwhile we will be covering Glenn's London Islington Assembly Hall gig on Saturday 21st January!