Just under two months after the GNR gig in 2012 at Hard Rock Calling under a pagoda in Hyde Park we saw Halfway To New York for the first time - supporting Bruce Springsteen! So the WRC were delighted to hear recently from vocalist Sam Burkey following the release of their very first album 'Tremor' last week. Not only that but the guys are playing the O2 Islington Academy on Thursday 5th May. Anyway, watch out for a review of their new CD shortly.

Today's Black On Blues Track Of The Day has an Antipodean slant this week! Yes it's another 'Blues Women Special' featuring Val Starr & Blues Rocket, Kyla Brox, Anni Piper, Angels Sing The Blues, Debbie Bond, Fiona Boyes and Kellys Lot.

The first live music event by the British Blues Exhibition took place at the Proud Camden, London, last night. Thanks to helpers including people from the Cambridge Rock Festival, the Pro-Music Agency and more (including the WRC of course) - the organisers promise that these night should be taking place every 2-3 months from now on! With Blues dancers, some previously unseen items from the British Blues Exhibition collection, Blues names for guests, and music from The Laura Holland Band, The Saiichi Sugiyama Band and Pete Brown (see Vid Of The Day) - co-lyricist with Cream - it turned out to be a highly entertaining and original night. Watch out for more pics, vids and a review shortly.

For the first time ever, Sunday's Route 66 show gave Youtube live streaming a try and to be honest it was an outstanding interactive success despite host Rory Auskerry's dodgy dancing! Anyway Rory's currently working on a highlights montage, but todays Track Of The Day is the traditional Mixcloud podcast featuring new music from The BluesBones and GT's Boos Band plus fresh tracks from Joe Bonamassa, Marcus Malone, Stevie Nimmo, The Sheepdogs, The Struts, Kid Rock, Tedeschi Trucks Band and The Rides!

Breaking more fresh new Blues-Rock ground than ever on their raucous and soulful new album 'Pierced Arrow', The Rides (Vid Of The Day) are letting their growing legion of fans know they’re in this for the long haul. Their ongoing freewheeling journey is all there in the name. When they came up with that clever moniker for what Stephen Stills calls “the Blues band of my dreams,” the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, five time Grammy nominated guitar great Kenny Wayne Shepherd and renowned Chicago Rock/Blues keyboardist Barry Goldberg knew it was more than just a one time, multi-generational fusion of legendary musical souls. They envisioned – and have since set out upon – a dynamic, wide open road ahead! 'Pierced Arrow' will be released on Friday 6th May!

Today's Track Of The Day is the latest Black On Blues show featuring their favourite women in Blues! This week's playlist includes Thornetta Davis, Annee2CuBlues, Dena Taylor, Lauren Housley, Shemekia Copeland, Katie Bradley, Kathy Raven-Teresa and Kelly Dees.

Tonight's Blues On The Radio show here at 5pm focuses on the up coming Broadstairs Blues Bash topped up by the IBBA albums of the month and some live music that's imminent. Therefore you'll be likely to hear Troy Redfern, Salvation Jayne, Rebecca Downes, King Size Slim, The Grimms, Katie Bradley, Malaya Blue, Guy Tortora, Catfish, Martin McNeill, Michael Messer's Mitra, The Laura Holland Band, Fran McGillivray Band, The Rainbreakers, Mike Brookfield (pictured), Dove and Boweevil, Chris Bevington, Richard Townend, Northsyde, Jack J Hutchinson, Joel Fisk & The Breakdown, BabaJack, Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective and Dave Ferra. And here's the good news - with that lot to fit in there won't be a lot of chatting from host Richard Dunning! If you like great music there'll be no place better.

Wow! What a night we had at the Hammersmith Apollo on Wednesday from the four-time Grammy nominee, multi-instrumentalist and producer Steven Wilson! There was something for everyone - kicking off with his acclaimed 'Hand. Cannot. Erase' album in its entirety plus a second half mix of Porcupine Tree (see our Vid Of The Day), Storm Corrosion, his new interim album '4 ½' released last Friday, a Bowie tribute and rounded off with a memorable performance of 'The Raven Who Refused To Sing'. Amazing. Anyway watch out soon for Mr. Prog's take on the evening but in the meantime check out our Photo Gallery here.

As you know the WRC celebrated its first birthday on Saturday - and just to re-emphasise the fact that our members are the lifeblood of our site - we were delighted to receive a 'New Act To Me' message from Marilyn Pascoe re: Mike Brookfield who supported Laurence Jones at The Beaverwood last Thursday. "He looks like a young Bryan Adams and his Blues/Rock music is better. If you haven't caught him yet, might be worth a look." Thanks for the tip-off Marilyn - consequently Mike has been added to our 'Introducing ...' page and is also today's Vid Of The Day!

The Canadian hard-rockin’ juggernaut Monster Truck, are returning to Europe in September and October as main support across a host of legendary arenas for Nickelback. The tour follows the release of their new album 'Sittin’ Heavy' which has received rave reviews. In true road warrior style they have learnt their chops on tour and have been relentlessly tearing through shows and have already opened for the mighty Guns n' Roses, Slash, Alice in Chains, ZZ Top, Buckcherry, Rival Sons and Vista Chino over the last two years and are ready to show Nickelback fans how hard-rocking they can be! Anyway check out today's Vid Of The Day - which brings back fond memories of this year's Download!

With our awesome Ramblin' Man Fair coverage now complete - we are now reflecting on some of the bands we missed! Suffice to say doh! that we missed Bernie Marsden (pictured at Ramblin' Man Fair last year) guesting with Warren Haynes in the Blues Tent on Sunday and double doh! that we missed Lifesigns (today's Vid Of The Day) on the Prog In The Park stage on Saturday!

oe Bonamassa’s (pic: John Bull RockRpix) love of the British Blues is at the heart of his musicial inspiration; and, last night at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London - the penultimate of his five special concerts - he paid the ultimate homage to the British Blues rock guitarists that inspired him – Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. Watch out for pics plus a review of a memorable evening that also included excellent support from Joanne Shaw Taylor shortly.