JAMES MADDOCK – FOREVER JUNE
Like a guitar, a voice is a musical instrument – and the remarkable ones endure. James Maddock is a great example of this.
NEW HORIZONS 2026: THE WORLD CUP, CARD GAMES AND JOLLY JASPER: NEW ALBUM NEWS FROM VIOLET BLEND
Audio feature interview #1,712 in an ongoing series. Every year since 2015, I’ve run a ‘New Horizons’ series to allow us to check-in with rising bands and hear their news for the year ahead. For this latest episode, we return to Florence to hear all about the forthcoming new studio album from Violet Blend – another former Band of the Year. We […]
NEW HORIZONS 2026: IAN GEORGE’S SOLO JOURNEY
Audio feature interview #1,711 in an ongoing series. Singer and songwriter from former ‘Band of the Year’ Amongst Liars – Ian George – is starting a new solo journey this year. A new adventure exploring new creative avenues, new opportunities and collaborating with new people. Ian talks about his new journey, his plans and ambitions for the […]
NEW HORIZONS 2026: TAX THE HEAT – TWO INTERVIEWS OVER 10 YEARS
Audio feature interview 1,711 in an ongoing series. After a break, Tax The Heat return with a new album later this year. During April, I spoke with Alex from the band on the genesis of the new material. We also reflect in their two albums prior to the Covid era, a time when Caroline had a big run on […]
NEW HORIZONS 2026: PROMETHIUM – THE MAKING OF A SIGNATURE CLASSIC
Audio feature interview 1,710 in an ongoing series. Every year since 2015, I’ve run a ‘New Horizons’ series to allow us to check-in with rising bands and hear their news for the year ahead. Dan from Promethium joins Great Music Stories to share news on the making of the band’s next studio album, which the band feels will become […]
ALBUM OF THE MONTH – MELISSA ETHERIDGE – ‘RISE’
I always get a bit annoyed by people that pick up a novel and read the final pages first to see how a story ends. But, hell, let’s break some rules!
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH – THE EMPYRE LEGACY
Last weekend, I went to Empyre’s website and I bought six or seven copies of their CDs. I already have their albums on CD and some also on vinyl, but news of recent weeks made me want to ensure I had back-up copies – and maybe even some extra copies I could gift tofriends in the months and years ahead. Maybe this exercise was […]
JACK J HUTCHINSON – ‘Battle Scars Live’
One word to describe this album and also the musical force behind it – authentic.
HOWLING BLACK SOUL: FEATURE HOUR
A fine grassroots band from Essex who gate-crashed the Top 10 of our Bands of the Year countdown at the end of last year. Howling Black Soul over a number of years became interview regulars on the Friday rockshow and they were regularly requested by listeners. For Halloween weekend, we keep the band’s story going […]
LYNNE JACKAMAN: 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY INTERVIEW
October 2015 I did my first audio interview hour special with Lynne – a consistently original, soulful and authentic force in independent British music. A decade on, and 40 or so interviews later, we catch up again for another fireside chat. In one take – and without any prep, notes or edits – we reflect […]