GIG GUIDE - APRIL 2017
After a miserable January and February, Spring has finally sprung and smacked us squarely in the face. March was a fantastic month for gigs in South Wales and my personal highlight was discovering a hard rock/metal band called "Striker" when they supported "Sonata Arctica" in the Tramshed Cardiff.
The first thing that drew my attention to the band, wasn't their sound or riffs, but the energy the band brought to the stage. It was refreshing to see a young band play traditional hard rock/metal and with the mix of clean vocals and impressive harmonies they defiantly make me turn up to 11!
March brought us a vast range of genres. From good old fashion rock with "Black Star Riders", AOR with Mike tramp, Punk with the "Stiff Little Fingers" and a band I think you will agree don't fall under any genre, except fantastic, and that's "Ghost".
Moving forward to April's gigs and we are definitely spoilt for choice. Whoever said the live music scene in Swansea was dead needs to think again. On April 1st (and this is not an April fool) there are 3 great show's, with Ross The Boss (former guitarist of Manowar) playing The scene with great local support from Helldown. And a stone throw away The Texas Flood hold their album launch party in Sin City. Priced at just £3 this is an absolute bargine, just remember to take extra cash, as after you've heard the album you wont be able to leave without a copy. And last but no means least , Crowleys Rock Bar host meatlers Ferinus and Darogan. With free entry there is no excuse not to go and check them out.
GIG OF THE MONTH
Every month we highlight one show as our "Gig of The Month". This one goes out to all you AOR/Melodic rock fans. Not one but two fantastic bands will share the stage at Hobos Bridgend on Thursday 20th April. Eclipse and One Desire.
Eclipse
Eclipse is a Swedish rock band. The group is composed of frontman Erik Mårtensson, guitarist Magnus Henriksson, bassist Magnus Ulfstedt, and drummer Philip Crusner.
The band was formed in 1999 in Stockholm by singer/guitarist/bassist Erik Mårtensson and drummer/keyboardist Anders Berlin. Together with guitarist Magnus Henriksson they received a record deal with English label Z Records. The band's debut album, The Truth and A Little More was released in 2001. and now they have just released their 6th studio album "Monumentum" via Frontiers Music, which is a must for all AOR fans.
One Desire
One Desire formed in 2012 when drummer Ossi Sivula started gathering musicians and friends for his new project. A couple years of writing songs, making demos with different musicians and friends went by with an aim to create music that could change the world. Various musicians came and went along the way, but in 2014 they met Jimmy Westerlund. Jimmy has several platinum and gold albums to his credit as a producer, guitarist and songwriter. Jimmy had just moved back to Finland after a stint in Los Angeles. The band hired him to produce some songs, and after recording three songs with a new musical direction, they managed to attract the attention of Serafino Perugino, owner and head of A&R at Frontiers Music.
At this point the band desperately needed a great singer. After trying out some different options, Jimmy suggested his long time friend Andre Linman from the band Sturm und Drang. They were friends since way back and SuD had decided to go on hiatus the year before. Andre got together for a couple of sessions with the guys and after writing a couple new songs together, the style and sound that was about to become OD was born. Ossi and Andre asked Jimmy to join the band in 2016 and this is the album that was born from that collaboration. Also, not long after this happened, the very talented Jonas Kuhlberg (Paul Di´Anno, Cain´s Offering, MyGrain) was brought on and he became the last link in the chain.
After Jimmy brought in the song “Hurt”, the band felt that that they had taken it to the next level. Andre wrote the beautiful ballad, “This Is Where The Heartbreak Begins” and at that time, OD started to find the right direction for Ossis' rocker, “Do You Believe”. Finally, in mid-2016, the band felt they finally were musically locked in and had the material to make an album that they could honestly stand behind and love beyond a doubt. 2017 will be a fantastic year as the journey of One Desire just begins!
Apr 01, 2017
ROSS THE BOSS
THE SCENE SWANSEA
Apr 01, 2017
Texas Flood Album Launch : The Texas Flood
SIN CITY SWANSEA
Apr 01, 2017
Ferinus - Darogan - SOIM
Crowleys Rock Bar
Apr 06, 2017
LIMEHOUSE LIZZY
THE SCENE SWANSEA
Apr 06, 2017
BLACKBERRY SMOKE / BITERS
O2 ACADAMY BRISTOL
Apr 06, 2017
TAAKE / FEN
THE EXCHANGE BRISTOL
Apr 08, 2017
EVYLTYDE / PRESCENIUM / HELLDOWN
CROWLEYS ROCK BAR SWANSEA
Apr 09, 2017
When We Were Wolves
THE SCENE SWANSEA
Apr 12, 2017
TOSELAND
THE GLOBE CARDIFF
Apr 13, 2017
MING CITY ROCKERS
THE FULL MOON CLUB CARDIFF
Apr 14, 2017
JOAN OV ARC
FUEL ROCK CLUB CARDIFF
Apr 14, 2017
DEATHFEST WARMUO - AGELESS OBLIVION
THE GRYPHON BRISTOL
Apr 14, 2017
YOU ME AT SIX
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff (C.I.A.)
Apr 18, 2017
HAYSEED DIXIE
THE GLOBE CARDIFF
Apr 20 - 23, 2017
ERADICATION FESTIVAL
FUEL ROCK CLUB CARDIFF
Apr 20, 2017
ECLIPSE / ONE DESIRE
HOBOS BRIDGEND
Apr 21, 2017
BURY TOMORROW / CROSSFAITH
Y PLAS CARDIFF
Apr 22, 2017
DREAM THEATER
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff (C.I.A.)
Apr 22, 2017
JILTED GENERATION (PRODIGY TRIBUTE)
THE RAINBOW ROOMS GORSEINON SWANSEA
Apr 26, 2017
Patent Pending
THE SCENE SWANSEA
Apr 26, 2017
DEAFHEAVEN
THE TRAMSHED CARDIFF
Apr 28, 2017
WRETCH / IRON VOID
GRYPHON BRISTOL
Apr 30, 2017
CRAIG CHARLES FUNK & SOUL CLUB
SIN CITY SWANSEA
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Ciao for now!
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