On a bright Easter Sunday, Home Grown Rock joined forces with JCF to support the Anthony Nolan charity and the rising stars of British rock. 

First up were Northerners Massive Wagons, warming up the crowd with their punchy, in your face rock with added groove. Filled with energy, their charm, coupled with belting tracks such as opener Ride On, got the day of to a booming start. Next up were local lads Wraith, a hit with their loyal fans from back in the day. Their passion shone through as they were having just as much as the audience blasting out their hits filled with their powerful dual guitars and crashing cymbals. Following were fellow locals Sinners Highway bouncing about the stage to their monster riffs and pounding drum beats. Met by great applause, they went down a treat with the strong, building crowd.

Afterlife kicked off the big 3 with their heavy riffs and prominent, commanding vocal melodies before giving away to the ferocious Trucker Diablo. After a slight technical hitch, the trio launched into a brutal set packed with vigour and irresistible blues licks. With the audience eating out of the palm of their hands, they throw in an excellent cover of Proud Mary, leaving the stage to rapturous applause and fired up for tonight’s headliners. The kit adorned in the British flag, Land Of Hope And Glory blasting out, The Treatment walk onstage, themselves wearing the UK flag with pride, bursting into Drink, Fuck, Fight. Their explosive set features new tracks along side hits from their debut, both getting a huge reaction from tonight’s enthusiastic fans. I Bleed Rock N Roll is a brilliant, classic rock anthem complete with a hugely memorable, catchy chorus. The band are in fine form, engaging their audience every step of the way, fuelling their passion and enthusiasm. Finishing on Shake The Mountain, the crowd were left begging for more as they left the stage. Luckily for them, they soon returned inviting all tonight’s band members back onstage for a rendition of Slade’s Get Down With It before encouraging a mass stage invasion with half the audience joining them.

As the bodies filter out, the atmosphere is electric with everyone safe in the knowledge that tonight they were part of something special. Rock is certainly not dead!

Pictures by Sean Larkin and Helen Parish.

Laura Woodhead

If you read our gig picks the other day, you will have spotted Cambridge quintet The Treatment will be playing their biggest headline show to date at Nottingham’s Rock City at the end of the month.

We have 5 pairs of tickets for 5 lucky winners to give away! Just answer this simple question:

What is the name of The Treatment’s debut album?

The gig will be raising awareness for the Anthony Nolan blood and bone marrow cancer charity and features the best of the UK’s rising rock groups. Joining The Treatment will be Trucker Diablo, Afterlife, Massive Wagons, BlackWolf, Sinners Highway and Wraith for a jam packed, rocking day! Doors from 4pm and tickets priced at £10 if you just can’t wait!

To enter, send your answer and full name & address to ltmdttcomp@hotmail.co.uk

For more information/tickets, head over to www.homegrownrock.org and check out the event here.

Good luck!

Closing date is 12pm on 24/03/13. Multiple entries by any single person will not be considered. Entrants must be over the age of 14.

In the ever growing world of Home Grown Rock, promoters to the unsigned, they have expanded once more by launching their own radio station. All bands currently involved with HGR have yet another platform to get their music heard.

With plenty of events coming up in the next few months, why not check out HGR radio and find out when you’re favourites will be playing!

Sunday, a day of rest;  well not this particular night as Home Grown Rock present another night featuring the best of British unsigned bands out there today. 

First on were The Investigation, easing the crowd in with swinging rhythms and stunning vocals. Their bluesy base was a great start to the night and was received well by the crowd, particularly Money (I Aint Got None). Next up were recent featured artist BlackWolf, ripping through a high energy set, they sounded tight and had a great connection with the crowd. Frontman Scott Sharp encouraged plenty of audience participation and flaunted his vocal skills hitting all the right notes whilst John Greenhill produced some killer guitar work. Seeds has everyone’s feet stomping and heads bouncing in appreciation as the groups enthusiasm was as infectious as their riffs. Leicester lads Hell’s Addiction followed with their raw, hard hitting sound delivered with charisma and conviction. Premièring two new tracks, the talent of this group smacks you in the face just as hard as their music. Alcohol really got the crowd going, it even features some spirited air guitar moves from audience members before ending on a brilliant cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child.

Headliners Slam Cartel burst on to the stage and blast through a whirlwind set with charm and style. Getting everyone warmed up with Wishing Eye, Giles Van Lane is quite the frontman with a vocal full of character and huge amounts of energy whilst bounding round the stage. The band lock in together well and produce a blistering performance which leaves everyone’s head in a spin. Like they say themselves;Slam Cartel: See them, hear them, believe them, and after tonight, oh boy do we believe in them!

As the crowd empties on to the dissipating streets of London, they know they’ve just seen some of British musics future stars and with more to come from Home Grown Rock, the only way is up.

Photo’s by William Adams Photography

Laura Woodhead

Song of the day!

Slam Cartel - Wishing Eye

Bush

They have just released their first album in 10 years, The Sea of Memories and the band are making their live return playing a few dates around the UK this month. 

Mark Lanegan Band

There is not much to say about this man, all you need to do is listen to his voice. His latest album Blues Funeral brings him back to the UK again this month for a select few dates. Not one to be missed. 

Blur/New Order/The Specials

After winning the ‘Outstanding Achievement’ award at this years Brits, Blur celebrate the end of the Olympics with this ‘Best of British’ gig in Hyde Park. Joined by the legendary New Order and The Specials, it really will be a spectacle!

Leeds Festival

With bands such as Foo Fighters, At The Drive In, The Cure, The Black Keys, Kasabian etc etc, this years Leeds Festival has a lot to offer! Always a great weekend, as long as it stays sunny!

Home Grown Rock

Of course we couldn’t talk about gigs in August without once again mentioning Home Grown Rock. Doing their best to get the best of British unsigned band to the forefront of music, do you’re bit and get along to the gig at the 100 Club on the 11th! 5 band, £10, bargain!

If you’re not already aware of Home Grown Rock, it is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting great unsigned rock bands. 11th August holds a rock n roll treat with 5 brilliant blues based groups.

You can check out our reviews of the bands playing here and even give them a listen with our dedicated playlist!

To enter, we once again ask for you email your full name and address to ltmdttcomp@hotmail.co.uk

Tired of the same old music being played on the radio? Become part of a new rock movement!

Good luck!

When first listening to the quirky rock n roll sounds of Sub Couple, immediate thoughts that spring to mind are that they are like a mash up between The Cult and Kasabian; old and new. Silver Dollar is a perfect example of this; Dave Tomlinson has an Ian Astbury quality to his voice and the psychedelic tones in the guitar echo those of Kasabian. The opening rumblings of the bass in Economy Scum make way for clever slide guitar work and another captivating vocal, whereas Nadine sounds like a sixties throwback with it’s bluesy core. Sub Couple have brilliant ability to add different style and charisma to each track yet keeping a foundation uniquely identifiable to them. Every member brings a different characteristic to the group making all elements of the band interesting, which combined makes addictive, edgy songs.

We’re being spoilt for great new rock n roll bands at the moment, but Sub Couple are a cut above the rest. They are imaginative, fun and have created something truly special.

You can find them on Facebook, twitter and can buy their music here.

Laura Woodhead

Home Grown Rock have done it again! Hailing from Wakefield, quartet Euphoria Audio are another brilliant undiscovered band. With beautiful melodies and a powerful vocal, their music is bordering on the epic side that would easily fill an arena.

With influences such as Queen and Led Zeppelin, it’s hardly surprising their sound is big, but their tight riffs and structures are more reminiscent of Shinedown, particularly in Fly Tonight. Opening with a single acoustic guitar, layers are added before bursting into a soaring chorus. Speechless is perfect for radio with catchy riffs and a vocal from Matthew Shirtliff that leaves you wanting more. Shirtliff’s voice has a very commanding presence and floats above a tight instrumental with plenty of soul and meaning. Our Yesterdays has a 30 Seconds To Mars feel to it, both in structure and the way the track is delivered, another hard hitting song. Each track has it’s own identity, and whilst having some characteristics of other groups, Euphoria Audio make it their own to create something new.

Their name matches their music, a euphoric, heartfelt sound that is more than just music, it reaches you on another level. Having already won a sponsorship deal and recorded their debut album in LA, they’re ones to watch out for.

Listen to Euphoria Audio on Facebook and follow them on twitter.