Atlantic release their second album ‘Another World’ through Escape Music on June 21. The band’s first album ‘Power’ was released in 1994 and featured Phil Bates (ex-ELO Part 2) on vocals. Simon Harrison remains from that line-up teaming up with a new line-up including vocalist Mark Grimmett – brother of Steve Grimmett (Grim Reaper).

Jon Anderson with The Band Geeks, will release a new album ‘TRUE’ on August 23 through Frontiers.

Black Label Society are currently working on their next album for a release early next year.

Black Veil Brides release a new EP, ‘Bleeders’, on June 21.

Tim Bowness has signed to Kscope with new music in the works.

The Dead Daisies with vocalist John Corabi  and drummer Tommy Clufetosback back in the band, release their next album ‘Light ‘Em Up’ via SPV on September 6. The title track will be released as a single on May 10.

Drive-By Truckers release an expanded new 3xLP edition of their ‘Southern Rock Opera’ via New West Records on July 26.

Focus (pictured) release ‘Focus 12′ on July 5 via Spirit of Unicorn Music.

Darryl Hall’s new album ‘D’ is released on June 21. Produced by Dave Stewart who co-wrote seven of the nine songs on the album.

Hamish Hawk will release his third album ‘A Firmer Hand’ on August 16, with ‘Big Cat Tattoos’ released as the first single off the album.

Jadis release their first album in eight years, ‘More Questions Than Answers’, on June 6.

Kittie will release their new studio album, ‘Fire’, on June 21 via Sumerian Records.

Avril Lavigne will release ‘Avril Lavigne – Greatest Hits’ on June 21 via Legacy Recordings.

Mr. Big release their tenth album, ‘Ten’, on July 12 via Frontiers.

Nightwish will release their new album, ‘Yesterwynd’, on September 20 via Nuclear Blast, with the single ‘Perfume Of The Timeless’ released on May 21.

Palace release their new album ‘Reckless Heart’ on July 12 via Frontiers.

Pattern-Seeking Animals have signed with Giant Electric Pea. The band are currently working on their fifth album due for release later this year.

Quireboys featuring Spike, release their new album ‘Wardour Street’ on September 13 via Cadiz Music. The first single off the album, ‘Raining Whiskey’, is out on May 24 and features Frankie Miller.

Redd Kross release their new, self-titled double album on June 28 via In the Red.

Returned To Earth release their latest album ‘Stalagmite Steeple’ on June 14 via Giant Electic Pea.

Seether plan to release a new single in July, followed by their latest, as yet untitled, album in September.

Epica singer Simone Simons will release her debut solo album, ‘Vermillion’, on August 23.

Threshold have their first two albums, ‘Wounded Land’ and ‘Psychedelicatessen’ reissued by Nuclear Blast on July 5.

Cherry Red Records is releasing a second Bernie Tormé box set, ‘The Bernie Tormé Archives Vol 2 – 1985-1993′ on July 26.

Trouble are in the process of recording their tenth album which will be released on Hammerheart Records in 2025.

Within Temptation release ‘Worlds Collide Tour: Live In Amsterdam’ on DVD/Blu-Ray on June 28.

Newly announced UK tours (2024 unless stated):

Jan Akkerman (Jun 22 & 23 Trading Boundaries), Baroness + Graveyard + Pallbearer (Nov), Kris Barras Band (Nov, Dec), Brothers Osbourne (Jan 2025),  Cavalera (Jun), Cradle of Filth (Oct, Nov), the Dead South (Mar 2025), Delain (Nov), David Gilmour (Oct 9-15 Royal Albert Hall), Hundred Reasons (May 7 2025 Royal Albert Hall), Jimmy Eat World (Nov), Laurence Jones (Oct), Myles Kennedy + Devin Townsend (Nov, Dec), Kings Of Thrash (Oct, Nov), Levellers (Mar 2025), Lulu (Nov), Massive Wagons (Nov, Dec), Mike + the Mechanics (Mar, Apr 2025), Monster Magnet (Sep), Skindred (Oct, Nov),

Upcoming (Gigs – UK)

Newly announced US & European tours (2024 unless stated):

Accept + KK’s Priest (US), Beartooth (US), Belle & Sebastian (AU), Black Stone Cherry (EU), Catfish & the Bottle Men (US), Coal Chamber + Fear Factory (US), Dark Tranquillity + Amorphis (US), the Doobie Brothers (CA), Evergrey (EU), Falling In Reverse (US), Fifth Angel (EU), David Gilmour (IT, US), Godsmack (US), Jesus & the Mary Chain (AU), Marilyn Manson (US), Johnny Marr + James (US), Monster Magnet (EU), Morbid Angel + Suffocation (US), Mushroomhead (US), Graham Nash (US), OMD (AU), Redd Kross (US), Rise Against (US), Roxette + Boom Crash Opera (AU 2025), Sisters Of Mercy (US), Slipknot (US), Squeeze (US), Stryper (US), Sweet (AU farewell tour), Testament + Kreator + Possessed (US), Mark Tremonti (US), Mike Tramp’s White Lion (US), You Me At Six (AU),

Upcoming (USA/ROW)

Marillion have announced dates and destinations for their 2025 Weekends. The eight events will take place at Port Zelande (March 12-16), Montreal (March 28-30), Paris (April 11-12), Girona (April 25-26), Padua (May 9-10), Leicester (May 24-25), Oslo (June 13-14) and Berlin (June 20-21).

Rose Tattoo, led by frontman Angry Anderson, will be celebrating their 50th year anniversary in 2026 and have announced that year will see the band retire. Some of the band’s past members will return for selected dates on the tour which has yet to be announced.

Postponed/cancelled gigs & tours

The Alarm have had to postpone their US dates planned for this month as frontman Mike Peters undergoes further cancer treatment.

Jamie Kyle has postponed all her live dates for 2024 as she recovers from illness.

Retailer Our Price Records is back with an online store launched on April 30 and physical stores planned in the UK after the online relaunch.

The owners of Manchester’s Co-Op Live, Oak View Group, are planning to build “the greatest arena in the world” in London, rumoured to be in the Hammersmith area.

Entitled Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, the feature-length documentary will be available to watch on a yet-to-be-confirmed date in October.

Billboard is reporting that, according to sources close to Linkin Park, the band is considering a 2025 reunion tour with a female singer and three members from the band’s classic line-up.

A growing list of musicians have joined Steve Marriott’s children and former bandmates to protest against the release of “new” recordings featuring AI-generated versions of his vocals. As reported by Variety, Cleopatra Records are in discussion with the Marriott estate about completing some of his unfinished demos with the aid of AI technology. “The Marriott Estate is due to release an AI solo album of old and new songs of my father, Steve,” said Mollie Marriott in a previously released official statement. “Sadly, the surviving family which comprises just my siblings Lesley, Toby, Tonya, and I, have nothing to do with the Estate as there was no will. It is run by my stepmother who was only with my father for two years prior to his death and has since been re-married.” Among the artists who’ve lent support for Mollie Marriott’s campaign are Small Faces’ Kenney Jones and Humble Pie’s Peter Frampton and Jerry Shirley, along with Robert Plant, David Gilmour, Paul Weller and Paul Rodgers. Feature (Steve Marriott)

Drummer Jonas Ekdahl has announced he is leaving Evergrey.

Kikki Wong is the new guitarist in the Smashing Pumpkins.

Vocalist Simon Hough has announced his departure from Big Country. He joined the band in 2014.

Robin George, known for his solo work, including his 1984 hit ‘Heartline’, as well as producing and working with Phil Lynott, Asia, Notorious (with Diamond Head’s Sean Harris) and Damage Control (which featured Spike and Pete Way).

ELO’s Richard Tandy, who was a key part of the band’s sound since he joined the band in 1972. He last appeared on stage with Jeff Lynne’s ELO in 2014. Jeff Lynne commentated “It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy. He was a remarkable musician & friend and I’ll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together.”

Guitarist Duane Eddy, ‘the King of Twang’, who had a number of hit albums and singles during the late 1950′s and throughout the 1960′s. His last chart hit was Art Of Noise’s cover of his 1960 hit ‘Peter Gunn’ back in 1986, which he appeared on.

Producer Steve Albini who worked on Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’, Pixies’ ‘Surfer Rosa’ and Manic Street Preacher’s ‘Journal For Plague Lovers’ and more.

MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson, the last surviving member of the band’s classic line-up.

David Sanborn, the Grammy-winning saxophonist, a sought-after session player for tracks such as David Bowie’s ‘Young Americans’.

John Barbata, drummer with Jefferson Starship, Jefferson Airplane and the Turtles amongst others.

 

MYRATH Karma (earMUSIC)

They have big songs and even bigger ideas on how to present them live and are not short on confidence in their collective abilities, and rightly so.

‘Karma’ will only serve to further the Myrath cause and is an epic rock record in every sense.  ****

Review by Dave Wilson

MEDICINE HEAD heartwork (Talking Elephant)

‘Heartwork’ is an absolute delight. It’s full of deeply wrought song craft, moments of inspired interplay and real creativity, and is an essential roots rock purchase. *****

Review by Pete Feenstra

WALTER TROUT Broken (Provogue)

In sum, ‘Broken’ draws on every facet of the Trout musical oeuvre and he glues everything together with vocal versatility, inspired solos and intuitive band interplay on well crafted songs. Game, set and match. ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

 JACK J. HUTCHINSON Battles (indie)

…another jam packed album full of riffs, hard rocking blues and catchy choruses.  ****1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

SOUTH OF SALEM Death Of The Party (Spider Party Records)

Yes, there are a lot of bands occupying the heavy rock space seeking to gain a foothold but ultimately it’s the strength of the songs that win out. SoS have demonstrated with their second album that they understand the need to keep things short and to the point.  *****

Review by David Randall

MAGNUM Here Comes The Rain (SPV)

As we have reported for previous albums, Magnum are unlikely to release a duffer and each release merely tops up an enviable back catalogue. And each album, for fans, is a matter of weighing up relativity if not similarity to predecessors.  The album does repay repeat listens, always a good sign of solid songwriting and musicianship.  ****

Review by David Randall

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Albums of the month (October – December 2023)