Rock Gig Reviews

Alex Bent - "Bury Me With My Screams" Drum Playthrough

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:45:28 +0000

ZZ Top - Gimme All Your Lovin' (Live) RIP Frank Beard

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:42:26 +0000

Stone in Love (Journey - live at JAMM Night 2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:41:37 +0000

KAMELOT - Dark Asylum Teaser Bonus

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:30:35 +0000

Erja Lyytinen New Live Album: "50th Birthday Live 2026" Released October 9, 2026 Featuring the live single "One Thing I Won’t Change"

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:50:50 +0000

New Live Album: "50th Birthday Live 2026"
Released October 9, 2026

Available as Double CD/DVD and Double Vinyl
Pre-Order CD & Vinyl | Pre-save Digital

Featuring the live single "One Thing I Won’t Change"
Stream Single | Watch Live Video

Finland´s own “Queen of the Slide Guitar” Erja Lyytinen is celebrating her 50th Birthday with a lavish live album package consisting of a double CD, double vinyl and a full-length DVD, which was recorded at the prestigious House of Culture, known as “Kultsa” in Helsinki Finland on 21st March 2026. The venue House of Culture has a long tradition as a live music locale, where renowned artists from Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Queen, and Slayer have performed.

Entitled Erja Lyytinen – 50th Birthday Live 2026, the spectacular live album is released by Tuohi Records on Friday October 9 and is available to pre-order on CD and vinyl HERE, and digitally HERE.

The first single take from Erja Lyytinen - 50th Birthday Live 2026 album is Lyytinen’s song “One Thing I Won’t Change” that features glam rock and punk-legenda Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, Joan Jett) on bass guitar and on backing vocals. The live single is available on all streaming platforms HERE. Watch the live performance video on YouTube HERE.

The chemistry between the two musicians’ sparkles on this song, which combines blues and classic rock and has an infectious chorus, which makes you move!

Photo Credit: © Elsa Wellamo

Erja’s amazing band back her through this 90-minute-long concert full of old gems from her career. The release features songs from albums such as Voracious Love, Another World, and the latest studio album Smell the Roses.

This is a heavy blues rock show with international stars. Erja brought her favorite artists to perform alongside her on the show. Swedish banjo punk/blues group Baskery featured on the song “Torn” with Erja accompanying their vocals with her guitar. Legendary bassist Sami Yaffa (Joan Jett, Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls) joined Erja and her band on the track “One Thing I Won’t Change” and you can certainly feel their energy, while they rock out to this tune that was rearranged for the event from the album Forbidden Fruit (2012) to celebrate life and Erja´s musical skills today.

Photo Credit: © Elsa Wellamo

The evening starts with an introduction from Erja´s twin boys inviting the group on stage and after that the first band song “Ball and Chain” kicks in hard. We also hear “Smell the Roses” and “Going to Hell” from the latest studio album, before the set list continues with songs from older gems such as the rocking “Bird,” Erja’s beautiful slide solo take on “Lullaby,” the lushy “Cherry Overdrive” and “Nasty Weather” from Erja´s Dreamland Blues album. The latter was recorded in Mississippi in 2006 with Kinney and David Kimbrough and has now been played and renewed exactly twenty years after.

On the song “Another World,” Erja makes a vocal break down, where a thousand people in the audience join her to sing along and savor this great moment together. The live recording also includes “Stoney Creek” and “The Ring” as an encore song, that wrap up the joyous evening at House of Culture on Erja´s Birthday.

Photo Credit: © Elsa Wellamo

Additionally, the live album contains a concert from the Smell the Roses studio album release tour in October 2025. Recorded in Tempo, Mikkeli Finland, this recording has all the album songs, like “Dragonfly,” the heavy “Abyss,” the heart wrenching ballad “Empty Hours,” huge southern-rock vibey “Wings to Fly” and in addition Erja´s favorite live tracks “You Talk Dirty” and a 13-minute-long rendition of “Wedding Day”. The latter was originally recorded on the album Another World together with slide maestro Sonny Landreth.

Erja Lyytinen – 50th Birthday Live 2026 album is a great package showing that this firecracker lady continues to enjoy playing live and isn´t anywhere near ready to stop making music and developing herself as a musician, songwriter, and entertainer. This live album is a must for all Erja fans, who enjoy unique hard rock and blues music played with an attitude. And it will leave you with a smile on your face!

Photo Credit: © Elsa Wellamo

TRACK LISTING
50TH BIRTHDAY LIVE 2026
CD/DVD
1. Introduction by Massimo & Dante (0:50)
2. The Road Leading Home (1:21)
3. Ball and Chain (4:55)
4. Smell the Roses (5:29)
5. Going to Hell (5:28)
6. Hard as Stone (4:48)
7. Bird (6:46)
8. One Thing I Won't Change featuring Sami Yaffa (4:19)
9. Another World (7:23)
10. Torn featuring Baskery (3:54)
11. Lullaby (2:03)
12. Nasty Weather (4:01) (Only DVD)
13. Cherry Overdrive (5:59)
14. Don't Let a Good Woman Down (4:01)
15. You Talk Dirty (6:51)
16. Stoney Creek (7:45)
17. The Ring (7:12)

SMELL THE ROSES LIVE 2025
CD

1. Ball and Chain (4:48)
2. Smell the Roses (4:55)
3. Dragonfly (7:54)
4. Going to Hell (5:00)
5. Abyss (7:24)
6. Stoney Creek (6:09)
7. The Ring (7:10)
8. Empty Hours (5:08)
9. Wings to Fly (7:00)
10. You Talk Dirty (8:52)
11. Wedding Day (13:19)

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Erja Lyytinen - Vocals, guitars
Harri Taittonen - Hammond, backing vocals
Heikki Saarenkunnas - Bass, backing vocals
Jesse Lehto – Drums
Olli Huttunen - FOH Sound engineer
Santtu Lehtiniemi - Guitar tech
Elsa Wellamo – Photography
Marko von Konow - Graphic design

Recorded by Olli Huttunen at Mikkeli, Tempo, Finland on 03.10.2025 and House of Culture, Helsinki Finland on 21.03.2026
Mixed by Matias Kiiveri at Hollywood House, Helsinki Finland 2026
Mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers, Espoo Finland 2026
Executive producer Erja Lyytinen for Bluesland Productions/Tuohi Records

50th ANNIVERSARY ROCK & BLUES BIRTHDAY
UK TOUR OCTOBER 2026

TICKETS: https://erjalyytinen.com/tour

DUDLEY, THE LAMP TAVERN

THURSDAY 8 OCTOBER 2026

Buy Tickets
Facebook
116 High St, Dudley, DY1 1QT
https://lamptavernlive.co.uk

SEDGEFIELD, PARISH HALL

FRIDAY 9 OCTOBER 2026

Buy Tickets
Front St, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3AT
www.ents24.com/sedgefield-events/sedgefield-parish-hall

EDINBURGH, LA BELLE ANGELE

SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER 2026

Buy Tickets
Facebook | X | Instagram
11 Hastie's Close, Edinburgh, EH1 1JD
https://la-belleangele.com

NEW SHOW ADDED

DARLINGTON, ANGELS CUT (SOLO SHOW)

MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2026

Buy Tickets
Facebook | Instagram
39 Duke St, Darlington, DL3 7TZ
www.angelscutsales.co.uk

SHEFFIELD, THE GREYSTONES

TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2026

Buy Tickets

Facebook | X | Instagram
Greystones Road, Sheffield, S11 7BS
https://www.mygreystones.co.uk

OXFORD, THE BULLINGDON

WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2026

Buy Tickets
Facebook | Twitter
162 Cowley Rd, Oxford OX4 1UE
www.thebullingdon.co.uk

LONDON, HALF MOON

THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER 2026

Buy Tickets
Facebook | X | Instagram
93 Lower Richmond Rd., London, SW15 1EU
halfmoon.co.uk

FAVERSHAM, THE OLD BREWERY STORE

FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER 2026

Buy Tickets
Facebook | Instagram
Mill Place, Faversham, Kent, ME13 7DY
https://rockinrootsevents.co.uk

https://rockinrootsevents.co.uk

Black Stone Cherry - Burnin’ Sky Lyric Video

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:33:35 +0000

Gus G & Ronnie Romero – "War Pigs" (Black Sabbath Cover) live, Rock Hard Festival 2026 | Rockpalast

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:25:59 +0000

Ricky Warwick - Last Chance To Dance Lyric Video

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:25:12 +0000

Brave Rival - Live at Leo's (Full Set)

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:24:31 +0000

KAMELOT - Dark Asylum Teaser

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:22:08 +0000

EPICA - Unchain Utopia (Live at The Symphonic Synergy)

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:21:32 +0000

Floor Jansen - "Wolf and Dog" - (ReVamp) live M'era Luna Festival 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:46:48 +0000

Floor Jansen - "Nemo" - (Nightwish) Live M'era Luna Festival - 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:43:09 +0000

Floor Jansen - ''Fire'' Metal Version, Live M'era Luna Festival 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:39:03 +0000

Rush | The Legend of "The Bag" | Time Stand Still

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:37:31 +0000

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Go Deep on Rush's Return | Rolling Stone Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:29:31 +0000

Scorpions - Bad Boys Running Wild (Wacken Open Air 2006)

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:27:14 +0000

Scarlet Rebels Release New Single Ahead of Biggest Headline Show to Date

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:25:44 +0000

Welsh rockers Scarlet Rebels are set to play their biggest headline show to date on 21 August 2026 at Chepstow Castle, with an impressive line-up featuring Kris Barras’ Hollow Souls, The Virginmarys, Marisa and The Moths and Juliet’s Not Dead.

Download/Stream Don’t Look Down HERE

Lyric Video HERE

Ahead of the landmark show, the band have released ‘Don’t Look Down’, the latest single taken from their forthcoming album Flawed By Design, due for release on 13 November 2026 via Earache Records.
Pre-orders Available HERE

Don’t Look Down is about the highs, lows and determination of being in a band. Wayne Doyle describes it as “the journey of being in a band – keeping your balance while climbing the mountain.”

The track takes on an even greater significance as Scarlet Rebels prepare to step onto the stage at Chepstow Castle for the biggest headline show of their career to date. As Wayne explains:
“The song ‘Don’t Look Down’ speaks directly to the fact we’re on the verge of playing our biggest ever show at Chepstow Castle. The stubbornness and belligerence of the band to carry on and forge a path and create this opportunity, when there was no indication that any of this was in our future.
So, it’s a moment - it’s a milestone and it means everything to us that we get to do it in Wales, surrounded by people who have stood tall for us for years.”

The band have assembled a huge bill for the Castle show, with Wayne adding “ The night features bands who are all worthy of a headline slot themselves. We wanted to bring the strongest line up we could and make it a night to remember. We’re super excited to share the day with everyone and announce the next chapter of the band in an epic venue with our Rebel Club”.

The Chepstow Castle show marks another major milestone in the band’s continued rise. Scarlet Rebels have already established themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting rock bands, with their previous album ‘See Through Blue’ achieving a UK Top 10 chart position. Their 2024 album ‘Where The Colours Meet’ went on to land at #15 on the UK Official Album Charts, while also clinching the #1 spot on the Official Rock Charts.

Recorded with returning producer Chris Clancy, Flawed By Design follows Where The Colours Meet, building on the band’s evolving sound while maintaining the combination of powerful rock anthems and deeply personal songwriting that has become their trademark from Wayne’s emotive vocals and lyrics to the powerhouse rhythm section of Gary Doyle and Carl Oag and Chris Jones’ guitar work
Wayne says:
“What we’ve produced feels like a natural follow-up to Where The Colours Meet. One record wouldn’t exist without the other. You can tell they’re related, but they each have their own personality. I genuinely feel these are the best songs we’ve ever recorded for one album.”

At the heart of ‘Don’t Look Down’ is the idea of taking risks, trusting yourself and continuing forward despite the uncertainty.

With Flawed By Design arriving in November and their biggest headline show just days away, Scarlet Rebels are entering their next chapter with momentum firmly behind them.

Pre-order Flawed By Design https://earache.lnk.to/FlawedByDesign
https://earache.com/collections/scarlet-rebels

Tour Dates
21st August 2026 – Castle, Chepstow (with Hollow Souls, The Virginmarys, Marisa and The Moths, Juliet's Not Dead)
25th November 2026 – The Tivoli, Buckley (supporting Tyketto)
29th November 2026 – Picturedrome, Holmfirth (supporting Tyketto)
1st December 2026 – The Black Box, Hastings (supporting Tyketto)
2nd December 2026 – The Waterloo, Blackpool (supporting Tyketto)
3rd December 2026 – Queens Hall, Nuneaton (supporting Tyketto)
19th December 2026 – RPM Christmas Special, Morecambe (with The Virginmarys, Kit Trigg, LN and more)

https://www.scarletrebels.com/

Photo credit: Rob Blackham

Erik Gronwall Lost For Life (Live at SOLD OUT Cirkus Stockholm)

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:23:28 +0000

Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town (Sight And Sound In Concert, January 26, 1983)

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 10:22:20 +0000

Sammy Hagar - There's Only One Way to Rock (Live California 2025 - Proshot 4K)

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:19:41 +0000

These Wicked Rivers - Sing Another Song Feat. Kezia Gill Video

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 09:14:17 +0000

Floor Jansen - Face Your Demons (After Forever) live at the M'era Luna Festival 2026.

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:38:21 +0000

Floor Jansen - Run ( New Song) - Live Mera Luna 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:35:18 +0000

Floor Jansen - Amaranth (Nightwish) Live M'era Luna 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Gigger) — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:32:30 +0000

Rock Gig Reviews

Alex Bent - "Bury Me With My Screams" Drum Playthrough

ZZ Top - Gimme All Your Lovin' (Live) RIP Frank Beard

Stone in Love (Journey - live at JAMM Night 2026)

KAMELOT - Dark Asylum Teaser Bonus

Erja Lyytinen New Live Album: "50th Birthday Live 2026" Released October 9, 2026 Featuring the live single "One Thing I Won’t Change"

New Live Album: "50th Birthday Live 2026"Released October 9, 2026

Available as Double CD/DVD and Double VinylPre-Order CD & Vinyl | Pre-save DigitalFeaturing the live single "One Thing I Won’t Change"Stream Single | Watch Live Video

50th ANNIVERSARY ROCK & BLUES BIRTHDAYUK TOUR OCTOBER 2026

TICKETS: https://erjalyytinen.com/tour

Black Stone Cherry - Burnin’ Sky Lyric Video

Gus G & Ronnie Romero – "War Pigs" (Black Sabbath Cover) live, Rock Hard Festival 2026 | Rockpalast

Ricky Warwick - Last Chance To Dance Lyric Video

Brave Rival - Live at Leo's (Full Set)

KAMELOT - Dark Asylum Teaser

EPICA - Unchain Utopia (Live at The Symphonic Synergy)

Floor Jansen - "Wolf and Dog" - (ReVamp) live M'era Luna Festival 2026

Floor Jansen - "Nemo" - (Nightwish) Live M'era Luna Festival - 2026

Floor Jansen - ''Fire'' Metal Version, Live M'era Luna Festival 2026

Rush | The Legend of "The Bag" | Time Stand Still

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Go Deep on Rush's Return | Rolling Stone Canada

Scorpions - Bad Boys Running Wild (Wacken Open Air 2006)

Scarlet Rebels Release New Single Ahead of Biggest Headline Show to Date

Erik Gronwall Lost For Life (Live at SOLD OUT Cirkus Stockholm)

Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town (Sight And Sound In Concert, January 26, 1983)

Sammy Hagar - There's Only One Way to Rock (Live California 2025 - Proshot 4K)

These Wicked Rivers - Sing Another Song Feat. Kezia Gill Video

Floor Jansen - Face Your Demons (After Forever) live at the M'era Luna Festival 2026.

Floor Jansen - Run ( New Song) - Live Mera Luna 2026

Floor Jansen - Amaranth (Nightwish) Live M'era Luna 2026

New Live Album: "50th Birthday Live 2026"
Released October 9, 2026

Available as Double CD/DVD and Double Vinyl
Pre-Order CD & Vinyl | Pre-save Digital

Featuring the live single "One Thing I Won’t Change"
Stream Single | Watch Live Video

50th ANNIVERSARY ROCK & BLUES BIRTHDAY
UK TOUR OCTOBER 2026