Written by Woody

Want even more AOR goodness? Check out the 2nd Midlands Rocks Radio Podcast featuring Woody’s Special Firefest edition!

Sadly, one of my favourite Midlands bands have decided to call it a day and split up. Tara’s Secret has been around awhile and have consistently improved with every album. Its last effort “Vertigo” garnered them universal media praise. Unfortunately, I think a lack of opportunities to move the band forward and a few members wishing to break away from the melodic rock scene, write in a harder edged sound has cumulated in the band going its separate ways. Hopefully some of these guys will pop up in other bands, but it’s highly unlikely to be AOR or Melodic Rock!

To say I’m excited about the new Fiona album “Unbroken” would be a mild understatement and this album is long overdue! The album is due to drop October 17th here in the UK and I can’t wait. You can hear samples at www.fionarock.com! The album features co-written pieces with James Christian (House of Lords), Tommy Denander (AOR song writing legend) and Holly Knight (Keyboard & song writing goddess). The album also features a duet and backing vocals from the amazing Robin Beck. Who’s Fiona I hear you cry, do you remember that film Bob Dylan made in the 80s - the one with Rupert Everett and a really hot chick lead character? Yeah called “Hearts Of Fire”, well Fiona was that hot chick! Now I suggest picking up her albums “Heart Like A Gun” & “Squeeze” and preparing yourself for “Unbroken”!

If you haven’t already heard Def Leppard, Motley Crue & Steel Panther are doing a package tour of the UK! The general consensus I’m hearing is extremely positive and Crue fans in particular wee-ing themselves with joy – I have to admit it’s a damn fan melodic rock three way (Steel Panther will enjoy that one!) and you can catch them in the Midlands 6th December at the LG Arena Birmingham & 8th December Capital FM Arena Nottingham.

It seems all go in the Firefest camp at the moment and unfortunately not all good. It seems Warrant have pulled out of there headline slot on the Saturday line-up - with no real good reason given why and with all contracts signed and agreed too. Reading between the lines though, I think the band wanted to fit in Firefest around some other European dates which haven’t materialised and I think they can’t be bothered coming to Europe for one show. Also, in bad news, Far Cry are no longer opening the festival on Sunday, citing finance trouble as the band’s non appearance. Basically they can’t afford to come and play, but in good news for fans of the band Pete Fry will be still be coming as a fan to enjoy the festival and accept your offers of beer! This means Jeff Scott Soto’s W.E.T & Newman will fill in the two vacant slots.

In related news Strangeways currently have their live at Firefest 2010 DVD available via www.thefirefest.com

Tyketto fans have a great opportunity to witness the band perform live in New Jersey in a special online concert broadcast on Saturday 26th of November. Go over to www.tyketto.de for details! I shall hopefully be cracking a few beers open and enjoying this special concert which will feature the original Tyke line up just a few days prior to enjoying seeing the band tear it up at Hard Rock Hell in Prestatyn.

Smokehead Rocks Tours have another 5 band package tour coming in November to be headlined by UK AOR-sters Airrace and will feature Casablanca & Coldspell. Two further acts will be announced on October 1st, due to Firefest appearances – word on the street is (and it isn’t hard to work out who the two bands are) one of them will be a British band beginning with V and a Swedish band beginning with H! Only one Midlands date and again it’s in Nottingham in the Rock City Basement on 19th November.

Brummie AOR legends SHY return with a self titled album out in October on Escape Music. I’ve heard a couple of demos and this album promises to be something special albeit not in a traditional AOR way. Definitely on my must buy list!

Joe Vana’s Mecca are finally back with “Undeniable” due in November on Frontiers Records. Anticipation is very high on this release given the immense debut album! Should be a must buy for west coast AOR fans if it’s anywhere near as good as the debut which was released almost a decade ago!

Brazilians Paradise Inc are set to release their debut album “Time Out” via Avenue of Allies on 21st of October. The band feature German singer Carsten “Lizard” Schultz (Evidence One) and is produced by Paul Logue (Eden’s Curse) and mixed by Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69).

Don’t forget the Newman “Under Southern Skies” album will be released on 26th September. Believe it or not this is the band’s 9th studio album and it’s a killer album, highly recommended for lovers of melodic rock!

An intriguing new band called The Magnificent is set to release their debut album on 4th November via Frontiers Records. From the snippets I’ve heard so far I’m really looking forward to hearing this album promises to be a real stormer!

Italians Soul Seller which release their album “Back To Life” via Avenue of Allies on 21st October. Keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio on production duties on this album make it a MUST check out album for me!

September 19th saw the release of British band Omega’s debut album “Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun” on Z Records. The band features Lee Small (Shy) Vince O’Regan (Legion/Eden) and Ged Rylands (Ten).

Chris Ousey, popular singer with Heartland and Virginia Wolf, is teasing us with a single called “Mother Of Invention” which will feature on the upcoming album “Rhyme & Reason” due out in November on Escape Music.

Midlands legends, Magnum, will be releasing a new album entitled “Evolution” on November 14th via SPV/Steamhammer. The album is basically a compilation of the best of the band’s last ten years and the albums that followed the band’s reformation after splitting in the mid ‘90’s. Obviously a must have for diehard Magnum fans and the album will also get live support including a show at The Robin, in Wolverhampton on 30th of November.

Grand Illusion are quick to capitalise on the popularity of their last album released only last year by giving us second album “Prince Of Paupers” in October via the AOR Heaven label.

Ex- Toto front man Fergie Frederiksen returns after beating recent ill health with “Happiness Is The Road” due out in October on Frontiers Records. I’m looking forward to this one as I’m huge fan of Fergie’s vocals and his last album with Tommy Denander is an awesome album which I regularly listen too, one of Tommy D’s best offerings!

After making an explosive impact on journalist’s everywhere last year Issa returns already with her second effort “The Storm”. Set to be an even better album this album will feature co-writes with the awesome Martin Brothers as well as songs written specifically for Issa! The album is due on October 14th via Frontiers Records and should be a must for lovers of female fronted melodic rock!

The intensely popular guitarist Michael Schenker delivers a new album “Temple of Rock” on September 26th. This is the first album to feature a favourite of mine vocalist Michael Voss (Mad Max/Casanova) so this is at the top of my shopping list.

Grand Design are back with their second album “Idolizer” set for release in October on the AOR Heaven label and it’s surely a must for fans of Def Leppard style melodic rock.

Popular UK rockers Sacred Heart have recently released a video for their new song “Nothing At All” a preview of what to expect on their debut album “Propaganda” which is scheduled for release in October.

Gary John Barden is set to release his “Eleventh Hour” album in October via Escape Music. The vocalist most well known for his collaborations with Michael Schenker is sure to a popular release for melodic rock fans to pick up!

Uriah Heep, House Of Lords & Sebastian Bach all have albums set for release at on 26th September via Frontiers Records.

Here’s House Of Lord’s Video for “Someday When” (see if you can spot Robin Beck in the video!)

& Sebastian Bach “Kicking & Screaming”