The Gig Cartel - Artist profiles: Planet Rocks Rocktober

Due to the ongoing uncertainty with international travel, Kenny Wayne Shepherd is unfortunately unable to make it to UK shores in October. Not to worry though, Planet Rock have recruited incredible new headline bands to headline the three Rocktober dates.  

Reef will headline Bristol O2 Academy on Saturday 15^th October. Wilko Johnson will headline London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Tuesday 18^th October. Sweet will headline the Sheffield O2 Academy on Saturday 22^nd October. 

Special guests on all three Rocktober dates are King King, When Rivers Meet, and *The Damn Truth (*On Bristol and Sheffield)

Reef first came to public recognition when they toured with Paul Weller, the Rolling Stones and Soundgarden throughout 1994 and 1995.  They released their debut album “Replenish” om 1995 which went gold and featured the singles "Good Feeling" and "Naked." The album was recorded in the remote Cornish Sawmills recording studio and in a studio in Bath. In mid-1995 they released a four-track single release: "Weird.” The follow-up to “Replenish” was 1997's sophomore album “Glow,” with the band using more varied instruments and was produced by the Black Crowes' record producer, George Drakoulious and engineered by Jim Scott, in Los Angeles. It spawned the singles "Place Your Hands," "Come Back Brighter,” "Consideration" and "Yer Old.” “Glow” went straight to number 1 in the UK Albums Chart. "Place Your Hands", released on 21 October 1996, was Reef's most successful, and reached #6 in the UK Singles Chart.

Wilko Johnson is an English guitarist, singer songwriter who was a member of the pub rock/rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood in the 1970s. Johnson is known for his distinctive guitar playing style which he achieved by not using a pick but instead relying on fingerstyle. This enabled him to play rhythm guitar and riffs or solos at the same time creating a highly percussive guitar sound. Johnson developed his own image, coupling jerky movements on stage (his so-called "duck walk") with a choppy guitar style, occasionally raising his guitar to his shoulder like a gun, and a novel dress sense (black suit and a pudding bowl haircut). He achieved his playing style by not using a pick but instead relying on fingerstyle. This enabled him to play rhythm guitar and riffs or solos at the same time creating a highly percussive guitar sound. Johnson and Dr Feelgood were an influence on the English punk movement. Paul Weller has said of Johnson: "Wilko may not be as famous as some other guitarists, but he's right up there, and there are a lot of people who'll say the same. It's some legacy."

Sweet are a British rock and roll institution with a pedigree of 50 years of hit singles. They’ve sold 55 million albums and had 34 number #1 hit singles. Hailed by many as a national treasure with a loyal fanbase, their dazzling arsenal of rock music stands the test of time. The music is as relevant today as it was 50 years ago when Sweet first stormed the UK Charts in January 1971. The band is fronted by original founding member and guitarist, Andy Scott.  Sweet’s hit iconic glam rock singles include “Ballroom Blitz,” “Fox On The Run,” “Little Willy,” “Blockbuster,” “Love Is Like Oxygen,” and many more. 

King King have been going from strength to strength. They’ve received critical acclaim from their 2020 album ‘Maverick’. King King are nominated for “Blues Band of the Year” at the UK Blues Awards 2022. “Maverick” follows 2017’s critically acclaimed album “Exile & Grace” and features Alan Nimmo (vocals, guitar), Stevie Nimmo (guitar), Jonny Dyke (organ, piano), Zander Greenshields (bass) and Andrew Scott (drums). Produced by Alan Nimmo, Jonny Dyke and Liam McCluskey, “Maverick” is co-written by Alan Nimmo, Zander Greenshields (bass), Jonny Dyke, and Andrew Scott, with lyrics co-written by Alan Nimmo and newest member Stevie Nimmo (guitar). 

When Rivers Meet, comprised of British husband and wife Grace and Aaron Bond, released their critically acclaimed sophomore album “Saving Grace” in November 2021. Last year they were the first band to win four awards at the UK Blues Awards including “Blues Band of the Year,” “Blues Album of the Year,” “Emerging Blues Artist of the Year,” and “Most Inspirational Online Performance of the Year.” WRM were also voted “Best New Band” by the listeners of Planet Rock at the radio station’s “The Rocks” Awards. This year the band won three UK Blues Awards including “Blues Album of the Year” (Saving Grace), “Blues Band of the Year,” and “Blues Vocalist of the Year” (Grace Bond). In 2021 they won “Album of the Year” (beating Iron Maiden) at Planet Rock’s “The Rocks” Awards. WRM recently finished their first headline UK tour and will play festivals in Summer 2022. 

The Damn Truth experienced considerable success on UK radio with the release of their 2021 single “This Is Who We Are Now” with support from Planet Rock and a spot play on BBC Radio 2’s Rock Show with Johnnie Walker. The single features on their current album “Now or Nowhere” produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith). TDT have been championed by the British music press with extensive coverage in Classic Rock, Blues Matters, Guitarist, Powerplay, Guitar Techniques, Record Collector, Fireworks, Blues in Britain, Hard Rock Hell, MNPR and R’N’R Magazine. The band, comprised of Lee-La Baum (lead vocals, guitar), Tom Shemer (guitar), PY Letellier (bass) and Dave Traina (drums), have toured with Z.Z. Top (and partied with Billy Gibbons in his pyjamas), the Sheepdogs, Styx, and Rival Sons.

THE GIG CARTEL AND PLANET ROCK PRESENTS

PLANET ROCK’S ROCKTOBER 

“REEF”

BRISTOL O2 ACADEMY
SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER 2022

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
KING KING
WHEN RIVERS MEET
THE DAMN TRUTH
 

“WILKO JOHNSON”

LONDON O2 SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE
TUESDAY 18 OCTOBER 2022

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
KING KING
WHEN RIVERS MEET
THE DAMN TRUTH
 

“SWEET”

SHEFFIELD O2 ACADEMY
SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER 2022

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
KING KING
WHEN RIVERS MEET
THE DAMN TRUTH