Waow! At last, one of England's best AOR albums on CD! And of course we have Rock Candy to thank for it. It is 25 years since the album saw the light of day, and that's a proof of how old I become. Ehhh... Anyway - the music feels as vital as it did then. The English AOR scene has had a bunch of great AOR bands through the years - Foreigner, FM, Strangeways, Ya Ya, Heartland, Thunder and Tobruk just to name a few, and this album with Airrace is undoubtedly one of the best albums from the british AOR-scene history. The album was produced by Beau Hill, which at that time was what Howard Benson is for the modern rock today, the most secure card you can have as a producer in the genre you're playing. And in this case - classic AOR. One thing is strange with Airrace and that is that although they used a U.S. producer and also recorded the album in the U.S., it sounds so very British in the sound. It is very difficult to explain, but the British AOR has a different sound than the U.S. and only to the positive in Airrace cases. As far as song material on the disc it is nothing more or less than amazing. Hook laden classic AOR-refrains after each others... First out is the classic "I Do not Care" and then follow other classics like "First One Over The Line," "Brief Encounter," Caught In The Game "and the fantastic" Did not Want to Lose Ya ". And there are just a few. In addition to the usual disc the CD offers two demos. A demo of "Not Really Me" from the album and "She Can not Come Out" which undoubtedly would have been good on the album. It is a pity that the disc does not contain more demos, something that Rock Candy has spoiled us with on most of the records they released. Is there anything negative with this re-issue then? I think the re-mastering is a bit sharp and edgy in its sound. It would have been good to of a bit more "bottom" to it. But why am I sitting and complaining here!?!?! I’m sitting here with a classic album from the AOR-history and I can not give the release no more than five in the ratings.

15 years after the release of Airrace debut album Shaft Of Light they stood on the stage at Firefest to open up the 2nd day. I never would have thought that I would see Airrace play live but today it happened. I missed the start of the show and I don’t know if I missed some songs but I came in when they started to play Caught In The Game and it sounded damn good. From the original line-up it’s just singer Keith Murrell and keyboard player Toby Sadler left. Keith Murrell sounded really good and he sang with feeling and power. I must say that they really took me by surprised because I never thought that they would sound this good. It was kind of White Sister feel from last year show when they rocked the roof of Rock City. Ok, not every song from there debut and only album is AOR-hits but when you get to hear songs like Open Your Eyes, First One Over The Line and Brief Encounter I surrender. The keyboard sound was just amazing and the crowed were jumping of joy and sang along the songs. They also played a new song called One Step Ahead that sounded Ok nothing sensational but nice. A great way to start the day.

Tracklist: Caught In The Game, I Don’t Care, Open Your Eyes, Not Really Me, Promised To Call, First One Over The Line, Didn’t Wanna Lose Ya, One Step Ahead, Brief Encounter

THE POODLES: GRADE 3

Only Swedish act on the 2nd day was The Poodles that tried to rock the hell out of the crowed but never got a hold of them. I seemed like they tried to give the crowed a rock'n roll show but did not manage to do that all the way. Singer Jakob Samuel tried to get the crowed going but it was only when they played Thunderball and Night Of Passion the crowed woke up and fired up the show. I think this was to short gig for the band and they never got the engine started and when they were warm the show was over. I think the set-list was not the best either.

The band sounded very tight and Jakob sang very well.

Tracklist: Too Much Of Everything, Caroline, Seven Seas, Metal Will Stand, One Out Of Ten, Thunderball, Night Of Passion

DRIVE SHE SAID: GRADE 4

Al Fritsch and Mark Mangold entered the stage with the band and delivered and fantastic show with classic AOR songs. Al sang really good and the whole band sounded very professional and it was a shame that Mark Mangold's keyboards broke down after couple of songs and some of the songs were without keyboards. The keyboards are a important instrument of DSS sound but luckily he had more than one keyboard so they had the keyboards on different parts. Al and Mark really gave the crowed what they wanted and expected from a pure AOR band and that was classic AOR songs. The opened up the show with Don’t You Know What Love Is and the crowed went wild, what a classic song and they did it brilliant. After that they spit out hit after hit with songs like Maybe It’s Love, Hard Way Home, If This Is Love and Look At What You Got. These songs are huge with fantastic hooklines and sing-a-long choruses. This was AOR heaven for sure and those that missed this show I can only say that you will regret that for the rest of you life. If that was not enough the guys gave us the Cher hit I Found Someone and Michael Bolton classic AOR-rocker Fools Game (to bad the keys were not working on this one). A fantastic show with just classic AOR numbers and I can only say thanks guys.

Tracklist: Don’t You Know What Love Is, Driving Wheel, Maybe It’s Love, Hard Way Home, If This Is Love, Hard To Hold, I Found Someone, Fools Game, Look At What You Got, Overdrive

ROMEO'S DAUGHTER: GRADE 3,5

Romeo’s Daughter is another band that had not released anything for a long time. Their latest album Delectable was released 1993 but today they played live to a wild crowed. It looked like they never been way because they got a warm welcome from the crowed. The original line-up with Leigh Matty, Graig Joiner and Tony Mitman was there and they gave us a great show. It’s been 16 years since we last heard of RD and I must say that Leigh Matty still got the looks and voice. She sang her heart out and it sounded damn good. With just 2 album behind them they delivered a very good set-list with almost the whole debut album included. They opened up with Wild Child from the Robert John “Mutt” Lange produced debut album. They must have rehearsed a lot because the whole set sounded really good and tight. Other highlights in the set were Stay With Me Tonight, Attracted To The Animal, I Cry Myself To Sleep At Night and Heaven In The Backseat.

Tracklist: Wild Child, Velvet Tongue, Stay With Me Tonight, Attracted To The Animal, Colour You A Smile, Inside Out, I Cry Myself To Sleep At Night, Heaven In The Backseat, Hymn (Look Through Golden Eyes), Don’t Break My Heart

WHITE SISTER: GRADE 3,5

After last years success White Sister were back on the Rock City stage. Last year show was also filmed for DVD that was released just before Firefest. I think that last year they chocked the whole Rock City whey they delivered a outstanding show. So the big question was if they could match that performance from last year? Well the set-list was almost identical but they did not see as hungry as they did last year. It was a good show were both Dennis Churchill and Garri Brandon shared the lead-vocals with style. They both sang very well like they did last year. The 3rd original member Rick Chadock delivered great riffs and the whole band sounded good. They played Don’t Say That You’re Mine, Promises, Can’t Say No and Save Me Tonight that would satisfied fans of Pomp/AOR and the keyboards sounded awesome. But to my surprise they had left April out of the set and that’s a shame in my opinion but you can’t get them all. They also played two new songs called Only One Night and Double Crossed that they even played last year and the crowed seem to like them. Personally I don’t think they are close to the songs they have of their two albums but Ok songs nothing more.

Tracklist: Don’t Say That You’re Mine, Straight From The Heart, Promises, Can’t Say No, Only One Night, Double Crossed, Save Me Tonight, Love Don’t Make It Right, Whips

CROWN OF THORNS: GRADE

I missed almost the whole COT show because I had a meet and greet with FM and it was food time at the same time. But I saw the opening of the show were Jean Beauvoir &Co stared with Faith from the latest album with the same title. Then they continued with Hike It Up that I did not feel they got the crowed going. When I came back to show they ended a song that I could not figure out the title. But they ended the show just stunning with two of the best songs from the debut album called The Healer and Dying For Love and now they got the attention from the crowed they missed at the start. So I can’t give any grade for their show because I missed most of it.

HONEYMOON SUITE: GRADE 4

Here was another band I was looking forward to hear and see live and they really showed how fantastic Canada AOR should be played. The DVD they released 2005 called HMS LIVE on Frontiers was not fun so I was little bit afraid that they would be to tired to rock but they showed from the first track that they wanted to show the opposite. Just couple of weeks before Firefest they announced that Ray Coburn would not come and play with them. So tonight we saw Johnnie Dee, Derry Grehan, Gary Lalonde, Dave Betts (I’m not 100% sure the line-up is right) together with the new keyboard player named Peter Nunn and they pulled out a fantastic show full of classic Honeymoon Suite songs. Johnnie and Derry were the ones that were the ones that moved around the stage and Johnnie sang outstanding, what a voice. They got hold of the crowed right from the start when they opened up with Other Side Of Midnight with powerful riffs and wonderful melodies. They also played the two best songs She Ain't Alright and Tired O Waitin' On You from their latest album Clifton Hill. They have so many classic songs to take from and I think they played a very strong set. Another highlights were Burning In Love, Feel It Again, Bad Attitude, Still Lovin'You, You and Love Changes Everything. This was Canada AOR at it’s peak, freaking fantastic and stunning night for AOR lovers. This was totally different from the DVD and I can only say sorry for those that missed this awesome gig.

Tracklist: Other Side Of Midnight, She Ain't Alright, Burning In Love, Tired O Waitin'On You, Feel It Again, What Does It Take, Lookin'Out For Number One, Bad Attitude, Still Lovin'You, New Girl Now, Love Changes Everything

FM: GRADE 4,5

The British AOR-legends FM got the honour to end Firefest VI this year and what a great way to open up the new chapter of FM. They played the last gig at 2007 years Firefest also that they released on DVD called Back In The Saddle. A fantastic DVD that showed what a great live band they are. So now 2 years later they are back with a new member Kirk Kirkpatrick that took over the guitars after Andy Barnett. They also released a brand new EP with a new song called Wildside and the B-side classic Dangerous that never been recorded on CD before. Well, back to the show and you could feel the tension and expectation the crowed had on FM. At the same time the intro started the crowed went wild and the guys entered the stage and opened up the show with the brand new track from their forthcoming album Metropolis called Wildside with heavy riffs but very melodic and one one of the heaviest track FM ever done. This is a great track and suits to play live. Steve voice was just outstanding and I got goose-bumps all over my body. Then they followed that up with Face To Face and That Girl and the crowed sang the lyrics and Steve just stood there smiling. You won’t get closer to AOR-heaven than this, amazing. Later on the set they played Dangerous and what a song this is and the keyboards are just fantastic and so is the chorus. I missed couple of there classic songs like Someday, I Belong To The Night, All Or Nothing, American Girl and couple of more tracks from Tough It Out that could have been on the set. The bluesy tracks Only The Strong Survive, Blood & Gasoline and Hard Day In Hell was nice and here Steve gave us a lesson how to sing with passion and emotions. But I would have wanted more of the classic stuff. But they also played Frozen Heart and Bad Luck of course. It was the loudest sing-a-long moment of the whole Firefest on Bad Luck and it sounded awesome. The show ended with FM playing a cover of Prince Purple Rain and was a song we could have been without. But I got to say thanks to this brilliant band that gave a show that will stay in my heart for a long time and it was a treat to see them play in England.

Tracklist: Wildside, Face To Face, That Girl, Don’t Stop, Only The Strong Survive, Blood & Gasoline, Dangerous, Burning My Heart Down, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Frozen Heart, Bad Luck, Purple Rain

This years Firefest was brilliant with many great bands and I must say that this years line-up was as good as last year and if the Firefest camp will do this next year they will have a hard battle to find as good line-up again. I will for sure be back next year if they do a Firefest VII. If I have missed some tracks or got the wrong titles I apologise and just send me a e-mail and I will correct it.

MY TOP 5 SHOWS AT FIREFEST 6:

1. FM

2. Drive She Said

3. Honeymoon Suite

4. H.e.a.t

5. Romeos Daughter

We flue with RyanAir on Thursday to Birmingham and took the train to Nottingham and the journey went well and after couple of hours on the road we found our hotel that was just around the corner of Rock City. It was a 3 star hotel and was great and very cheap aswell. So rest of the day we went shopping and went to couple of pubs and had couple of beers and food to our empty stomachs.

DAY 1 FRIDAY OCTOBER 23rd :

So we woke up on Friday and eat our breakfast and took a walk in Nottingham and did some shopping and went sightseeing in beautiful Nottingham and the weather was just great. Then later in the day we went to Nottingham Trent University to watch the first day of Firefest 6 and we were really looking forward to it. The cue was long when we got to the place but it did not take long til we came to the door and went in. First band out was Lost Weekend. Rest of the acts were from Sweden so the first day was almost like a tribute to Sweden.

LOST WEEKEND : Grade:

I missed the start of Lost Weekends show and I saw just 4 tracks. The songs that I saw did not impress me in no way but crowed in the front seem to have a good time with Lost Weekends melodic hardrock/AOR. I have not heard their latest albums and I’m not so familiar with their songs. Singer Paul Uttley sang Ok though and I think it was Dave Thompson on guitars but I’m not sure. Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind was a nice song but they did a weak version of Bob Catleys Spirit Of Man that Uttley and Thompson has written. They end the set with Stone Hearted Woman that was a OK finish to their set. I won't give any grade to Lost Weekend becasue I missed most of their set.

Tracklist: Only The Strong Survive, Can’t Get You Out My Mind, Spirit Of Man, Stone Hearted Woman

ECLIPSE: Grade: 3,5

Next up was Swedish Eclipse that delivered a great set and Erik Martensson sang just brilliant and he’s a great front man and songwriter. They opened up their show with Breaking My Heart Again that rocked big time with attitude and Magnus Henriksson delivered great riffs. The band played 10 song all in all and 9 of them was taken from there Are You Ready To Rock. The band seem to have rehearsed much because they sounded very tight and played like a full-time band. It was great to hear Hard Time Loving You that’s one of my favourite Eclipse songs and they rocked the hell out of this song. Another songs that took the crowed on a wild trip in the Eclipse rock world was To Mend A Broken Heart, Wylde One and Unbreakable. This was a nice surprise even if I have seem Eclipse once before this time they sounded a lot better and they seemed to have as good time as rest of us.

Tracklist: Breaking My Heart Again, Hometown Calling, Unbreakable, To Mend A Broken Heart, Always Standing, Wylde One, Under The Gun, Hard Time Loving You, Million Miles Away

BAD HABIT: Grade 2,5

Bad Habit from Malmo was one the Swedish bands I was looking forward to hear and see live. I’ve always loved their music from the Young and Innocent EP to the fantastic Revolution and the more laid back light AOR Adult Orientation to their newest Above And Beyond. So I was really looking forward to see them but I was little disappointed by their show. First of all they just had time to play 7 songs and in my opinion the tracklist was not the best because they have so many great tracks to choose from and it sounded like they had not rehearsed so much. Bax Feeling sang Ok but I think he has more to give and did not reach the crowed like a front man should. He also almost knocked himself down with his mic on one song but he stood up. The one that impressed me most was guitarist Sven Cirnski that played terrific and sounded superb. We got to hear 2 songs from the brilliant Revolution album called Sad But True and the awesome Another Night that ended the show. They played Rowena from their debut album that was great and I Don’t Want You from the latest one. But as I said I wanted more from this band.

Tracklist: Where Are You (not sure of the title), Sad But True, I Swear, Walk Of Life, I Don’t Want You, Rowena, Another Night

H.E.A.T : Grade 4

Last years best album release came from H.e.a.t in my opinion and I have seem the live many times since then and they always delivers good shows. Last year at Firefest singer Kenny got sick and was replaced by Eclipse singer Erik. But this time it was the whole band and what a great show they pulled out. You can see and hear that they have played over 100 shows with this album. Kenny sings outstanding live and the band plays just faultless. The tempo is high and they delivered 11 tracks including the Swedish Eurovision song 1000 Miles and a new song from the forthcoming album called Stay. I could easily pick out any of there songs because they sound really great live. But songs like Straight For You Heart, Feel The Heat, Never Let Go and Keep On Dreaming are the ones that got the crowed going. 1000 Miles is a big area rocker and you can’t fail with a song like that. The new song Stay promises great things next year when the new album is coming. It’s filled with wonderful H.e.a.t melodies and the chorus is a winner. The grade stays just with 4 but if this would have been there first show I would have given them a 5 and I’m sure that those that got the chance to see them live for the first time got a helluva rock show. The crowed was just crazy and sang along in the songs like no other band had manage to do under the first day.

Tracklist: There For You, Midnite Lady, Straight For Your Heart, Bring The Stars, Feel The Heat, Cry, Feel It Again, Never Let Go, 1000 Miles, Keep On Dreaming, Stay

TREAT : Grade 2,5

To end the first day was Treat and this is a band that I have seen many times and I have to say that this was not one of there best shows. The set-list was shorten down because of some delays under the night. It was a shame for the fans that had travelled long way to seem them but at the same time I didn’t think the band had rehearsed so good and it’s a shame because many was there to see them. Anders Wikstrom tried to get the band going with nice riffs and he really played well and drummer Jamie Borger does always do a great job. Even if the set-list was shorten down they manage to play 10 tracks. Treat has for sure some fantastic songs that should get the crowed wild but they did not mange capture that moment at all. Songs like One More Night, Soul Survivor, Get You On The Run and Party All Over rocked nice but weaker than I have seen those songs live before. Treat show was a disappointment and I wanted more from this great band. They played a new song I think it was called No Way Without You and was average rocker with a boring chorus so I hope that the new album has better songs.

Tracklist: Changes, Ready For The Taking, One More Night, Love Stroke, Take Me On Your Wings, No Way Without You (new), Soul Survivor, Get You On The Run, Party All Over, Conspiracy

The first Firefest day was to end this time and I got to see some great AOR/MHR song throughout this night and some disappointments but all in all this was a great start for this years festival. It was better to have just 5 band playing the first day and not too many as last year. The location was not as good as Rock City and the sound could have been better but still OK. Best band the first day was H.e.at followed by Eclipse.