Conversations with Colin – September

6 October 2025 71 17 5

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Colin catches up with some big names this month!

The month of September was a yet another busy month for our very own Colin Palmer who has been catching up with some big names in the world of Rock and Roll which you can hear on air every Tuesday evening on The Rock Vault.

Bison Hip

Frontman Paul Sloway spoke with Colin Palmer about the band’s origins and music. Formed during Covid lockdown, Bison Hip grew from decades-long friendships between Sloway, Malcolm Button, Steven Radziwonik, John Gilmour Smith, and Graeme Carswell. Writing remotely, they created over 35 songs before shaping them in the studio which was a process that took about a year.

Their first two EPs built a social media following before the band even played live. With their debut album came their first gigs, and since 2023 they’ve played festivals across Scotland and northern England, planning to expand UK-wide in 2026.

The band’s name reflects both humour and heritage with “Bison” nods to American blues influences, while “Hip” jokes about their age “one of us will probably need a hip replacement,” Sloway laughs.

Their latest album, Everything That Came Before Was Just Leading Up To This, shows growth in songwriting and production. It features tracks such as “Chemicals” , a witty reflection on love and oxytocin’s role in relationships, “Outrageous” – celebrating the bold characters who make life exciting and “The Imposter” – a seven-minute meditation on self-doubt and midlife reflection.

Confident, tight, and refreshingly authentic, Bison Hip prove that age and experience can bring power, humour, and depth to the blues-rock stage

https://www.newportcityradio.org/in-conversation-with-colin-bison-hip/

Never The Bride

In the 1990s, Never The Bride broke new ground as one of the UK’s first powerful female rock duos. Fronted by Nikki Lamborn’s commanding vocals and Catherine “Been” Feeney’s masterful keyboards, the band became a symbol of female empowerment in rock.

Nikki, also a renowned vocal coach praised by Beverley Knight and seen on BBC’s Just The Two Of Us and Channel 4’s Faking It, has toured and recorded with legends including Shirley Bassey, Elton John, Beth Hart, Robert Plant, ZZ Top, The Who, and Alice Cooper. The duo is now preparing for their final 2025 tour dates, including a rare stop at Newport’s Le Pub on October 2nd, joined by percussionist Fergus Gerrand.

Reflecting on the pandemic’s impact, Nikki says streaming left artists struggling: “The only way you’re going to make any money is to sell physical — vinyl is the future again.”

Never The Bride’s career highlights include performing Going to California for Led Zeppelin’s Encomium tribute album — earning them a gold disc — and touring globally with The British Rock Symphony alongside icons like Roger Daltrey, Paul Rodgers, and Alice Cooper.

Recalling their early days, Nikki laughs about gigging in Welsh working men’s clubs: “You cut your teeth doing pub gigs — it teaches you to talk to audiences.”

Their signature anthem “The Living Tree,” later covered by Shirley Bassey, was famously recorded in a single orchestral take at Sony Studios. For anyone who loves authentic, soul-stirring rock, Never The Bride are essential listening. They are living proof that passion, grit, and talent never fade.

https://www.newportcityradio.org/in-conversation-with-colin-never-the-bride/

Steve Overland of FM

AOR legends FM are back on tour promoting their acclaimed new album Brotherhood, proving that their melodic rock magic remains as strong as ever. Since forming in 1984, frontman Steve Overland and his bandmates have built a legacy of catchy hooks, heartfelt lyrics, and timeless craftsmanship, surviving every musical trend from grunge to hip-hop.

After reforming in 2007, FM have kept creating fresh material rather than resting on past glories. The current lineup includes original members Overland, Pete Jupp, and Merv Goldsworthy, joined by Jem Davis and Jim Kirkpatrick.

“The one thing you never do in this industry is burn your bridges,” says Steve. “Be adaptable, that’s how you last.” Between FM tours across Europe and South America, he also writes for younger artists, even penning songs for a Nashville country project.

Overland says he enjoys intimate acoustic shows as much as big arenas: “When you’ve been around forty-three years, your fans are like family. Many have been with us since 1985.” That connection continues to grow especially after discovering a fanatical following in South America, where hundreds greeted them at the airport.

Brotherhood blends the spirit of FM’s early classics with fresh energy. Highlights include “Living On The Run” which is a Bonnie & Clyde-inspired rocker written by keyboardist Jem Davis, “Do You Mean It” a soulful, blues-tinged opener featuring a gospel-style choir and “Just Walk Away” an emotional ballad Overland wrote in an hour, building into an epic anthem.

For FM, the key is simple: keep writing, keep playing, and keep connecting. Four decades in, they remain one of the UK’s most enduring and beloved melodic rock bands — a true brotherhood in every sense.

https://www.newportcityradio.org/in-conversation-with-colin/

Chantel Mcgregor

Despite being told at fourteen that “girls don’t play guitar like that,” Chantel McGregor has become one of Britain’s most respected modern guitarists. After earning the first-ever 100% pass mark and a First-Class Honours Degree in Popular Music from Leeds College of Music, Chantel built a loyal following through her dazzling live performances and collaborations with Joe Bonamassa.

Now, a decade after her last studio release, she returns with her powerful new album The Healing. “Life got in the way,” she laughs, explaining how constant touring, admin work, and running her own label left little time for writing.

Honest and introspective, The Healing blends prog-infused rock with deeply personal storytelling. “The whole album is very autobiographical,” she says. “Broken Heartless Liar was written about my failed relationships. I channelled all the sadness and anger into a song.”

Themes of self-empowerment, illness, love, and recovery run throughout. The emotional title track, written about her mother’s serious illness, was the hardest to record. “It was cathartic, it’s sad, but there’s an uplifting end where you find your healing.”

Working with Oli Brown and Wayne Proctor of The Dead Collective, who co-wrote and produced the album, Chantel found a new creative spark.

Fiercely independent, she continues to resist industry pressure to conform. “Labels have said, ‘change your clothes, make it more blues,’ but as an artist you thrive on being yourself. I like my dresses,” she smiles.

McGregor remains a shining example of integrity and individuality in rock: a woman carving her own path, guitar in hand, proving that authenticity is still the most powerful sound of all.

https://www.newportcityradio.org/in-conversation-with-colin-chantel-mcgregor/

Brave Rival’s Lindsey Bonnick

Portsmouth rockers Brave Rival continue to rise with their bold mix of blues-infused rock, powerful vocals, and infectious energy. Fronted by Lindsey Bonnick, alongside Ed Clarke (guitar), Billy Dedman (bass) and Donna Peters (drums), the band have evolved far beyond their roots.

While their debut Life’s Machine had a retro feel, its follow-up Fight Or Flight was born from on-the-road collaboration, reflecting the band’s growth and maturity. Now, fresh from winning UK Blues Federation’s Blues Band of the Year, they’ve released “Poison,” the first single from their upcoming EP which is their their first as a four-piece.

Lindsey describes their sound today as “rock with a hint of blues… there’s definitely blues at the heart of it, but not traditional.” She adds that their acoustic moments, like a crowd-favourite cover of The Sound of Silence, remain “an extra string to the bow.”

Following the departure of co-vocalist Chloe, the band faced a tough choice. “Replacing somebody like Chloe was impossible,” Lindsey admits. “But playing as a four felt natural, it actually worked in our favour, cementing us more in the rock genre.”

Fight Or Flight was recently reissued as a deluxe edition with three bonus tracks and new artwork. True to their spirit, songwriting is entirely collaborative. “It comes from all corners,” says Lindsey. “We build together until it becomes what it becomes.”

With a background in cabaret and theatre, Lindsey thrives on audience connection: “I don’t just stand there and sing, I like to make people feel part of the show.”

Looking ahead, Brave Rival’s eight-track EP arrives October 15 at London’s 100 Club, led by singles Poison, Control, and Wild Child. As Lindsey puts it, “I’ve come full circle — and I’m exactly where I should be.”

https://www.newportcityradio.org/in-conversation-with-colin-brave-rival/

Written by: Luke Lewis

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