REVIEW: Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash) The Cluny, Newcastle 4 August 2023

By music correspondent Peter Smith

I was due to see this concert back in March but sadly as announced by Martin Turner and The Cluny at the time: "It is with great regret and disappointment that we have to announce that Martin Turner's show at The Cluny, Newcastle tonight is being postponed due to illness. As those who have attended recent shows may be aware, for the past week Martin has struggled bravely with throat / voice problems following a heavy cold and has continued performing shows the best as he could so as not to let fans, venues, and promoters down. However, this morning he has woken up feeling extremely weak and with other added medical symptoms and is simply in no condition to perform at all this evening. Martin truly regrets the obvious disappointment this will cause, particularly as the tour, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Wishbone Ash's Live Dates double album - had been going extremely well with many sold out dates and delighted audiences everywhere.  As long-time supporters will know Martin has very rarely cancelled or postponed shows due to personal illness across his career to date.

But roll on 6 months to August and the concert was rearranged. The Cluny was ram packed for this show by Martin Turner, founder member of Wishbone Ash. I must say that I don't particularly like to swear allegiance to either version of Wishbone Ash. I enjoy seeing Wishbone Ash with Andy Powell; a band I have seen many times over the years and Andy is to be applauded for keeping the Wishbone Ash flag flying high. Martin, on the other hand, has put together a band of excellent musicians to recreate the original sound of Wishbone Ash as close to the albums as possible. So, I am happy for both bands to coexist and to have the opportunity of experiencing two different views of Wishbone Ash. Andy has kept the band going and transformed them into a rockier, louder format. Martin, on the other hand, attempts to recreate the original sound.

Coincidentally, the evening before I had been watching an online streaming of a tribute concert for the great John Wetton, featuring Rick Wakeman, Laurie Wisefield, Roger Chapman, Mel Collins and many others. I saw John many times over the years including when he was a member of Family, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash and UK. During the show Martin Turner appeared on video, apologising for his nonappearance at the event. He went on to explain that he was in the North rehearsing for the start of his new tour, which commenced in Newcastle the following evening.

Roll on 24 hours and Martin opened the evening at the Cluny explaining how he regretted not being able to attend the John Wetton tribute event because he was up in Newcastle. He said he did consider postponing the concert but realised it would not be right to do so, as it had already been postponed once before. Still, he explained his thoughts were with John Wetton and his family, and his many memories of the guy.

This tour is billed as the 50^th anniversary of the Live Dates album. Now another coincidence. I am pretty sure that some of the Live Dates album was recorded at Newcastle City Hall, a concert which I attended. I remember well how they announced that they were recording the concert for a future live album. There were microphones situated around the venue to record the sound from various vantage points. At the time we will very excited that we were going to be on a live album. Of course, I bought the album and still have a copy to this day. Sadly, I sold my record collection some years ago in foolishness. I have since rebuilt it all via car boot fairs, charity shops, vintage vinyl fairs and eBay.

The Cluny led Jackie, my carer for the evening, and me through a little hatch into the auditorium which holds 300 people and was sold out. It was already full by the time we arrived, and the friendly guy led us through and asked people to make way for me in my wheelchair, taking us right down to the front of the stage with excellent view of the proceedings. 15 minutes later, at 8 PM sharp, Martin Turner and his band took the stage. We were immediately transported back to the 1970s and the classic Argos album with marvellous songs including "The King Will Come" (one of my favourites), followed by "Warrior" and "Throw Down the Sword". All three are classic Ash songs and Martin and his band delivered them true to the original. Then came another great track "Rock 'n' Roll Widow". Now, I have often wondered what that particular song was about. I hadn't really taken the trouble to listen carefully to the lyrics. I wrongly assumed that it was about a lady who was left behind while her man was out on the road playing with a band. Martin explained that the song was written by Ted Turner as a result of a concert they did in America where a guy turned up and shot the husband of someone, he had been having an affair with! It's strange how you sometimes learn something new each time you see a band.

While I remember I must mention how impressed I was with Martin who looked well, was dressed incredibly bright and flashy which made him look even better! A bright red jacket and some colourful trousers. Great gear. And of course, he was playing his usual Gibson Thunderbird bass, standing stage centre, clearly leading the proceedings, flanked on either side by two excellent guitarists who reproduced the twin guitar melodies of Wishbone Ash down to a T. Some great guitar duelling throughout the evening. This was followed by a track "Ballad of the Beacon" from Wishbone Four, which is less familiar to me. Then Martin took us right back to the start, to a song which he used to play with his brother in Torquay in the 1960s when they first formed a band The Empty Vessels with drummer Steve Upton. The song was the blues classic "Baby What You Want Me to Do" a cover of a Jimmy Reed song; Martin revealed that he and his brother preferred the Everly Brothers version. This was followed by another of my all-time favourite tracks, from the first album, the wonderful "Blind Eye". The first set closed with the epic "Phoenix", a track which I have grown to love over the years.

After a short break Martin returned resplendent in a very smart bright red top. Set Two commenced with yet another classic song "Lady Whiskey" taking me right back into the 1970s again. So many memories of Wishbone Ash at the City Hall, Sunderland Locarno, Newcastle Mayfair, the Lincoln Festival and headlining the Reading Festival. I was chatting to the guy next to me and he saw them at Reading as well! The audience was full of rockers of a certain age singing along with every track. Many wearing old Wishbone Ash T-shirts! "The Pilgrim", an instrumental from their second album

 Pilgrimagefollowed, then another song this time from the Laurie Wisefield period of the band. A memory of a concert in Newcastle Odeon floods back: "F.U.B.B." (F**ked up Beyond Belief, as I recall) is the tune in question. A song I had almost forgotten follows: "You See Red" and then another favourite, the excellent "Living Proof". Next is "Blowin' Free" and we know we are coming towards the end. The encore is, as it always used to be, "Jail Bait". An excellent close to a wonderful concert reminding me just how great Wishbone Ash were, and continue to be through Martin and his band, and Andy Powell and his version of the Ash.

On the way out a guy recognises me and says, "Were you at Soft Machine at York?" "Yes of course I was" I answer. It is great to touch base with friends old and new. Thanks to Jackie for taking some great photographs and to the staff in the Cluny for looking after me so well, as is always the case. And finally, thanks to Martin for a great evening.

Setlist: Set One: The King Will Come; Warrior; Throw Down the Sword; Rock 'n Roll Widow; Ballad of the Beacon; Baby What You Want Me to Do; Blind Eye; Phoenix.

Set Two: Lady Whiskey; The Pilgrim; F.U.B.B.; You See Red; Living Proof; Blowin' Free; Doctor; Jail Bait