Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash

Martin Turner and his band are on tour in the UK at the moment. They are playing the whole of Wishbone Ash's debut album which for me is amazing because it will include a live performance of Handy. This is one of the most proggy songs they ever did and Wishbone Ash haven't played it since 1971. Really looking forward to hearing this.

I've seen them many times over the last decade in the North East at smaller venues and festivals. The Argus-based sets were very well received. The only time I've seen them dip with an audience when they did a two set evening in Darlington where the first half was almost completely their new material which was competent but not particularly inspiring. They regained the audience with a vintage second set though. Martin isn't quite so strong vocally these days on some tracks, but overall the band are very tight and well worth a visit. I fondly remember the High Voltage Festival set when Ted Turner joined them on the Prog Stage for some Argus tracks. It'll be nice to hear the debut album in its entirety too.

I’d love to hear Handy too, best piece they’ve ever done, on the best album they’ve ever done (for my taste). Would love to see Marty and Co. pull this off these days.

The original spirit is definitely there. And the clever use of vocal harmonies helps get over any vocal deficiencies. As Martin has said, he wrote and recorded those first album songs before his testicles had fully descended :-)