Wishbone Ash at Arc

Wishbone Ash

Arc, Stockton-on-Tees

12 November 2019

50 years is a long time to be doing anything, yet Wishbone Ash are currently celebrating exactly that amount of time since they started. Half a century has brought many changes, with the band’s personnel experiencing change in the style of Trigger’s broom.

Andy Powell is the only founding member in the current line up and he is joined by Bob Skeat, Joe Crabtree and Mark Abrahams.

I am by no means an expert on Progressive Rock, which is a genre I have generally avoided over the years but as this year is my 'no holds barred' year of gigs it seemed a good time to dip in a toe.

It turned out to be a very good decision because not only the was the music of a very high quality, but also there were screens at the side of the stage and they conveyed a pre-show potted history of the group from their earliest years all the way up the present day. This helped me appreciate their musical journey more as the evening progressed. The celebratory nature of the event was enhanced by a set list covering all phases of their lengthy career.

The story is still ongoing; January 2020 will bring the release of their new album, Coat of Arms. The lead single - We Stand as One - was unleashed to coincide with the tour.

It was an entertaining evening and I am glad I made the effort to go out and see Wishbone Ash in action.