Martin Barre, the legendary lead guitarist for Jethro Tull, released his autobiography, A Trick of Memory in November. The book details his amazing journey from early R&B days to joining Jethro Tull in 1968, a position he held for 47 years. Barre talks in detail about the creative process behind his iconic guitar work, including the famous riffs on the hugely successful album, ‘Aqualung’. The biography offers fans a first-hand account of his life and career, which includes a Grammy win and collaboration with numerous other artists.

Martin’s outstanding guitar playing was a major contributor to sales of over 60 million for Jethro Tull. The band released a fine string of superb albums, but the stand-out has to be Aqualung which chalked up an incredible 7 million sales. Barre’s stunning guitar work has rightly impressed fans and critics alike across the world, but his journey is far from over. The massive venues are in the past. Now it is small theatres and intimate venues, something he really enjoys.

2027 means a big year for Martin as he will embark on a major tour of the USA.However, before setting off for the Land Of Trump, Martin has opted for a bunch of dates at selected venues in the UK. One of those special venues is The Cluny in Newcastle where he will perform on Friday 12th February. And for this gig, he has asked renowned keyboard player, Spencer Cozens to join the band.

Apart from his prowess with the guitar, Barre is an accomplished flute and sax player. The band includes a very special singer, Dan Crisp, who although he is a leading musician and song-writer in his own right, he sounds exactly like Tull front man Ian Anderson. Crisp doesn’t try to mimic Anderson, but close your eyes and it is the same, exactly when Anderson was at his best. On bass, is a very well respected musician both in the UK and USA, the mercurial Alan Thompson.

Back in the 1980’s, an occasional visitor to Thompson’s Glasgow gigs, was the now legendary Scottish singer/songwriter and innovative guitarist, John Martyn. It was then that Martyn asked Thompson to join his band where he continued to play for three decades. Never one to sit still, Thompson has recorded and performed with Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Robert Palmer (for whom he wrote the B-side of the hit Addicted to Love), David Gilmour, Linda Lewis and Bert Jansch.

This concert will feature many Jethro Tull classics with lots more besides. This is a very talented band, so if you are going to go to one gig, this winter, this is the one.For confirmation of just how good this band is, check out this review from and early 2026 performance https://theprogressiveaspect.net/blog/2026/02/09/martin-barre-band/ It was an outstanding gig.

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