Martin Barre is returning to North America to perform more shows this April. Look for concerts in New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. More dates this fall in September and October. Some of them are confirmed below.
For the past five years Martin has toured the world with his own band to play the "classic" music from the Jethro Tull catalogue, and also many new tracks written by Martin from his albums AWAY WITH WORDS and ORDER OF PLAY, plus his latest album, BACK TO STEEL. BACK TO STEEL will be released in North America later this year on 71st Street Music.
For 43 years Martin Barre was the renowned guitarist of Jethro Tull, and his role in the band cannot be overestimated. Bruce Eder wrote on allmusic.com, "His playing has provided much of the energy that allows the band to soar on record and in concert."
His unique sound and style contributed enormously to their success, which includes several chart topping albums, eleven gold and five platinum albums, a Grammy Award for CREST OF A KNAVE in 1988, and album sales exceeding 60 million units. Tull continues to be played worldwide, representing an important part of classic rock history.
Martin's band features lead singer/guitarist Dan Crisp, drummer George Lindsay, bass player Alan Thomson. All members are committed to giving the Tull fans and a broader audience the chance to hear tracks not performed for many years with a few surprises along the way, as well as classic covers of a variety of folks, this past fall were songs by Porcupine Tree and Warren Haynes.
Blogcritics' Jon Sobel caught the Martin Barre Band vibe in the intimate Rockwood Music Hall, and called them a "'bar band' in the best possible sense: The musicians were approachable and communicative, and looked and sounded like they were having a blast. Other moments felt like a badass progressive rock concert."
Emily Clark of Plymouth, MA's Wicked Local was stunned by Martin's presence, "He can do all intricate fingering, lace melody on top of melody and play lightning fast. But what he does that sets him apart is his on-the-spot arrangement of songs, his crafting of melodies that are truly beautiful and not just a case of show-off athletics and his understanding of when to shut up and when to roar...His love affair is with this song, not himself."
Martin Barre-Confirmed North American Tour Dates:
April 10 B.B. King Blues Club, New York NY
April 11 Ram's Head, Annapolis, MD
April 12 Tim McLoones Supper Club, Asbury Park, NJ
April 21 Infinity Hall, Hartford CT
April 22 Mexicali Live, Teaneck NJ
April 23 Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore PA
April 26 Martyrs Live, Chicago
April 28 Daryl's House Club, Pawling NY
April 29 Hanover Theatre, Worcester MA
April 30 Blue Ocean Music Hall, Salisbury MA
September 7 Parker Press Park, Woodbridge NJ
September 8 Natick Center For The Arts, Natick MA
September 9 Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River MA
September 10 & 11 Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry NH
September 13 & 14 Lovin Cup Bistro & Brews, Rochester NY
September 15 Sportsmens Tavern, Buffalo NY
September 16 The Dock, Ithaca NY
September 28 & 29 Freshwater Gallery, Boyne City, Michigan
September 30 Reggies Night Club, Chicago IL
October 1 The Warehouse, Carmel IN
October 2 & 3 Natalie's Coal Fired Pizza, Worthington OH
October 7 Jonathan's Music Hall, Maine
October 8 Spruce Peak Performing Arts, Vermont
October 14 River Club Music Hall, Scituate MA
October 21 Penns Peak, Jim Thorpe, PA
October 28 Shank Hall, Milwaukee WI
October 29 & 30 The Dakota, Minneapolis MN
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