Classic rock legends Wishbone Ash will be performing a select number of US dates on their current major world tour that began this past October. Wishbone Ash embarked on an intensive 6-month tour plan, a 'final fling' taking the band 'round to next July in celebration of the 40th anniversary of its long career. The October tour of the UK began on the 2nd and ended the first week of November. Then in January 2010 the band hit the road again for the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia. Canada's blues prodigy, Jimmy Bowskill, opened for the band on this 6-week tour.
After playing Finland and France, the USA east coast tour begins on March 24th in Annapolis, MD and ends April 3rd in Milwaukee, WI. The band will then proceed to Switzerland and Italy just prior to the usual spring UK tour. A US west coast tour, plus a possible Far East visit in conjunction with a two night confirmed Tokyo appearance, is being discussed for June. Also confirmed for June are 3 stadium shows in South Africa with Deep Purple. In addition the band will be revisiting Warsaw and Poznan in Poland plus Prague in the Czech Republic.
Wishbone Ash's US tour dates are as followed:
March 24 - Ramshead Tavern - Annapolis, MD
March 25 - Sellersville Theater - Sellersville, PA
March 26 - Bull Run - Shirley, MA
March 27 - Boulton Theater - Bay Shore, NY
March 28 - Moondog's - Blawnox, PA
March 29 - Winchester Music Hall - Lakewood, OH
March 30 - Callahan's - Auburn Hills, MI
April 1 - Voodoo Cafe and Lounge - Maryland Heights, MO
April 2 - Fitzgerald's - Berwyn, IL
April 3 - Shank Hall - Milwaukee, WI
Founded in England in 1969, Wishbone Ash has released over 30 albums to date, and has been touted as one of the first dual-guitar rock bands, influencing the likes of Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden to say nothing of MCA label mates, Lynrd Skynrd . Rolling Stone magazine boasts that Ash guitarists Andy Powell and Ted Turner are amongst the world’s top 20 best of all time! The group’s 1972 classic release Argus, which was voted ‘Album Of The Year’ by readers of UK’s Melody Maker and NME, was remixed and reissued in 2002 as a special 30th anniversary edition and consequently was Universal / MCA’s fastest selling reissue in the label’s history. In April there will be a new archive box set compilation on release from Universal / Island plus rereleased versions of the band’s first 4 albums with deluxe artwork and additional liner notes.
Wishbone Ash’s current line-up features original founding member Andy Powell, whose name is synonymous with the Gibson Flying V (and he has probably done more to influence its use than any other guitarist!) Through the years, Powell has been prominently featured in such notable publications as Guitar, Guitarist and most recently Vintage Guitar. He has also recorded with the likes of George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Stewart Copeland and Renaissance. Adding to the quartet is guitarist Jyrki “Muddy” Manninen, who brings a blues-y style to the band with his hot slide playing. Bassist Bob Skeat has worked with everyone from Colin Blunstone, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Chris Farlowe to Princess Stephanie of Monaco! Lastly, drummer Joe Crabtree has worked with the likes of King Crimson's David Cross and Pendragon..
The new DVD Wishbone Ash 40 - Live in London was released in Europe on October 10th, 2009. This 40th anniversary show from Shepherd's Bush Empire was produced by RCN TV, the same team who made the highly acclaimed Wishbone Ash Live in Hamburg DVD. There has been an incredible early reaction to advance promo copies of Wishbone Ash's new single "Reason to Believe" from radio stations all around the UK. The single has already been added to the playlists of Blast FM, Afan FM, Total Rock Radio, Delta FM and HFM Radio. Incredibly with the release still almost three months away the single has been added to the BFBS radio playlist and is also rubbing shoulders with the likes of Paramore, Bowling for Soup and The Courteeners around the world on the European Klassic Rock radio playlist at www.ekr.net. Wishbone Ash back in the charts? You bet!
