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28 Oct 2022

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24 April 202

MARTIN TURNER and BAND JOIN ASIA, FOCUS and CURVED AIR FOR USA TOUR

Asia is absolutely delighted to announce The Heat of The Moment Tour, headlined by Asia and also featuring Focus, Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash and Curved Air and MC’d by artist Roger Dean.

The tour will commence on 3rd July 2024 and will incorporate 21 dates across the USA and Canada.

The tour has been masterminded by rock music keyboard legend and original Asia member, Geoff Downes (Buggles, Asia, Yes).

Asia was the biggest selling album of 1982, number 1 on Billboard for 9 weeks and pioneers of the MTV era! Downes’ brand new iteration of Asia first began to evolve last Summer, at the concert held in memory of late lead singer, songwriter and bassist, John Wetton (King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, UK, Asia, John Wetton Band, Icon). Downes invited old friend John Mitchell (It Bites, Frost*, Lonely Robot, Kino, John Wetton Band, Icon) and new-comer Harry Whitley to join him on stage to celebrate Wetton’s life by performing some of the classic Asia hits. Such was the uproarious reception to their set, that Downes wondered if something magical was beginning to take shape.

“And so it was that the John Wetton tribute last August really reminded me how much Asia’s music belongs on the stage. The response to it all was literally…spine-tingling.”

Downes’ new-look Asia will once again feature Mitchell on guitars and Whitley on lead vocal and bass. The quartet will be made complete by the addition of Virgil Donati (UK, Southern Sons, Steve Vai, Allan Holdsworth) on drums.

Downes continues, “With the addition of Virgil Donati & John Mitchell, two of the finest musicians in the world in their respective classes, this is almost going full circle bearing in mind their previous close collaborations with John W. Completing this circle is also the amazing Harry Whitley who absolutely floored the audience with his incredible vocal interpretation of the Asia songs that John W and I so lovingly wrote over the years.”

The tour will also feature sets from other classic acts, Focus, Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash and Curved Air. All three support acts boast their founder bandleaders and have deservedly attained the status of legend.

 

Focus will be releasing a brand new studio album later in 2024. Led by the indomitable Sir Thijs van Leer, featuring original 1970’s drummer Pierre Van Der Linden, plus the virtuoso talents of Menno Gootjes on guitar and Udo Pannekeet on bass.

Martin Turner was lead vocalist, bassist, founding member and creative force behind 70’s rock music behemoth Wishbone Ash, best known for such classic albums as Argus and Pilgrimage.

Formed in 1970, Curved Air are one of the founders of progressive rock and a retrospective collection of their most influential and ground-breaking material is currently in the planning stages. Sonja Kristina (vocals) and Kirby Gregory (guitar) will treat audiences to an acoustic set featuring some of the band’s most memorable musical moments. They will be joined by violinist Grzegorz Gadziomski.

Each performance on the tour will be MC’d by legendary artist Roger Dean. For so many, Dean’s artwork is synonymous with the music of the time and stands to represent the very best of British rock music.

The final word goes to Geoff Downes, “I am convinced that John (Wetton’s) spirit is with us as we set out on this new adventure.  After all, it is the Year of the Dragon – just as it was in 1982, when we released our first Asia album. It’s as though it was meant to be. Looking forward to seeing you there, my friends – bring it on!”

Click here for Ticket link: 

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20 Oct 2023

ARGUS ART PRINTS SIGNED BY FOUR ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF WISHBONE ASH

The Four original members of Wishbone Ash in collaboration with the Flood Gallery are proud to present an exclusive limited edition of giclée fine art prints featuring the iconic Hipgnosis designed cover image of "Argus", photographed in the Gorge Du Verdon in Provence, France.

Available in two editions, both hand-numbered and signed by the four original members of the band.

Pre-order now, with shipping starting on December 6th!

www.thefloodgalleryargus.com

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21 August 2023

LIVE DATES VOLUME II - ON TOUR 2024

Martin Turner and his band – Danny Willson, Misha Nikolic and Sonny Flint - are currently delighting audiences with their performances of the iconic 1973 Wishbone Ash “Live Dates” double album, plus other favourites, and will be continuing with this show format until the end of 2023.

We are pleased to announce that for Spring 2024, there will be a new touring theme of “Live Dates Volume II” and shows will feature the complete 1980-released double live album – a longstanding fan-favourite – together with highlights from the first “Live Dates” album.

Live Dates Volume II featured the following classic tracks recorded at shows between 1976-80:

Doctor; Living Proof; Runaway; Helpless; FUBB; Way Of The World; Lorelei; Persephone; You Rescue Me; Time Was; Goodbye Baby Hello Friend; No Easy Road

The first dates for 2024 can now be found on our tour dates page, with further shows to be added 

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20 Feb 2023

NEWCASTLE POSTPONED DUE TO ILLNESS

It is with great regret and disappointment that we have to announce that Martin Turner's show at The Cluny, Newcastle tonight is being postponed due to illness.

As those who have attended recent shows may be aware, for the past week Martin has struggled bravely with throat / voice problems following a heavy cold and has continued performing shows the best as he could so as not to let fans, venues and promoters down. However this morning he has woken up feeling extremely weak and with other added medical symptoms, and is simply in no condition to perform at all this evening.

Martin truly regrets the obvious disappointment this will cause, particularly as the tour, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Wishbone Ash's Live Dates double album - had been going extremely well with many sold out dates and delighted audiences everywhere.  As long time supporters will know Martin has very rarely cancelled or postponed shows due to personal illness across his career to date.

We should stress that this is NOT a cancellation, only a postponement. Ticket holders should retain their tickets and a rescheduled date will be announced very soon, most likely within the next 48 hours. Watch this space....

UPDATE  Martin resumes touring on 30th March in Southampton. All other shows are expected to go ahead as planned. Newcastle show has been rescheduled for Aug 4th 2023.

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20 Feb 2023

LIVE DATES TOUR T-SHIRTS

We're delighted to share with you a preview of the t-shirt designs that will be available to purchase at shows on Martin Turner's 2023 "Live Dates" tour, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of Wishbone Ash's seminal 1973 double live album.

Check out our tour dates page for full listing of shows confirmed so far

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26 Jan 2023

ARGUS 50th ANNIVERSARY BOX SET

Wishbone Ash – Argus – a 50th Anniversary multi-format Box Set will be released by @Madfishlabel on 14 April 2023 to celebrate one of the most pivotal entries in the history of great British rock and prog albums.

This super deluxe edition features 2 LPs, 3 CDs, 7” single, DVD and 48-page book with rare photographs and extensive liner notes & contributions from Martin Turner, Andy Powell, & Steve Upton

Pre-orders available here: https://WishboneAshMadfish.lnk.to/argus50

The Argus box set features:

3 CDs: Martin Turner’s Argus remaster, Live at The Alexandra Palace 1973 & Memphis 1972. Also features 4 previously unreleased early version demos.

2 LPs: Original Argus replica, remastered for this release + Argus Live on yellow vinyl (selected recordings from Alexandra Palace & Memphis).

DVD: French & Swiss TV footage, Live from the Rainbow 1973 & RTS Broadcast from 1974.

7” Red vinyl Single of ‘Blowin’ Free’.

Numbered certificate of authenticity

Argus was the group’s third studio LP, their biggest selling album and undoubtedly the classic album within the band’s ‘70s cannon

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24 Dec 2022

SEASONS GREETINGS

We would like take this opportunity to thank sincerely all who have followed the band during 2022. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please enjoy this short video clip of "Sometime World" filmed and recorded in Bath, September 2022.

https://www.facebook.com/MartinTurnerExWishboneAsh/videos/694226848783081

We will see you on the road again during 2023 when we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Wishbone Ash "Live Dates" album

Seasons greetings,

Martin, Danny, Misha, Sonny

and the entire MTexWA team

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28 Oct 2022

LIVE DATES 50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Following Martin Turner's highly successful 2022 touring of the classic Wishbone Ash albums "Argus" and "Wishbone Four" performed 'back to back', which concludes in Dec 2022, Martin and his band - Danny Willson, Misha Nikolic and Sonny Flint - will return to the concert stages in 2023 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the classic Wishbone Ash 1973 double live album "Live Dates".

Shows for the "Live Dates" tour of 2023 confirmed so far are listed on our live dates page

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