

Jan Akkerman Band
& Wishbone Ash
Dates
26th January - Sage, Gateshead
27th January - Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
​Wishbone Ash and Jan Akkerman join forces to perform an evening of Electric Rock, Blues and Jazz music covering their back catalogue from the late 60’s to present day
Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman gained international fame with Focus from 1969 to 1976, recording a number of breakout albums and being voted world’s best guitarist by Melody Maker in 1973 (ahead of both Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page!). His music has being featured on endless Films and TV shows including Hot Fuzz (2007), Robocop (2014), Baby Driver (2017) and Nike adverts.
With Focus he toured with Frank Zappa and Yes, and is lauded by his peers:
‘How can you forget a guy like Jan....the nights we played together were great, I wish I could play the things that he did’. B.B King
‘An almost perfectly formed musician’, Peter Banks (YES)
‘He’s totally a hero of mine, there are some people in life that no matter how old you are, you feel nervous if you meet someone, he’s one of those, a real role model’ Brian May
In October 2019 Akkerman released ‘Close Beauty’, considered as one of his most varied works incorporating acoustic and electric compositions, solo or performed with his band. It is his first studio album since 2011 and his first on vinyl for 30 years.
Jan Akkerman and his band make a rare visit to the UK to perform 2 nights with Wishbone Ash as part of a ‘Night of Progressive and Contemporary Music’ followed by a short tour UK tour. Expect to hear classic Focus tunes and some more recent Jan Akkerman compositions.
Wishbone Ash
It’s a remarkable milestone few bands have achieved… 50 years of continual touring and recording… and always at the highest level.
As Wishbone Ash take their place amongst an exceptionally rare elite, celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2019. Having sold millions of albums, the band’s iconic twin-guitar sound has become familiar to audiences around the world with legendary classics such as The King Will Come, Throw Down The Sword & Blowin’ Free.
See what all the fuss is about. Explore the band’s website www.wishboneash.com for up-to-date tour information, sound and video samples, complete discography and much more.