LOS ANGELES (www.martinbarre.com) - Jethro Tull guitarist
Martin Barre will be touring with singer-songwriter-guitarist Willie Porter this fall in the North East and Mid West.
Willie has been a long time favorite of the whole Jethro Tull family and has opened for the classic rockers both in the United States and Canada. Martin, who has been plugging his third solo album, STAGE LEFT since 2003, has wanted to tour in the states for a long time. But because of his hectic Tull schedule of international dates, he's never focused on having a United States booking agent. As a result Willie Porter and his booking agent - Fleming Artists offered to help
Martin find more American fans for his music.
Born on November 17, 1946, and raised in Birmingham, England, Martin bought a guitar as a child and his father gave him albums by Barney Kessel, Jim Smith and Wes Montgomery; he also studied flute in school.
In the 1960s Martin's musical career crossed paths with performers that later became known as The Average White Band, Ritchie Blackmore, and Pink Floyd plus backed soul artists including the Coasters, the Drifters and Lee Dorsey. As a member of a group named the Motivations, Martin recorded a single called "Lady Godiva" for Liberty Records, which was written by a then unknown songwriter, Elton John.
Martin's been a member of Jethro Tull since 1968, and their third album, STAND UP in 1969. Soon the band became established in America. By 1994 Martin had recorded a solo album A TRICK OF MEMORY, then 1996's THE MEETING and most recent the Fuel 2000 release of STAGE LEFT.
WILLIE PORTER's current album HIGH WIRE LIVE is a showcase of his songwriting, and his blues, funk, and rock styles. Some songs have been favorites on triple AAA radio since the early 1990s - "Angry Words," "Tribe," "Mystery," Dishwater Blonde, "Unconditional."
In addition Martin joins Willie on his album with "You Stay Here," a song by an American songwriter who lives in Argentina named Richard Shindell. "You Stay Here" was recorded live in Martin's hometown of Birmingham, England.
Born and bred in Milwaukee, WI, Willie has opened for Tori Amos, Paul Simon, and - of course - Jethro Tull. The Boston Globe compares Willie's playing to speed picker Leo Kotke.
Together, Martin and Willie seamlessly cross the musical spectrum from beautiful harmonized acoustic instrumentals to the incendiary Rock for which Martin's playing has become legend. The show reveals the depth of Martin's strengths as a composer, as well as his musical sense of humor.
It also provides Willie Porter's fans a chance to see him in a different musical context. While trading tunes back and forth with the band, Martin Barre & Willie Porter both take the role of leader and supporting cast member with equal aplomb.
Martin Barre and Willie Porter Tour Dates
10/14/04 Nothern Lights Theater - Milwaukee. WI 414-847-7922 8 PM
10/15/04 Cedar Cultural Center - Minneapolis, MN 612-338-2674 8 PM
10/16/04 The Barrymore Theater - Madison, WI 608-241-8633 8 PM
10/18/04 Kent State - Kent, OH 330-677-5005 8 PM
10/19/04 Pittsburgh, PA - TBA
10/20/04 WM Inc., Ram's Head - Annapolis, MD 410-268-4545 8 PM
10/21/04 Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA 703-938-2404 7:30 PM
10/22/04 Sellersville Theater - Sellersville, PA 215-257-5808 8 PM
10/23/04 Stone Pony - Asbury Park, NJ 8:30 PM
10/24/04 Narrows Center For The Arts - Fall River, MA 508-324-1926 7:30 PM
10/25/04 B.B. Kings - New York, NY 212-997-4144 8 PM
