Guitarist Stuart Smith may a new name to many but he has been in the business long enough to possess an address book to envy with the ability to call on the likes of Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Howard Leese (Heart), Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), Joe Lyn Turner (Rainbow) and David Paich (Toto) to work on his albums.

In the past Heaven and Earth was more of a project for former York-based Smith with a plethora of guests showing up resulting in music of a high quality but a little fragmented when listened to as a full album. Their latest record Dig however, marks a change in approach with the recruitment of Joe Retta as sole vocalist and this certainly paid dividends resulting in a more focused, cohesive release that received much critical acclaim when it hit the streets last year with a glorious Bluesey Hard Rock vibe drawn from the rich heritage of the likes of Deep Purple, Bad Company and prime time Rainbow.

With a line up completed by Bad Company bassist Lynn Sorensen, drummer Jackie Barnes, son and absolute spitting image of Aussie screamer Jimmy and Hammond organist Ty Baile whose credentials spread from Counting Crows to Peter Frampton and Tool, this was a band of the highest pedigree.

Bankrolled by self-made millionaire Don Quarto, who was so impressed by the band he formed his own record label to support them, Heaven and Earth have embarked on their first ever nationwide tour which landed in Newcastle on Saturday night.

With a set list drawn primarily from the latest album Dig, Heaven and Earth were pure class from start to finish. The set was rich and varied with No Money, No Love with its big chorus and powerful, driving groove along with the sky scraping melody of Waiting For the World To End being two of the standout cuts from the album that were even better live. Perhaps the highlight of the whole show however was the smouldering House of Blues.

Mick Burgess