Thursday evening was a busy night at the Glasshouse in Gateshead, with two legendary artists performing between the venue's two main concert halls. That being Robin Trower and Richard Thompson.

The blues rock aficionados were out in force to welcome Robin Trower for his first show in the region since 2016. The concert was part of a short run of three UK dates.

With such a long time since the artist’s last visit to the region, there was a lot of ground to cover. Of course, the pandemic didn’t help the long gap between tours. Fans travelled to the show from far and wide to be in attendance. Some had travelled as far afield as California to be at the concert.

Performing as a trio, Robin Trower opened the show with The Razor’s Edge from his 2022 studio album No More Worlds to Conquer. As Robin hadn’t toured said album in the UK, several tracks from the release featured, with Wither on the Vine and Cloud Across the Sun both included early in the set.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Trower’s seminal album Bridge of Sighs. A record that produced a multitude of timeless classics, and one which means a lot to his loyal fanbase.

Trower celebrated the landmark anniversary with the inclusion of four tracks from the record.  Too Rolling Stoned was the first to feature in the set. Grasping his white Fender Stratocaster and flanked by two Marshall Amplifiers the guitar legend delivered a solo which left the crowd transfixed. Trower played with feeling and emotion and his tone is second to none.

The instantly recognisable sounds of Day of the Eagle were greeted with cheers. The song’s infectious guitar licks and tight rhythms washed over Hall 2 at the Glasshouse.

Of course, Gateshead’s majestic concert hall is situated between the Tyne Bridge and the Millennium Bridge. However, on Thursday night, it was Trower's incredible composition, Bridge of Sighs, that the fans were waiting for, and it did not disappoint. The song still holds up today, fifty years after its release. 

The majority of Robin Trower’s set was taken from Bridge of Sighs and the No More Worlds to Conquer albums. On this occasion, there was no room in the show for any songs from Robin’s latest album with US-based blues vocalist Sari Schorr, namely Joyful Sky.

The funkier side of Trower’s playing was showcased during Somebody Calling, whilst slow blues number It’s Too Late and Distant Places of the Heart highlighted the guitarist’s work with Cream legend Jack Bruce.

With the anniversary of Bridge of Sighs, it seemed only fitting that the main set would close with one last track from the release - Little Bit of Sympathy.

On Thursday evening, just like a lyric from the Robin Trower classic Daydream, the guitarist’s transcendent playing left the Gateshead audience spellbound.