For those still unaware, The Acoustic Trio And The Electric Quartet Live In The USA And Europe is a brand new 2CD live album release by Martin Barre, the acclaimed guitarist and former member of Jethro Tull for over four decades.

In 2012 he recorded several solo albums and began touring as a solo artist in Europe and the USA with his own band. Martin’s approach to live performances has seen him perform as an acoustic trio with Dan Crisp (vocals, guitar) and Alan Thomson (bass, guitar) and as an electric band with Terl Bryant also joining on drums, with both incarnations meeting with praise from both fans and critics.

This new album features a wonderful performance by Martin’s acoustic band recorded on April 19th, 2025 at The Center For The Arts, Homer, New York and a marvelous set by his electric band recorded at the Woodstock Forever Festival in Germany in August 2024. Both performances feature Martin’s solo work and Jethro Tull classics.

CD 1: The Acoustic Trio Live in Homer, N.Y., USA – 2025:
01. Empty Café // 02. Spanish Tears // 03. As Told By // 04. Home // 05. Sea Of Vanity // 06. Crossroads // 07. Winter Snowscape // 08. Can’t Find My Way Home // 09. Boureé // 10. It’s My Round // 11. Martin’s Jig / Hymn 43 // 12. Trinity // 13. New York Minute // 14. Cheap Day Return // 15. Everything Stops For Tea // 16. Still Loving You Tonight.

On what is a mighty fine collection of the many facets of a fine musician and his band, the first disc of this live set opens on the sparkling Empty Café, the emotive Spanish Tears, the sumptuously progtastic As Told By, and both the impassioned Home and the Celtic-imbibed beauty Sea Of Vanity, along next is the precisely rhythmic Crossroads, the translucent Winter Snowscape and the free flowing Can’t Find My Way Home.

Up next is the Spanish guitar-hued mastery of Boureé, the stunningly ambient It’s My Round, the aptly entitled Martin’s Jig / Hymn 43 and the melodiously sculpted Trinity, and then we are gifted an assonant New York Minute, an alluring Cheap Day Return, the veritably spoken word ditty Everything Stops For Tea, the first disc rounding out on the affecting pulse of Still Loving You Tonight.

CD 2: The Electric Quartet Live in Germany 2024:
01. Hunting Girl // 02. Back To Steel // 03. A New Day Yesterday // 04. For A Thousand Mothers // 05. Eleanor Rigby // 06. I Want You (She’s So Heavy) // 07. Serenade To A Cuckoo // 08. Cross Eyed Mary / 09. Sea Lion / 10. Hymn 43 // 11. My God (including Palladio) // 12. Moment Of Madness // 13. Wind Up.

Along next on the second disc is the prog rocker Hunting Girl, the strident rocker Back To Steel, the cagey A New Day Yesterday and the free-flowing prog of For A Thousand Mothers, and then we get the unexpected pleasure of his electrifying cover of the Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby, and they are in turn backed by the languishing rocker I Want You (She’s So Heavy), the bright and perky gem Serenade To A Cuckoo and the all-encompassing Cross Eyed Mary.

Then we are brought forth the spirited guitar rocker Sea Lion and the pounding rock of Hymn 43, and they are backed seamlessly by the articulate guitar work shown within the mesmerizing My God (including Palladio), the disc, and this entire live set coming to a close on the throbbing Moment Of Madness and the reflective rocking ode Wind Up.

Official Purchase Link

www.martinbarre.com