ONE of the most enduring sights in the rock music world of the early 1970s was Andy Powell flashing up and down the fretboard of his Gibson Flying V guitar trading licks with fellow six string ace Ted Turner.

The band was Wishbone Ash who pioneered twin lead guitars.

Andy and his bandmates produced a very distinctive mix of powerful yet melodic rock.

Ted was Andy's opposite number until around 1974 and at the time they were regarded as two of the best in the business; they also shared the vocals. When Ted left Laurie Wisefield followed in his footsteps, playing with the band into the mid 1980s.

Steve Upton was the band's prince of percussion on drums and Martin Turner - who also sang - was an outstanding bass player (no relation to Ted).

Wishbone were at the top of their game in the early 1970s with belters such a Blind Eye and Phoenix, from their debut album, Jailbait and The Pilgrim from the 1971 Pilgrimage, and Throw Down the Sword and Blowin' Free from the epic, multi-million selling Argus album.

Andy has more or less toured with various incarnations of Wishbone ever since and next Tuesday, October 23, heads for Bootleggers Bar at Kendal.

More than 40 years later, and the band's latest studio release, Blue Horizon, continues to solidify their reputation as a musical force to be reckoned with.

The band still includes founding member Andy, who handles lead vocals and swaps blistering solos with new Wishbone guitar wizard Mark Abrahams. Bassist Bob Skeat, a veteran of the band and in-demand studio musician, helps keep the beat with Joe Crabtree, one of the best of Britain’s new breed of drummers whose performance credits include Pendragon and David Cross of King Crimson.

Like other giants of progressive rock, it is good to see that they're being discovered by new generations of rock fans.

Today, the band is still going strong, with most of their vast catalogue intact on CD, an award-winning website and a date sheet the envy of many other bands.

In 2009, the band celebrated its 40th anniversary with a show at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire Theatre, which is available on DVD.

For further information go online at www.bootleggersbar.com/wishbone-ash.

Telephone 01539-723824.