Robin Trower Queen's Hall Edinburgh 1st September 2026 Review
Robin Trower was at the Queen's Hall Edinburgh tonight, a date on his current tour (which returns to the USA in September), and as to be expected in this audience (the ones that that I talked to), there was a mixture of British Blues fans in general, followers of Robin's work over the decades, and more than a few guitarists here to see the legend at work.
The last few years have been busy ones for Robin Trower, with the 2025 "One Moment In Time Tour" dates in the USA, and the Live in the USA album from that tour, plus the new album "Shine" which has a release date on 25th September.
When you have a performance and recording history like Robin Trower has, finding the songs for a set list, to please as many people as possible in an audience, must always be a difficult call to make, but overall tonight, I think this was achieved.
It was a relaxed, smiling, and obviously happy to be on stage Robin Trower that greeted everyone tonight, and with the opening classic "Too Rolling Stoned", the musical tone was set for the rest of the evening. A few more, have to be there, songs were in this set list including "Bridge of Sighs" and "Spellbound". There was still room for more songs from the past and present, and even the future as "It's Not Time" from upcoming "Shine" album made its way onto the set list. Old, or new songs, that special sound, of Robin Trower was always there.
There is really nothing to add here about Robin Trower's abilities as a guitarist that have not been stated many times before. Here is a musician with a wide range of technical skills at his disposal, and so many of them were in use on these songs tonight. Often however, these diverse skills were used sparingly, and in a very subtle and under-stated fashion. Robin Trower does not need to impress anyone with over the top displays on guitar, he can simply play whatever he wants to whenever he wants to.
With Robin Trower on stage tonight were Richard Watts - vocals/bass and Chris Taggart (Drums).
Opening this show for Robin Trower, Jack J Hutchinson, the acclaimed British blues-rock guitarist and singer Jack J Hutchinson. Being the opening act for a show can often mean having to adapt your music to a touring schedule, and tonight, without his usual full band around him, these songs from Jack J Hutchinson, with Greg Smith on bass, were in a trimmed down format. Even so, with songs like "Bullets", "Burn" and "Soul Believer", it is clear that here is a someone who knows how to construct songs, how to use melodies and also engage with their audience.
Review by Tom King (c) 2026
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
The last few years have been busy ones for Robin Trower, with the 2025 "One Moment In Time Tour" dates in the USA, and the Live in the USA album from that tour, plus the new album "Shine" which has a release date on 25th September.
When you have a performance and recording history like Robin Trower has, finding the songs for a set list, to please as many people as possible in an audience, must always be a difficult call to make, but overall tonight, I think this was achieved.
It was a relaxed, smiling, and obviously happy to be on stage Robin Trower that greeted everyone tonight, and with the opening classic "Too Rolling Stoned", the musical tone was set for the rest of the evening. A few more, have to be there, songs were in this set list including "Bridge of Sighs" and "Spellbound". There was still room for more songs from the past and present, and even the future as "It's Not Time" from upcoming "Shine" album made its way onto the set list. Old, or new songs, that special sound, of Robin Trower was always there.
There is really nothing to add here about Robin Trower's abilities as a guitarist that have not been stated many times before. Here is a musician with a wide range of technical skills at his disposal, and so many of them were in use on these songs tonight. Often however, these diverse skills were used sparingly, and in a very subtle and under-stated fashion. Robin Trower does not need to impress anyone with over the top displays on guitar, he can simply play whatever he wants to whenever he wants to.
With Robin Trower on stage tonight were Richard Watts - vocals/bass and Chris Taggart (Drums).
Opening this show for Robin Trower, Jack J Hutchinson, the acclaimed British blues-rock guitarist and singer Jack J Hutchinson. Being the opening act for a show can often mean having to adapt your music to a touring schedule, and tonight, without his usual full band around him, these songs from Jack J Hutchinson, with Greg Smith on bass, were in a trimmed down format. Even so, with songs like "Bullets", "Burn" and "Soul Believer", it is clear that here is a someone who knows how to construct songs, how to use melodies and also engage with their audience.
Review by Tom King (c) 2026
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
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