AS music fans celebrate the Burnley Rock and Blues Festival’s 25th anniversary in May, the festival weekend will be even more special for Wishbone Ash drummer Joe Crabtree.

For the band’s headline slot on the Sunday night of the festival will be the first time Joe has played with the band in his home town.

“I’ve never even been in the audience of the festival,” said Joe. “Like a lot of people from Burnley, we all know about the Blues Festival and I did once play with the Uptown Band at one of the fringe venues, I think at the Keirby. I remember it because John Lee Hooker’s sax player was staying there and jammed with us.”

Joe has been drummer for Wishbone Ash since 2007 and his start with the band was a baptism of fire.

“I’d been recommended to Andy Powell (founder member of the band) and basically was told I’d got to go in the studio and head off on a tour of Russia,” said Joe.

“I’d never heard of Wishbone Ash, to be honest, and I got the know the band during a 13-hour train journey into Russia — it’s one way to bond!

“That first gig was pretty nerve-racking. I had to play a two hour set with everything written down. Wishbone Ash music, as I soon learned, is pretty complicated, with different time signatures.

“But I got through it and I must have done OK as they didn’t kick me out.”

Since then Joe has toured the world with the band, famed for its twin lead guitar sound.

Joe’s first musical outings were made with Burnley band Danny Handley and the Turns.

“I think my first gig was the night before one of my GCSEs at a pub in Burnley,” said Joe.

Joe went to Durham University to study Physics but he always wanted to be a musician.

“The degree was my back-up — and to keep my parents happy,” he said.

Although Joe’s dad Mark is the force behind AMS Neve, now one of the world’s leading producers of sound desk and state-of-the-art recording equipment — and sponsors of this year’s festival — Joe was determined not to call in any family connections.

“I went to London and did some session work and the first job I got was through an ad in Loot,” he said.

Joe has played with both Pendragon and the David Cross Band and is also making a name for himself as a drum tutor, working when he can at the Academy in Contemporary Music in Guildford. He also has a series of drum clinics on his own website www. joecrabtree.com “I did learn to play the guitar and did OK with it but I soon realised that there are an awful lot of good guitarists out there,” he said.

  • Wishbone Ash play the 25th Burnley Internatiional Rock and Blues Festival at Burnley Mechanics on Sunday, May 5. The line-up includes Mike Sanchez headlining on Friday, May 3 and Southside Johnny on Saturday. Tickets for Friday are £17, Saturday and Sunday priced £27. Details from the Mechanics box office 01282 664400.