With Come And Find Me, the latest album from Robin Trower, released only five days earlier, MetalTalk’s Paul Hutchings declared that “at 80, Trower’s playing is as mesmeric and enjoyable as ever.” Tonight, at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, the legendary guitarist showed that he is surely among that rare breed whose presence on stage transcends time.
Robin Trower
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London – 21 May 2025
Photography: Manuela Langotsch
Performing to a devoted crowd at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Trower brought his singular soundscape—rich in tone and emotion—to a venue steeped in musical history.
At eighty years old, Trower continues to defy the passage of time. His set drew deeply from both the past and present, affirming his status not merely as a relic of a bygone era but as a living, breathing force in modern music.
“Some people say I’m driven,” Robin said when reflecting on a multi-million-selling solo catalogue fast approaching thirty releases. “But I think it’s just the love of doing it. I play guitar every day and just through messing around, ideas happen. I can never feel the songs coming. But all of a sudden, you get a sliver of an idea, and you think, Oh, what’s this…?”
Tonight was the last evening of a brief six-date tour. Backed by the crisp rhythmic synergy of Chris Taggart on drums and Richard Watts on bass and vocals, Shepherd’s Bush found a night that fused reverence for legacy with vibrant, forward-looking energy.
Opening with The Razor’s Edge from his recent No Worlds To Conquer album, Trower set the tone with piercing clarity and power. His iconic red Stratocaster roared into life for classics like Too Rolling Stoned and Day Of The Eagle, evoking the psych-blues swirl of Hendrix and the improvisational spirit of Cream.
New material did not take a back seat either. One Go Round, from his latest album Come Find Me, slotted in seamlessly alongside older gems.
But it was the majestic Bridge Of Sighs that, as ever, commanded the room—its haunting refrain a reminder of Trower’s unparalleled ability to marry melody and emotion.
Distant Places Of The Heart and It’s Too Late shone, reminding us of Trower’s collaborations with Jack Bruce. The set closed with the gritty A Little Bit Of Sympathy before encores of Rise Up Like The Sun and Birdsong brought the evening to a soulful close.
With Robin Trower seemingly to be getting better with each album release, he clearly loves what he does. “It’s kind of scary,” Robin has said. “You know that you’re way down the road, and you could hit a brick wall at any time. But I still love doing this. For me, there’s nothing more rewarding than working on a new song.”
Tonight underscored his enduring influence as one of the UK’s most original guitar voices. This was an audience in awe of seeing him in such commanding form.
For Trower, it seems that that timelessness is its own kind of rebellion.
Dom Martin
Opening the evening was Dom Martin, Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2025 UK Blues Awards. With two tracks from his Buried In The Hail album, making up a six-song set, Martin brought an impressive solo style to the stage, wonderfully building the atmosphere for the evening.
Dom Martin has been hailed as well along the road to becoming a major Irish talent, and tonight’s passionate solo performance underlined this wonderfully.
