There are guitarists who play fast, and then there’s Eric Johnson, who plays exactly right — every note weighed, coloured, and placed with a touch that’s instantly recognisable. At Lowther Pavilion, in front of a crowd that clearly knew every solo before it landed, Johnson, drummer Tal Bergman and bassist Daniel Kimbro — billed as Johnson’s Texaphonic power-trio lineup — delivered a masterclass that spanned nearly three decades of Johnson’s catalogue.
The first set opened with “Righteous” and moved swiftly through “S.R.V.” — a warm, heartfelt nod to Stevie Ray Vaughan that set the tone for a night built on tribute as much as technique. “Forty Mile Town” and “Friends” gave the songs room to breathe, while covers of Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” and Victor Young’s “Stella by Starlight” showed off the jazz sensibility that sits underneath even Johnson’s heaviest rock playing. Bergman and Kimbro locked in beautifully throughout, giving Johnson a foundation solid enough to take real risks on top of. “Trueheart Blues” and a loose, exploratory “Blues Jam” leaned into that chemistry, before a fiery take on Hendrix’s “Bold as Love” brought the first set home.
The second set opened in stripped-back style, with Johnson switching to acoustic guitar alongside just Kimbro on bass — an intimate change of pace that let “Resolution” and “Abelia” breathe in a completely different light before Bergman rejoined and the trio built back up. “Chester” — Johnson’s tribute to Chet Atkins — was a genuine highlight of this quieter stretch, all delicate fingerpicking and warmth. Kimbro then took a bass solo that drew some of the loudest applause of the night, before “Once Upon a Time in Texas” and “Song for George” continued the run of heartfelt tributes. “Steve’s Boogie” and “On Green Dolphin Street” kept things swinging, and “Desert Rose” brought a touch of melancholy beauty before a stretch of pure “Improvisation” led into the one everyone was waiting for: “Cliffs of Dover.” It didn’t disappoint — the room lit up the moment those opening bends rang out.
They closed with “Zap” as the encore, sending the crowd out into the Lytham night still buzzing.
This was a set for guitar players and music lovers alike — technically dazzling, but never at the expense of feel. Johnson, Bergman and Kimbro made for a genuinely tight, telepathic trio, and Lowther Pavilion proved itself a lovely, intimate setting for a player of Johnson’s stature.
SETLIST
Set 1: Righteous · S.R.V. · Forty Mile Town · Caravan (Duke Ellington cover) · Friends · Stella by Starlight (Victor Young cover) · E Flat Groove · Trueheart Blues · Blues Jam · Bold as Love (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
Set 2: Resolution · Abelia · Chester (Tribute to Chet Atkins) · Bass Solo · Once Upon a Time in Texas · Song for George · Steve’s Boogie · On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislaw Kaper cover) · Desert Rose · Improvisation · Cliffs of Dover
Encore: Zap
With thanks to Peter Noble for the media access.
All photos by David Beech Photography | Review by Roxianna Blue
GALLERY
