The legendary rock band Wishbone Ash will be playing at the Queens Hall, Narberth, next Wednesday.

After more than 35 years the band is still going strong and plans are underway to record a new album and to release a live CD.

Wishbone Ash formed in October 1969 and the band was on the road gigging by 1970.

The British twin-lead guitar band was noticed early on for its unique blend of blues, jazz and English folk.

But ultimately it was the way the guitars played melodic leads together that would become Wishbone Ash's trademark, inspiring such bands as Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden.

Over the years, many notable musicians have contributed their talents to the band, including Asia's John Wetton, Trevor Bolder from Uriah Heep and Laurie Wisefield, who would later play guitar for Joe Cocker and even Tina Turner.

Late in 2004, founding guitarist Andy Powell, bassist Bob Skeat and drummer Ray Weston were joined by Finnish guitar slinger Muddy Manninen, who replaced fellow Finn Ben Granfelt.

Wishbone Ash introduced Manninen to a receptive crowd at the annual UK AshCon in October, and US fans came out to get a look at the new guitar duo in action on a late fall tour.

One of Helsinki's top players, Manninen is a natural fit with the Ash. He played alongside Granfelt in the acclaimed 80s outfit Gringos Locos, something of a twin-lead guitar band itself.

He and Powell share musical influences such as John Renbourn, Peter Green and Albert King.

With Manninen, Wishbone Ash regains a slide guitarist; he is also an accomplished acoustic player and songwriter.

With a new band member comes a new dynamic that Wishbone Ash fans have embraced enthusiastically. It is this synergy that the band hopes to capture in the studio this summer.

The last album to be released by Wishbone Ash was Clan Destiny in 2006, which saw the band do non-stop touring to promote its release in May.

Andy Powell explains the slightly odd title of their last album: "We're like the greatest unknown band, so there's something clandestine about that.

"There's a lot of clandestine stuff going on in the lyrics.

"The pun comes in because of Wishbone Ash's extended family of fans and there are so many former band members it's like a clan. We often question the destiny of this clan but it always survives, year after year."

Wishbone Ash has played sell-out tours of Japan, Australia and New Zealand and Rolling Stone magazine has rated band members Andy Powell and Ted Turner among the world's top 20 best.

Their performance at the Queens Hall next week promises to be a night not to be missed.

SUZANNAH HILLS