Martin Lancelot Barre, 66, is a rock legend. For 43 years he has given Jethro Tull’s music its unique guitar sound.

Surprisingly then, fewer than 100 people turned up for his two-hour-plus show of blues standards and Tull interpretations.

But Barre, used to playing before thousands, appeared to enjoy himself immensely. He was doing things his way, and that included reworking Tull classics such as New Day Yesterday and his favourite passages from Thick As A Brick. There was a lute, mandolin and squeezebox version of Robert Johnson’s Crossroads, and a couple of Robert Parker blues gems.

Barre did lose his set list and mix up Gary Brooker with Gary Moore but he played masterfully, as did his extraordinary band. This was by no means The Martin Barre Show but, as the ticket said – The Martin Barre Band. Frank Mead’s sax, harmonica and all things blown almost stole the show. Guitarist Pat O’May was a French Jack Black. Without the whimsy of Ian Anderson’s vocal, the Tull lyrics sometimes rang hollow but Dan Crisp did well.

Yes, there were ten Jethro Tull songs, but this was never a tribute evening. It was more a school of rock and blues with all eyes on Professor Barre, axe supergod.