So the stage was set for the final gig of 2013 at "The Rock Den" @Breaks with Purple Tree UK. Advance tickets sales for this gig topped all previous shows.

As the Intro music faded out at 8.15pm, (15 minutes later than advertised due to punters still queuing at the door) "Highway Star" burst through the PA system from a band intent on recreating the sounds of  Deep Purple and the 70's.

"Hush" and "Strange Kind of Woman" followed before Purple Tree UK switched tracks; "Man on a Silver Moutain" written by the legendary Ronnie James Dio (R.I.P) and Ritchie Blackmore, their first single from Rainbows debut album. Trey Pattersons voice lending itself easily to the aforementioned songs, equally backed up by the Bass playing of Leonard Smith and the man that put it all together, David John Norman on Drums.

Time for Christian Illingsworth to change guitars, enter Whitesnake's "Ain't no love in the Heart of the City" the bluesy "Walking in the Shadow of the Blues" before 3 songs from different Rainbow era's ended the first set, "Tarot Woman", "Stargazer" and Graham Bonnets tongue in cheek "Since You've Been Gone".

After a brief costume change for the band, quick smoke and bar break for the enthusiastic crowd, 'Set Two' kicked off with the Mighty "Burn", enter guitar maestro Christian Illingsworth's solo for "Mistreated" followed by three Whitsnake Classics, "Fool For Your Loving", "Ready and Willing", "Ain't Gonna Cry No More". "Black Night", "Woman From Tokyo" and "Space Truckin" ended the set to a rapturous applause and we want want.

Keyboard solo from Martin Howells led the very talented band into "When A Blind Man Cries" before the final curtain call of "Smoke On The Water"

David John Norman should be very proud of the band he's put together as the Purple Family Tree were excellent; some even commented they were better than the real thing they'd seen two weeks before at the Camden Roundhouse! Check them out for yourselves at www.purpletreeuk.com.
The Rock Den will return after it's Christmas break on Jan 18th with the Legendary Mick Underwood and his band "Glory Road" plus Special Guests from North London "Meansteed"

Images c/o Martyn Turner