Paul Whittington - Drums / percussion


Inspired by the likes of Ian Paice, Simon Kirk, Bill Bruford, Alan White, Simon Phillips, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta, Lenny White, John Bonham, Steve Ferrone, Dave Weckl, Billy Cobham and then . . . he ended up playing like himself . . oh well :-(

Paul started playing jazz at the age of 10 driven by his father playing a mean jazz piano learning the fine art of brush and stick rudiments which he’s now forgotten :-)  With the release of Deep Purples ‘Made in Japan’ in 1973 the brushes went back in the cupboard and the rest is history feeling more comfortable with the more technical side of AOR.

In the past Paul was the driving force behind many top Bristol based bands now providing a steady hand to XTR always ready to dip into the ‘bag of chops’ and deliver with as much punch as required !  

Ian Anderson - Acoustic / rhythm / lead electric guitar / backing vocals


Ian started playing guitar instead of doing his homework back in the mid-60's.  Heavily Blues influenced but has played everything from Waltzes & Quicksteps to Soul, Jazz Rock & Heavy Metal...!  

Played the clubs, dance halls and pubs all over the U.K., and the U.S. bases in Europe. In 1993 he went on a nine year ‘lost weekend’, playing guitar in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand….

Has settled down a bit now, and for the last ten years or so has been with popular local covers band ‘Rude Awakening’.  Ian has known Claire for many years, and played in a ‘folk-rock’ band with her in the early 70’s, and again in the mid 8o’s…. and now joining her once again in the New Country /Rock /Pop band ‘Cross The River’ !….

Claire Gaynor

Lead / backing vocals / acoustic & electric guitar


Claire is an award winning British singer song writer who over many years has also gained considerable experience from writing, recording and live performance.


Her latest album Raison D’être reflects the ever changing styles and instruments of contemporary AOR, folk and New Country Claire has added some of her favourite songs from a large back catalogue to complete the playlist and the live acoustic set..

Claire Gaynor - Lead / backing vocals, electric / acoustic guitars

Ian Anderson - Acoustic / rhythm / lead electric guitar / backing vocals

Martin Cook - Bass guitar

Paul Whittington - Drums / percussion

Martin Cook - Bass guitar


Martin is a true maverick bass player and a self-confessed vinyl junkie.  His musical ventures have so far included the twisted pop-psych of Big Chief Mkuja, widely acclaimed folk-blues with Anon-Amos, vast desert blown sounds of The Haunted Knitting Machine and the hard rocking Anglo-Italian band Fungus.  Migrating from being a classical schooled cello player, he has developed his own style of playing incorporating influences from across the musical spectrum, enabling him to feel musically at home in every situation that presents itself.