Writing memorable tunes is half the battle, no matter what type of music you play.

So Maartin Allcock knew he was on to a winner when he heard one of his band's latest songs being whistled in the Gents.

Maartin, a veteran of folk-rock bands like Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull, was playing a gig at the Worth Valley Brewery in Keighley at the start of a UK tour with his new band WAZ!

"I was in the Gents and one of the guys in the cubicle next to me was whistling one of the songs we'd just played. It was a brand new song he couldn't have heard before so that's always a good sign," said Maartin.

WAZ! were formed in 1997 when he joined forces with Pete Zorn, who also works with the Richard Thompson Band and Barbara Dickson, and ex-Albion Band man Dave Whetstone.

But the band's new line-up features Keighley-based guitarist and songwriter Steve Tilston.

"Dave left, having found the rock 'n' roll lifestyle too staid, to go back to accountancy," said Maartin.

Steve, who made his name in John Renbourne's band Ship of Fools, wrote nine of the 13 tracks on the new WAZ! album Fully Chromatic, including the tune which proved so catchy at the band's Keighley gig.

"He seems to be able to express himself from the heart," said Maartin. "Steve is very open to different styles. He has a knack for finding the right style for the kind of song he want to write."

And Maartin has another reason to be pleased to have recruited him - he used to idolise him. "He was a bit of a guitar hero. If you could play a Steve Tilston solo you really were something," he said.

There will be another chance for West Yorkshire fans to see WAZ! in action when they are guests of the Topic Folk Club next week.

The gig is part of a lengthy Take Two Tour which will see them on the road until the end of February.

The dates are to promote the CD Fully Chromatic, which is available at gigs or by mail order at £13 including postage and packing from WAZ! Records at Budleigh House, The Green, Barford St Michael OX15 0RN.

Maartin is looking forward to playing at the Topic again, having been a regular performer there over the years in other guises, notably as part of his duos with Bradford-based musicians Bruce Baillie and Roger Sutcliffe.

"The gig at Keighley was just one that Steve organised as an extra for the start of the tour but it was absolutely packed and lots of people said they would be coming again to the Topic gig, so it should be great," he said.

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