Bernie Marsden: STAGE Review
The fifth and final album in Bernie Marsden’s Inspirations Series, STAGE was released on 21st August 2026 via the award-winning independent label, Conquest Music. The 15-track record is available in a limited edition 2LP and 2CD Deluxe Digipack. The album represents the arena where perhaps Bernie shone the brightest… on STAGE. Each side of vinyl is dedicated to respective live performances that span across over two decades.
The first quarter of the album is a gentle acoustic presentation, accompanied by a strings ensemble. Recorded live at The Radcliffe Centre, Buckingham in 2008. Starting off with a folky acoustic guitar, “Til the Day I Die” slowly brings in the violin and a tambourine to keep the time. “The Time is Right for Love” continues in a similar fashion, with Bernie’s vocals ranging from warm and smooth to a tad more aggressive as the dynamics shift. Adding a touch of psychedelia with his guitar work, Bernie nods to Rory Gallagher with the rendition of a folk classic, “Out On The Western Plains”, before playing a laidback version of a fan-favourite “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City” highlighted by an incredible vocal performance.
On the flipside, Bernie switches styles with “Boss of the Blues”, a classic blues shuffle recorded in 2019 as part of his performance at Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea. The electric band sounds amazing, with a brass section adding further spice to the texture. As Steve Lukather aptly described Marsden: “Tone and touch and taste. That was Bernie.” – he truly lives up to those words in this performance. “Reconsider Baby” is a bit slower, but not any less swingy. Driving bass line leads the way into “Watch Out”, featuring killer guitar chops throughout, before sailing smoothly into a lazy-paced jazzy number that is “Worried Life Blues”.
Side C brings more heat in the shape of Marsden’s 1996 Nottoden Blues Festival performance that starts with a dirty version of “Down Home Blues” – is it the groove, the mean guitar tone, or Bernie’s gritty vocals? Probably the mix of it all. A truly fiery and memorable performance. Adding fuel to that fire is the upbeat Freddie King classic “I’m Tore Down”, before the band decides to bring it all the way down with a slow blues number “Love That Burns” that features stellar guitar work with feel that only Bernie could deliver. The band goes right back to the upbeat and dirty lane with a cool-as-you-like take on “Oh Well”.
The final section of the double album is a recording from 2020 at Under the Bridge, London, featuring a special guest, none other than Joe Bonamassa. Bernie kicks things off with a Whitesnake classic, “Walking in the Shadow of the Blues”, before moving on to Albert King’s “I’ll Play the Blues for You”. To wrap this amazing record up, Bernie plays a tune popularised by Gary Moore, “Walking By Myself” – this version however, features a jaw-dropping guitar duel between Marsden and Bonamassa that’s not to be missed!
This selection of songs recorded live across four different concerts spans different eras, different styles, different bands; it is made up of so many contrasts, but one thing stays the same throughout – the heart and soul that Bernie Marsden has put into his music and into his live performances. STAGE is not an album for casual listening – it requires the listener’s full attention and willingness to immerse themselves into the journey through time, across land and sea.
The Review: 8.5/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
– Boss of the Blues
– Down Home Blues
– Walking By Myself
The Big Hit
– Down Home Blues
