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***** Out of this world
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Latest Album Reviews
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Latest Gig Reviews
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Gig review: THE DARKER MY HORIZON – Dirty Rockers, Dudley, Saturday 24 October 2020
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Gig review: MARK MORRISS- Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 3 October 2020
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Gig review: GARY FLETCHER AND NICK RITCHIE – Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, 2 October 2020
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Gig review: COLLATERAL – Leo’s, The Red Lion, Gravesend, Friday 4 September 2020
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Gig review: THE DARKER MY HORIZON – The Victoria, Swindon, Thursday 27 August 2020
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Features
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Feature: Collectible Collections – MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – 40th Anniversary Box Set
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Feature: Albums that time forgot … NATIVE CAIN – The Primitive Soul
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Feature: Albums that time forgot…EUROPE – Secret Society
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Feature: Albums that time forgot…JAMES LABRIE – Elements Of Persuasion
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Feature: Albums that time forgot…DON DOKKEN – Up From The Ashes
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Feature: Albums that time forgot … CODE OF SILENCE – Dark Skies Over Babylon
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Tag Archives: Big Country
Album review: BIG COUNTRY – Out Beyond The River, The Compulsion Years Anthology

Cherry Red [Release date 25.09.20] The late great Stuart Adamson and his band, Big Country, made an indelible musical mark on UK popular culture. Their history is well documented. This anthology focuses on a very narrow, but hugely fertile period … Continue reading
Album review: THE PETAL FALLS – Workin’ All Night Workin’ All Day

Rock Avenue Records [Release date 31.07.20] This is my new favourite album of 2020, by UK band, The Petal Falls “Workin’ All Night Workin’ All Day” and if the impressive production is anything to go by, this band most certainly has … Continue reading
Album review: WKW (WATSON, KERCHEVAL, WATSON) – Men Of Steel

WKW Music [Release date - Out Now] WKW is a collaboration between the two Big Country mainstays, Bruce and Jamie Watson, and Thomas Kercheval. Kercheval is an Emmy winning documentary editor, independent musician and longtime Big Country fan. He ran … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts
Tagged album, Big Country, Bruce Watson, CD, Jamie Watson, Kerchevel, Men Of Steel, review, Robert Burns, Stuart Adamson, The Skids, Watson, WKW
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Gig review: REWIND SCOTLAND – Scone Palace, Perth, 20 – 21 July 2019

I am sure every generation will lay claim to having all the best music. The music being played on TV and radio during your formative years is what you absorbed and, by default, sticks with you through life. For me and … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 20th July 2019, 21st July 2019, 80's pop, Abba, Belinda Carlisle, Big Country, Bjorn Again, Blackbox, Brian Ferry, Dire Straits, Eddi Reader, festival, Foreigner, Hazel O'Connor, Hipsway, Joyce Sims, Leo Sayer, Lisa Stansfield, Lulu, Midge Ure, music, Paul Young, Perth, Rewind, rock, Roxy Music, Scone Palace, Scotland, The Primitives, The Skids, The Stranglers, The Undertones, ULTRAVOX
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Gig review: BIG COUNTRY – Town House, Hamilton, 30 March 2019

Big Country have been racking up the miles in recent years as they are constantly on tour somewhere in the world. The fact that the guys can still fill halls across the UK and beyond is testament to the quality … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 30th March 2019, Big Country, Brue Watson Simon Haugh, Celtic, Fields Of Fire, gig, Hamilton, live, review, Rianne Downey, rock, Steeltown, Town House
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Gig review: BIG COUNTRY – Under The Bridge, London, 16 November 2018

For Big Country, their 1983 album ‘The Crossing’ is the gift that keeps on giving. It catapulted them to fame, established their trademark sound and to this day contains most of their best loved songs. Shortly after reforming at the … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Big Country, Bruce Watson, gig, Jamie Watson, Mark Brzezicki, review, Simon Hough, The Crossing
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Album review: TIFFANY – Pieces Of Me

Go On Then Records [Release date 05.10.18] Tiffany sold over 15m albums to date and most will know her for her worldwide hit ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ in 1987. She has been releasing albums since then that have covered pop, country and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts
Tagged album, Big Country, blues, melodic rock, Pieces Of Me, pop, pop rock, review, rock, Tiffany
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Album review: TONY BUTLER – My Time

Phoenix Rising Records [Release date 01.06.18] Former Big Country bassist Tony Butler Big Country started working on this album when he left Big Country in 2012. He is managed by former Big Country manager Ian Grant and the band’s drummer Mark … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts
Tagged album, bassist, Big Country, Mark Brzezicki, My Time, pop, review, rock, Stuart Adamson, Tony Butler
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Quick plays: ESP 2.0, ROAMER, UNRULY CHILD

ESP 2.0 22 Layers Of Sunlight [Release date 20.04.18] www.suncreative.com ESP released a very enjoyable prog rock album in 2016′s ‘Invisible Din’ and now they are back with a revamped line-up. Composer/producer/guitarist Tony Lowe and Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Quick Plays
Tagged album, alt rock, alternative, Big Country, Esp 2.0, Layers Of Sunlight, Marcie Free, melodic, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Roamer, rock, Tony Lowe, Unhinged: Live From Milan, Unruly Child, What The Hell
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Album review: ESP – Invisible Din (Tony Lowe, Mark Brzezicki)

Sunn Creative [Release date 11.11.16] ESP is an interesting collaboration as it features producer/guitarist Tony Lowe and Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki, the latter maybe not someone you’d associate with progressive rock. Tony Lowe composed all the music and Alison … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts
Tagged album, Alison Fleming, Big Country, ESP, Invisible Din, Mark Brzezicki, prog, Progressive Rock, review, Tony Lowe
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Gig review: BIG COUNTRY – The Warehouse, Falkirk, 30 September 2016

Big Country, like many classic rock bands at the moment, are going through a bit of a golden period. Every year is throwing up another significant anniversary to be celebrated, last year it was 30 years since the release of … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 30th Sept 2016, Big Country, Bruce Watson, Falkirk, Fields Of Fire, gig, In A Big Country, Jamie Watson, Kate Bush, live, Madness, review, Simon Hough, Steeltown, The Seer, The Warehouse
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Gig review: WEYFEST- Rural Life Centre, Tilford, Surrey, 19-21 August 2016

Weyfest celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Rural Life Centre, a rustic setting that suits its ambience as one of the more laid back of festivals. Situated on the Surrey/Hampshire borders in what was once known as the stockbroker belt, … Continue reading
Gig review: 80’s INVASION TOUR – Edinburgh Playhouse, 20 March 2016 (Big Country, Midge Ure)

The 80’s are rapidly becoming the new 60’s in terms of misty eyed nostalgia. The teenagers of the 80’s are now in the 40 to 50 ish bracket with the disposable income (allegedly!) to indulge themselves and relive their teen … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 20 March 2016, 80s Invasion Tour, Big Country, Curiosity Killed The Cat, David Bowie, Edinburgh Playhouse, gig, Haircut One Hundred, live, Midge Ure, Nick Hayward, pop, review, rock, ULTRAVOX, Vienna, Visage
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Gig review: GIANTS OF ROCK, Minehead, Somerset, 29-31 January 2016

For the past two years Butlins’ Giants Of Rock and has lived up to that name with ease and has been host to some of the finest rock bands around and this, the third year, it seems to have hit … Continue reading
Gig review: BIG COUNTRY – Clapham Grand, 28 November 2014

Big Country’s sophomore album Steeltown has had the full treatment to mark its 30th anniversary, first a deluxe reissue and then a tour in which the album is played in its entirety. The band did a similar thing with their … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 28 November 2014, album, Big Country, Clapham Grand, London, review, rock
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Gig review: BIG COUNTRY – Concert Hall, Perth, 28 September 2014

Tonight’s gig was part of a weekend of music in celebration of the Ryder Cup Golf Tournament which was being held a few miles down the road at Gleneagles. The premise I take it was to cash in on the … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 28 September 2014, Big Country, Bruce Watson, Concert Hall, Derek Forbes, Fields Of Fire, gig, Gleneagles, golf, In A Big Country, Jamie Watson, Jon McKenzie, live, Mark Brzezicki, Perth, rock, Ryder Cup, Scotland, Simon Hough, Simple Minds, Steeltown, Stuart Adamson, The Holy Ghosts
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Album review: BIG COUNTRY – Reissues

Universal Music [Release dates 03.08.14 and 27.09.14] Stuart Adamson may have died too soon, but his Big Country legacy seems to be in safe hands, whether it be surviving members continuing to tour under the name and even making a … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Reissues
Tagged album, Big Country, No Place Like Home, Peace in Our Time, pop, reissue, review, rock, Steeltown, Stuart Adamson, The Seer
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Gig review: WEYFEST, Rural Life Centre, Tilford, Surrey – 29-31 August 2014

Now firmly established as one of the late fixtures on the summer gig calendar, Weyfest is a festival with a very distinct vibe. The wooded setting, in an olde worlde museum of rural life with reconstructions of old buildings, could best … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS, Special Events
Tagged 10CC, August 2014, Big Country, blues, Deborah Bonham, Eddie & The Hot Rods, festival, gig, Jackie Lynton, Jo Harman, pop, review, rock, Sons of Icarus, Squeeze, Weyfest
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DVD review: BIG COUNTRY – Live at the Town and Country Club, London

Wienerworld Recorded back in 1990 this is not quite the classic Big Country line-up as it features Pat Ahern on drums. Also it is just the concert, no extras or song selection, although with only nine songs perhaps one wasn’t … Continue reading
Posted in All Posts, DVD REVIEWS
Tagged Big Country, DVD, Live at the Town and Country Club, London, pop, review, rock, Stuart Adamson
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Album review: BIG COUNTRY – The Journey

Cherry Red (Released 15th April) This marks a major step in Big Country’s history as it is the first studio album not to feature the late Stuart Adamson and the recording debut of the Alarm’s Mike Peters … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts
Tagged Big Country, Bruce Watson, Mike Peters, Stuart Adamson, The Alarm, The Journey
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