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Gig review: KING KING, THESE WICKED RIVERS – Sub 89, Reading, 27 October 2024
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Gig review: FM – The Carlisle, Hastings, 17 October 2024
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Gig review: THE NEW ROSES- The Black Heart, Camden, London, 16 October 2024
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Gig review: ALICE COOPER – Hydro, Glasgow, 14 October 2024
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Gig review: FIREFEST – Manchester Academy, 11-13 October 2024
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Gig review: STEVE HACKETT – Royal Albert Hall, London, 23 October 2024
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Feature: Rock: Rewired – STEVE MARRIOTT Part 2 (Peter Frampton interview)
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Feature: Rock: Rewired – STEVE MARRIOTT (Part 1)
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Feature: DANNY VAUGHN at Fairycroft House, Saffron Walden, May 24 2024
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Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – MAGNUM (December 2023)
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Feature: The GRTR! Grotto of Greatness – SAXON (November 2023)
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Tag Archives: Big Country
Album review : BIG COUNTRY – Driving To Damascus (Deluxe 4CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date: 30.6.23] The late great Stuart Adamson and his band, Big Country, made an indelible musical mark on UK popular culture before the man’s untimely demise. The history is well documented. The nineties was a hugely fertile … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Big Country, boxset, Driving To Damascus, Nashville, Ray Davies, review, Stuart Adamson, the nineties, USA
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Gig review: BIG COUNTRY – Islington Assembly Hall, London, 5 May 2023
For Big Country, their debut album ‘The Crossing’ is rightly regarded as a classic, spawning three hit singles and countless other fan favourites, and establishing that signature bagpipe style guitar sound. For the current line up it is also the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 5 May 2023, Big Country, Bruce Watson, gig, Islington Assembly Hall, Kirk Brandon, London, Simon Hough, Spear of Destiny, The Crossing
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Gig review: BIG COUNTRY – Islington Assembly Hall, London- 9 March 2022
It’s now been over 20 years since the sad passing of Stuart Adamson, but for over half that period his erstwhile bandmates Bruce Watson and Mark Brzezicki have been ensuring that his Big Country legacy stays alive with a touring … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Big Country, Bruce Watson, Celtic rock, gig, Jamie Watson, Mark Brzezicki, Simon Hough
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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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News: BIG COUNTRY new album ‘The Journey’
BIG COUNTRY BRUCE WATSON (GUITAR) • JAMIE WATSON (GUITAR) • MIKE PETERS (VOCALS) • DEREK FORBES (BASS) • MARK BRZEZICKI (DRUMS) THE JOURNEY NEW STUDIO ALBUM & UK TOUR APRIL 2013 Big Country will release their brand new studio album, … Continue reading
Best of 2012 with DAVE CLARKE
Dave Clarke of Planet Earth Publicity gives a sneak preview of some upcoming musical projects and a little football… What have you got planned music/promotion wise for next year? I’m looking forward to Lisbee Stainton’s UK tour, the new albums … Continue reading
Posted in NEWS, The Best Of 2012
Tagged Big Country, Dave Clarke, Level 42, Mark King, Planet Earth Publicity, The Jar Family
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