BIG COUNTRY, ‘live’ on tour - celebrating the albums:

THE CROSSING, 1983-2018 35th Anniversary & PEACE IN OUR TIME, 1988-2018 30th Anniversary

“Timeless anthems for a very Big Country…a body of work that sweeps away the test of time” (Lancashire Evening Post)

On 15th July 1983, BIG COUNTRY released their debut album, ‘THE CROSSING’ - arguably what the record-buying public worldwide view as the definitive sound and songs of one of the most exciting post-punk and post-classic rock bands of all time. ‘The Crossing’ reached Number 4 in the UK album chart, remaining in the chart for a phenomenal 81 weeks. It also reached Number 4 in Canada and Number 18 in the USA Billboard 200, 11 in The Netherlands, Number 18 in Sweden and Number 8 in New Zealand - eventually being certified Platinum in both the UK and Canada.

Spawning their iconic songs and anthems ‘In A Big Country’, ‘Harvest Home’ , ‘Chance’ and their debut single, ‘Fields of Fire’ released in February (reaching Number 10 in the UK singles chart) , beyond the UK, the album was released in countries as diverse and far-flung as Japan, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa,  The Philippines , Mexico, Israel, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, Canada and the USA – where it was even available on 8 Track!

The band  - Stuart Adamson, Bruce Watson, Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki - performed on such iconic TV shows as ‘The Tube’, ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ and of course, ‘Top of The Pops’ sealing their phenomenal appeal across the whole spectrum of music fans. As response grew internationally, the band would also appear on the legendary ‘Saturday Night Live’ TV show in the USA.

Recorded in California, the fourth Big Country album, ‘PEACE IN OUR TIME’ arrived in September 1988 and was produced by the band along with Ina Wolf and Peter Wolf of the J Geils Band (‘Centrefold’). Mixed at the same Los Angeles studio as Michael Jackson’s ‘Dangerous’ album, ‘Peace In Our Time’ reached the Top Ten in the UK, where the singles ‘King Of Emotion’ and the title track. The album was also Top 40 in Germany and Top 30 in Sweden.

Following their celebratory tours marking the 30th anniversary of both their second and third albums – ‘Steeltown’ and ‘The Seer’ – in 2018 Big Country now mark the 35th anniversary of ‘The Crossing’ by performing the album in its entirety and the 30th anniversary of the release of  ‘Peace In Our Time’ with a best-of selection. And surprises.

The band BRUCE WATSON (guitars/vocals); MARK BRZEZICKI (drums, vocals); JAMIE WATSON (guitars/vocals) are augmented on stage by SIMON HOUGH and bassist, SCOTT WHITLEY.

“Big Country almost blew the roof off on Saturday night.

Frontman Simon Hough was magnificent and urged the seated audience to cast aside their chairs and get down to the front of the stage. The crowd did just that, making for a night to remember. Hough was a revelation and a more charismatic vocalist is hard to visualise. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand from start to finish – no wonder Bruce Watson singled him out for a special mention”. (Ian Russell, Daily Record)

www.bigcountry.co.uk

(with Thanks to John Gouevia at www.bigcountryinfo.com )

SEPTEMBER

Thu 13TH Shrewsbury The Buttermarket, Howard Street Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 2LF  7pm £22.75     01743 281750   07590 471888   http://www.thebuttermarket.co.uk

Fri 14th Swindon MECCA, Regent Circus, SN1 1PR  01793251111 www.meccaswindon.co.uk/  £21.00  

Sat 15th Exeter Phoenix, Gandy St, Exeter EX4 3LS  01392 667080  https://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/  7.30pm £20+Fee

Thu 20th Liverpool Cavern Club, Cavern Walks 10 Mathew St, Liverpool L2 6RE 0151 236 9091 https://www.cavernclub.org/  8pm  £20

Fri 21st Bilston The Robin 2, 20 - 28 Mount Pleasant, Wolverhampton, Bilston WV14 7LJ www.therobin.co.uk/    01902 401211  £20 Adv  £22.50 Door

Sat 22nd Chester The Live Rooms –1 Station Rd, Chester CH1 3DR  01244 318906 https://www.theliverooms.com 7pm £20  

OCTOBER

Wed 3rd Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre (A concert for The Kids Fundraiser)​ 8-22 Rainhall Rd, Barnoldswick BB18 5AF  01282 813374   https://www.barnoldswickmusicandartscentre.com/  

Thurs 4th Arlington Arts Centre.​ Mary Hare, Snelsmore Common, Newbury www.arlingtonarts.co.uk/pages/contact.php  01635 244246  

Thu 11th Milton Keynes MK11, Keller Close (off Tilers Rd), Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes MK11 3LH  https://www.mk11kilnfarm.com/  7.30pm  £23 + B/Fee 

Fri 12th Wakefield Warehouse 23 –23 Smyth St, Wakefield WF1 1ED  01924 200162 https://warehouse23.co.uk/  7pm  £20 Adv

Sat 13th Newcastle O2 Academy, Westgate Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SW 0191 260 2020   https://academymusicgroup.com/o2academynewcastle/  6.30pm  £23.

Fri 19th Blyth The Phoenix Arts Centre, 37A Beaconsfield St, Blyth NE24 2DS http://www.thephoenixtheatre.org.uk/   01670 367228  7.30pm  £23

Fri 26th Louth  Town Hall, Eastgate, Louth LN11 9NH  www.louthtownhall.co.uk/ 01507 354336  7.30pm  £22 + B/fee

NOVEMBER

Fri 2nd Manchester - Gorilla

Sat 3rd Leeds - Brudenell Social Club

Fri 9th Southend-On-Sea - Chinnerys

Sat 10th Northampton - Roadmender

Thu 15th Helsinki, Finland - Kulttuuritalo

Fri 16th London - Under The Bridge

Sat 17th Hove - The Old Market 

Wed 21st Derby - The Flowerpot

Thu 22nd Stroud - Subscription Rooms  

Fri 23rd Bristol - The Fleece

Sat 24th Frome - Cheese & Grain 

Sun 25th Cardiff - The Globe