Legendary US progressive rockers Spock’s Beard are beyond excited to be announcing UK tour dates for March 2022.
Alan Morse comments: “We’re just so excited to get back on the road again, we can’t wait to see all our friends we’ve missed so much during this crazy time. We are ready to rock! We’re planning to play some of the Spock’s “classics” we know y’all love to hear, plus some surprises you haven’t heard in a long time – or maybe ever! Come up and say hello! Hope everyone is rested up and ready for a major supernova of prog rock madness, cos we’re bringing it, baby!”
Here’s the complete list of dates:
14/03 – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
15/03 – Glasgow, G2
16/03 – Bilston, Robin 2
17/03 – London, 229
18/03 – Great Yarmouth, HRH Prog
Tickets will go on sale on September 17th at 10 a.m. GMT.
InsideOutMusic recently announced the signing of Mandoki Soulmates, featuring renowned musician, songwriter and producer Leslie Mándoki. On the 24th September, a brand-new expanded version of his ‘Hungarian Pictures’ suite, will be released under the title:
‘Utopia For Realists: Hungarian Pictures’.
A video for the track ‘Sessions in the Village’ can be viewed here:
Leslie comments: “In his belief in the unifying power of music, Béla Bartók created his masterpiece, at a time when the flames of National Socialism threatened to engulf Europe, which served as the basis for our new album. Even more than 70 years after his death, the compositions have lost none of their topicality. So, what could be more natural than to bring them back to social relevance in the guise of progressive rock
Beginning with the piano introduction of my professor Szakcsi, a mastermind of the musical Roma tradition and Hungarian music legend, followed by the soulful performance of my daughter Julia, this song finds its musical climax in the soli of world stars like Cory Henry, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans or John Helliwell, before bringing the different voices together inunison in the grand finale.”
Alongside the original remixed and remastered music, a brand new Blu-ray audio-visual album will be released, combining the recording of the concert film of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with an impressive cinematic realization of the individual musical episodes. It also provides exclusive insights behind the scenes of the Soulmates production live and in the studio, a “making of”. The album will also be released as a standalone Gatefold 2LP+CD+LP-Booklet, and a standard CD jewelcase.
On ‘Utopia For Realists: Hungarian Pictures’, Leslie Mandoki plays together with Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Jack Bruce (Cream), Nick van Eede (Cutting Crew), Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann’s Earth Band), Bobby Kimball (Toto), David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat and Tears), John Helliwell (Supertramp), Al di Meola, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Till Brönner, Bill Evans, Cory Henry, Richard Bona, Tony Carey (Ritchie Blackmores Rainbow), Jesse Siebenberg (Supertramp), Steve Bailey, and Julia Mandoki
Mandoki Soulmates staged a global live stream event earlier this year which has achieved over half a million plays on Youtube and over 700.000 on Germany’s leading TV channel ARD since its release.
Watch it in full here: https://youtu.be/gDDpdhuC4Rg The Prog Rock Suite ‘Hungarian Pictures’ as a live concert film, supplemented by studio recordings, films and a comprehensive making-of documentary combined into a holistic audiovisual work of art, is further proof of the indomitable creativity of Leslie Mandoki and his soulmates.
Background on ‘Hungarian Pictures’:‘Hungarian Pictures’ is constructed as a suite, based on compositions and themes by
Bartók, supplemented with the bands original songs. Together with Greg Lake of Emerson Lake & Palmer, and Jon Lord of Deep Purple, Leslie had worked on the seed of this idea years ago.
Leslie explains:“For Bartók, diversity in culture creates enrichment. He believed that it is precisely from these differences that art draws the strength that enables further development. He
mixed sounds and traditional melodies from different regions of the Carpathian Plain in order to set an example against the burgeoning threat of National Socialism (Nazism) through the unifying aspects of music. That unifying impulse inspired Jon Lord, Greg Lake, and me.After completing our Mandoki Soulmates “Wings Of Freedom” tour through Europe, we gave a concert in New York’s Beacon Theater. The Soulmates show was a great success with an enthusiastic New York audience, standing ovations, and positive press reviews.
For me, a former asylum seeker who over four decades ago fled from a communist dictatorship to freedom, this success in the “Land of the Free” is a very special moment.After the concert, I spent a few days with my children in Van Morrison’s former house in
Topanga Canyon, one of the old “hippie” neighborhoods of Los Angeles. I used this free time to reflect on social developments over the past few years.
It became clear to methat we as artists are being challenged to become louder, to be a thorn in the side of society, and to bring progressive jazz rock back to real socio-political relevance. This is how the first ideas for a new album came about. It is the most ambitious and best project we ever worked on.”
YES, who are Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison and Billy Sherwood, recently announced they will release their new studio album The Quest on InsideOutMusic/Sony Music on 1st October 2021. The album was produced by Steve Howe. “Much of the music was written in late 2019 with the rest in 2020. We commissioned several orchestrations to augment and enhance the overall sound of these fresh new recordings, hoping that our emphasis on melody, coupled with some expansive instrumental solo breaks, keeps up the momentum for our listeners,” said Steve.
Today the band are pleased to reveal a video for the albums second single ‘Dare To Know’. Watch it now here:
Steve Howe comments: “Dare To Know presents a guitar theme played within many different arrangements, with different chord structures and altered textures. The ‘idea’ mentioned in the first verse gets described later as an awakening to the subtle goings on within our bodies and mind, all geared to nature’s scheme of things, all fluctuating and rearranging according to the principles of life, as we know it. The centrepiece leaves the orchestra alone to elaborate and develop the way the theme is heard, then augments the closing minutes of the song as it rests, with an acoustic guitar cadenza.”
They also recently launched a video for the albums opening track – The Ice Bridge – watch the video here:
The Quest was recorded across the globe, The sessions took place in the UK with Steve Howe, Geoff Downes & Jon Davison, while Alan White & Billy Sherwood got together in the studio in the US. “Billy Sherwood and myself did all the rhythm sections, bass and drum, in America,” says Alan White, “down in Los Angeles at Uncle Studios, where he works a lot. It helps when you’ve got a good place to work,” Alan laughs, “and Billy’s really good on the recording desk, so we got things down relatively quickly. I spent quite a while studying the music before I went down to LA so I was prepared.”
The Quest is also now available for pre-order in various formats, including a Limited Deluxe Box-Set that features a Gatefold 180g 2LP on exclusive coloured vinyl, 2CD+Blu-ray Digipak (featuring 5.1 mix & backing tracks), 36-page perfect bound booklet, enamel pin badge, 60x90cm poster, slipmat & hand-numbered certificate of authenticity, all housed in a rigid lift-off box.
Containing 11 songs, 8 on the main CD with 3 extra tracks on a bonus CD, The Quest will also be available as Limited 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook, 2CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP+2CD & as Digital Album. Pre-order now here: https://yes-band.lnk.to/TheQuest
The Quest – 2CD Digipak tracklisting:
CD1:01. The Ice Bridge 7.01
02. Dare To Know 6.00
03. Minus The Man 5.35
04. Leave Well Alone 8.06
05. The Western Edge 4.26
06. Future Memories 5.08
07. Music To My Ears 4.41
08. A Living Island 6.52
CD2:
01. Sister Sleeping Soul 4.51
02. Mystery Tour 3.33
03. Damaged World 5.20
Cover artwork designed and created by the band’s long term collaborator Roger Dean.
Thumpermonkey guitarist/vocalist Michael Woodman released ‘Psithurism’ on Friday, 6th August 2021, through Believers Roast. Named for the ancient Greek term for wind in the trees, ‘Psithurism’ moves away from Woodman’s maximalist sci-fi contributions to Thumpermonkey’s recent ‘Make Me Young Etc’, inhabiting instead the quiet interstices between mossy wet stones.
‘Murder ballads with funny counting’, if you like – fusing 70s progressive influences with 80s Scott Walker and weird fiction – sinister narratives featuring backwoods criminality, cryptids hidden in the shin-tangle, recently burned buildings hissing in rain, and the warm, sad ochre of nostalgia.
A fine piece of press release journalism there as it really does cover what this album is all about. Five tracks of low key, low-fi pared back wonderment, ‘Psithurism’ takes Michael’s melancholy, plaintive falsetto vocal and marries it with music that is at times achingly beautiful and, at others, painfully sparse and deliciously dark and discordant.
From the ethereal and mercurial opening vocals of Sacramento, with its clever parcity of musical notes and definite feeling of less is more and austere restraint, this at times whimsical musical gem treads its own definitive path. I love the ethereal whimsy of Petrichor before the dissonant guitar and strident drums change the atmosphere, it is very intelligent songwriting that leaves you wondering what is really behind the glossy and wistful exterior.
There’s an almost anarchic feel to the guitar that bleeds into ‘Cloned In Error’, a pensive journey into melancholy that, at times, reminds me of Radiohead’sKarma Police. Thoughtful and somber, The Levitant continues to cement the impression that there is something very different from the norm at the heart of Woodman’s music, the gently echoing acoustic guitar is the perfect foil to his haunting and mesmerising vocals. This EP comes to an all too early conclusion with the wistfully dark soundscapes of Seachange, a track that ebbs and flows between capricious whimsy and nihilistic bombast.
A hugely impressive and admirably different collection of songs that shows Woodman’s impish creativity at its best. A musical breath of fresh air that will leave a smile on your face and wonderment in your soul.
Evership are, if you do not already know, the new face of American Prog, their music is a graceful and enticing mix of lots of classic US Prog and Pomp Rock bands like Kansas, Styx and Starcastle, to name just three. This ,along with their love of European progressive rock like Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant and PFM (and romantic classical music) makes for a heady mix of sounds and textures.
They are most definitely a band to watch in the next few years. Led by Shane Atkinson (keyboards, drums, vocals, percussion, theremin and sound design) and aided by Beau West (lead vocals), James Atkinson (lead guitar) and John Rose (rhythm, classical, acoustic and lead guitar). They are also supported by Ben Young on bass and a few other friends also lend their talents to this album.
The album takes its inspiration from a book published in 1910 by Harold Bell Wright called ‘The Uncrowned King’, an allegory in the style of John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrims Progress’ with a story arc that fuses Mark Twain’s‘The Prince and the Pauper’ with Charles Dicken’s‘A Christmas Carol’. The book is about the search for truth and how real truth cannot be found solely with just our five senses. That truth is a more transcendent concept and one must show courage in the pursuit of it and its consequences. This is a two part story, this album is part 1, with part 2 in the pipeline. If you like the works that Neal Morse has offered, like ‘The Great Adventure’ and ‘Similitude Of A Dream’, appeal to you then I suspect that this one will too, as it ploughs a similar furlough in style and meaning.
Unlike Neal’s work, this album merely hints at spirituality rather than making any blatant declarations. This is, I feel, a highly effective tactic as it means the listener must reach his own conclusions about the viewpoints raised in the album. The album touches on religion, but it is not about religion although it does feature throughout.
The album has seven tracks, an epic sixteen minute track, three long tracks around ten minutes long and three shorter tracks. Together, this all lasts for just around sixty minutes and is full of excellent music and songs with quality lyrics. You will need the booklet with you to comprehend and grasp the subtleties of this album to get maximum enjoyment and appreciation of this piece of exquisitely crafted music.
The album opens with The Pilgrimage, which starts with a long instrumental section of about four minutes with lots of keyboards and synths, this is followed by some chunky guitar riffs as vocals are introduced. This is very symphonic sounding prog and very well done indeed. The pilgrimage details the journey the traveller makes from the Desert of Facts to The Temple of Truth and acts as an opener to the tale. Upon reaching the temple the traveller must meet the criteria for entry. The traveller is granted entry to The Quiet Room where he will be visited by four voices, firstly The Voice of The Waves who speaks of The Great That Is, The Uncrowned King and a Magic Crown.
This is followed by Crownshine/Allthetime which relates more of the backstory to the tale and commences with keyboards for one and a half minutes before Beau West starts singing of how the Crown was beautiful, magical and marvellous. All this is aided by some soaring guitar lines, choral voices and what sounds like tubular bells, although it could be played by the the synths of Shane Atkinson, all in all a strong and agreeable opening section.
The Tower follows where the narrative is told in song, of how the two princes in the kingdom wanted more than what they could see. Whilst looking from the tallest tower in the land they could see in the distance another land that looked good to them and so they sought consent from the king to go and discover this land for themselves. As they looked beyond their world to seek out and find new experiences and attractions to satisfy their wanderlust, the two princes, Really-Is and Seemsto-be, are prepared to risk everything.
There is a lot going on in the section with some excellent musicianship and some strong themes, along with lots of information pertaining to the story. We are also introduced to the two princes, Really-Is and Seemsto-be and we are also told of the life they lived, happy in a land where they enjoyed freedom of choices about what they chose to believe and the way they lived by. It also tells us of how they both looked the same and no one could tell them apart, a critical part of the tale as it transpires.
The Voice of The Evening Wind introduces the two princes, their steeds Reality and Appearance and set us up for the adventures they had in the pursuit of what they did not have. This is the paradox at the heart of the tale and how truth can be deceptive, and wisdom can be forgotten and forsaken in foolish quests.
The book on which this tale is based is certainly an interesting and intriguing one, one that, because it is over 200 years old, is not always clear in the points it makes but it is worth looking into. It is a book much loved by Shane and Beau and the video on their website details its impact on them.
This album takes you partway into the tale with the remainder to follow later this year and if it is as good as this one is it too will be very warmly welcomed and received, you really need to listen to it several times to understand, excellent work from all concerned.
First single and video “The Marauders” unveiled today!
DROTT is comprised of Arve Isdal (Enslaved), Ivar Thormodsæter (Ulver) and Matias Monsen and hails from Bergen in the west coast of Norway. With their varied musical background ranging from metal and jazz to classical music, they create the genre which can only be described as DROTT. Inspired by forces of nature, superstition and spirituality the trio explores light within darkness through their music.
The group, recently established (2020), released their self-titled EP in March 2021 and received great reviews. It established the Drott’s instrumental Progressive Rock sound as a breath of fresh air in the genre! Their first full-length “Orcus” album takes Drott in a new creative and artistic direction. With 10 tracks they dive deeper into sonic, experimental landscapes!
DROTT comment on “The Marauders”:
“The Marauders are not visible through the layers of mist. You can hear them hanging in ropes and sharpening their tools of mischief before their dire intentions are manifested through slow, dark riffs and slaughtering, heavy beats. They are lost souls roaming the Underworld, vicious murderers and thieves constantly searching for prey.”
Watch the video directed by Arve Isdal –
Filmed by Arve Isdal and Cathrine Wespestad
“Orcus” will be available as:
CD Digipack Trifold
12” Black vinyl in Gatefold
12” Gold vinyl in Gatefold – Limited to 100 copies, By Norse Music online stores exclusive
12” Milky Clear w/ Black and Gold Splatter in Gatefold – Limited to 100 copies, By Norse Music online stores exclusive
Digital
Pre-orders are available in the By Norse Music stores:
Modern music has long had its own set of musical minstrels who journey between different groups and sounds, how would Elvis sound without Scotty Moore and James Burton’s inspired playing? where would Cliff and most British rock be without Hank Marvin’s Stratocaster and graceful guitar lines? Music is littered with the artists whose sole role was to make the music the boss, make it sound better or different. Ray Fenwick is one such journeyman musician who skills have graced recording of the Spencer Davis Group, Fancy, the Ian Gillan Band and many over in his 50 plus year career, Ray also replaced Steve Howe in The Syndicats in 1964.
Ray is probably best known for his time in the Ian Gillan Band, which was formed after Gillan first left Deep Purple in 1973. The music the band made was hugely different from Purple with more Jazz, and even funk, elements present. The Ian Gillan Band made three albums, ‘Child in Time’, ‘Clear Air Turbulence’ and ‘Scarabus’, along with a set recorded in Japan that gained eventual UK release after the band had split up.
Ray is also remembered for his part in the Fancy project, who recorded a steam version of Wild Thing by The Troggs, the band was originally fronted by Penthouse Pet Helen Caunt, then by Annie Kavanagh, an ex-Musicals singer who had appeared in Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. Fancy had a follow up hit single She’s Riding the Rock Machine that was also a bit hit in the states.
Their unique blend of poppy, funky rock was in a similar vein to The Average White Band and, whilst Fancy enjoyed some US success, they failed to capitalise on it in any significant way which then led to Ray getting involved with Roger Glover’sButterfly Ball, project where he worked along with various Deep Purple related musicians, including Ian Gillan which is where the Ian Gillan Band idea was first conceived.
This expansive 3 CD set covers all areas of Ray’s career and includes a few rarities, along with some excellent tracks that really show Ray’s skills as a guitarist, writer and arranger. Especially fine is an eight minute plus psychedelic track called The Dream, recorded for Ray’s 1971 solo album ‘Keep America Beautiful, Get A Haircut’, released in 1971 on the Decca Label, an album that now commands a hefty price tag on various well-known auction sites and on line retailers It may be time for a proper reissue?
After the Ian Gillan Band years, Ray turned to being a session musician, recording with a variety of artists including Roger Glover and Eddie Hardin’ (in his Wizard Convention albums and concert) and worked with Graham Bonnet before forming the all-star rock project Forcefield in the mid 1980’s. This called on such luminaries as Jon Lord, Don Airey, Neil Murray and Cozy Powel. Jan Akkerman appearing on ‘Forcefield 3 – To Oz and Back’, along with Graham Bonnet.
If I have one criticism of this set it would be that the music is so very varied that it would be better presented in sets or eras, that way you could have all the 60’s tracks together, all the Deep Purple related tracks in one place and also Forcefield and Ray’s solo stuff and session work together. This would give better continuity and make this more accessible to listen to. That is just my opinion though and, hell, what do I know? I am only a reviewer, not the artist.
Some of these tracks are really hidden gems that passed the public at large by and really deserve a platform and should be heard. I am thinking of the Wizards Convention tracks, especially Money to Burn with David Coverdale, who turns in a fabulous performance. The Wizards Convention 2 tracks also impress, as does the Hardin and York track Have Mercy Woman. In fact, the second disc is crammed full of good tracks and many surprises, also noticeable is just how versatile a guitarist and musician Ray really is, playing a mean slide guitar on Between the Devil and Me.
The different styles of music that Ray plays on this set range from hard rock, jazz fusion, pop and country to reggae and all points in between. The more progressive of his work appears as tracks by Ray Fenwick in the main, although there is a whole stack of stuff to enjoy over the three discs. Packaged in a handsome three panel set with good photos and a highly informative booklet that gives the lowdown on his extraordinary career, this is a fine set indeed and well up to the usual standard of Cherry Red reissues and box sets.
Crack The Sky is undoubtedly the best progressive rock band that you’ve most likely never heard of, unless you we’re living in Baltimore in the 70’s. The band was formed in the early 1970’s in West Virginia. It would be several years before they would release their debut self titled album, Crack The Sky in 1975. Rolling Stone declared this album the ‘debut album of the year’ and the publication later went on to compare Crack The Sky to the talents of Steely Dan. This review set the bar high for the band.
Though the band never saw the same success as the first album. The band continues to perform and release albums to this day. On January 15th, 2021 they released their 19th studio album, Tribes.
Renaissance Records has announced that they will be reissuing Crack Attic by Crack The Sky this June of 2021 onto deluxe 180-gram vinyl with a gate fold. This ‘Best of Crack The Sky’ is a compilation album of the first five studio albums from 1975 to 1980. It will include featured tracks, ‘Hold On’, ‘Surf City’, ‘Nuclear Apathy’ and ‘Sea Epic’. It will also include trading cards of the original band members that come with the album when you purchase it exclusively with Renaissance Records.
Crack Attic by Crack The Sky is available now for pre-order from renaissancerecordsus.com. Track List
LP One
Side 1
1. Hold On 2. Surf City 3. She’s A Dancer 4. Mind Baby
Side 2
1. Ice 2. We Want Mine 3. Maybe I Can Fool Everyone 4. Ranger’s At Midnight
LP Two
Side 1
1. Invaders From Mars 2. Nuclear Apathy 3. Long Nights 4. Lighten Up McGraw
Side 2
1. White Music 2. Hot Razors In My Hearts 3. Poptown 4. Flaming Prelude/ Too Nice For That
About Renaissance Records
Founded in 1993 by former Aerospace Engineer John W. Edwards who had a passion for music and a new idea to form a recording label. He focused on the reissuing of classic rock and classic country LPs on CD for the first time. Renaissance Records soon signed licensing deals with EMI- Capitol, Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and BMG/RCA/Arista. The record label has released recordings from artists such as Rick Springfield, Pure Prairie League, Blue Oyster Cult, Gamma, Roxy Music and Judas Priest.
YES guitarist Steve Howe has announced he is to release the seventh edition of his Homebrew album series on 30th July via HoweSound. Homebrew 7marks the 25th anniversary ofthe guitar legend’s first album in his Homebrew collection. Pre-order the album here: https://cargorecordsdirect.co.uk/products/steve-howe-homebrew-7
The Homebrew series typically features recordings from Steve Howe’s home archive of demos and tracks, originally recorded for one of his many solo or group projects with YES, ASIA, ABWH or GTR. Homebrew 7 differs slightly as none of the tracks have previously been released in any form and there are no plans for any to be rerecorded in the future.
“Many are things I’ve enjoyed saving until the right moment,” says Howe, “and the Homebrew series allows this. Some tracks have matured with my nurturing but others have been recently rediscovered.”
This collection includes tracks from the late seventies through to 2016 in Howe’s extensive range of playing styles. Each of the 21 tracks is dated and accompanied by Howe’s background notes and details on instrumentation. Most of the tracks are Howe’s solo recordings with occasional contributions from Dylan Howe and Virgil Howe on drums with Phil Spalding on bass guitar (Half Way). The booklet includes the lyrics for the four vocal tracks and is also illustrated by some of Howe’s delightfully atmospheric photography.
Homebrew 7 Track Listing:
1. The Glider (2015) Time: 1.37
2. October (1998) 1.56
3. Half Way (1997, 2009 & 2015) 3.49
4. The Only One (2013) 1.26
5. In One Life (1982) 2.41
6. Outstanding Deal (1982) 3.21
7. Be Natural (2013) 1.47
8. Cold Winds (1983) 2.38
9. Deanscape (1982) 2.21
10. Tender Hooks (2015) 2.06
11. A Lady She Is (1982) 4.12
12. Two Sided (2013) 1.45
13. Strange Wayfarer (2016) 3.00
14. Devon Girl (1983) 2.42
15. Safe Haven (2015) 1.31
16. A Matter Of Fact 1986)
17. Touchstone (2015)1.58
18. From Another Day (1979) 1.47
19. Foregone Conclusion (2015) 1.58
20. Space Void (1978) 1.05
21. From The Get-Go (2015) 1.49
Total Running Time: 49.41
All titles written, arranged, engineered and produced by Steve Howe with additional drums by Dylan Howe and Virgil Howe.
July 30th, 2021 sees the release of ‘Common Ground’, the self-produced new album from Big Big Train on their own label, English Electric Recordings. The new album, recorded during the worldwide pandemic, sees the band continue their tradition of dramatic narratives but also tackles issues much closer to home, such as the Covid lockdowns, the separation of loved ones, the passage of time, deaths of people close to the band and the hope that springs from a new love.
Watch the new video for the title track, created by Christian Rios, here:
“This is unashamedly a love song. It is about finding things that we share and have in common with other people. When my partner and I first came together as a couple, we lived not far from Avebury in Wiltshire, a very Big Big Train kind of place. The chalk hills and standing stones were part of the imagery of our ‘Folklore’ album, and once again I was writing what was literally happening in the location in which we found ourselves. I remember seeing my white chalk dust footprints upon the black of the car mats after we’d been walking around Avebury. I’m pleased that we both get to have this time with each other and ‘Common Ground’ is about finding out the things that we have in common with each other and deciding what we want to do in life together.” – David Longdon
Tracklisting:
1. The Strangest Times 2. All The Love We Can Give 3. Black With Ink 4. Dandelion Clock 5. Headwaters 6. Apollo 7. Common Ground 8. Atlantic Cable 9. Endnotes
‘Common Ground’ sees the band taking in wider musical and lyrical inspiration from artists such as Elbow, Pete Townshend, Tears For Fears, Elton John and XTC, as well as acknowledging their more progressive roots. As ever, Big Big Train will take listeners on a journey, be it waiting for the UK 5pm pandemic press conferences (’The Strangest Times’) to the library of Alexandria (‘Black With Ink’) to the bottom of the ocean (‘Atlantic Cable’).
For the ‘Common Ground’ tour, which will be their most extensive to date and which will culminate in the UK with a show at the prestigious London Palladium, Greg Spawton (bass), David Longdon (lead vocals, flute), Nick D’Virgilio (drums, vocals) and Rikard Sjöblom (guitars, keyboards, vocals) will be joined by Carly Bryant (keyboards, guitars, vocals), who contributes vocals to ‘Common Ground’, Dave Foster (guitars), who plays on two tracks on the new album, Clare Lindley (violin, vocals) and by a five piece brass ensemble. The band expect to announce North American tour dates shortly.
Big Big Train has taken lyrical and musical inspiration from periods of history that are recognised as great leaps forward. Now with ‘Common Ground’, they are making such a surge themselves.
BIG BIG TRAIN UK TOUR 2022
TUE, MARCH 15TH – YORK, BARBICAN WED, MARCH 16TH – CAMBRIDGE, CORN EXCHANGE FRI, MARCH 18TH – BIRMINGHAM, SYMPHONY HALL SAT, MARCH 19TH – BATH, FORUM MON, MARCH 21ST – GLASGOW, ROYAL CONCERT HALL TUE, MARCH 22ND – MANCHESTER, BRIDGEWATER HALL WED, MARCH 23RD – LONDON, PALLADIUM
