Big Country – Land’s End To John O’Groats Tour 2013
BIG COUNTRY – LAND’S END TO JOHN O’GROATS TOUR 2013
Big Country are proud to announce details of their latest UK tour which will run from Saturday 12th October at Mareel in the Shetland Islands to Yardbirds in Grimsby, Humberside taking in a hometown concert in Dunfermline with symbolic appearances at both Land’s End and John O’Groats .
Big Country (who are currently performing in North America until September 1st), are excited to extend ‘The Journey’ tour in the face of so much positive reaction to both the live appearances and the new album and especially keen to play a set of dates that visit so many towns and cities that are not usually on the tour itinerary. Tickets are on sale now at the following venues:
Big Country ‘Land’s End To John O’Groats Tour’ 2013
Sat 12 Oct Shetland Isles Mareel
Fri 18 Oct Thurso Y-Not
Sat 19 Oct Dunfermline Live Alhambra
Sun 20 Oct York Fibbers
Tue 22 Oct Preston 53 Degrees
Wed 23 Oct Wrexham Central Station
Fri 25 Oct Holmfirth Picturedome
Sat 26 Oct Rugby The Vault
Sun 27 Oct Bristol The Fleece
Tue 29 Oct Exeter Phoenix
Wed 30 Oct Falmouth Princess Pavillion
Fri 01 Nov Swansea Sin City
Sat 02 Nov Brighton The Haunt
Sun 03 Nov Southend On Sea Chinnery’s
Tue 05 Nov Ipswich Railway
Wed 06 Nov Stourbridge River Rooms
Thu 07 Nov Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Fri 08 Nov Doncaster Leopard
Sat 09 Nov Grimsby Yardbirds
“Just as you sow you shall reap” is a line from Big Country’s first ever single ‘Harvest Home’ of 1983 and 30 years on from that release Big Country are still as committed to the live stage and performing their unique sounding music as ever. ‘Back then we built our audience through non-stop gigging” says founder member Bruce Watson, “The band feels reborn and we are happy to go out there and prove it every night no matter how far we have to travel”.
The band recently wrapped up a successful campaign throughout Europe and the UK, culminating in a triumphant show at London’s The Forum on June 2nd. On the heels of these dates, the demand for more “Big Country” brings a second trek to the U.K. with the ‘Land’s End To John O’Groats Tour’ 2013. These will be more micro events than tour dates, with sets crafted for each hometown. Every song, and every note, of every show will be an extension of the town’s people, aimed straight at the heart of each community, promising the communion of soul and sound. The band just kicked off a three month North American tour launching with a ‘sell out’ show at the legendary Grammercy Theater in New York, on June 7th.
Big Country’s latest release “The Journey” (which is the first album from Big Country in 14 years), has been lauded by fans and critics alike. This amazing body of work harkens back to the Scottish roots of the band’s beginnings, and lays down a marker for what the future holds for a group that organically collected itself out of a deep sense of love, brotherhood, and respect for original vocalist, Stuart Adamson, who left us way too early on December 16th, 2001. Hurt, Another Country, Hail & Farewell, and the title track, The Journey, invite the listener in, and hold them tight to the chest of the hope and humanity that a great album extends. “We have had to dig deep to make this record and it has given us a new lease of life, It’s been gratifying to see and hear the fans welcoming our new music alongside the old, especially after all that has happened since we lost Stuart.” says drummer Mark Brzezicki. “The past is the past and it is safe where it is. It’s now time for some new memories”.
Alongside Big Country founder members Bruce Watson (guitar) and Mark Brzezicki (drums), the band are complimented by singer Mike Peters (The Alarm), guitarist Jamie Watson (Bruce’s son), plus former Simple Minds bassist Derek Forbes. “The Journey represents the transition everyone associated with Big Country has had to make and that goes for the band and the fans” says vocalist and lyricist Mike Peters “The new songs have been drawn from the same creative well that has fuelled all of Big Country’s music and everyone who has been prepared to look and listen can see the continuity.”
Formed in Dunfermline in 1981, Big Country went on to become one of the most celebrated British rock bands of a generation. Selling more than 10 million albums worldwide and toured with such luminaries as The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Queen. Following the tragic death of Stuart Adamson in 2001 the band remained dormant until New Years Eve 2010. Since then the band have played at all the major UK and European Festivals including Isle Of Wight, T-in the Park, V, Oxegen and Pink Pop, In 2013, 30 years after the release of Big Country’s seminal single ‘In A Big Country’ that triggered a lifetime of highs and lows Big Country remain true to the words that fired their initial success “Stay Alive”..
As this remarkable journey continues night after night, audiences can still expect to hear all the greatest Big Country hits plus a few surprise guests along the way; So, grab your suitcase, buy a ticket, take “The Journey”.
Praise for the new album ‘The Journey’
“Big Country serve up personal empowerment with their first album in 14 year” – Rolling Stone USA
“Scottish rockers’ emotional return with new singer” – Q
“The Journey sets out to be a euphoric return that celebrates the work of Stuart Adamson
rather than be dictated to by his absence” – Get Ready To Rock’
“a three-act masterpiece that mirrors the story of Big Country themselves” – Tim Barr – Independent