There are few bands that come into your life that stick with you - for life! Legendary 80’s rockers Big Country, who have reformed and recently played 7 shows in December/January, two sold out full uk tours, festivals and more are one of those bands, so naturally we went up to Liverpool to check them out.

Saturday night’s allright for fighting, so sang Elton John, and he ain’t far wrong, but not in a ‘having a scrap’ way but in standing up for something and shouting it as loud as you can; ‘Fighting’ for what you believe in, and I my friends believe in a Big Country dream…

I loved all the so called ‘celtic’ bands in the 8os like U2, Simple Minds, The Waterboys, The Alarm and Big Country. I saw them all so many times (at least 20 times each) but they they NEVER let me down, were always on the money, and I remember playing BC records all day when frontman Stuart Adamson died…

So imagine my joy when rumours that the nucleus of the band (Mark/Bruce/Tony) were planning some new shows under the BC banner and they had brought in another guitarist Jamie Watson (Bruce’s son) and on main vocals Mike Peters (The Alarm) - this must be good, how can it not be?

So it’s Sat 7th January 2011, I’m driving to the ‘home of rock ‘n’ roll’ Liverpool to catch the last of the opening set of dates from the band. I have a high speed blow-out on the way, it’s all good, get into the city and hook up with Jamie and Bruce pre-show for a chat. They tell me that it’s all going great, it’s just so much fun, the crowds have been amazing, and where it goes from here? Who knows! They were back out in April for round 2. isle of wight and V festival rocked and they will take it from there…

9pm arrives and with no intro, except 30 mins of great i-pod music (including The Skids), Big Country are back on stage and firing on all cylinders. Mike Peters is like a man possessed, deffo with something to prove tonight. Tony’s bass is deep, rumbling and he is in fine voice too. Bruce and Jamie crank up that distinctive BC sound and it’s so great to see Mark behind that drum-kit again, he really is one of the best…

They open with ‘1,000 Stars’ and from the very first chord it sounds right, booming and Big the sound fills the hall, NOBODY ever sounded like this band before or since,  the first salvo includes ‘Harvest Home’ ‘The Teacher’ and ‘Look Away’ the crowd sings these louder than the band, they are the sixth man for sure and I’d forgotten what being in a big country gig was like. Oh how we have missed these songs, oh how we welcome them back with open hearts and open lungs… Mike’s vocal comes down an octave to replicate the studio sound on a couple of tracks and the sound is, dare i say it, ‘Like Stuart is here’. Honestly, he really has worked his vocal around the songs and sometimes tonight I close my eyes and I’m right back in ‘85…

It’s testament to the longevity of the band’s music that hit after hit simply floor you; a barrage of canon fire; this band don’t just have great songs, they have a batch of classics that live forever. If only we heard them more on the radio! ‘Wonderland’, ’Chance’ ‘Fields Of Fire’ plus of course ‘In A Big Country’ and I have to say again how good it is to not just hear them, but see them too. It felt like the spirit of Stuart was in the room, this feels right, and sounds amazing, this is the real deal…

Welcome Back Big Country… Roll On The New Album…

For More Exclusive Show Images Follow This Link:

 http://www.shakenstir.co.uk/index.php/gallery/?album=3179&gallery=1718

Jj 2011