Preview: Big Country to Play dates either side of the Isle of Wight Festival

Big Country have announced two dates either side of their forthcoming appearance at The Isle of Wight Festival on Friday 10th June.

Currently in the middle of a hugely successful tour of the UK with Mike Peters from The Alarm on lead vocals, Big Country will continue their welcome return to the fold with a pre-festival warm-up date at The Brook in Southampton on Thursday 9th of June, and will then celebrate with a post-festival date at The Phoenix in Exeter on Saturday 11th June, where the band will work in some new material.

Tickets for both dates are £20 and go on sale at 9.00am from Friday 15th April.

The first show Big Country played with new lead singer, Mike Peters, from fellow Celtic rockers The Alarm, took place on New Year’s Eve at the ABC in Glasgow. It was a hugely emotional night, with the sell-out crowd giving Mike their full support on his Big Country debut. At the end of the show Peters said to the crowd, ‘Thanks for looking after me.’

Approaching their 30th anniversary, the latest confirmed dates continue to mark a period of celebration that will not only embrace Big Country’s illustrious past but also honour the life and times of original lead singer, guitarist and co-founder Stuart Adamson, who passed away so tragically in 2001.

With Big Country fans wholeheartedly embracing the band’s UK tour dates, the national press were quick to follow suit, with News of The World delivering the ultimate accolade by declaring, ‘Stuart Adamson would have approved.’

“I first met Stuart on stage at a U2 concert in Hammersmith Palais back in 1983”, says Mike Peters. “Bono introduced us to his audience as being “part of the new breed” and Stuart was literally passed up onto the stage by the fans and I shook his hand as I handed him a guitar – an unforgettable entrance. The last time I saw him was also on stage with Big Country at Glasgow Barrowlands for the last night of the Final Fling tour in 2000, when we sang Neil Young’s ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ together. When Bruce Watson called and asked me to sing for Big Country it was something I didn’t need to think twice about. It’s been an incredible honour getting to know the music of Big Country intimately and a pleasure to be around such great musicians and fans alike. I find singing the lyrics of Stuart Adamson very life affirming’

Bass guitarist Tony Butler says, “To be received and get the responses we got was inspiring. Mike did us proud and was accepted by the audiences because he was himself but paid due respect to Stuarts memory and songs. Jamie was a surprise addition, for a young lad he did brilliantly. We were all blown away by the reception.”

Drummer Mark Brzezicki said, ‘Along with the constant warmth and affection shown to Big Country by its dedicated fans from around the world, and on its 30th anniversary, it feels right and fitting that Big Country continue the journey. Mike Peters has done us proud, and as Stuart always said, ‘When taking a journey, it’s not about the getting there, it’s enjoying the view on the way’.

Co-founder member Bruce Watson added, ‘Both Jamie and I had a blast playing with my old mates Tony and Mark. Mike brings so much to this band and is the hardest working man I know. I am convinced he wears a superman costume under that jacket’.

The new line up consists of:

Tony Butler – Bass Guitar and Vocals
Mark Brzezicki – Drums and Vocals
Mike Peters – Vocals and Guitar
Bruce Watson – Guitar and Vocals
Jamie Watson – Guitar

http://www.bigcountry.co.uk
http://www.the-brook.com

Photos by Bob Whetton.