Tag: Big Big Train

The Ultimate Prog Super-Hero Team-Up?

On By kruekuttIn Cosmograf, progressive rock, Robin Armstrong2 Comments

From Big Big Train’s Facebook page:

We are delighted to announce that Robin Armstrong will be joining the live line-up of Big Big Train for our shows in 2018 and beyond.

Robin is a multi-instrumentalist and the leader of progressive rock band, Cosmograf. Nick, Rachel and Greg have played as guest musicians on Cosmograf albums and we are looking forward to performing with Robin at our shows at The Anvil in Basingstoke and at the Night of the Prog festival in Loreley, Germany.

 

Will the good Dr. Birzer’s head explode anticipating all the proggy goodness to come?

Tune in tomorrow … same prog-time … same prog-channel!

 

— Rick Krueger

Latest @bigbigtrain News: Full King’s Place 2015 Video

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rock1 Comment

From the mighty Big Big Train:

Dear All,

Live Dates in 2018
—————————————————————————–

We are playing two shows in 2018. These will be the only two gigs this year as we are currently writing music for a new album which we will be recording in the autumn.

July 11th, at The Anvil, Basingstoke (with support from Beatrix Players)
Tickets here:
http://www.anvilarts.org.uk/whats-on/big-big-train

July 13th, at Night of the Prog festival in Loreley, Germany
Tickets here:
http://www.nightoftheprogfestival.com/en/home-2/

Films of the Kings Place 2015 shows
—————————————————————————–

Films of our 2015 concerts at Kings Place, London have now been made available for rental or purchase from Vimeo. The films provide a complete set one and a complete set two. Links here:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/bigbigtrainkingsplace1

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/bigbigtrainkingsplace2

Andy Poole
—————————————————————————–

Founder member of Big Big Train, Andy Poole, has recently left the band and we wish him well in his future adventures. We will make an announcement soon on the additional musician we have recruited to replace Andy for our live shows.

Best wishes

Danny, Dave, David, Greg, Nick, Rachel and Rikard

Well, I’ve bought my digital copy of the King’s Place shows. Have you??!! Take note that there are free downloads of three of the band’s music videos also available on Vimeo.

And, Then There Were 7: Poole Leaves BBT

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment
SBS BBT
The last full album from Big Big Train to include founding member, Andy Poole.

Big Big Train is now a seven-piece outfit, as Andy Poole has resigned.

From the band:

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ANDY POOLE AND BIG BIG TRAIN

Andy Poole will shortly be leaving Big Big Train.

Big Big Train would like to thank Andy for the significant part he has played in the band’s journey and we wish him well in his future endeavours.

Big Big Train will continue with the seven-piece line-up of D’Virgilio / Gregory / Hall / Longdon / Manners / Sjöblom / Spawton alongside the five-piece BBT brass band led by Dave Desmond.

For future live performance, the band has recruited an additional musician to assist with keyboard and guitar work. We will announce details in due course.

We also hope to announce a UK warm-up show for our July 13th Night of the Prog festival appearance at Loreley. We expect the warm-up show to take place on July 11th.

Best wishes

Danny, Dave, David, Greg, Nick, Rachel and Rikard

Continue reading “And, Then There Were 7: Poole Leaves BBT” →

Bryan’s Best of 2017

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rock7 Comments

Here we are again, folks. We find ourselves at the end of another great year for prog. Sadly, we’ve had to say goodbye to some amazing artists this year, including John Wetton, but we at least have their music by which to remember them.

I know I’ve been a bit quiet here at Progarchy lately due to beginning graduate school this fall. Hopefully things settle down going forward, and I’ll be able to contribute more. For now, here are my favorite albums from 2017 in vaguely ascending order.

Continue reading “Bryan’s Best of 2017” →

Big Big Train at TAC

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

The kind and professional folks at The American Conservative have given me some space to spread my love for all things Big Big Train.

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/an-ode-to-progressive-rock/

Screen Shot 2017-12-19 at 11.54.34 AM

BBT Christmas–True and Beautiful

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

Only a week old and already a favorite in the Birzer house.  The kids are running around singing “Mer-rr-y Christmas” in full-blown David Longdon style.  What a beautiful gift to the world, capturing everything that matters about the season.

Merry Christmas by Big Big Train.

2017: The Year of Big Big Train

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock4 Comments

Hello Progarchists!  I’m back. . . though a little later than I had meant to be.

For those two of you (ha) who you have been waiting eagerly to know my favorite album of 2017, I give you not one album.  Oh no, not one. . . but two albums and two EPs: Grimspound; Second Brightest Star; London Song; and the Merry Christmas EP.

All by one band, of course.  And not just any band, but an extraordinary band.  The best prog band in the world (tied with Glass Hammer, at least to my ears and soul), the band that reveals every.single.thing.that.is.good.in.prog, Big Big Train.

Grimspound 2017
Best album of 2017, 1.1, Grimspound.  Art by Sarah Ewing.

Greg, David, Dave, Nick, Rachel, Rikard, Andy, Danny, and, that 9th BBTer, Rob—congratulations.  Whatever other hells happened in the world in 2017, 2017 will always be, to me, the “Year of Big Big Train.”  You overwhelmed us not with quantity, but with quality.  And, dare I say it: with love.

Continue reading “2017: The Year of Big Big Train” →

Kruekutt’s 2017 Favorites: New Albums & Videos

On By kruekuttIn progressive rock, Rock and Roll2 Comments

by Rick Krueger

After the jump are the new albums and videos from 2017 that grabbed me on first or second listen, then compelled repeated plays.  I’m not gonna rank them except for my Top Favorite, which I’ll save for the very end.  The others are listed alphabetically by artist. (Old school style, that is — last names first where necessary!)  Links to the ones I’ve previously reviewed are embedded in the album titles.

Continue reading “Kruekutt’s 2017 Favorites: New Albums & Videos” →

Watson’s Best Prog Albums of 2017: Part 3 — TOP TWENTY # # 10 — 1

On By Jay WatsonIn progressive rock7 Comments

Having previously (in the last couple days) shared my 20 “Honorable Mentions” and the first half of my TOP TWENTY ( numbers 20 through 11) I come now to the pay-off.  The following ten albums are, obviously my favorite discs, but also I submit, The Best 10 Progressive Albums of 2017.  Making no apologies for my penchant of melody over rhythm, of consonance over dissonance, I have selected ten works that are heavily laden with beauty and harmony rather than experimentation and edginess (hey! while my friends were listening to the Rolling Stones I was chilling to The Moody Blues)

THE TOP TWENTY:  # # 10 through 1

10)  COMEDY OF ERRORS/House of the Mind

comedyOFerrors

After their great 2015 release SPIRIT, this Glasgow band returns with their crowning achievement.  HOUSE OF THE MIND surpasses their prior releases with a mixture of large-scale symphonic fervor and slower and delicate textured emotionalism. The band is tight and Joe Cairney’s vocals are a real highlight. My favorite tracks are the two longer songs ‘House of the Mind’ and ‘Wandering Jacomus.’  Some of the best new prog is coming from Scotland and Comedy of Errors is perhaps the best of the best.  A+

Continue reading “Watson’s Best Prog Albums of 2017: Part 3 — TOP TWENTY # # 10 — 1” →

Watson’s Best Prog Albums of 2017: Part 2 — TOP TWENTY # # 20 — 11

On By Jay WatsonIn progressive rock5 Comments

Every album on this Top Twenty list is a standout. They are all worthy of your purchase (in hard-copy, not just streaming service).  The discs in the bottom half of the TOP 20 are not any less worthy than # # 10 through 1, rather, they just did not move me with as much excitement and passion as the ones I will be posting later.  Many of these albums were at one time in my TOP TEN but gradually slipped to this lower tier as the year wore on and as I continued to listen and pour over these works of art.  Enough blather. Here are my TOP TWENTY bottom half (in descending order):

20)  MONARCH TRAIL/Sand

MonarchTRAIL

This is the second effort under the moniker “Monarch Trail” for Canadian keys wizard and composer Ken Baird. As much as I enjoyed 2014’s “Skye” this second album surpasses it on all counts.  This has a pleasant “British pastoral sound” that hearkens back, for me, to the joys of first hearing Barclay James Harvest (with Woolly on the keys). This is beautiful and relaxing without being twee or saccharine. My favorite tracks are ‘Back to the Start’ and the 25 minute closer–the self-titled ‘Sand.’

Continue reading “Watson’s Best Prog Albums of 2017: Part 2 — TOP TWENTY # # 20 — 11” →