Tag: Big Big Train

Big Big Train News

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

Featured Image -- 32441This just in from the band:

Hi everyone,
The new Big Big Train album is called Grimspound and will be released on April 28th 2017.

Here is a new promotional film made by Peter Callow for Experimental Gentlemen (Part Two). The full-length version of this song will feature on the Grimspound album:

https://youtu.be/lqlOm97Yh7U

And here is a promotional film made by Johan Reitsma for a song from the album called As the Crow Flies:

https://vimeo.com/212443344

Pre-orders of the Grimspound album are now available at our official stores:

Burning Shed (for vinyl and CDs):
https://www.burningshed.com/store/bigbigtrain/

The Merch Desk (for merchandise and CDs):
http://themerchdesk.com/merchdesk/index.php?route=product/category&path=87_115

Bandcamp (for hi-resolution 24/96 downloads):
https://bigbigtrain.bandcamp.com

There are two vinyl versions of the album. There is a limited edition frosted clear vinyl version alongside the standard black vinyl version. Both vinyl versions are gatefold releases featuring double heavy weight 180g vinyl and a 4 page booklet insert including the lyrics and the stories behind the songs. A complimentary code for a high-resolution download version of the album is provided with each vinyl order. Orders of the limited edition frosted clear vinyl will also include a postcard signed by all band members. A limited edition blue vinyl version of 2016’s Folklore album is also available at Burning Shed and includes a complimentary hi-resolution download code.

The CD edition of Grimspound is presented in a gloss laminated softpack and features a 24 page booklet with the lyrics and the stories behind the songs.

The hi-res download version available at Bandcamp includes a PDF of the CD booklet.

Grimspound is also available to pre-order on MP3 on Amazon and will be available on the iTunes store on the day of release. Spotify and other streaming and download sites will also feature the album from the 28th April.

A full range of new merchandise is available at http://themerchdesk.com/merchdesk/index.php?route=product/category&path=87_115

For the latest news on Big Big Train, please like our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/bigbigtrain/

And for discussion about Big Big Train, progressive rock and other matters of interest, please join our forum at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bigbigtrain/

Best wishes,
Andy, Danny, Dave, David, Greg, Nick, Rachel & Rikard

Beyond Prog: GRIMSPOUND by Big Big Train

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock8 Comments
Grimspound
Artwork by Sarah Ewing.

Big Big Train, GRIMSPOUND (Giant Electric Pea, 2017).  Tracks: Brave Captain; On the Racing Line; Experimental Gentleman; Meadowland; Grimspound; The Ivy Gate; A Mead Hall in Winter; and As the Crow Flies.

The band: Greg Spawton; Andy Poole; David Longdon; Nick D’Virgilio; Rachel Hall; Danny Manners; Dave Gregory; and Rikard Sjöblom.

The Rating: Perfect.  Beyond prog.

Go, go, go said the bird: human kind

Cannot bear very much reality.

Time past and time future

What might have been and what has been

Point to one end, which is always present.

–T.S. Eliot, “Burnt Norton.”

There can be no doubt that Big Big Train is not just one of the best bands of third-wave prog, but also one of the best bands of the rock era.  I suspected this when I first heard THE UNDERFALL YARD back in 2009 and was moved at every good level of my being.  Subsequent releases from the band have only confirmed this for me.  Every note, every lyric, and every brushstroke matter for the band.  They take their music seriously, and they take us—their followers—seriously.  Aside from the music (if there is, in any reality, such an “aside”), it’s clear that the two founders and mainstays of the band, Greg Spawton and Andy Poole, know how to form and leaven communities.

Continue reading “Beyond Prog: GRIMSPOUND by Big Big Train” →

Big Big Train Release Music Video for New Song, “As the Crow Flies”

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rockLeave a comment

Let the countdown to Grimspound begin.

From the video’s YouTube description:

This film has been made by Johan Reitsma to illustrate one of the songs on our forthcoming album, Grimspound, which will be released on all formats on 28th April 2017.

As the Crow Flies is a song about the succession of moments of letting go, as children grow to adults and prepare to set their own course in life.

Princess Eadgyth (Edith), the “Kingmaker” by Big Big Train

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

 

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Track 1: “Kingmaker”

Musically, an homage to Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, “Kingmaker” tells the story of  a powerful and devout medieval woman, Eadgyth, the granddaughter of King Alfred the Great, and often remembered in the Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions as “St. Edith” (one of a few St. Ediths, this Edith might have been known as “St. Edith of Polesworth; not surprisingly, many of the traditions are vague).

The sister of King Athelstan, she married King Otto of Germany in 929.  Wildly popular, she promoted a devotion to St. Oswald, one of the most romantic figures of the high middle ages.

Only relatively recently, English scholars discovered her bones.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/jun/17/archaeology-forensicscience

Continue reading “Princess Eadgyth (Edith), the “Kingmaker” by Big Big Train” →

Photos from CRS Awards Last Night

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

Passenger Kevin Thompson posted these on social media.

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FOUR Major Awards for Big Big Train Last Night

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

cropped-a0770580005_10.jpgSo, from checking social media this morning, it seems that some big things happened in England last night for our great friends, the eight members of Big Big Train (nine if you count Rob!).

[First post listed only THREE awards–corrected.  FOUR.  Apologies for the error.]

This is from David Longdon:

Continue reading “FOUR Major Awards for Big Big Train Last Night” →

Pre-Order GRIMSPOUND by Big Big Train

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

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Greg Spawton posted this minutes ago:

The new Big Big Train album, Grimspound, will be released on April 28th 2017. Pre-orders of the album are now available at our official stores at Burning Shed (for vinyl and CD’s)

https://www.burningshed.com/store/bigbigtrain/

and the Merch Desk (for merchandise and CD’s)

http://www.themerchdesk.com.

Pre-orders of hi-resolution downloads are available at Bandcamp

https://bigbigtrain.bandcamp.com/

All LP versions feature double, 180g vinyl with a gatefold cover and 4 page booklet featuring lyrics and the stories behind the songs. A complimentary code for a high-resolution download version of the album is provided with each vinyl order. There is a limited edition clear vinyl version alongside the standard black vinyl version and orders of this limited edition version will include a postcard signed by all band members.

The CD version comes in a gloss laminated softpack and features a 24 page booklet with lyrics and the stories behind the songs.

The hi-res download version includes a PDF of the CD booklet.

A limited edition blue vinyl version of the Folklore is also available at Burning Shed (orders will be shipped with a complimentary hi-resolution download code).

Big Big Train are playing three shows at Cadogan Hall, London, in the autumn. The first two shows are sold out and only a few tickets remain for the third show (a Sunday matinee performance.) http://www.cadoganhall.com/event/big-big-train-2016/

Chestertonian Spawtonious

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment 


          Out of the mouth of the Mother of God,
          More than the doors of doom,
          I call the muster of Wessex men
          From grassy hamlet or ditch or den,
          To break and be broken, God knows when,
          But I have seen for whom.

          Out of the mouth of the Mother of God
          Like a little word come I;
          For I go gathering Christian men
          From sunken paving and ford and fen,
          To die in a battle, God knows when,
          By God, but I know why.

          And this is the word of Mary,
          The word of the world's desire
          'No more of comfort shall ye get,
          Save that the sky grows darker yet
          And the sea rises higher.'

          Then silence sank. And slowly
          Arose the sea-land lord,
          Like some vast beast for mystery,
          He filled the room and porch and sky,
          And from a cobwebbed nail on high
          Unhooked his heavy sword.

          Up on the shrill sea-downs and up
          Went Alfred all alone,
          Turning but once e'er the door was shut,
          Shouting to Eldred over his butt,
          That he bring all spears to the woodman's hut
          Hewn under Egbert's Stone.

          And he turned his back and broke the fern,
          And fought the moths of dusk,
          And went on his way for other friends
          Friends fallen of all the wide world's ends,
          From Rome that wrath and pardon sends
          And the grey tribes on Usk.--G.K. Chesterton

GrimspoundPaLooza: Big Big Train

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

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As we approach the release of Big Big Train’s tenth album, GRIMSPOUND, don’t hesitate to catch up on all things Big Big Train.  As far as I know, we have more articles about the band than any other site on the web, with the important exception of the band’s official website.

Enjoy and celebrate one of the greatest artistic acts over the past century.  Greg, Rachel, Rikard, Dave, David, Danny, Nick, Andy, and Rob.  Amazing humans, amazing collective.

Big Big Train–Interview, part I–2013

Big Big Train–Interview, part II–2013

Greg Spawton–Interview–2013

Greg Spawton–Interview–2015

Continue reading “GrimspoundPaLooza: Big Big Train” →

Big Big Train Release Tracklist and Artwork for New Album, Grimspound

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rockLeave a comment

eb650ad8-d14e-4346-9ecb-72a2973822f3Via, Prog mag, the mighty Big Big Train have released the artwork and tracklist for their upcoming album, Grimspound. The album is set for release on April 28, 2017, with pre-orders beginning in March.

The band has a few surprises up their sleeve, including guest vocals from Judy Dyble and even lead vocals from Nick d’Virgilio and Rachel Hall. The medley of voices should pair nicely with David Longdon’s golden voice.

With three live shows scheduled for late September/October, BBT have a busy year ahead.

Grimspound tracklist:

  1. Brave Captain
  2. On The Racing Line
  3. Experimental Gentlemen
  4. Meadowland
  5. Grimspound
  6. The Ivy Gate
  7. A Mead Hall In Winter
  8. As The Crow Flies