Big Big Train

The Common Ground Tour + Guest

Big Big Train are set to embark on their most extensive ever run of live dates in 2022. The band’s line-up for these dates will be Nick D’Virgilio (drums, vocals), David Longdon (lead vocals, flute), Rikard Sjöblom (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Gregory Spawton (bass, bass pedals), Carly Bryant (keyboards, guitars, vocals), Dave Foster (guitars), Clare Lindley (violin, vocals) and the Big Big Train brass ensemble.

In autumn 2019 Big Big Train undertook their first ever UK tour. The tour was a resounding success, with the band performing music from their last studio album Grand Tour, alongside songs from their previous recordings, including 2009’s The Underfall Yard breakthrough album. The shows featured the band’s full live line-up, including a five piece brass ensemble, with the final sold out show at London’s Hackney Empire captured on 2020’s acclaimed Empire Bluray/2CD release.

Big Big Train reached number one in the UK Official Rock Albums Chart with their 2017 album Grimspound. In May 2019 their last album, Grand Tour, entered the Official UK Album Charts at number 35 and the band will release their next studio album on 30 July 2021.

The band’s name is taken from a 1970s train set owned by founder member/bass guitarist Greg Spawton. Greg’s family worked on the railways and his childhood home was full of railway memorabilia.

Consistent with the ‘Big Big’ element in their name, the band’s aim is to make their music dramatic and dynamic. Their songs take the listener on a journey.  If you love the thrills and spills of storytelling then you will enjoy Big Big Train’s cinematic and spell binding music.   The band’s live performances are further enhanced by compelling video backdrops which help to tell their tales.

Many of Big Big Train’s songs tell stories of Britain’s industrial past, reflecting back on lost communities.   The band also looks to the future and is inspired by science and the Age of Enlightenment. Songs such as The Florentine, Voyager and East Coast Racer explore science and the relationship between mankind and machine, with machines, made with love and passion, becoming something more than their components.