ONE of the signature sounds of the 1980s was Scottish band Big Country with their celtic / highland inspired melodies and distinctive dual guitar riffs made to fill big open spaces. The band will perform in Limerick this December 17.
Big Country was formed in 1981 by guitar-playing founder members Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson, both native of the band’s hometown Dunfermline in Scotland. Initially driven by a shared vision of widescreen guitar melody, harmony and lyric, the classic Big Country sound was further enhanced later that summer by the arrival of drummer Mark Brzezicki and bass player Tony Butler. This is the Big Country that (with Producer Steve Lillywhite), recorded the classic debut album The Crossing in 1983.
With singles such as ‘Fields of Fire’, ‘Chance’, ‘In A Big Country’ (which sold 2 million), ‘East Of Eden’ and their biggest UK hit ‘Look Away’, along with massive albums such The Seer, Steeltown, Peace In Our Time and the triple Grammy–nominated, The Crossing, Big Country continue to look beyond the next horizon.
They broke massively worldwide with the release of the album’s classic singles ‘Fields Of Fire’, ‘Chance’ and signature song ‘In A Big Country’, which went on to become massive worldwide hits, selling over 2 million copies and driving The Crossing to 3 prestigious Grammy nominations in the USA.
The run of success continued throughout the 1980′s with the release of the anthemic single ‘Wonderland’ and the second album Steeltown (1984), which debuted at Number 1 in the UK and contained the hit singles ‘East Of Eden, ‘Just a Shadow’ and ‘Where The Rose Is Sown’. A further 6 albums throughout the 80’s and 90’s spawned numerous hits and much-loved classics.
The band – Bruce Watson (guitars/vocals); Mark Brzezicki (drums, vocals); Jamie Watson (guitars/vocals) will be augmented on stage by singer/guitarist Simon Hough and bassist Gil Allan.
Big Country will perform in Dolans Warehouse on Saturday December 17.
