Celtic rock behemoth Big Country are playing on home turf next week.
The Fife-raised legends have moved fast to arrange a show at Dunfermline’s PJ Molloys after their joint gig with kindred spirits The Skids at the town’s Glen Pavilion on December 29 sold out earlier this week. Thursday’s bonus outing will formally kick off a series of dates running into March to mark the 35th anniversary of Big C’s 1983 debut album The Crossing.
Penned by the post-punk outfit’s original recording line-up of Stuart Adamson, Bruce Watson, Mark Brzezicki and Tony Butler, the epic 10-song set boasted the classic singles Harvest Home, Fields Of Fire (400 Miles), In A Big Country and Chance, and reached number three in the UK charts as well as the USA’s Billboard top 20.
Considered one of the all-time classic Scottish albums, fans can expect to hear The Crossing performed in its entirety at Molloys, with a smattering of the band’s greatest hits and other favourites also getting an airing.
Big Country frontman Simon Hough has thankfully recovered from a recent bout of illness that forced the postponement of a gig in Derby and the five-piece look to be in good shape for Thursday’s gig, along with their upcoming Barrowlands (Dec 21) and Glen Pavilion shows with Richard Jobson’s reformed combo.
Nowadays comprising guitar maestros Bruce and his son Jamie — who are also an integral part of The Skids — along with drummer Brzezicki, Hough and bassist Scott Whitley, Big C have further gigs to look forward to in England early in 2019 and have also just confirmed a 10-date jaunt to Germany and the Netherlands in March.
Tickets £22.50 from Molloys or via www.ticketweb.uk.
*** The star-studded Dylan Project is the big draw at the Green Hotel tomorrow.
Fronted by veteran Brummie songsmith Steve Gibbons, the five-piece celebrate the diversity of 77-year-old Bob Dylan’s 56-year-strong back catalogue, performing everything from 1965 touchstone Highway 61 Revisited to the likes of Mississippi from the folk rock icon’s 2001 album Love And Theft, with new material frequently added to their setlist.
A former member of the short-lived Balls — along with ex-Move guitarist Trevor Burton and Moody Blues legend Denny Laine — and The Idle Race, Gibbons is best known for his work since the early ’70s under his own name, including the hit single Tulane.
He’s joined in The Dylan Project by Fairport Convention bassist Dave Pegg — with whom he founded the band in the late ’90s — along with guitarist PJ Wright, keys man Phil Bond and drummer Gerry Conway, who’s also a Fairport stalwart.
Tomorrow’s Kinross gig starts at 9pm, with tickets £32 via www.ticketweb.uk.
*** Conroy’s Basement has a four-strong bill of breaking acts tonight.
Psychedelic Dundee outfit Plasmas are being supported at the Meadowside venue by three-piece Glasgow rockers Whisky Pigeon plus local noiseniks Cinema Paradiso and acoustic songsmith Ryan Horne, whose influences include Gerry Cinnamon, Richard Ashcroft and Shane MacGowan. Admission’s £5.
*** Beat Generator Live has tribute favourites The Doors Of Perception tomorrow.
Tickets to see the Berlin-based four-piece are £9.50 from Grouchos in Dundee or tickets-scotland.com.
*** Dunfermline alt-rockers Oskar Braves have a big hometown gig this weekend.
The post-punk five-piece, whose influences include U2, The National and Big Country, are playing PJ Molloys tomorrow, with special guests to be announced. Tickets £6.95 via ticketweb.uk.
*** Folk legend Phil Cunningham opens up his Christmas Songbook at Perth Concert Hall on Sunday.
The festive extravaganza features Phil being joined by an all-star cast of regular collaborators, including Scottish singing favourites Eddi Reader and Karen Matheson, plus acclaimed musicians John McCusker, Kris Drever, Ian Carr and Kevin McGuire.
Tickets £25.50 via horsecross.co.uk.
*** Aberdeen soul and R&B tribute band Funk Connection head south to play a sold out afternoon show at Clarks On Lindsay Street tomorrow.
*** There’s a teatime session from Glasgow four-piece Itchycoo Park at Number 57 tomorrow, with covers outfit The Sixties on from 9pm. It’s Chain Gang at the Dock Street venue on Sunday.
*** Dundee rockers Cherry Bombz are unplugged at Harlequins on Sunday from 6.30pm.
