Hello and welcome to the official BIG BIG TRAIN thread! I figured I'd put some relevant information about the band at the top of the first post for any new fans discovering this wonderful band!
If you are brand new to the band, be sure to check them out
at their own website for news regarding new recordings, releases, and possible tour info! There are also fairly extensive pages for each of the band's releases, band members, and the band history. Definitely worth checking out if you are interested in learning more about the band as you discover their music!
You can also stream and buy most of their music digitally from
their Bandcamp page!
If you wish to buy physical media and merch, you can find their storefronts at
Burning Shed (for UK/EU orders, but they do ship internationally) and
Band Wagon USA (for US orders).
You can also join the hundreds of other Passengers (the name for BBT fans) on the band's own
Facebook Group Forum, where band members will occasionally interact with fans. Much of the discussion will focus on the band's music, individual band members and their own music, prog rock in general, trains, English culture and history, and sprouts (long story). It's generally a fun and peaceful atmosphere with little or no toxicity, and everyone is generally well-mannered and friendly!
Roughly 10 weeks after David Longdon's passing (November 20th, 2021), his last studio album with Big Big Train was released, their 14th studio album
Welcome To The Planet, featuring a relatively new line-up that went back into the studio not long after recording their previous album,
Common Ground (which was released less than six months before WTTP).
Revealed on March 31st, 2022, a new 270-page hardcover coffee-table book documenting the band's entire history from their early 90s roots all the way up to their 2022 album
Welcome To The Planet, BETWEEN THE LINES will be coming on June 17th, including over 180 photographs and illustrations from across the band's career. The book will also include interviews with over 30 musicians, including Genesis' own Tony Banks, who discusses the late David Longdon's audition process following the departure of Phil Collins from Genesis. This is the most comprehensive collection of pictures and stories relating to the band, bookmarking the end of an era for the band.
On April 27th, 2022, the band revealed plans to go on with their Fall 2022 Tour and introduced new lead vocalist and front-man Alberto Bravin. Known for his work with Italian prog band PFM, he joins the now truly-international ensemble as they work towards getting ready for the tour (sans Carly Bryant, who has immovable family plans), as well as working on new music which will be released sometime in 2023. You can view the band's announcement video
here!Big Big Train will embark on Cruise To The Edge 2024, marking their first scheduled performance outside of the UK and mainland Europe!
CARLY BRYANT LEAVES & OSKAR HOLLDORFF JOINS BBT - Keyboardist and vocalist Carly Bryant has made the difficult decision to leave BBT due to family commitments that will prevent her from joining the band on their upcoming and potentially extensive touring over the next two years. Her 2022-tour deputy Oskar Holldorff, from Dim Gray, joins the band in an official capacity and has begun working with the band on their next set of studio material. While Carly is leaving the band, she is still staying in touch and is working on a solo album, to be released through English Electric Records.
If I have anymore information to post here, I will update as it becomes available!
(Last updated January 19th, 2023)
-----(My original post begins below!)-----
So I just recently discovered this great band after reading up on them and noticing they've had Nick D'Virgilio on their last few albums. I listened to a few tracks and then got their albums (they have a GREAT 6-disc bundle deal on their website) and now I am really looking forward to digesting their entire discography! Their recent stuff sounds great, especially their Peter Gabriel-esque vocalist, who sounds amazing without sounding too cheesy (like some Fish-era Marillion - oddly enough, Pete Trewavas guests on one of their albums).
This is great prog from the 90's-to-now, and I have NO idea how I have missed them and passed them by, especially with impressive albums with great acclaim, like
The Underfall Yard and their recent release
English Electric!
Has anyone else gotten into this band, or been fans from (nearly) the beginning of their career? What are your insights, your favorite albums and songs? I tried to see if there was already a thread on these guys here, but found none so I made this one! Discuss away and as I journey through their albums, I'll be sure to try and post my thoughts on them!
-Marc.