Big Big Train in Concert

Prog bands take a long time to come to fruition. Both Big Big Train and Lazuli have been around for a while, slowly building a dedicated following with their exciting and inspirational music. Like Steve Hackett’s staggeringly good performance on 2 November and Camel in 2018, both of these bands have an astonishing level of musicianship.

This date will also see the welcome return of Friars guitar legend Dave Gregory who previously played Friars with XTC. Dave guested on Big Big Train’s album ‘The Underfall Yard’ in 2009 and joined the band officially in 2011. The current band line-up is founder Greg Spawton (bass/keyboards), Nick D’Virgilio (drums), Rachel Hall (violin/vocals), David Longdon (vocals/flute/keyboards/guitar), Danny Manners (Keyboards/bass) and Rikard Sjoblom (keyboards/guitars). They performed their first gigs in 17 years in 2015 at King’s Place London which was awarded ‘Event of the Year’ by Prog magazine. Since then the band have been playing larger and larger venues. Their 2019 album ‘Grand Tour’ came flying in to the UK Top 40 and was voted ‘Album of The Year’ by Prog Magazine.

Special guests will be Lazuli from the South of France who have their own growing following. Somewhere between rock, prog, world music, poetry and travel the music of Lazuli’s songs are canvases on which they mix colours to paint their own world. Lazuli have toured with Aylesbury legend Fish. Fish guitarist and local legend Robin Boult says that they are sensationally good and remain very French even in their playing. Expect a mass marimba solo at the end of the set.