The Riverfront, Newport - 01/11/2019
There is a palpable excitement in the air, the crowd focussed on the stage before them, they know a night of progressive musical mastery awaits them.
First to occupy the stage are the excellent support act ‘Sweet Billy Pilgrim’, the duo warming up the crowd with a selection of charming, melancholic folk brimming with melody, ending their set with a rather excellent cover of Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer.
The time arrives for the main event.
Formed in 1990 initially as a studio project, Big Big Train are revered amongst their fanbase.
Embarking on only their first U.K. tour in support of their twelfth album they take to the stage, immediately flowing into ‘Alive’, the first track from their newest album ‘Grand Tour’. The audience was treated to a performance that consistently shifted between that of a Shakesperien drama and that of a sermon, the congregation in awe of the musical and visual spectacle immaculately executed before them.
Front man David Longdon becomes the embodiment of each song, moving about the stage with intensity and purpose. The 12 strong fellow bandmates in support, with violin and a 5 piece brass ensemble particular highlights, bringing a quintessential English charm to their music.
They move purposefully through a setlist filled with new album material and favourites from past releases with a passion and execution that has made them a name in the prog scene for over 20 years. ‘Winkie’, ‘Brave Captain’ and ‘Voyager’ were particularly well received.
The end of the set contain fan favourite ‘Wassail’ before leaving the stage. Shouts of encore are answered in the form of talented drummer Nick D'Virgilio and the brass ensemble for a wonderful interlude, prompting the rest of the collective to return in triumphant style, performing ‘East Coast Racer’, a monument of sonic theatre that leaves the crowd in raptures.
Take any and every opportunity you can to see Big Big Train live, it is an experience that will leave you breathless.
Mike Chapman