Big Country at the Music Hall, Aberdeen on Friday 2nd June 2023

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A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.

Photos by Dod Morrison Photography: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100031192597676

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The support band was supposed to be Spear of Destiny but unfortunately Kurt Brandon ended up in hospital so there was a last minute substitution of Nine Below Zero.  Here’s hoping Kurt gets well soon.  Meanwhile I was utterly delighted to recognise the first song Eleven Plus Eleven from one of my favourite TV shows of all time: The Young Ones.  I’ve been singing it ever since too, absolute classic and part of my life growing up!  Funnily enough they also did a cover of I Can’t Help Myself by The Four Tops, which had been one of the Heardle answers before we headed out.  They played a tribute to Wilco, and then for Jeff Beck was The Yardbirds’ I Wish You Would.  Their set included Don’t Point Your Finger At The Guitar Man and finished on Can’t Do My Homework Anymore.  It was a good solid set of songs played by some talented musicians, and lovely to see Sonny playing with his Dad, Dennis Greaves, one of the original line up.

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The headliners also have a father and son collaboration in their current line up.  Bruce Watson was a founding member of Big Country and is now joined by his son Jamie.  This tour is celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut LP ‘The Crossing’ and they played many songs from it, including of course the title track, In A Big Country and Chance.  They also did a “hands up” poll of which colour version people had bought back in 1983 (my chum didn’t even know there was a green one apparently, she got the blue as it was her favourite colour!).  They played my favourite song Look Away, from 1986 – the year I moved to Scotland.

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The crowd were enthusiastic from the start, there was lots of bouncing, head bopping and air punching.  One chap was trying to encourage others to jump around, it was funny seeing a slightly larger chap look sheepish that he couldn’t go quite as mental…and then try anyway.  Utterly living their best lives, probably relieving happy memories from their younger years.  There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being lost in the moment with live music and just letting the world drift away whilst you are carried forward on the melody.  Even my husband found two thumbs when crazy jumper checked he was enjoying himself.  Such a fabulous buzz around the place and Bruce Watson’s happy smile and energy was very contagious.  Indeed they all looked like they were having a great time up on stage, entertaining us all and giving us a great time. 

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Hopefully it was a mutually beneficial experience – was certainly a positive therapy for me, a well memorable night when you wander home with a goofy smile and a song in your heart!  Look forward to next year when we get to celebrate 40 years of Steeltown.

Further information: https://bigcountry.co.uk/ and https://www.ninebelowzero.com/

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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.

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