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Big Special announce debut album ‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’
The Black Country duo have also shared a video for their new single ‘DUST OFF / START AGAIN’.
Following on from their whirlwind 2023, DIY Class of 2024 members BIG SPECIAL have confirmed plans to release their debut album, ‘POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES’, on 10th May via So Recordings.
The LP will see the pair merge the personal with the political, using their Black Country roots as a lens through which to explore social disjunction and hope against the odds. Speaking about the inspirations behind the work, lead vocalist Joe Hicklin has said: “’POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES’ is an album about depression. It’s about the different shapes it takes; personal, social, generational… and it’s about coming face to face with those ghosts and what we do or how we feel when that happens.
“The album offers no answers, it is just an honest expression of a working-class experience in modern England through the eyes of ill mental health, a pursuit of art and political disenchantment; a story of rumination, realisation and reaction. ‘POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES’ is about learning that we are connected by our common struggles and though dark and rageful, the album holds a quiet sentiment of love and hope. It’s about laughing at the face of the void, recognising its oppressive weight, holding hands and moving forward.”
The album announcement follows a string of singles (including ‘DESPERATE BREAKFAST’ and ‘TREES’), and has now been heralded with the release of another - ‘DUST OFF / START AGAIN’, which serves as a rageful rally against the British class system. Watch its video here:
What’s more, the band are gearing up for an extensive run of UK and EU tour dates this Spring, starting with their stint co-headlining DIY’s Now & Next April tour. You can get tickets for the Now & Next dates here, and check out Big Special’s full live schedule below.
APRIL 2024
03 Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach (DIY Now & Next tour)
04 Oxford, Bullingdon (DIY Now & Next tour)
05 Sheffield, Yellow Arch Studio (DIY Now & Next tour)
06 Brighton, Green Door Store (DIY Now & Next tour)
07 Southampton, Joiners (DIY Now & Next tour)
12 Manchester, New Century Hall (supp. Antony Szmierek)
13 London, Lafayette (supp. Antony Szmierek)
MAY 2024
07 Liverpool, District,
08 Leeds, The Key Club
09 Birmingham, XOYO
10 Glasgow, King Tuts
12 Bristol, Strange Brew
16 London, Jazz Café
17 Brighton, Horatio’s (The Great Escape 2024)
18 Manchester, Deaf Institute
20 Limerick, Kasbah Club
21 Dublin, Workman’s Cellar
22 Belfast, Ulster Sports Bar
24 The Hague, Zwarte Ruiter (Sniester Festival)
26 Derbyshire, Bearded Theory Festival
27 Amsterdam, Paradiso Upstairs
28 Eindhoven, Effenaar
30 Paris, Block Party Festival
31 Hulst, Vestrock
JUNE 2024
01 Hellendoorn, Dauwpop Festival
JULY 2024
26 Benidorm, Low Festival
28 Suffolk, Latitude Festival
AUGUST 2024
23 Reading, Reading Festival
24 Leeds, Leeds Festival
Read More
Green Day are the cover stars of DIY’s March 2024 issue!
This month's mag also features English Teacher, Caity Baser, Everything Everything and loads more.
1st March 2024, 3:00pm
Support acts announced for DIY’s Now & Next Tour 2024!
Our headliners HotWax and Big Special will be joined by a host of special guests across the April run, including Aziya, Grandma's House, and more.
12th February 2024, 10:00am
Class of 2024: Big Special
Weaving vulnerable tales of everyday life into their vital brand of soulful but fiery punk, meet the Midlands duo that are living up to their name.
12th December 2023, 2:00pm
Big Special drop brooding latest track ‘Trees’
They've also unveiled a series of 2024 headline dates as part of DIY's Now & Next tour.
6th December 2023, 12:53pm
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