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Progressive Rock World
586 Reviews - 341 Artists - 85 Detailed biographical profiles - 26 Prog Meteors - 22 Progressive Rock Subgenres
The Big Big Train, a story of friendship, passion and resilience
The story of Big Big Train is not only a fundamental part of contemporary progressive rock, but also a tale of friendship, passion, and resilience. A long journey that began in 1990 in Bournemouth, marked by an extraordinary ability to be reborn after profound and shocking changes.
Greg Spawton (guitar/bass) and Andy Poole (bass/keyboards), united by their passion for '70s prog bands, especially Genesis and Van der Graaf Generator, founded the band. From 1990 to 2008, the duo, supported by various collaborators, released several albums influenced by '70s prog and indie-pop.
Their debut album, “Goodbye to the Age of Steam” (1994), featured sounds similar to Genesis and IQ. “English Boy Wonders” (1997) was an experimental album with indie influences. With “Bard” (2002), there was a change in vocals with the arrival of Sean Filkins and a more acoustic and pastoral sound. “Gathering Speed” (2004), a concept album about World War II, featured a more epic and symphonic sound. “The Difference Machine” (2007) marked the beginning of the collaboration with Nick D’Virgilio and a more complex and layered sound.
The band's golden age began in 2009 with the arrival of singer David Longdon, the definitive voice of Big Big Train. The sound evolved further, incorporating brass, strings, and British historical themes.
In 2009, Big Big Train released “The Underfall Yard,” the album that marked a turning point in their career. Nick D’Virgilio became a permanent member and, for the first time, a brass section appeared. In 2012 and 2013, the band released two masterpieces, “English Electric Part One & Two,” which definitively established their success. Dave Gregory (XTC), Rachel Hall, and Danny Manners joined the lineup.
In 2016, Big Big Train released “Folklore,” an album characterized by a strongly pastoral and choral sound. Rikard Sjöblom (Beardfish) joined the band. The following year, in 2017, “Grimspound / The Second Brightest Star” were released, two twin albums exploring stories of scientists and explorers.
In 2019, the band released “Grand Tour,” the first album without founder Andy Poole. The album deals with travel themes and the sound becomes more international. In 2021, Big Big Train released “Common Ground,” returning to a four-piece lineup after the departure of several members.
On November 20, 2021, the band suffered a great loss with the passing of David Longdon, at the age of 56. This tragic event marked a deep watershed in the history of Big Big Train, bringing the band to the brink of dissolution. Despite this, the band found the strength to be reborn and continue their musical activity.
In the early hours of Friday, November 19, 2021, David Longdon, just returned home from a recording session in Bristol for his solo album “Door One,” accidentally fell down the stairs of his home in Nottingham. Despite rescue efforts and urgent transport to Queen’s Medical Centre, the head injuries proved fatal and David passed away the following afternoon, surrounded by his loved ones.
The sudden loss of the frontman deeply shocked the group, calling its very existence into question. Founder Greg Spawton, who considered David like a brother, initially could not conceive a future for the band. The decision to continue was made precisely according to Longdon’s wishes. His partner, Sarah Ewing, revealed that David had clearly expressed the desire for Big Big Train to continue even without him.
To honor David’s legacy without seeking a clone, the band took a new direction. In April 2022, the multi-instrumentalist from Trieste, Alberto Bravin (formerly of PFM), was chosen for his ability to bring a different energy and a more international breath.
If Longdon embodied the pastoral and historical spirit of Britain, Bravin led the group towards a more vigorous and technically complex symphonic prog sound.
In 2022, “Welcome to the Planet” was released, a posthumous album with Longdon’s last recordings, already completed before his passing, published in January 2022 as a final tribute to his voice.
In 2023, “Ingenious Devices” was released, a collection of re-recorded tracks with a real string orchestra.
In 2024, another masterpiece arrived, “The Likes of Us,” with the real debut of Alberto Bravin, an energetic sound with strong influences from PFM and Italian symphonic prog.
And we come to today, to 2026, which sees the release of “Woodcut,” the band’s first full concept album, dedicated to the theme of creativity and sacrifice, a splendid album.
Despite the changes, some of which would have brought any other band to its knees, Big Big Train are rightly recognized as one of the pillars of modern Progressive Rock.
The Discography and the Reviews
Goodbye to the Age of Steam (1994)
English Boy Wonders (1997)
Bard (2002)
Gathering Speed (2004)
The Difference Machine (2007)
The Underfall Yard (2009)
English Electric Part One (2012)
English Electric Part Two (2013)
English Electric: Full Power (2013)
From Stone and Steel (2016)
A Stone's Throw from the Line (2016)
Folklore (2016)
Grimspound (2017)
The Second Brightest Star (2017)
Merchants of Light (2018)
Grand Tour (2019)
Empire (2020)
Summer's Lease (2020)
Common Ground (2021)
Welcome to the Planet (2022)
Summer Shall Not Fade (2022)
Ingenious Devices (2023)
The Likes of Us (2024)
A Flare on the Lens (2024)
Are We Nearly There Yet? (2025)
Woodcut (2026)
Note: the links to the pages of the artists and bands mentioned here and their albums are available on the "Artists" page or through the TAG Big Big Train