Big Country Redux are led by Bruce Watson, one of the founding members of Big Country, alongside the late, great guitarist, singer and songwriter Stuart Adamson. Now, Big Country Redux announce the ‘Eastworld’ album, which will be released on CD, Vinyl and Digital on 18 September through Absolute. The album will be preceded by the first single, the title track ‘Eastworld’ on 5 June 2026.
The album consists of 10 brand new recordings of Big Country songs originally written or co-written by Stuart Adamson, which were released as demoes or sketches, but never previously properly developed or lavished with the attention they deserved. With the publication of the well-regarded book on Adamson’s life ‘Stay Alive’ by Scott Rowley, and a forthcoming documentary, the spotlight is on the band and the legacy once again.
Bruce Watson said of the ‘Eastworld’ release, “Some of these songs will be known to the diehards as they have sneaked out from the archives as unfinished demoes or ‘internet only’ releases, but these are all songs that deserved to be developed further at the time they were written. I am delighted to have now completed them; it is a true privilege to get this newly recorded material out there. All of these songs were sketched out on old reel to reel tape recorders in dingy basements or in small 8 track studios”.
The Big Country Redux line-up includes Bruce Watson (guitar/vocals), his son Jamie Watson (guitar/vocals), Tommie Paxton (vocals/guitar), Chris Stones (bass), and Reece Dobbin (drums). Jamie has been performing with his father since 2003. His first gig saw him take to the stage with Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and Mick Jones from The Clash as part of The Dead Men Walking tour, he was only 14 years old. Both Tommie and Chris were fans of Big Country and indeed performed together in Big Country tribute band, ‘Restless Natives’. Reece was local to the Watsons in Dunfermline and is deemed by Bruce essential to Big Country Redux as the band’s songs require, “a technical drummer with feel and stamina”.
2026 is year of anniversaries for Big Country. It will be 45 years since Stuart Adamson left Skids and made good on his promise to start something amazing with Bruce Watson; the latter’s agreement was music’s gain but a loss to the Fife submarine building industry! This year also marks four decades since the band’s third album ‘The Seer’ was released. Tragically, however, this year will also mark 25 years since Stuart Adamson passed away.
Together with bass player Tony Butler and drummer Mark Brzezicki, Big Country‘s classic debut album ‘The Crossing’ (1983) sold over 2 million copies and earned 3 Grammy nominations. Second album ‘Steeltown’ (1984) went straight to Number 1. In total, Big Country had 17 top 30 UK singles and made gold and platinum status albums. Hit singles like ‘In A Big Country’, ‘Wonderland’, ‘Chance’, ‘Fields Of Fire’ and the band’s biggest ‘Look Away’, made them Top Of The Pops regulars, and they toured with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, David Bowie, and the Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger called them “one of the best opening bands we ever had”. As the songs on ‘Eastworld’ attest, the music was always uplifting but some of the inspiration and source material, from war, global politics and personal circumstance, was darker than many knew.
Watson reunited with Butler and Brzezicki in 2007 to celebrate the band’s 25th anniversary. Mike Peters from The Alarm along with Jamie joined the band in 2011 and recorded an album of original material called ‘The Journey’. Bruce Watson continues to pay tribute to Stuart and the music they made together. As he says, “Big Country is my life and a labour of love. I feel a responsibility to continue the story”
Big Country Redux does just that with ‘Eastworld’, and in some style.
Live Shows
30th May – Lough Key Forest (Country Rosscommon)
17th Jun – Aberdeen Lemontree
18th Jun – Inverness Botanic House
19th Jun – Orkney Garden Square
21st Jun – Dundee Music Hall
11th Jul – Bishop Aukland Football Ground
18th Jul – Glasgow Queens Park Areana
22nd Aug – Banff Castle Rocks
