Big Country + Toyah @ Islington Assembly Hall, 14 December 2025

It’s been many years since I last acquainted myself with Big Country in the live environment. In fact, Stuart Adamson was still fronting them then. So, it was interesting to see how the band represented themselves in the new era. With only guitarist Bruce Watson remaining from the early days, this was more or less an entirely new band. If I had any qualms about what I was to experience, they were soon replaced with an evening of thorough enjoyment.

With only one album, 2013’s The Journey, released since Adamson’s passing, it was clear that the set would consist predominantly of old Adamson-era songs, and as it happened, nothing from The Journey was played tonight, although there were a couple of tracks from their forthcoming album Eastworld aired.

Opening with the title track from Driving to Damascus, we knew we would be in for an enthusiastic show, and with the audience behind the band, it was clear that everyone was up for it.

Certainly, this was close to a greatest-hits set, and with such staples as Look Away, Lost Patrol and Harvest Home, they rapidly had the audience on their feet, jigging and dancing around.

Big Country still retain their early sound, and the driving guitars and Scottish folk influences still make up their core sound. It’s a winning combination.

Where the Rose Is Sown saw the audience and band in a reflective mood as the band slowed down proceedings for this anti-war song, which is probably more pertinent and relevant now than at the time of writing. Yet taking the foot off the pedal was only temporary, as Restless Natives and We’re Not in Kansas saw the band rocking out once more, with father-and-son guitarists Bruce and Jamie Watson kicking and leaping around the stage. It was very much a case of if the younger generation have got the energy, then dad isn’t going to be seen to be lacking either.

The main set closed out with the obvious In a Big Country, which was received with the enthusiasm you would expect for this long-time favourite.

The encore was to follow shortly and unsurprisingly saw two more old favourites dusted off, with Wonderland still enchanting the crowd and the ubiquitous guitar fest of Fields of Fire bringing matters to a close.

I think perhaps I should have revisited this band a while ago. They still have the zing and pizazz of the original line-up and continue to entertain and enthral as much as ever. Also, it’s unlikely to be that long before they are back, with The Seer album approaching its fortieth anniversary next year.

Set List

• Driving to Damascus
• Look Away
• Lost Patrol
• Porrohman
• Harvest Home
• The Seer
• Where the Rose Is Sown
• Eastworld
• Ships
• Never Take Your Place
• Restless Natives
• We’re Not in Kansas
• In a Big Country
• Encore
• Wonderland
• Fields of Fire

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Unfortunately for Toyah, the gremlins were awaiting her as she and her band, consisting of two guitars, entered the stage. Reliant on backing tape from a laptop, this crashed instantly as the first note was played, and for the next ten minutes, rather than get a musical show, Toyah single-handedly, like the trooper she is, proceeded to regale the audience with numerous anecdotes, jokes and her acting as a stand-alone comedienne.

As a makeweight, it was well received and kept the audience entertained whilst the technical difficulties were sorted out.

Subsequently, this also meant that her set had to be cut down by two songs.

That said, Toyah was never going to let the glitches get to her, and once up and running, the audience were treated to a thoroughly enjoyable set of old Toyah classics and a couple of new wave covers. For the majority here tonight, this was a case of rolling back the years and reliving their youth. Every song was greeted with a euphoric outburst, with every song sung with gusto by the audience.

Opening with Good Morning Universe from 1981, this was rapidly followed by Thunder in the Mountains. Perhaps a couple of the songs were a little rushed as she tried to make up some time, but this didn’t detract from the show, and with a cover of Martha and the Muffins’ Echo Beach, she had the audience wrapped.

So what better time to drop the hit single It’s a Mystery onto an already ecstatic crowd. Interestingly, as the years have passed, some of the raw energy and roughness of these early releases has been replaced with a more polished performance, and certainly Toyah’s vocals tonight were shining through.

There was little talk during the show, as it was clear that Toyah wanted to get as much music into the short time that she had. Neon Womb, the first song she wrote for the Sheep Farming in Barnet album, followed, before Rebel Run from the Love Is the Law album had everyone dancing around, reflecting the energy that Toyah was producing on stage.

Retaining the rebel theme, she followed up with the second cover of the night, with Rebel Yell, and if there is a cover that completely encompasses what Toyah is about, this is it. I think she can out-snarl Billy Idol, and the energy and determination as she spits out the lyrics marks this as an absolute highlight. That song should have been written for her, as it encompasses everything that makes Toyah such a great performer.

The set closed out with another of her big hits, I Want to Be Free, with the obvious audience participation and sing-along. Sadly, it was a short show, made shorter by the problems, but did we feel short-changed? Not at all. Tonight was a masterclass in how to turn a potential difficulty and disappointment into an absolute runaway triumph and success. Long may the Queen of Punk continue to rule.

Set List

• Good Morning Universe
• Thunder in the Mountains
• Echo Beach (Martha and the Muffins cover)
• It’s a Mystery
• Neon Womb
• Rebel Run
• Rebel Yell (Billy Idol cover)
• I Want to Be Free

WORDS: ADRIAN STONLEY PHOTOS: ROBERT SUTTON