Following the recruitment of lead vocalist Alberto Bravin, in the last two years Big Big Train have played almost 50 shows in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, and the USA as well as co-headlining the prestigious Cruise To The Edge and appearing at European festivals in 2024. In 2025 Big Big Train will return to the live stage and continue to promote their acclaimed recent studio and live albums, The Likes Of Us and A Flare On The Lens, their first releases on the renowned InsideOut/Sony label. The shows will also include some classic back catalogue material. Alongside Bravin and founder member Gregory Spawton, the multinational band features an impressive list of musicians, namely drummer Nick D’Virgilio, guitarist/keyboardist Rikard Sjöblom, violinist Clare Lindley and keyboardist Oskar Holldorff. Their combined experience includes playing with bands such as Genesis, Steve Hackett, PFM, Tears For Fears, Mr Big, Spock’s Beard, Beardfish, Stackridge and Dim Gray, among others. Big Big Train will once again be joined on stage in 2025 by trumpeter Paul Mitchell, who toured with the band in the UK and Europe in 2024.
District 97 is undoubtedly the most musically adventurous rock band in the world to feature an American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist. Formed in the Fall of 2006 by drummer/primary composer Jonathan Schang, keyboardist Rob Clearfield, bassist Patrick Mulcahy and guitarist Sam Krahn, the band drew upon influences from heavy metal to avant-garde jazz. The foursome from Chicago honed a no-holds barred style of eclectic and intricate Instrumental Rock before deciding the right vocalist was needed to complement their sound: enter 2007 American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist, Leslie Hunt. With a look, sound, and stage presence comparable to a young Ann Wilson from Heart, Leslie’s dynamic performances pushed the band into a new direction that forged a unique marriage between accessible, catchy vocal melodies and an adventurous instrumental prowess. She was followed shortly thereafter by one of Chicago’s finest guitarists, Jim Tashjian. With this new blend of charisma and stellar musicianship in place, their live shows over the past several years at festivals such as RoSfest, Prog Dreams II and V, and numerous appearances across the USA, UK and Europe cemented the band as a force to be reckoned with onstage as well as in the recording
