MUSIC
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Beautiful Trauma 4:420:00/4:42
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Don't Hold Out 4:400:00/4:40
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Slow Burn 3:570:00/3:57
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The Long Way 3:180:00/3:18
BIO
Formed in 2016 and influenced by the classic Blues rock sounds of bands such as Bad Company and Free, Big River have gone from strength to strength in recent years. They have built up a solid fanbase through their live gigging, performing at legendary venues including London’s The 100 Club, and playing at A New Day, Alfold Rock and Blues, and Planet Rockstock festivals. Big River’s support slots to date include Kris Barras, Cats in Space and US artists Little Caesar, Marco Mendoza, John Corabi, Doug Aldrich and The Cold Stares.
The band’s first album, Redemption, came out in 2019 and was followed up by the four-track EP, Beautiful Trauma, in 2022. The latter was the first with lead vocalist, Adam Barron (ex Mick Ralphs Blues Band), and bass-player, Simon Gardiner, joining guitarist Damo Fawsett. It secured the band enthusiastic reviews and radio play across the UK, Europe and the US. 2025 has seen new drummer Becky Scott join the band, and Big River's debut appearance at Maid of Stone Festival in July.
GIGS
Previous events
BAND
ADAM BARRON
VOCALS
Adam has been singing since childhood and started gigging in bands as a teenager. Brought up on sixties music and Queen, he discovered Free and Bad Company in his teens and developed a love and passion for classic rock, blues and soul. In 2013 he auditioned for BBC’s The Voice and was coached by Jessie J and the legendary Sir Tom Jones, reaching the knockout rounds. This lead to Adam joining the Mick Ralphs Blues Band and getting to sing some of his favourite tunes around the UK and Europe, alongside the legend that wrote them, for a few magical years. Since then he has performed in a variety of original bands and collaborative projects and in joining Big River in 2021 found the perfect outfit to add his soulful rock tones to.
DAMO FAWSETT
GUITAR
Given his first electric guitar at the age of 11 after his Dad couldn’t face another day of seeing him mime with a home made cardboard one, Damo quickly picked up the lead guitar licks of his heroes by meticulously studying VHS videos on freeze frame and working out where to put his fingers on the fretboard.
Venturing into the pub band circuit at the age of 15 gave Damo his first taste of live gigs and he never looked back. Having studied under the tuition of session player Alan Murphy and performing numerous studio sessions, Damo has also played guitar in Slam Cartel, Sacrilege and The Reagan Browne Band before forming Big River in 2016.
Damo is influenced by Gary Rossington, Paul Kossoff, Mick Ralphs, Zakk Wylde, Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather.
Damo is endorsed by Blackstar Amps, Fret King Guitars and Rotosound Strings.
BECKY SCOTT
DRUMS
Becky has been passionate about music all her life. She started her drumming journey at the age of 11, being taught by a jazz drummer called Jimmy Tagford. She grew up listening to Queen, Phil Collins and Michael Jackson. Becky entered the local gig circuit as a teenager, inspired by grunge and alternative rock from Alanis Morrissette, Garbage, Deftones, Incubus, Rage against the Machine and Foo Fighters. She joined bands implementing the same raw energy into her music that her heroes inspired her with. After taking a sabbatical from music to raise her 3 beautiful children, Becky returned to her musical career as a peripatetic drum teacher and performed in pubs and festivals in local covers bands and most recently in originals band Disco Drug Store. She's made quite a name for herself with her signature "thunderous drums" and fiery energy that she displays through her drumming style.
SIMON GARDINER
BASS
Simon started his foray into bass playing aged 18. After 7 years of self-tutelage he enrolled on a music degree at Canterbury Christ Church University where he also started to answer music adverts in the NME for bass players. After a few auditions he found a good fit and formed Paperlung with Sice, former frontman of the Boo Radleys. After signing with Shifty Disco records and recording the album ‘Balance’ and touring the UK, Paperlung also performed a string of live Radio performances including Huw Stephens show on Radio 1 at Maida Vale and Janice Long’s Show on Radio 2 at BBC Birmingham. Simon later joined Ross Wilson and formed Rosco Levee and the Southern Slide, his first foray into Americana and roots music, releasing several albums and touring the UK and Europe. Simon joined Big River in 2022 and brought his personal bass influences of John Entwistle, Pino Palladino and James Jamerson into the musical ‘Gumbo’ that makes the Big River sound.