Big Country to play classic debut album The Crossing for 30th anniversary

Big Country, who formed in November 1981, will kick-off their 30th anniversary celebrations by performing their classic 1983 debut album The Crossing live in its entirety during a thirteen-date tour of the U.K. in February 2012.

With The Crossing an international best seller, it sold over 2 million copies in the UK, spawning 2 Top Ten hits and spending 84 consecutive weeks on the Music Week album chart, Big Country's tour will coincide with Universal Music's deluxe re-issue of the album on January 30th 2012, which is expected to include a wealth of previously unreleased recordings and footage of the band.

In announcing the 'Crossing The Country Tour', bassist Tony Butler says, "It's typical to write an album and only play a few songs from it, so to get the opportunity to play an entire album is very cool. This tour will give us the chance to play songs never performed before alongside the well-known ones, songs that were written but didn't make it on to the album, and the associated 'b side' material. We can't wait."

Big Country, who on November 19th will receive the inaugural 'Pride of Scotland Award' at the annual Nordoff Robbins Tartan Clef event held in Glasgow, reformed with The Alarm's Mike Peters on lead vocal duties in place of the late Stuart Adamson, who passed away in 2001, for two sold-out UK tours and main stage festival appearances including The Isle of Wight Festival, T in The Park, Oxegen and V Festival during 2011. In addition, Big Country re-united with The Crossing's producer Steve Lillywhite to release their first single in 12 years, 'Another Country'.

The Crossing tour will also precede the release of a new studio album, scheduled for release in autumn 2012.

Big Country's 'Crossing The Country Tour' dates are as follows:

Feb. 3: Academy, Manchester, U.K.
Feb. 4: O2 Academy, Liverpool, U.K.
Feb. 6: Barrowland, Glasgow, U.K.
Feb. 7: Alhambra, Dunfermline, U.K.
Feb. 8: O2 Academy, Newcastle, U.K.
Feb. 9: O2 Academy, Leeds, U.K.
Feb. 11: O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, U.K.
Feb. 12: Hexagon, Reading, U.K.
Feb. 13: UEA, Norwich, U.K.
Feb. 15: O2 Academy, Bristol, U.K.
Feb. 16: Rock City, Nottingham, U.K.
Feb. 17: O2 Academy, Birmingham, U.K.
Feb. 18: O2 Academy, Sheffield, U.K.

www.bigcountry.co.uk