Dan's 'Big Expression'
Portsmouth musician Dan Barrow is bringing his solo show to town, tackling one of seminal English band XTC’s most challenging albums to life, in full - following two years of preparation.
He will appear at the Edge of the Wedge in Portsmouth on Wednesday 11th June where he will use a variety of tricks to take 1984’s The Big Express from its studio-only origins to the stage. These include guitar, vocals, backing tracks, live looping, beatboxing and a shedload of effects.
XTC hit its heyday in the early ‘80s with hits such as ‘Making Plans for Nigel’ and ‘Sense Working Overtime’. However, following a breakdown suffered by frontman Andy Partridge, the band stopped touring in 1982 and refused to play live, opting strictly for studio output.
“Most of the songs on this album have never been performed live,” Dan says, adding: “especially not by one person, anyway!”
It is not Dan’s first foray into the world of XTC. Throughout the early 2000s, he fronted the UK’s only tribute band X-sTatiC, playing in London and the band’s hometown Swindon. He was asked to prepare a new show for this year’s XTC Fan Festival in Swindon and then spent two years preparing.
Dan says: “I’ve always had a massive bug for this wonderful and complex band and being able to bring my favourite album alive for an audience is incredibly humbling, exciting… and nerve-racking!”.
Dan Barrow performs ‘The Big Expression’ at the Edge of the Wedge on Wednesday 11th June 2025, at 8pm.
Contact Dan Barrow on [email protected] or 07770 381121