MASSIVE WAGONS – Live At The Great Hall (2026) *HQ*
320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ 1 /// HQ 2
Forty years ago, Lancaster’s Great Hall descended into prolonged silence. It remains a house of memories for historic gigs from days gone by, bearing the footprints of names considered legends, including The Who, Black Sabbath and Queen.
MASSIVE WAGONS brought the noise back. Proud to call Lancaster home, the rockers were a clear and perfect choice to restore rock music to this former gem of the touring circuit – and praised by original promoter Barry Lucas, author of ‘When Rock Went To College’.
The moment proved so important that they chose to preserve it on record forever. Recorded on 19th and 20th September 2025, “Live At The Great Hall” captures the grin-inducing, ear-ringing sense of fun the Wagons inspire when they get on stage and bash through their hits.
Recorded in their hometown at an iconic venue, it feels like Springsteen in New Jersey, Def Leppard in Sheffield or The Beatles at The Cavern. And, given both shows sold out, it’s a means of travelling back to that glorious moment even if you couldn’t be there in person.
Opener Back To The Stack earns the standard full throated audience audience participation as the set builds a ‘best of’ collection saturated with the Wagons’ trademark live joi de vivre. Any temptation to Please Stay Calm, the song providing a brief respite from the onslaught, has to be parked.
”Live At The Great Hall” almost feels like a scratch and sniff experience. The sweat and the fizz of the amps, the fun and the energy, all are captured with a quintet going full tilt and an audience who buy into the call by vocalist Baz to “rejoice for me!” A fine alternative to “scream for me Lancaster!” The thought that the gig is being recorded gets parked too. As the song says, they aren’t feeling any pressure – just the buzz of the moment.
“Here we fucking are!” Baz is impressed as he jollies up the crowd as A.S.S.H.O.L.E picks up where Bon Scot left off with High Voltage and he sends several songs out to his pals out front.
In old money, Side Two is a corker, climaxing with Bangin’ In Your Stereo (everyone has their faves, this is mine) and inevitably, In It Together. The communal rejoicing at its peak.
We’ve had the band immortalized as Lego minifigures, now the live album we’ve been waiting for completes the collection. Maybe ”Live At The Great Hall” might prove the gateway for a unsuspecting new audience – they don’t know what they’re missing – and yet another step up the ladder.
A little bit of history? Yes indeed – and Baz – it certainly wasn’t all shit and no need for any repairs in the studio. No sleep ’til Hammersmith… maybe next time?
Highly Recommended
01 – Back to the Stack (Live)
02 – Pressure (Live)
03 – Tokyo (Live)
04 – A.S.S.H.O.L.E. (Live)
05 – Missing on TV (Live)
06 – Please Stay Calm (Live)
07 – Fun While It Lasted (Live)
08 – The Good Die Young (Live)
09 – House of Noise (Live)
10 – Bangin’ in Your Stereo (Live)
11 – In It Together (Live)
12 – Nails (Live)
Barry “Baz” Mills – vocals
Adam Thistlethwaite, Stevie Holl – guitars
Adam “Bowz” Bouskill – bass
Alex Thistlethwaite – drums
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