Big Special and John Grant have just shared their massive new single, ‘Stay Down, Lazarus’, out now via SO Recordings. This dark, moody pairing serves gritty atmospherics and brooding vocals, and if that’s your vibe, you’ll want this on repeat.
Big Special, who recently entered the UK Top 40 charts with their debut album Postindustrial Hometown Blues, have spent the British summer pulling in mammoth festival crowds at the likes of Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds but managed to hold back a little magic for this release with John Grant.
‘Stay Down, Lazarus’ speaks on the false promises of social mobility. Frontman Joe Hicklin doesn’t hold back, calling the track “a big moan” about being sold a lie and feeling stuck in your place. The song has been sitting on the shelf since Big Special started, but they knew it needed something more. That’s where John Grant comes in. The duo reached out, and to their surprise (and excitement), Grant was keen to jump in. Hicklin admits they are “still pinching themselves” over the union.
Oh, and it seems the feeling is very mutual, with John Grant adding, “I had a blast doing this!”.
‘Stay Down, Lazarus’ is streaming now in all the usual places, and you can catch the lyric video below:
And that’s not all. Big Special and joining John Grant as support on his upcoming UK and European tour.
Here’s a look at the upcoming tour dates:
BIG SPECIAL 2024 LIVE DATES:
Tour dates
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 17 October | London, UK | Hackney ChurchSold out |
| 18 October | London, UK | Hackney Church |
| 19 October | Sunderland, UK | The Fire Station |
| 21 October | Glasgow, UK | Barrowland Ballroom |
| 22 October | Dublin, IE | Vicar StreetSold out |
| 24 October | Cardiff, UK | The Tramshed |
| 25 October | Bristol, UK | Beacon |
| 26 October | Bexhill, UK | De La Warr PavillionSold out |
| 28 October | Birmingham, UK | Town HallSold out |
| 29 October | Norwich, UK | Epic Studios |
| 31 October | Manchester, UK | New Century HallSold out |
| 01 November | Leeds, UK | Project HouseSold out |
| 02 November | Liverpool, UK | Philharmonic |
| 05 November | Amsterdam, NL | MelgwegJohn Grant only |
| 06 November | Cologne, DE | Kulturkirche |
| 07 November | Berlin, DE | Columbia Theater |
| 09 November | Aarhus, DK | Train |
| 10 November | Copenhagen, DK | Vega |
| 11 November | Stockholm, SE | Nalen |
| 13 November | Oslo, NO | Rockefeller Music Hall |
| 15 November | Germany | Rolling Stone Beach Festival |
| 29 March 2025 | London, UK | O2 Forum Kentish Town |
Stay unruly, folks.
