Big Country & The Alarm in London

Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline in 1981 by singer and guitarist Stuart Adamson, guitarist Bruce Watson, bassist Tony Butler and drummer Mark Brzezicki. Their post-punk sound became recognizable through guitars treated to evoke bagpipes, especially on the debut album The Crossing and the songs “In a Big Country” and “Fields of Fire”; later releases included “Look Away” and “The Seer.” In 1985, Big Country performed at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium. The Final Fling tour brought them to Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom in 2000, where a concert was recorded for Come Up Screaming. The band reconvened for concerts in 2011 with Mike Peters as lead singer.

The Alarm are a Welsh rock band formed in Rhyl in 1981 and led by singer and guitarist Mike Peters. Their post-punk and new-wave sound is represented by songs including “Sixty Eight Guns,” “The Stand,” “Strength” and “Rain in the Summertime,” as well as the albums Declaration and Strength. The Alarm supported U2 on dates of the War Tour in 1983, then performed at Live Aid at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia in 1985. The following year, MTV carried their Spirit of ’86 concert live from UCLA.