BIG SPECIAL , PUNK - SOUL GRIT AND WORKING CLASS POETRY, ELECTRIFY AND TURN THE ROUNDHOUSE INTO A BLACK COUNTRY REVIVAL
- Dave Broome
- Mar 1
- 3 min read
The Roundhouse, Camden, London - 27th February 2026
IMAGES /WORDS DAVE BROOME
Big Special came highly recommended as a live act some time ago so I was turning up to The Roundhouse with high hopes and huge expectations. I had no need to worry; they delivered in spades .. and then some. Big Special is a duo from The Midlands, consisting of vocalist Joe Hicklin and drummer Callum Moloney. They first met at the age of 17 and pursued separate careers before reuniting during the COVID lockdowns to form Big Special. The band's sound is a unique fusion of punk, blues, and soul, reflecting the industrial heritage of their Black Country roots.
More to come on the main act later but first the venue. I could say THE venue because The Roundhouse is that significant. For anyone who hasn’t been to London’s Roundhouse, it’s a famous music and arts venue in the heart of uber cool Camden with tons of heritage and is of course ... round! It makes for a fantastic live music experience and on reflection, I can’t remember ever seeing a bad gig here.
Around 7:30, the first of two support acts take to the iconic stage, this is Good Health, Good Wealth, a duo from London consisting of Singer Bruce Breakey and Producer/Guitarist Simon Kuzmickas. They have a distinctly urban sound – imagine if The Streets teamed up with Fred Again and you’d be somewhere close. Their songs explore themes of love, money, sex and everyday struggles. A strong set is delivered with passion and energy including a number of shoutouts, the one getting the loudest reaction from the audience is for Bruce’s Dad Pete. The set is strong and they close with my favourite song of theirs, Full Circle, an awesome tune with extremely clever lyrics.
Next up is Gans, a fellow Black Country band who give much credit to Big Special for their break. It’s an interesting mix of instrumentation, keyboard, drums, guitar and a very talented third member who seems to be able to play anything. Mostly he plays the saxophone but occasionally pipes in (no pun intended) with a flute solo. Which makes for an interesting sound overall. Much like their predecessors they drive their set through at 100 mph and suitably whet the appetite of the crowd who are now patiently awaiting the arrival of the headline act.
At the back of the stage is a neon “B S” which makes for a constant visual delight throughout the show. Strolling onto the stage, passing by the “B S”, appear the only two members of Big Special, singer, Joe Hicklin and drummer Callum Moloney. They make a lot of noise for just two people. The set leaned heavily on their debut album Post Industrial Hometown Blues. “Black Country Music” got us under way, later came fan favourite “This Here Ain’t Water” and introduced as the new global national anthem, “Shithouse”. More football chant than national anthem but still when delivered with spit and grit, it’s a powerful song. “Black Dog/White Horse” delves into fear, depression and redemption and is a sombre moment in the set. “Thin Horses” is sung with special guest, Rachel Goswell (singer with Slowdive) who brings warmth and sensitivity to the stage. It’s a beautiful and heartfelt rendition.
Big Special’s appeal lies in how they mix spoken‑word fury with punk‑soul grit. Live, the contrast is even sharper. Moloney’s monologues about class, frustration, and the absurdity of modern Britain hit harder in a room full of people who clearly feel the same things. By their own admission, this was Big Special’s largest gig to date, but it didn’t stop Hicklin’s customary venture into the audience to sing along with the crowd. It was chaos but fun chaos.
Remember that talented fella from Gans? Well, he returned to the stage to play his sax on the closing track Dig! That extra bit of texture was classy and gave a bit more depth to the track. The gig ends and everyone drifts away into the night, energised, informed, uplifted and entertained. That’s not bad for the price of a ticket.
SET LIST
1. Black Country Gothic
2. Hug A Bastard
3. God Save The Pony
4. Desperate Breakfast
5. This Here Ain’t Water
6. Mongrel
7. Black Dog/White Horse
8. Sluglife
9. Dragged Up A Hill
10. Thin Horses (sung with Rachel Goswell)
11. Shope Music
12. Professionals
13. YesBoss
14. ShitHouse
15. Trees
16. For The Birds
17. Dig!
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