INTERVIEW: Rock band Massive Wagons to play two gigs at Lancaster University

Top rock band Massive Wagons will play two shows at The Great Hall at Lancaster University - historically a hotbed venue for the biggest names in music.

The Lancaster band's front man Baz Mills made the announcement of the gigs on Beyond Radio's The Indie Rock Heaven Show on Saturday.

The gigs will take place on Friday September 19 and Saturday September 20, and tickets will go on sale soon.

The shows will also be recorded for a Massive Wagons live album.

The Great Hall was a venue for shows by some of music's legends from the late 1960s until the mid-1980s, but has rarely been used for rock or pop concerts since then.

LISTEN to Baz Mills making the announcement on Beyond Radio

"We've talked about it for years, wouldn't it be amazing for bands to play up at the university again, The Great Hall," said Baz.

"The generation older than us, all went to those shows and that's all we've been told about for years, is how many amazing bands came through The Great Hall in Lancaster.

"You start to realise just who's been up there - Tina Turner, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Bob Marley - the list is almost endless, it's mindblowing.

Below, Tina Turner on stage at The Great Hall at Lancaster University. Photo by Geoff Campbell from When Rock Went to College: Legends Live at Lancaster University 1969-1985 by Barry Lucas and Paul Tomlinson

"We said, wouldn't it be nice to bring music back to the university.

"We're going to do two nights, with two different sets with support acts on each night.

"The venue means something and the history means something.

"Hopefully it will prompt a few other bands (to play there) if it's a success.

"We want to shine a light on live music in Lancaster again."

Lancaster’s Great Hall has a legendary past, thanks to the work of local promoter and author Barry Lucas, who brought some of the world’s biggest rock acts to the venue between 1969 and 1985.

In 2019, he captured those stories in his book 'When Rock Went to College'.

Now, as live music returns to the Hall, Terri Chapman of Rock People Management is leading the charge.

With a long-held ambition to bring this iconic venue back to life, Terri is assembling a passionate and experienced team to shape a bold new chapter — with Barry proudly passing the baton and offering his support, alongside University Director Andrew Barker, whose backing has been instrumental in making this vision a reality.

"In 1970 something major happened in the world of music," said Barry, pictured below with co-author Paul Tomlinson.

"The Grand Hall (later Great) opened at Lancaster University and for the next 15 years this small hall, in a small university, in a small city in the north west of England, played host to some of the greatest music legends of all time. Over those years more than 800 artists played on that stage at the height of their fame. Sadly, for 40 years no bands have played on that stage.

"That is until this September when Massive Wagons bring their incredible show to recreate those magical nights in The Great Hall."

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 5th June from HERE priced from £30 (£55 for a weekend pass). Sign up to Massive Wagons' mailing list to gain access to early bird tickets.

The boys are also headed back to school for four dates throughout June on their 'Forget The Haters' Interactive Class Tour. In association with Lancaster Music Festival and Metal For Good (and now as ambassadors themselves for Metal For Good), the class talks to young students involve discussions on the importance of kindness, respect, and being yourself...with some old fashioned rock n' roll thrown in for good measure.

And, as an incentive and special treat for the children of the local area, an exclusive full band matinee performance will take place in September for all schools - the concert will be the first taste of loud, live, electric music for many!

The band will visit Carnforth Community Primary on Friday June 20, and Trumacar Primary in Heysham on Monday June 30, with the matinee show taking place at The Great Hall on September 19.

Massive Wagons' most recent album 'Earth to Grace' was released last year and reached number four in the UK Album Charts.

Their previous album 'Triggered' reached number six in the UK Album Charts in 2022.

'House of Noise' reached number nine in 2020 and prior to that, 'Full Nelson' made number 16 in 2018.

The band is set to play a series of European shows in June, supporting Myles Kennedy, and will then play an exclusive live lounge at the Beyond Radio studio on Tuesday July 1.

Massive Wagons' members are Baz Mills, Adam Thistlethwaite, Stevie Holl, Adam Bouskill and Alex Thistlethwaite.

Look out for more information on the shows on Massive Wagons social media, coming soon.