From the Black Country to the world stage, BIG SPECIAL’s debut album ‘POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES’ is a raw and honest reflection of the band’s journey and the universality of working-class struggles.

Words: Ciaran Picker. Photos: Derek Bremner.

Black Country punk poets BIG SPECIAL are a bit of an anomaly in today's music business. Separately and together, the lads have been making music for the last sixteen years, so they know better than anyone that it's not every day you feel like you're on to a winner. Since the release of their debut single 'SHITHOUSE' almost a year ago to the day, life's gone just a little bit weird for Joe Hicklin and Cal Moloney. Their debut album, 'POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES' isn't some flash in the pan; it's the peak of decades of dedication and tireless work that now sees them ready to not only take on the world but take it over completely.

Just home from tour, fans across the country turned out in their droves to watch the band. "We never thought we'd get out of the Birmingham scene, to be honest," Joe reveals. "Like, people in the South understanding what we're on about just never occurred to me."

"I never thought we'd reach Sheffield," Cal laughs.