Time for the next edition of Metal Anarchy’s “new music showcase,” the feature where I introduce you to bands that readers of this site may find interesting. This time I have an exclusive Q&A with Big River bassist Ant Wellman.
METAL ANARCHY: Tell me a little about your band:
WELLMAN: We are Big River a 4 piece rock band with a bluesy edge. We write our own songs and try to blend a modern rock sound with the swagger and swing of the old school big boys from the 70’s… we are:
Adam Bartholomew – Singer
Damo Fawsett – Guitar
Joe Martin – Drums
Ant Wellman – Bass
We formed about 3 years ago and have been lucky enough to open up for Cats in Space, Fullhouse Play Frankie Miller, Dr. Feelgood and John Corabi among others…we have also played at some cool festivals including Cambridge Rock (2 years running) and Blues on the Farm….We love to play!.
METAL ANARCHY: Who are your main influences?
WELLMAN: Free were a band who had the songs, an incredibly soulful singer, unique players and could really groove and swing, something to aspire to! We are definitely in the vein of Free/Bad Company, etc. with some newer stuff like Clutch and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man thrown in, but we don’t want to imitate. We all listen to a range of different music and are not blinkered in our approach to writing our songs, if it sounds good we’ll give it a try…
For me some of my favourite bass players are Jaco Pastorius, Mick Karn, Willie Weeks, Marcus Miller, Geddy Lee, Colin Hodgkinson, Norman Watt-Roy and of course Andy Fraser…
METAL ANARCHY: What is your latest release and why should readers of this site check it out?
WELLMAN: Big River released “Redemption” our first album back in August, we have had some great reviews for it and a lot of positive response and support from radio stations all over the country and some in Europe too. We recently came third in the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association most played album of the year above Joe Bonamassa and Kenny Wayne Shepherd among a few notable others, so that was a most welcome surprise, so hopefully we are doing something right!
METAL ANARCHY: What can people expect when they go to your live shows?
WELLMAN: What you see is what you get! We want to give everything and deliver a strong and passionate performance every time, without taking it all too seriously… First and foremost you have to do it because you enjoy it, otherwise there’s no point.
METAL ANARCHY: Where do you see your band heading in 5 years?
WELLMAN: I would hope we can make the next album better and maybe a little different from the last one each time and build on from what we have… can’t ask for more than that really. The music industry is a tough one so if we could do that I’d be happy…
Metal Anarchy 
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