Big Iron – Going From Strength to Strength

When – 22nd August 2025

Where – MacArts, Galashiels, Scottish Borders

Review and Photographs by Linda McDermott

Support

Dread Persephone

Killbolt

Memento

Hot on the heels of their Frontiers Living EP launch at Legends in Edinburgh, Big Iron headline MacArts in the Scottish Borders. Once an old church, the building now offers a unique setting where vaulted ceilings and stone walls create a rich, warm acoustic atmosphere. It’s no wonder bands love playing here, and over the years it has welcomed the likes of Gun, The Skids, These Wicked Rivers, The Virginmarys, and The Vaselines into its sanctuary.

But before we talk about Big Iron, there are three support bands, just to crank up the atmosphere in the room and get the party started.

First up is Memento, a band from Galashiels. Three of their members played together in a band called Distortion about seventeen years ago, and they’ve recently decided to give it another go, and why not! They have re-formed as a covers band, taking on everything from punk, metal, and hard rock.

With this their first gig since then, you could sense both nerves and excitement as they stepped on to the stage. With an impressive set of covers from bands that ranged from The Offspring, Trivium, Limp Bizkit, and Killswitch Engage, finishing with Biffy Clyro’s the Golden Rule, they had the room buzzing. By the end of their set, they’d proved they could hold their own and bring a fresh approach with the songs they chose. For a band only just finding their feet again, it was a solid and energetic performance that left the crowd fired up and ready for more. Speaking to the guys they said they plan to write their own material and introduce it into their set while they establish themselves. If their choice of covers is any indication of their own music, they’ve just got themselves another fan.

Singer – Dan Wilson

Guitar/Vocals – Scott Rodger

Guitar – Joe Hardie

Bass – Jamie Bertram

Drummer – Daniel Howie

Upcoming Gigs

6th of December – Reviers Bar, Galashiels

Socials

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574759887224

Killbolt

Killbolt, hailing from Hawick, wasted no time in making their mark, kicking things off with the brand-new song Home Made Prison, that had the crowd’s attention. The band have both youth and experience playing a part in their sound, which gives them a nice balance of energy and grit. Their set had a raw, grungy rock edge to it, packed with riffs that bite and vocals that carry plenty of fire. Lyrically, there’s no shortage of angst, with themes of fractured relationships and life’s tougher knocks cutting through, while the music itself oozes attitude and intent. They’re not shy about throwing themselves into it either and that connection with the audience is already coming naturally.

For me, the standout moment came with their closer Here Comes the Pain, a heavy, brooding number that I’d happily put forward as their first single release. The reception they received spoke volumes, and with a debut EP on the horizon, Killbolt are one to keep an eye out for.

Set list

Home Made Prison

Rage

Heaven Can Wait

Laced With Insanity

Black Hole Baby

Here Comes the Pain

Upcoming Gigs

20th September – OC Facility, Jedburgh – support for Juliet’s Not Dead

Socials

Facebook https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084428937878

Video

Here Comes the Pain https://youtu.be/44zZ6J8dIV0?si=4dnZwegzo0kQ5pDj

Dread Persephone

Dread Persephone came out looking like Goldie Looking Chain, but there was no fool’s gold here, just a twenty-four carat in your face rock band that tore into their set from the very start.

Regan was like a caged animal, pacing back and forth across the stage while singing and roaring with emotion and passion. Their songs packed a punch at every turn that had the crowd head banging and involved. My favourite songs on their set were KYLL with its angst and tension as it builds, it has a nod to System Of A Down in it that may be an influence of theirs. Musically they’ve got it pinned down with Harry, Liam and Jason packing a punch. They finished their set with Scapegoat with it’s emotional rollercoaster ride, taking the crowd along with them. If the night had finished here, everyone would have went away happy, but we still had the headliners to come on what had been a fantastic night so far.

Jason Wakefield – Bass

Harry Channon – Guitars

Regan Dudley – Vocals

Liam Roberts – Drums

Set List

Dread Persephone

Madonna

Whore Complex

KYLL

The Tower

Troubled Waters

Scapegoat

Upcoming gigs

27th September The Hive, Edinburgh – support for Tiberius and Wildfire

15th November MacArts, Galashiels – Headline Show

Socials:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dreadpersephoneband

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dreadpersephoneband

The energy in the room is now high and full of expectation, having been built up with three great support bands.

For those who don’t know Big Iron, you’re missing out on a vibrant live band with their own unique style and way of doing things. Their music is multilayered and intricate, delivering on all fronts, with guitar gurus Kieran and Jack making it look easy, James and Arran locking down the beat and bass, and Oliver strutting around

the stage like he’s been wired up with Duracell batteries that have been firmly inserted!

They waste no time, storming into Tiny Little Pieces, and if they were looking to grab attention, job done. Straight after comes Dead Reckoning from their brand-new EP

Frontier Living, released only a few weeks ago. That EP has already taken them up a gear, five cracking tracks that show just how much they’ve grown into their sound, and tonight they deliver it live and with style. The crowd are loving every second, feeding off the band’s on-stage fun, while inflatable glitter balls bounce across the room to the cheers, claps, and head-nods of a Friday night crowd in full flow.

They tear through their set at a blistering pace, throwing in a mix of old favourites and fresh material, striking poses, and keeping the energy high. For me, the title track Frontier Living stole the show, though picking a favourite feels unfair when each song has its own punch and personality. Still, when that chorus hit, the whole room, me included, was belting it out at full volume.

With the atmosphere buzzing, the songs keep rolling, and everywhere I look people are grinning, singing, and soaking up the night. There’s something about watching live music in a place like this that just makes you feel lucky to be there.

Unfortunately, all good things have to come to an end, but these lads make sure it’s with a smile. They close with their take on Gay Bar, a tongue-in-cheek, party-fuelled blast that has their fans bouncing right to the final note. It’s the perfect ending to what’s been another brilliant night of grassroots music.

If you’ve not seen Big Iron, or any of the other bands, do yourself a favour and get out to a gig – nothing beats the buzz of live music.

Set List

Tiny Little Pieces

Dead Reckoning

Look to the Sky

Bellbottoms

River Runs Dry

The Mask

Miles Away

Carl Carlson

Frontier Living

Daiquiri