Big Big Train, the award-winning, progressive rock band, will issue their 16^th studio album via InsideOutMusic on February 6^th,2026. Woodcut is a landmark release for the group, whose line-up draws together members from England, Scotland, Italy, the USA, Sweden and Norway, in that it marks their first ever full-length conceptual piece – quite a statement given the musical depth and storytelling qualities of a band formed in Bournemouth way back in 1990. Woodcut is a continuous narrative exploring creativity, sacrifice and the thin line between inspiration and madness and featuring a character called The Artist.

Today they launch a second single from the album, titled “The Sharpest Blade,” a track that sees violinist Clare Lindley sharing lead vocals with the band’s frontman – and ‘Woodcut’ producer – Alberto Bravin.

Lindley, who also wrote the lyrics for ‘The Sharpest Blade’, explains: “Having gone for a walk in the woods and happened upon an amazing piece of heartwood, lit by a natural beam of sunlight, the Artist has taken it home. In the song ‘The Sharpest Blade’, he begins to carve the heartwood. Although he still has doubts and dark inner thoughts, he finds himself carving a wonderful scene. It’s so good that he feels it is perhaps not of his own hand…”

Watch the video for “The Sharpest Blade,” once again created by Crystal Spotlight, here: https://youtu.be/kvkJYEumeso

Watch the previously released video for ‘The Artist’ here: https://youtu.be/lu2Xm2gMMWY

Big Big Train also recently launched The Artist’s Workshop, a special site dedicated to all things ‘Woodcut’ where fans can explore and unlock hidden content. Head here to explore: https://woodcut.bigbigtrain.com/

Woodcut feels like a Big Big Train record quite unlike any that came before—an assured union of music, storytelling and visual invention. The album is graced with a striking cover design from Dorset (England) based artist Robin Mackenzie – a black and white woodcut print, of course, derived from a woodcut which the band commissioned from him specifically for the album.

Available as a Limited CD + Blu-ray edition, including extensive liner notes as well as Dolby Atmos & 5.1 Surround Sound mixes by Shawn Dealey of Sweetwater Studios, the album will also be available as a stunning Gatefold 180g 2LP with special embossed cover, Standard CD Jewelcase & Digitally in both Stereo and Dolby Atmos versions.

Pre-orders are now available here: https://bigbigtrain.lnk.to/Woodcut-Album

Featuring 16 tracks across 66-minutes of runtime, Woodcut feels epic without outstaying its welcome. From the intimacy of ‘Inkwell Black’ to the grandeur of ‘Counting Stars’, Woodcut is a defiant analogue statement in a digital age—a handcrafted, deeply human exploration of art, faith and endurance.

The full track-listing is as follows:

1.         Inkwell Black 00:56
2.         The Artist 07:16
3.         The Lie of the Land 02:55
4.         The Sharpest Blade 04:16
5.         Albion Press 05:46
6.         Arcadia 05:46
7.         Second Press 00:37
8.         Warp and Weft 03:45
9.         Chimaera 05:37
10.       Dead Point 05:28
11.       Light Without Heat 03:22
12.       Dreams in Black and White 02:34
13.       Cut and Run 06:19
14.       Hawthorn White 01:54
15.       Counting Stars 05:40
16.       Last Stand 03:34

ALBERTO BRAVIN – Lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
NICK D’VIRGILIO – Drums, percussion, 12-string acoustic guitar, vocals
OSKAR HOLLDORFF – Keyboards, vocals
CLARE LINDLEY – Violin, acoustic guitar, vocals
PAUL MITCHELL – Trumpet, piccolo trumpet, vocals
RIKARD SJÖBLOM – Guitars, keyboards, vocals
GREGORY SPAWTON – Bass, bass pedals, 12-string acoustic guitar, Mellotron, vocals

Additionally the band have just announced a UK/European headline tour for September/October 2026, including their biggest headline show to date at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Find the full list of dates below:

BIG BIG TRAIN – THE WOODCUT & OTHER STORIES TOUR

Friday 25^th September – The Stables, Milton Keynes, UK
Saturday 26^th September – The Asylum, Birmingham, UK
Sunday 27^th September – Komedia, Bath, UK
Monday 28^th September – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, UK
Wednesday 30^th September – The Spirit Of 66, Verviers, Belgium
Thursday 1^st October – Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, Germany
Friday 2^nd October – Poppodium Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
Saturday 3^rd October – De Pul, Uden, Netherlands
Sunday 4^th October – TBA, France
Tuesday 6^th October – La Sala, Madrid, Spain
Wednesday 7^th October – Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona, Spain
Friday 9^th October – Teatro Astra, Schio, Italy
Saturday 10^th October – Phenomenon, Fontaneto d’Agogna, Italy
Sunday 11^th October – Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland
Tuesday 13^th October – RNCM Theatre, Manchester, UK
Wednesday 14^th October – Playhouse, Whitley Bay, UK
Thursday 15^th October – Slay, Glasgow, UK
Saturday 17^th October – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, UK