Grand Tour

Grand Tour

Grand Tour is a UK neo-progressive rock group formed in 2005 around keyboardist Hew. Hew has played keyboards with Glasgow band Abel Ganz since 1982, but begins Grand Tour as a way to take more direct control of his own material as Abel Ganz moves in a different musical direction.

Formation and concept

The project develops from Hew’s interest in the Cold War years and the nuclear stand-off between the superpowers. The film On the Beach strongly shapes the music, and visual ideas from the film feed into many of the songs.

Line-up development

Local guitarist Andrew Young joins first. His background is in electronic and rock music, and he has played with a number of bands before moving into progressive rock. Hew and Young work through the song ideas together as the material develops.

In 2007, vocalist Joe Cairney joins the group. He is formerly with Comedy of Errors, and after a gap from singing he returns to fronting a band with Grand Tour. He first approaches Abel Ganz, who are looking for a new singer, but then works with Hew on Grand Tour’s vocals instead.

Drummer Bruce Levick joins in 2009 and gives the project fresh momentum. He and Andrew Young have been corresponding online for some time, but they meet in person only when they team up in Grand Tour. Levick’s drumming leads to a full review of the existing tracks.

In 2010, Andrew Young is replaced by Mark Spalding, who is Joe Cairney’s old friend and a former Comedy of Errors guitarist. He joins after hearing the existing demos, and his varied and forceful guitar style becomes a key part of the group’s sound.

Recordings

The line-up of Hew, Joe Cairney, Bruce Levick and Mark Spalding records the first Grand Tour album, Heavy on the Beach. The album is planned for release in January 2015.