Named as the ‘Event of the Year’ at this year’s Progressive Music Awards, Barcelona based festival Be Prog! My Friend recently announced that Sons of Apollo, Pain of Salvation and Australian virtuoso Plini will play in 2018. Now the festival have added Gazpacho and Persefone to the line-up for next year. They comment:
‘Gazpacho have been one of the most requested bands to play the festival since we first started Be Prog! My Friend. Musically it’s not easy to classify them but some call them ‘art-rock’, others label them as ‘alternative’ and even the phrase ‘neo-progressive’ has been mentioned. Many say they sound similar to Radiohead or The Porcupine Tree. What we do know though is that we are honoured to finally have them at the festival. The tour to support their most recent album ‘Molok’ was a complete success with several sold out shows all over Europe. We are glad fans of Be Prog! My Friend will finally get to enjoy Gazpacho in 2018 and the band have also told us that they will be releasing a new album then too.
We are also pleased to add one of the most promising bands in the progressive scene, Persefone. The Andorra based outfit stylishly and powerfully combine prog and metal. With their fifth album ‘Aathma’ they have really strengthened their position as one of the best new bands around. Welcome!’
Be Prog! My Friend which has played host to the likes of Opeth, Steven Wilson, Anathema, Devin Townsend, TesseracT, The Pineapple Thief, Magma, Agent Fresco, Camel, Meshuggah, Katatonia, Riverside, Ulver, Animals as Leaders, Ihsahn, Alcest, Jethro Tull and Marillion will take place on 29th and 30th June next year.
Held in the beautiful open air surroundings of Poble Espanyol – a huge stone built architectural museum – the site is one of the most important and striking landmarks of tourism in Barcelona. Whilst by day the Catalonian hotspot may play host to some of Barcelona’s most interesting historical articles, by the end of June it will instead play host to some of the world’s finest progressive artists.
The Gift’s Mike Morton has announced the dates and the majority of the line-up for 2018’s 2-day Resonate, the follow up to the Resonance Festival, an ambitious but ultimately rewarding 4 day musical extravaganza staged in 2014.
Taking place at the O2 Academy Islington on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September next years, Resonate will see some of the leading lights of the progressive music scene join forces with acts from wider musical genres to deliver an outstanding two days of live music.
About the festival Mike says:
“Resonate (2018) will bring together a diverse group of acts, from progressive to hard rock with steampunk in between! Tickets will officially go on sale from October 31st, at which time the proper ticket link will be published. Also, our Sunday headliner had been confirmed…but they have asked us not to announce them until New Year’s Day! 🙂 Suffice to say they will be another jewel in the crown of this 2 day event. We’ll keep you updated.”
Saturdays Line-up will see Konchordat on stage at 1pm followed by Verbal Delirium, Comedy of Errors, Son of Man, The Gift and headliners Lifesigns.
Sunday opens at the same time with the Tom Slatter Band, Hekz, Jump, Credo, the John Hackett Band and the mystery headline act, a world class progressive-metal act, to be confirmed.
Ticket prices are £25 per day advance or £30 on the door and £40 advance for the weekend or £45 on the door.
Tickets will be available, from October 31st, from:
Named as the ‘Event of the Year’ at this year’s Progressive Music Awards, Barcelona based festival Be Prog! My Friend recently announced that Sons of Apollo and Pain of Salvation will play in 2018. Today they have now revealed that Australian virtuoso Plini will join the line-up for next year. The festival organisers comment:
‘Plini the Australian guitar master, is coming to Be Prog! after a recent successful headline tour to promote his album ‘Handmade Cities’. Despite his youth, Plini is now recognized as one Australia’s most important acts within the progressive scene. Albums like ‘The End of Everything’ and ‘Sweet Nothings’ are fine examples of what this talented young musician is able to do and his fresh and dynamic stage show will dazzle the audience at next year’s festival’
Plini himself adds, ‘Barcelona is one of my favourite cities in the world to visit, let alone perform in, so it’s going to be an absolute treat to get to play in such a beautiful setting as a part of what will surely be an epic lineup. Can’t wait!’
Be Prog! My Friend which has played host to the likes of Opeth, Steven Wilson, Anathema, Devin Townsend, TesseracT, The Pineapple Thief, Magma, Agent Fresco, Camel, Meshuggah, Katatonia, Riverside, Ulver, Animals as Leaders, Ihsahn, Alcest, Jethro Tull and Marillion will take place on 29th and 30th June next year.
‘And so Prog finds itself in love with Barcelona, the delightful weather and everything that Be Prog! My Friend has to offer’– Prog Magazine
‘The leading festival for progressive music in Spain, showcased avant-garde music in a magnificent location’ – The Independent
‘Set in the hazy sunlit square of Barcelona’s historic and quite stunning Poble Espanyol, it certainly beats the sodden mud of the British festival season’ – Total Guitar Magazine
‘If nothing else, it proves that prog is alive and kicking. Especially in Catalonia’ – Classic Rock Magazine
Be Prog! My Friend takes place in the heart of Barcelona and with an airport only 12km away, regular, cheap flights make it an easy festival to get and from the UK. Bands will start playing from mid/late afternoon each day which will also mean visitors have plenty of time to explore the stunning city of Barcelona while they are there.
Named as the ‘Event of the Year’ at this year’s Progressive Music Awards, Barcelona based festival Be Prog! My Friend is set to return in 2018 for its 5th edition. Having played host to the likes of Opeth, Steven Wilson, Anathema, Devin Townsend, TesseracT, The Pineapple Thief, Magma, Agent Fresco, Camel, Meshuggah, Katatonia, Riverside, Ulver, Animals as Leaders, Ihsahn, Alcest, Jethro Tull and Marillion the festival will take place on 29th and 30th June next year.
Held in the beautiful open air surroundings of Poble Espanyol – a huge stone built architectural museum – the site is one of the most important and striking landmarks of tourism in Barcelona. Whilst by day the Catalonian hotspot may play host to some of Barcelona’s most interesting historical articles, by the end of June it will instead play host to some of the world’s finest progressive artists. The first two bands to be confirmed for next year’s festival are Sons of Apollo and Pain of Salvation.
The festival organisers comment:
‘We are very pleased to share with you the first two bands for the 5th Be Prog! My Friend festival. Sons of Apollo are a supergroup featuring Mike Portnoy, Derek Sherinian, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Billy Sheehan and Jeff Scott Soto who have joined forces to create this amazing project. This is the first European show they’ve announced. They will release ‘Psychotic Symphony’ next month but if you have listened to their song “Coming Home” you know that this is a supergroup who can create brilliant music to back it up. This is really a very special opportunity to see all these names on the same stage.Joining them are Pain of Salvation who recently released their colossal album ‘In The Passing Light Of Day’ which has made them a must see in the progressive world. Seeing them live is simply a blast so for the festival next year we needed to have them play.
A limited number of 200 tickets are on sale now priced at 100 Euros before rising to the final price of 130 Euros.
‘And so Prog finds itself in love with Barcelona, the delightful weather and everything that Be Prog! My Friend has to offer’– Prog Magazine
‘The leading festival for progressive music in Spain, showcased avant-garde music in a magnificent location’ – The Independent
‘Set in the hazy sunlit square of Barcelona’s historic and quite stunning Poble Espanyol, it certainly beats the sodden mud of the British festival season’ – Total Guitar Magazine
‘If nothing else, it proves that prog is alive and kicking. Especially in Catalonia’ – Classic Rock Magazine
Be Prog! My Friend takes place in the heart of Barcelona and with an airport only 12km away, regular, cheap flights make it an easy festival to get and from the UK. Bands will start playing from mid/late afternoon each day which will also mean visitors have plenty of time to explore the stunning city of Barcelona while they are there.
Steven Wilson has announced details of a third and final show at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall in 2018. He plays the venue on Thursday March 29th – his two previously announced shows there are sold out. Steven Wilson’s 2018 UK tour dates are:
Thu 15th Mar Warwick Arts Centre
Sat 17th Mar Belfast Mandela Hall
Mon 19th Mar Dublin Olympia Theatre
Wed 21st Mar Cardiff St David’s Hall
Thu 22nd Mar Birmingham Symphony Hall
Sat 24th Mar Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
Sun 25th Mar Gateshead Sage 1
Tue 27th Mar London Royal Albert Hall (sold out)
Weds 28th Mar London Royal Albert Hall (sold out)
Thu 29th Mar London Royal Albert Hall (NEW DATE)
Sat 31st Mar Manchester Bridgewater Hall (sold out)
Prior to the tour, Steven releases another track and brand new video. One of the many highlights of Steven’s recently released fifth album To The Bone, Nowhere Now is a gloriously soaring paean to the joys of everyday escapism. The video for the track was shot on location at and around Atacama Large Millimeter Array (Alma) in Chile – the world famous, high altitude radio telescope array. The video was directed and edited by Steven’s long time visual collaborator Lasse Hoile.
Steven’s fifth album To The Bone (Caroline International) was released to massive acclaim in August. Quotes from some of the reviews:
“Resolutely independent… the most successful British artist you’ve never heard of” The Telegraph
“A near perfect balance… flash & flamboyant with lovingly crafted big tunes” Mojo 4*
“An inimitable rabbit-hole of psychedelia” Planet Rock, 5*
“Lush and ambitious… insistently melodic” Uncut
“Wonderfully executed… pop brilliance” Q 4*
“The album we’ve been waiting for Steven Wilson to make… marries intelligence and ability with straightforward popular music with progressive overtones… astonishing” Record Collector 4*
“A fervent and meticulous tribute to the very notion of the song itself… Steven Wilson is consciously rehabilitating an approach to pop music that, let’s face it, is long overdue a widespread revival. And, as with everything else, he does it better than most” Prog (album of the month)
“To The Bone features squalls of furious guitars and occasional shifting time signatures… it’s artful, sophisticated pop-rock, channelling the favourites of his youth: Talk Talk’s The Colour of Spring, Peter Gabriel’s So, and Tears For Fears’ Sowing The Seeds of Love” The Guardian
“His best and most complete solo album yet” Classic Rock 4*
British Prog Rockers THRESHOLD have announced a third UK date as part of their European ‘Legends Of The Shires’ Tour. The band will play Manchester on Saturday 18th November at the Rebellion Rock Bar venue.
“We’re really stoked to add a third UK show to our Legends tour. Our home fans are amazing and we can’t wait to share our new songs with you.” Richard West
Threshold have been gearing up to release their first ever double album ‘Legends Of The Shires’ which will be released world wide on Nuclear Blast 8th September.
They recently released the official video for ‘Small Dark Lines’, check it out here:
Listen to the 10 minute epic first single ‘Lost In Translation‘ here:
The band will also be playing a London headline show in December as well as performing at HRH Prog in Wales in November. Don’t miss the chance to see these brand new tracks come to life for the first time.
Pre-order Legends Of The Shires:
Limited Edition Gatefold Double NB Anniversary Green Vinyl inc signed insert from the Nuclear Blast UK store: http://bit.ly/ThresholdShop
Limited Edition Digipack CD and Limited Edition Gatefold Double Vinyl inc signed insert from Recordstore.co.uk: http://bit.ly/RSThresholdl
US singer-songwriter and former fisheries biologist, Anna Coogan is excited to announce her return to the UK on tour following the release of new record The Lonely Cry of Space & Time, including a show at London’s Sound Lounge on Thursday 19th October.
Take a listen to single Burn For You taken from the recent album:
The album, a virtual two-person effort which features Willie B (Brian Wilson) on drums and Moog bass, combines Coogan’s three-octave soprano vocals, electric guitar soundscapes and pointed social commentary into a fierce cohesive piece which combines the personal and the political, in a musical hybrid of rock, country, pop and classical opera into a unique whole. Her new direction was born from her series of performances in her adopted hometown of Ithaca, NY, in which Anna and Willie B created live musical accompaniments for vintage silent films.
A true independent, Anna releases her own albums and books her own tours, which have taken her all over the world, including international festivals like the Blue Ball in Lucerne, Switzerland, Maverick in Suffolk, UK, as well as the Glasgow Americana Festival and Celtic Connections in Scotland. She has also played extensively in Germany and the Netherlands, and toured as a member of the Johnny Dowd Band.
ANNA COOGAN UK TOUR DATES
Wednesday 18th October – Loves Cafe, Weston-Super-Mare
Thursday 19th October – The Sound Lounge, London
Friday 20th October – Edgemoor Hotel, Bovey Tracey
Saturday 21st October – The Band Room, Farndale
Sunday 22nd October Tape – Community Arts Center, Colwyn Bay
Nordic Giants have announced they will be invading cities across the UK to promote their new documentary film and soundtrack, available in October.
‘Amplify Human Vibration’ comprises of a short film- directed by the duo that hopes to shed a positive light on the everyday world we live in. The crowd-funded film will also be accompanied by a new soundtrack, released on CD & Vinyl and the film given away online for free.
Famed for their engulfing live performances, the mysterious duo perform live soundtracks to beautiful award-winning short films, always hidden behind masks and engulfed in thick smoke, lights and projections – an experience for all the senses!
This latest project from Nordic Giants will explore the kindness of human nature, creating an opposing story to the often-bleak narrative presented by the media.
“Our aim is to produce a short film to explore the kindness of humanity and decipher what drives these people. For those that have seen the live show before fear not, this will not be a light affair, but a thought-provoking exploration into the human spirit”Rôka & Löki,
To coincide with TesseracT starting their North America live dates with Megadeth & Meshuggah today the band have released a brand new single and lyric video for the song “Smile” :
Vocalist Daniel Tompkins explains the lyrical concept & inspiration behind the song
Lyrically ‘Smile’ carries a strong and forward sense of irony as we explore and darkest side of the human condition. The song will witness the manifestation of an ’entity’. Consciousness survives through constant manipulation only to propagate pessimism and hopelessness. Our entity observes, consumes and evolves, bearing witness to human existence, mimicking our presence in colossal form.
Recorded at both 4D Sound Studios, Brighton and Celestial Sound Studios, Notts UK and produced by Acle Kahney during late spring this year “Smile”, described by the band as their most collaborative track of recent times, here, the vocals play a key part in shaping the structure of the song, the bass shaping the verses, so, allowing the band to explore new perspectives. Bassist Amos Williams explains further “We chose this track as although it is part of a greater theme, and is in fact towards the end of a story arc, it stands alone very well. We have a solid idea of where we would like to take this track on the next album as it is in no way finished. It is merely one step in a journey.
The verses and choruses stand very far apart from each other. There is a tension we wished to build through a minimalist approach, with small phrases that repeat against accompanying parts of different lengths. These undulate, seemingly getting lost against the nonconventional phrasing of the drums. All this is nothing new to TesseracT fans, but this time we have looked to really align the lyrical and musical messages. “
After building up a rabid and loyal fanbase across North America with their previous tours with the Devin Townsend Project, Gojira and multiple headline runs the band are stateside again for a monumental tour with Megadeth & Meshuggah.
Guitarist James Monteith enthusiastically comments “We couldn’t be more excited about going back to the US, the shows are always amazing out there and the fans are some of our most enthusiastic and loyal. There’s also the added bonus of touring with two of the most important metal bands ever! Megadeth and Meshuggah are major boundary pushers in the genre and we’re massive fans of them both, so it’s a real honour to share a stage with them. And not to forget Lilake who are doing some cool things too, so all in all, it’s going to be the highlight of our year”
Beginning in Big Flats, New York on Friday 23rd June the tour takes the band through Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and ending in Pennsylvania on July 11th. TesseracT will also be performing at Amnesia Festival, Montebello, Canada on 24th June, as well as a series of headline shows in Indianapolis, Nashville, Memphis, Buffalo and Amityville
For more details, full routing, summer festivals including the UK’s Arctangent Festival, shows in October in Holland & Russia – tickets https://www.facebook.com/tesseractband
“Who is the optimist? Elements of our psyche? Of yours? The part of us that secretly yearns for escape? For meaning? For a reason? Would you like to know more? Well why don’t you come and find out?” – Daniel Cavanagh, Anathema
Following a phenomenal set at this weekend’s Download Festival, Anathema have announced their headline tour of the UK in September, in support of their brand new album ‘The Optimist’. The band will be joined bybe accompanied by French blackgaze pioneers Alcest ( www.facebook.com/alcest.official ).
The full UK tour is as follows with tickets on sale from Friday 16th June
September
22 – Glasgow Garage
23 – Belfast Limelight
24 – Dublin, The Academy
26 – Manchester, O2 Ritz
27 – Sheffield, Plug
28 – Bristol, The Marble Factory
29 – Exeter, Phoenix
30 – London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Anathema, led by brothers Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh, along with drummer John Douglas, singer Lee Douglas, bassist Jamie Cavanagh and drummer/keyboardist Daniel Cardoso recorded ‘The Optimist’ in the winter of 2016 at Castle Of Doom studios in Glasgow with producer Tony Doogan [Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian, Super Furry Animals] at the helm and was mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
Anathema’s eleventh full-length The Optimist was released on 9th June through Kscope, where the ambient rockers revealed some of the darkest, most challenging and unexpected music the sextet have put their name to and has garnered some incredible reviews from the UK media:
“The album of their career thus far.” Prog Magazine – Album Of The Month
“The Optimist showcases the blissful chemistry that now exists within this particular line up” Classic Rock Magazine
“The Optimist delivers on every level” Metal Hammer Magazine
“‘a band finding new ways to be magnificent so far into their career” Kerrang! Magazine
“a record that makes the world better for its existence – and you can’t ask for more than that” Planet Rock Magazine
“Anathema really do cement their title as one of the UK’s most revered rock bands” Drowned in Sound
“The band are surely one of the country’s most innovative and imaginative rock bands around today.’Musipedia of Metal
“this could well be their greatest work to date” Ghost Cult
