NJ Proghouse presents Riverside

From the NJ Proghouse press release:

We are very excited to present Riverside and Pinnacle to the Proghouse for a special night of music.

This event is to benefit The Fellowship For Metlar House. The Metlar House is a local museum here in New Jersey.

This is the only chance to see Riverside this year unless you already have tickets to the two festivals they are playing in September.

There are a limited number of seats available for this benefit event and demand is high so be sure to get your seats early by going to

http://www.njproghouse.com

There you will be able to order your seats and you can find all the other information for this very cool benefit event.

STRAWBS: At last the three missing A&M Strawbs albums - Strawbs, Dragonfly and Nomadness - are coming out on CD from Universal, with bonus tracks as set uot below. DC has had his approval copies, so release must not be far away (no confirmed date yet)

Strawbs - bonus tracks
That Which Once Was Mine (BBC recording, preceded by interview - Brian Matthews meets
Tony Hooper/Dave Cousins)
Poor Jimmy Wilson (BBC recording)
The Battle (BBC recording)

Dragonfly- bonus tracks
We'll Meet Again Sometime (Studio version)
Forever (Studio version)
Another Day (BBC recording with Clare Deniz)
We'll Meet Again Sometime (BBC recording with Clare Deniz)

Nomadness- bonus tracks
Still Small Voice (Studio version)
It's Good To See The Sun (a hitherto unknown song - even Dave had forgotten it!)



JETHRO TULL: As part of Jethro Tull's 40th Anniversary celebrations EMI will be re-releasing a Collectors Edition of the band's debut album This Was...

Disc 1
My Sunday Feeling
Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You
Beggar's Farm
Move On Alone
Serenade To A Cuckoo (2008 Digital Remaster)
Dharma For One (2008 Digital Remaster)
It's Breaking Me Up (2008 Digital Remaster)
Cat's Squirrel
A Song For Jeffrey (2008 Digital Remaster)
Round (2008 Digital Remaster)
So Much Trouble
My Sunday Feeling
Serenade To A Cuckoo
Cat's Squirrel
A Song For Jeffrey
Love Story
Stormy Monday
Beggars Farm
Dharma For One

Disc 2
My Sunday Feeling
Some Day The Sun Won't Shine
Beggars Farm
Move On Alone
Serenade To A Cuckoo
Dharma For One
It's Breaking Me Up
Cat's Squirrel
A Song For Jeffrey
Round
Love Story
Christmas Song
Sunshine Day
One For John Gee
Love Story
Christmas Song


PAR LINDH PROJECT: News from Metal Mind Productions to let you know that the street date of the new release Pär Lindh Project in Concert – Live in Poland DVD has been moved to 12th May 2008. The US release date - 13th May in US - hasn't changed!

Pär Lindh Project in Concert – Live in Poland DVD presents the footage from the band’s outstanding performance at Wyspiański Theater in Poland, which proves the band’s virtuosity as well as cleverness in devising remarkably intelligent compositions. Apart from the show the DVD also includes an interview with Pär Lindh, photo gallery, biography, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and more! Pär Lindh Project in Concert – Live in Poland DVD will also be available in a special DVD+CD limited swing case edition with a CD with audio material recorded at the show!

DVD:
1. Night on Bare Mountain (inc The Black Stone)
2. Baroque Impression
3. Mundus / Veni Vidi Vici Medley
4. Suite in Progress
5. Montagues & Capulet
6. Bill’s Solo
7. Gradus ad Parnassum

CD (only available with a limited DVD+CD edition):
1. Night on Bare Mountain (inc The Black Stone)
2. Baroque Impression
3. Mundus / Veni Vidi Vici Medley
4. Suite in Progress
5. Montagues & Capulet
6. Bill’s Solo
7. Gradus ad Parnassum

Free Concerts

They've played most every Prog Festival in the U.S. but never played our nations capital!

On May 17 that changes when IZZ comes to Washington to play with some SOAR bands at Artomatic. Artomatic is a month-long multimedia arts event that draws together visual artists, musicians and performers and brings their work to the community without charge. More about AOM here: http://www.artomatic.org/about/facts

SOAR started working with AOM last year, with a few SOAR bands playing multiple sets over the month. This year we've lumped them all in one day. The line up includes:

On the Electric Stage starting at 4PM
Conduit
Kinetic Element
Cliff Art
Ephemeral Sun
IZZ

On the Cabaret Stage:
Gary Rouzer (solo bass)
Circus of Saints
Rob Martino (stick)

And between sets, there are six floors of visual art to peruse.



FIRST FRIDAY ON FRANKFORD AVENUE

GERM PRESENTS The Red Masque, "Philadelphia's premier avant rock band"

This Friday, much deserved excitement surrounds the Lisa Spera/Lydia Hamilton Brown photography art opening at the Highwire Gallery, just one block away from us (www.kenbmiller.com/highwire/index.html). We're hoping their sun catches our rainbow on fire (sorry, Douglas), as we simultaneously host the disciplined chaos of progressive rock titans THE RED MASQUE.

City Paper described them as the "darkness of Hammer Horror ambience and cursedly complex musicianship (think Gong meets Bauhaus) with only feedbacking noise, sound-collage clustering and the howl of vocalist Lynnette Shelley to light its way." Plus, they sing about some of your favorite Germ subjects! Cthulhu, pre-Cambrian insects, Atlantis…

Frogg Cafe updates - and a note on this blog

I tried posting this yesterday, but Blogger was being difficult.

The original line-up of the band is in the studio right now recording our 4th studio album. Last month we laid down the foundation tracks for tunes called Terra Sancta (Sussman), From the Fence (Lieto), and Move Over I'm Driving (Lieto) and in mid-May we are going to attempt to lay down guitarist's Frank Camiola's latest epic called Belgian Boogie Board. You won't be spinning "Boogie Board" at your grandmother's 90th birthday party unless you tragically want it to end early. Hold onto your Charles Ives knickers for this one.

This is the longest break we've ever taken from playing live shows and we definitely miss it. But it has given us the freedom to concentrate on this CD which we are having a blast creating for you. I'm sure that once this CD is done we'll be able to play some shows as long as we get some prog fans who don't mind changing a diaper or two for us in the parking lot. And NO, it's not for our drummer. How dare you. He may be old, but he is spry.

See you soon.

Best,
Frogg Cafe
http://www.froggcafe.com

~~~~~~~~~~

Now:

I'll keep this simple and to the point. When I started this blog, I opened up anonymous replies to allow people who were reading an opportunity to comment on posts and allow their viewpoints and opinions to be heard as well. I will not support or allow discourse that is less than civil on this blog. I trust that is something that is easy enough to achieve.

I do NOT want to remove or delete comments. But should there be further replies similar in tone to the one received this morning I will re-evaluate the anonymous poster policy.

BTW, for those keeping score at home, yesterday saw the 100th post in this blog.

And now for something completely different...here are some interesting and enlightening interviews with a plethora of progressive artists:

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=rpcurtiss&p=r

Adrian Belew
John Wetton
Bernardo Lanzetti (PFM)
Al DiMeola
Robert Fripp
Bill Bruford
Phil Collins and John Goodsall

Hopefully more are forthcoming...it's a nice collection of info indeed.

Peter Hammill: tentative additional NA tour dates

From Sofasound :

USA

- 15th June Jammin' Java, VIENNA, VA.
- 17th June The Cutting Room, NEW YORK, NY
- 18th June Colony Cafe, WOODSTOCK, NY
- 19th June Sellersville Theatre, SELLERSVILLE, PA
- 21st June NEARFEST festival, Bethlehem, PA, USA,

(All subject to work visa).

In theory there will be more US/Canadian dates late in July, starting on the West Coast and tracking back. But at the moment this is theoretical!

Freebies!

The only time you will see music downloads advertised here is if a) they are free, b) officially sanctioned by the band or label in question, and c) posed on the band or label's website.

Having said all of this, here's a few free official downloads that have been (proverbially) rocking my socks the past week or so. And they are tangentially prog too!

OPETH:
Two free official downloads through the Roadrunner Records (the band's label) website. The first link takes you to a page where you can download the song "The Lotus Eaters," the second takes you to a page where you can download the video for their new song "Porcelain Heart." Both songs are from Opeth's album Watershed, due to be released in June 2008.

The Lotus Eaters
Porcelain Heart

Please note the video may not necessarily be 100% safe for work, so keep that in mind. I find it to be very evocative, spooky, and well shot.



JUDAS PRIEST
The first chance to listen to the title track from their forthcoming 2-CD concept album Nostradamus, also due June 2008. Orchestral, with classic Rob Halford screams. Considering how important early JP albums (Sad Wings of Destiny, et al) were to the creation of progressive metal, this may be a must listen. The Epic Records website is a bit touchier to navigate through than Roadrunner's, which pretty much pots stuff right out in front, but it's worth the effort (in my opinion).

Nostradamus

2 ROSfest updates

GPS:

GPS regrettably announces that Ryo Okumoto is unable to perform at Rosfest. We are all upset, including Ryo who was greatly looking forward to this. This is unavoidably due to travel issues from his current home on the island of Fukue, Japan 800 miles from Tokyo. However, Erik Norlander keyboardist for Asia (featuring John Payne), Lana Lane and Rocket Scientists has kindly agreed to fill in for Ryo on this date.


The Rebel Wheel:

RoSfest announces The Rebel Wheel to play at a free after hours party at the Holiday Inn host hotel on Friday night after the Friday night showcase. The Rebel Wheel are a modern progressive-rock ensemble based out of Ottawa Ontario. With influences that range from Gentle Giant to Frank Zappa via Genesis and Rush, the band features a frenetic mix of rock aggression, odd-meter vamps, and turn-on-a-dime arrangements. Originally formed in 1991 as a fusion-based midi ensemble, the floating lineup has gradually solidified to the current five piece featuring Aaron Clark - Drums, Ken Kanwisher - Keyboards, Cello, David Campbell - Guitars, Vocals, Bass, Keyboards - Gary Lauzon - Bass, Bass Pedals, Keyboards and Angie MacIvor - Sax, Vocals, Keyboards. Since its inception, the music has focused more on modern and traditional Progressive Rock.

Look for them to play on May 2nd after the Friday night showcase at the Holiday Inn at the main bar.

New Flower Kings Official Bootleg coming soon

Info courtesy of Roine Stolt:

FAB OFFER OF A NEW BETTER LIFE !!!

That's right,spring is here and to celebrate spring 08 we offer solutions for a new better life. We suspect that you might be interested to know that THE FLOWER KINGS will release a brand new LIVE CD in the official bootleg series. The records are in from the pressing plant,steaming hot this week.

The name of the CD is CARPE DIEM - Live in USA 2006. It's a 32 channel multitrack recording, 24 bit digital from our show in Whittier California on oct 16th 2006 and a damn good sounding recording I might add. (Kudos to Vince Daukas of Tunecrafters)

We will offer it from our website shortly at www.flowerkings.se
( orders : merchandise@flowerkings.se )
we're just about to set up so that you can use PayPal.

Foxtrot Records will release :
The Flower Kings CARPE DIEM - "Official Bootleg" Live in USA 2006

1.Paradox Hotel 7:40
2.Psycedelic Postcard 10:45
3.Hudson Rivers Sirens Call 5:55
4.FishSoup (drum &bass-solo) 7:12
5.Pioneers Of Aviation 4:01
6.Just This Once 13:40
7.World Of Adventures 8:50
8.A Vampires View 9:53 (Quebec City Bonus track)

Roine Stolt: Guitars & Voice
Hasse Froberg: Guitars & Voice
Tomas Bodin: Keyboards
Jonas Reingold: Bass & Voice
Marcus Liliequist: Drums

Petrus Königsson : PA-sound

A vivid and rocking live testimony from Whittier California October 16th 2006,showing Flowerkings at it's best with a somewhat odd setlist plus plenty of jamming. Sound quality is excellent due to a 32 channel multitrack 24 bit recording,lots of thundering low end moog bass pedal.

As if this wasn't enough we will shortly announce some more USA live dates in end of August, so save your precious gold to get a TFK ticket for one of the shows.

The Red Masque - Fossil Eyes release forthcoming

News courtesy of TRM vocalist Lynnette Shelley:

The Red Masque are pleased to announce that work on their new album, Fossil Eyes, is finally complete and is being sent off to the record label. Vonorn wrapped up productions this weekend, and the final song list is below:

01. The Spider Is the Web
02. Carbon 14
03. Gliese 138
04. Das Snail
05. The Worm
06. Carbon 13
07. Lost in the Petrified Forest
08. The Hive
09. Polyphemus
10. Metamorphosis
11. The Anti-Man (Not Afraid)

To see a picture of the cover, go to:
http://www.theredmasque.com/images/FRONTCOVER-FINAL.jpg

As soon as the band has release date information from the label or further details, we will let you know.

As a reminder, The Red Masque will be performing on May 2nd in Philadelphia at Germ Books and Gallery (2005 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19125; 215.423.5002). This concert is featured as part of Philly's "First Friday" Arts Crawl. Show time is 7 PM and admission is FREE but donations accepted. This will be a very intimate concert experience with a limited number of seating. Germ Books is also an unusual space and describes itself as an "alternative independent bookstore that [provides] access to ideologically unpopular books; books that address difficult social topics; books that don't cater to the lockstep mentality of the current counterculture; and books that reveal who our true masters are: The UFO Overlords."

Porcupine Tree mini-Europe tour

London show announced

In October Porcupine Tree will undertake a short European tour in order to shoot their second live DVD - this will be the final time that the Fear of a Blank Planet tour repertoire will be performed, but there may also be some surprises! The first show to be announced is at the Indigo2 venue in London. This is situated within the same building (formerly the Millenium Dome) as the O2 Arena, and is a wonderful new venue. Tickets will shortly be on sale from ticketmaster.

Ozrics and King Crimson news-y bits

Ozric Tentacles:

Upcoming gigs 2008:

24th May – The Sugar Complex, Kent, UK
6th June – Wakarusa Festival, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
7th June – Wakarusa Festival, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
14th June – Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO, USA
12th July – Ilosaarirock, Joensuu, Finland
12th July – Moon Festival, Wiltshire, UK

Ozrics Live at Sunrise Celebration DVD will be released on the 26th May - for a sneak preview - http://www.snappermusic.com/ms/ozrictentacles



King Crimson:

Fresh from the recent rehearsals in Nashville, Gavin and Pat give it some boom, bash and bish. Based upon B’Boom, which in turn was based upon an exercise written by Gavin in his 1998 book, Rhythmic Illusions, the new Crim rhythm section gives an early indication of how formidable they might well be.

(official download behind the link!)

Things I am currently listening to...

Just a quick post this balmy (well, soon to be balmy) Saturday morning to list a few things that have caught my ears of late...

Beardfish - Sleeping in Traffic: Part Two. The sequel to 2007's highly regarded album, SiT2 sees the band more vividly showcasing some of the Zappa-isms that have endeared them to their fans. It is by and large a heavier, somewhat darker side of the band, and one that I look forward to digging deeper into over time. In depth review to follow in all the usual places...you know where to look!

Caamora - She. Clive Nolan's latest rock opera...no, call it a rock Broadway musical. Alan Reed, Christina Booth, John Jowitt and Mark Westwood all guest or play throughout this 2-CD/1 DVD release. The studio album is enjoyable, the DVD more so. Good staging, great performances...I could see this show successfully mounted on Broadway. Based on the classic novel by H. Rider Haggard, this work bodes well for future full-scale projects from Caamora. If you like your prog with a healthy dose of drama and theatrics, check it out. Who said big stage shows can't work in prog?

Opeth - "The Lotus Eaters." Yes, tracks are starting to leak from the band's forthcoming ninth studio album Watershed. This is about as far from what I'd expect from Opeth, and that's maybe a good thing. Baroque elements battle with blast beats, layered, harmonized clean vocals with classic Akerfeldt death grunt. Add in a trippy psych/jazz vamp in the middle and you have one of the most atypical, technical Opeth songs ever. Looking forward to the rest of the album. (BTW, there will be an official track download available at Classic Rock's website on Monday. Click here for details.)

Bruce Springsteen - The Rising. Yeah, it's not prog, but Danny Federici (long time organ/accordion/glockenspeil player) died this week, he's from Flemington (just up the road from where I live), and being a life-long Jersey boy, Springsteen holds a special place in my musical upbringing. I think I prefer Springsteen's newest (Magic) to this release, but Danny's got some great playing on this one (his organ coda on "You're Missing," for one). He'll be missed. Rest well, Phantom Dan...

Gong dates in London with Hillage!

Posted on the Planet Gong site:

For the latest transmissions from the luminous green planet - Gong dada 'hymn-self', daevid allen, is joined by co-founder Gilli Smyth, the motherbeat bass of Mike Howlett, master drummer Chris Taylor, incomparable jazz saxophonist Theo Travis - and for the first time in the UK since 1975 - Steve Hillage & Miquette Giraudy!

Both these events have a special limited 'Early Bird' ticket offer available to you.

Sat 14 Jun - UK, London, Queen Elizabeth Hall (seated venue) - GONG at Massive Attack's Meltdown 7.30pm. Tickets £18.50 (rear stalls), £22.50 (front stalls). South Bank Centre, London, SE1 8XX.
To get tickets in advance of the general on-sale date of 25th April and claim a 5‰ discount you need to call 0871 663 2500 (UK) or +44 871 663 2500 (from abroad) and quote 'Fan Offer' (their words, you're all friends to us). This offer is for phone and in person sales only.

Sun 15 Jun - UK, London, The Forum (standing venue) - GONG + Slackbaba 7.30pm. Tickets £19.50. Kentish Town, London, NW5 1JY

To get tickets online with reduced booking fee and transaction costs visit:-

www.artistticket.com/artist/?s=gong

This offer is limited to the first 500 tickets and comprises of a £1.25 booking fee as opposed to £2.45. Non-UK purchasers will be able to pickup their tickets on the night of the show. UK purchasers will also have the additional benefit of a £2.50 postal processing cost (First Class Post Recorded Delivery) as opposed to the normal £4.90 seetickets.com processing fee.

Saga announces new singer

Posted initially on Saga's official website:

The search is over, after internet auditions, live auditions, and singers who had their ears to the ground about Saga's quest. We, SAGA, would like to thank all the vocalists for their time and stepping up to the plate. We found our man, SAGA would like to introduce Rob Moratti from Toronto Canada, our new lead singer.

Fish tour saved by NF organisers

Posted by Fish, forwarded on here by yr. obd't blogger:

Dear FishHeads, fans, Freaks and The Company,

Sorry I've been a bit quiet lately but the arrangements for the US tour have been taking precedent and creating a lot of stress.

The tour was close to going down in the last two weeks as we couldn't find a petitioner.

The petitioner has to be a company involved with the tour and basically guarantees that I pay any taxes and stands as a kind of bail bond should anything go wrong. Without a petitioner we couldn't get work visas. As you are probably aware, the US has a great deal of "ambulance chasing" lawyers and to put it in perspective when the tragedy occurred in Rhode Island with a band foolishly letting off pyros inside a low ceiling, sold out club which had all the exit doors chained and resulted in close to a hundred people dying, even the radio station who advertised the show were successfully sued. It's a wee bit scary. Everyone was walking away.

My US agent couldn't sign as petitioner, the label distributing my catalogue over there wouldn't and EMI publishing was in a quandary. Luckily at the last moment the Nearfest promoters stepped up to the plate and signed off which means we can now go for the visas. Believe me Yatta and I were on the edge of cancelling the shows as we were fast approaching the deadline for visa applications.

The bureaucracy of setting up this tour is a nightmare but bit by bit the Yattmeister has whittled away at the mountain and we are moving apace.

RIP Brian 'Blinky' Davison

From ELP_DISC:

------------------

I've just had a phone call from Lee Jackson to tell me that Brian died last night around 9.30pm.

Brian had been ill since before Christmas with a brain tumour and secondaries in his liver and was already in a very poor state by the end of January. Lee told me that Keith (Emerson) was on the phone to him when he got the call from Bazz on his landline. with the sad news, so they both found out at the same time.

I'm sure all are thoughts will be with Brian's wife Terri at this sad time.

Brian was a very under-rated drummer who deserved much more success than he got imho.

------------------

If you don't know who Brian is, do yourself a huge favour and quickly order copies of Five Bridges and Elegy by The Nice. Honestly...there are times I far prefer them to ELP.

Nektar: Book of Days out from 18 May 2008

Four years after their comeback album, Nektar will be releasing their new studio album entitled Book Of Days. The album will be released by Bellaphon on May 16th. Exactly 4 years after their last album Evolution Friday May 16th 2008 sees the release of their new work Book Of Days. Eight songs of full blown arrangements and intertwined with pure rock and soaring solos and beautiful ballads that only NEKTAR know how to do.

Already during their last Autumn tour 2007, parts of the new album were being performed, and press critics have hailed these as some of the best Nektar yet.

After several changes in the bands "live" lineup, 2 of the original members remain Roye Albrighton (guitar/lead vocals) and Ron Howden (drums/vocals) together with 2 German musicians Klaus Henatsch (keyboards/vocals) and Peter Pichl (bass/vocals). With "Book Of Days" Nektar are starting a new chapter in their career.

Nektar are scheduled to appear at the Open Air, Zeche Bochum on Sunday, 10th August 2008 with a tour in the planning for October/November 2008.

And an update from Roye Albrighton (guitar, vocals, Nektar):

"Ok, this is the situation, and think it best now before we go any further to quickly explain what BOD actually is.

Because of severe restriction imposed by events over the past 2 years, it was decided to release the pre-production version of the album (albeit with a few extra overdubs)
Neither Klaus Henatsch our keyboard player, or Peter Pichl our bass player performed on this album, also Carmine Rojas and Delmar Brown are not present.

Also due to the distance involved, and the financial restraints we found ourselves under during this period, Ron howden could also not perform on it. In fact the entire production was played and recorded by myself as a pre-production.

So..it is up to you the fans to make your own minds up whether or not to accept it for what it is.

I can only hope you will enjoy it for what it is, and now that we have moved on from the recent travesty, we can get to work on the next project that will include all of us."

Curved Air reunites for tour

Info originally posted HERE:

The pioneering music group Curved Air is reuniting for a tour in 2008. A series of concerts have been arranged from June and include the Isle of Wight Festival on Friday, June 13. The lineup sees iconic vocalist Sonja Kristina teaming up again with other founding members Darryl Way and Florian Pilkington Miksa.

1st Concert in idyllic Devon

Rush to buy your ticket to be there and meet the band.

Sat Jun 7th 7:30pm
Malborough Village Hall, Malborough,
Kingsbridge, DEVON, TQ7 3RL, UK

Wed 11 June 2008 8:30pm Concorde 2, Brighton, UK
Sat 13 June 2008 8.00pm Isle of Wight Festival Newport, UK SOLD OUT
Fri 11 July 2008 5:30pm Orwell Park Ipswich, Suffolk, UK
Sat 23 Aug 2008 8.00pm Rock and Roots Festival Ross-on-Wye, UK

Haggard: new shop, CD, tour details

From Wikipedia:

Haggard was founded in 1991 and originally played death metal. They changed their musical style after their first demo tape, Introduction in 1992, becoming a band with symphonic melodies and classical instruments but folk themes. The album And Thou Shalt Trust... the Seer marked their breakthrough in 1997. After their second album Awaking the Centuries, they toured through Mexico twice. In 2004, they released their third album Eppur Si Muove which is about the life of Italian scholar, Galileo Galilei, sentenced to house arrest for heresy by the Church for supporting Copernicus' claim that the Earth revolved around the sun.

Just before their album Awaking The Centuries was released, the group had its highest number of musicians at 21. All their songs are written by vocalist and guitarist, Asis Nasseri.

News follows:

It is a pleasure to announce that the new Haggard-Shop did open its gates.
The address is:

http://www.haggard-shop.de/index.php?language=en

Here you will find all the articles that lets the HAGGARD-Fan´s heart beat faster.

At www.haggard-shop.de you find: Fanpacks, CD´s, DVD´s/Videos, Exclusive Silver Art, Textiles (T-Shirts, Sleeves), Women/Girls Articles (Girlies etc.), Stickers, Patches, Mead (yes really, I checked - BK), Posters, Buttons

Planned are: MP3´s, Rings, Underwear, Hoods

Due to the fact that I got lots of mails regarding HAGGARD-Jewelery, I am very happy to tell you this amazing news:

A cooperation with the famous Venezolan fireart-designer G. Golindano has started. She did create exclusive silver art designs for HAGGARD. The silver art pieces will be manufactured on demand especially and are custom-built. This means, that every orderer receives an unique piece. More info you can get at the online shop.

The shop will be constantly updated, there will be lots of new articles soon.

In case that you should look for specific merchandise, please write to the Haggard shop address.
__________

The new CD:

The production of the new HAGGARD CD "Tales Of Ithiria" is getting closer to the end. From the next monday on the mixdowns will be done. This means that the release is not that far anymore! More information about the new material you can find in the May-Newsletter

__________

Concerts:

Haggard did successfully rock the Ragnaroek-Festival in Lichtenfels (Germany) in the End of March.

In the end of April, there will be 2 concerts in Turkey:

26th of April 2008 -> Istanbul
27th of April 2008 -> Ankara

Further Events / Concerts:

30th of May 2008: (Ger) München, Fetisch-Exposition (Interview / Autographsession)
11th of June 2008: (Czech Republic), Masters Of Rock (Concert)
26th of July 2008: (Ger) Burg Veldenstein, VELDENSTEINER FESTIVAL (Concert)
01st/03rd of August 2008: (Ger) Goessnitz Open Air
06th of September 2008: (Ger) Osterburken, Mirogue Festival (Concert)

These are our concert plans:

Concert in Tunisia (June 2008)
Concert in Spain (July 2008)
Tour through Europe (September / October 2008)
Tour through Eastern Europe (late autumn 2008)
Tour through Latin America (late autumn 2008)
Tour through Spain(late autumn 2008)

Keith Emerson: 'details' on forthcoming album

Thanks to ProgressiveEars for the link...

Mastermind update: digital official downloads

Mastermind has teamed up with the Mindawn Online Music Service to make their entire catalog available digitally for the first time. "This is not a decision we've made lightly" says guitarist/composer Bill Berends. "There are as many online music services as there are hoops to jump through to use them." Indeed services such as iTunes, Rhapsody, & emusic only deal with select labels or aggregate distributors, not to mention crippling DRM (Digital Rights Management), embedded mp3 licensing fees, or even worse; the Real Audio format. "We wanted to streamline the process as much as possible, from our instruments to your ears with no middle men." Since Mindawn began as a progressive rock music service, it seemed the obvious choice.

"We are also very concerned with the level of audio quality the consumer receives and mp3 is at best a flawed format" Berends continues. "Once your ear picks up on the coding artifacts it can drive you insane. I really can't see asking serious coin for an album of mp3 audio, even if the music is well worth the price." Enter FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec). "Mindawn is the only digital music service we are aware of that offers CD quality audio." Tape traders, bootleggers, and audiophiles have been using FLAC for years because of its superior quality. "FLAC delivers exact CD quality audio and we want the buyer to get the very best quality possible."

So it would seem, do other discerning artists. King Crimson offers FLAC downloads on their DGM (Discipline Global Mobile) website for example, as does Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius) who is currently offering his new rock opera in the FLAC audio format. As bandwidth increases, we believe this will be the way of the future.

Mindawn also offers the Ogg Vorbis format which sounds great and is DRM & license free. "It sounds much better than mp3 to my ears" says Bill "and DRM is something we don't want to get involved with, period." That being said, Mastermind may offer some titles as mp3 downloads simply because the market demands it "but our back catalog and anything else we may release in digital-only format will surely be made available in FLAC audio format."

Much like many artists of the day, to lure potential buyers and appease music starved Mastermind fans, the band will be releasing several digital-only titles from their large archive of live shows and unreleased material. "So many people have requested this that it seems the logical thing to do." Plans are also in the works for a concert DVD release of some kind in the near future.

As for when will there be a new Mastermind album Bill simply says "there is one... we shall see."


Go to http://www.mindawn.com/artists/Mastermind for the catalog, including previously unreleased material.

Pure Reason Revolution updates

From an e-mail sent to people who ordered the band's new single, 'Virtuous Cupid' also known as...

"...the first part of Pure Reason Revolution's next stage of life. The band are busy completing the new album right now, I don't know what the release plan and such is, I'm sure they'll be telling us all soon, things are evolving and progressing rather nicely now - really impressed with what we've heard in the studio so far - don't worry, they're using their time well.

I'm sure you know by now that the band take a break from the studio to play a one-off gig this Saturday April 12th. The gig happens at The Water Rats (AKA The Monto), Kings Cross, London. Support is hand picked by us so please if you are coming get there early, you'll like the refined post-rock/math adventure of VESSELS (www.myspace.com/vesselsband), they're coming down from Leeds and they're on early at around 8.00, I think you'll find they compliment Pure Reason rather nicely. There are still some tickets on the door, not too many so if you don't have one and want to come advise is get there reasonable early, I should think if you turn up before 9.00 you'll get in. The gig runs at regular times so you should be OK for trains and such - if you're coming from afar and need a floor then get in touch...

ALBUM NEWS - Some of you will have heard now that Pure Reason Revolution have signed a new long term deal with rather good looking new alternative rock label Superball Music - the new home of And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead and Oceansize - this is good news indeed, here at Organ we've known the Superball Music people for years, real music fans running a label for the right reasons rather than just some corporation who just wants to sell you product, this is really good in terms of the band's long term creative output."

There's some other stuff in the works that I can't talk about yet, but hope to share with y'all soon.

Thomas Gabriel Fischer leaves Celtic Frost

For me, progressive metal isn't just metal with keyboards and a classical influence. A band like Celtic Frost is every bit as progressive, if not more so, than Symphony X or Dream Theater or whoever.

Thus it is that this news bit hits me hard...

"Celtic Frost singer and guitarist Tom Gabriel Fischer has left Celtic Frost due to the irresolvable, severe erosion of the personal basis so urgently required to collaborate within a band so unique, volatile, and ambitious."

http://fischerisdead.blogspot.com/

GENESIS To Return To The Big Screen For Launch Of Upcoming Live DVD

According to Lars Brandle from Billboard.biz, GENESIS is making a return to the Big Screen for the launch of their upcoming live DVD.

The prog-rock veterans, who hit the road for a famous comeback last year on the Turn It On Again tour, will participate in a special Q&A session next month which will be beamed via satellite live into 20 Odeon cinemas across Britain, the band's manager Tony Smith tells Billboard.biz.


On the day, the band - comprising Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks - will take questions from the audience, but will not perform.

The on-screen event is expected to take place May 20, ahead of EMI Records' May 26 release of the David Mallet-directed DVD When In Rome 2007, which captures the tour-concluding July 14 concert at Circo Massimo, which drew an estimated 500,000 fans.

Genesis explored the cinematic route when the Düsseldorf, Germany leg of last year's tour was cinecast live in digital high-definition quality and surround sound to Vue cinemas in the U.K., and a raft of movie houses on the Continent.

"It was very effective for us, and we learned a lot from it," Smith tells Billboard.biz. "If we were to consider doing something else again of a special nature, where we wanted to set up in one place and do an extended run, then that would be a way to go."

The When In Rome 2007 DVD digi-pak will contain a 28-page booklet, and carry more than five hours of content on two concert discs and a documentary DVD.

Marillion Weekend Canada 2009

http://www.marillionweekend.com/canada/index.htm

Details coming soon. Tickets on sale in June, according to the newsletter:

"Hello all!

We're very pleased to announce that in 2009 there won't just be one Marillion Weekend but TWO!

The first Marillion Weekend will take place March 20th-23rd, 2009, at CenterParcs Port Zélande in the Netherlands - this will be the same structure as the previous Marillion Weekend held there in 2007. We will be taking over the whole park and supplying accommodation and 3 nights of Marillion concerts. Full details can be found by heading over to www.marillionweekend.com - bookings for Marillion Weekend 2009 - Netherlands will start the week commencing 5th May 2008. Whey hey!!

The SECOND Marillion Weekend in 2009 is provisionally scheduled to take place in Montreal, Canada from April 3rd-5th, 2009. This will be a slightly different affair as we will not be providing any accommodation as part of the package; but Montreal is full of great hotels, hostels, and B&B's to house you.

The plan will be the same three concerts that we perform at the Marillion Weekend 2009 - Netherlands. This convention is still a work in progress, though, and we hope to add some additional information to the website in the coming weeks. The tickets for this event should go on sale sometime in June 2008. Updated details can also be found at www.marillionweekend.com as they become available - sorry it's a bit sketchy at the moment, but we thought you'd like to know even it it's not 100% confirmed yet...

If you have been to one of our Marillion Weekends before then you know how much fun they are. If you've never been, then take a look at the website and you can read some of the feedback from past attendees. We'd love you to come and be a part of it!

Mark, Ian, H, Pete and Steve "

VonFrickle to play Progday 2008

ProgDay is proud to announce one of the leaders of the Midwest American progressive rock scene, VonFRICKLE, to the Storybook Farm stage. Hailing from the Illinois heartland, VonFRICKLE have become a staple of the Chicago area progressive rock underground, as well as playing shows throughout the country.

The band's influences include KING CRIMSON, early PINK FLOYD, THE RESIDENTS, PRIMUS, JEFF BECK, late 70s-early 80s RUSH and FRANK ZAPPA, but they create a brand of music that is all their own. Veteran musician/composer AL KOOPER says, "Just when the words ZAPPA, ELO, and DIXIE DREGS start to escape the vocabulary, here comes this Illinois instrumental band that is not afraid of time signatures, keys or tempo changes."

With seven studio albums to their credit, VonFRICKLE are also known for their theatrical live shows featuring energetic readings of their recorded works. This year saw the highly anticipated release of their first concert album, Live: The Forty Fingers of Doctor V, which nicely captures the excitement of a VonFRICKLE performance.

After impressing fans at PROG IN THE PARK in 2006, VonFRICKLE are excited to make another east coast festival appearance. This is your chance to hear what all the buzz is about. Don't miss it!

Announced bands so far: AIN SOPH (Japan), CHEER-ACCIDENT (US), HOLDING PATTERN (US)

ProgDay, the world's longest running progressive rock festival, takes place August 30th and 31st at Storybook Farm near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Please visit our website at http://www.progday.com for more information.

David Jackson (ex-VdGG) news

Saxophonist David Jackson (ex-Van Der Graaf Generator) flew to Greece on October 2007 in order to participate to Stelios Romaliadis' album Distress Signal Code. The album will be released through Musea Records on September 2008 under the name of Lüüp.

Distress Signal Code album is based on ambient soundscapes with progressive rock and folk influences based on flute loops (Frippertronics with flute). It features many acclaimed musicians such as Lisa Isaksson (Piu), Akis Boyatzis (Sigmatropic), Eleni Adamopoulou (Magnitophono) and more.

Personnel:
- Stelios Romaliadis: flute, loops
- David Jackson: alto, tenor & soprano saxophones, flute, loops
- Lisa Isaksson: vocals, acoustic guitar, flute, glockenspiel
- Akis Boyatzis: vocals, bass guitar, electronics, keyboards
- Eleni Adamopoulou: vocals, keyboards

more info at www.myspace.com/steliosromaliadis

ProgDay Announces Ain Soph for 2008

ProgDay is pleased to announce the very first American appearance of AIN SOPH, the renowned band from Japan! AIN SOPH was formed in 1970 at the beginning of the progressive rock music scene in Japan. Their first official release, "A Story Of Mysterious Forest," came out in 1980 and has since become considered a classic of Japanese progressive rock.

Ultimately AIN SOPH became Japan's premiere contribution to Canterbury music, with tunes that mix the symphonic elements of CAMEL with the jazzy musical flights of SOFT MACHINE and HATFIELD AND THE NORTH, all filtered through a Japanese point of view. RICHARD SINCLAIR, who played with AIN SOPH in 2004, has called them "one of the very best Canterbury music bands in the world."

Join us and help celebrate their first show in the US, and only their second show outside of Japan. We're sure AIN SOPH will deliver a performance to be remembered.

ProgDay 2008 is the 14th edition of the world's longest running progressive rock festival. Performances will take place on Labor Day weekend, Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31. For more information please visit our website at www.progday.com.