ROSFEST announces Poland's Osada Vida for 2011

RoSfest is pleased to announce Poland's Osada Vida. The band is Adam Podzimski - drums & percussion, Lukasz Lisiak - bass, vocal, Rafal Paluszek - keyboards and Bartek Bereska -Guitars. To date the band has recorded 5 albums. 

Critical Moment (2000)

Osada Vida (2004) 

Three Seats Behind A Triangle (2006) 

The Body Parts Party (2008) 

Uninvited Dreams (2009)

In 2007 the band signed to Poland's Metal Mind Productions. For MMP Osada Vida recorded the next two full - length albums: The Body Parts Party (2008) and very highly acclaimed Uninvited Dreams (2009).

The music has been warmly received throughout Europe, The USA and Latin America, and is currently garnering excellent reviews for their critically acclaimed Uninvited Dreams album.

The band has extensively toured with the likes of Fish, Riverside, Believe, The Black Noodle Project and many others.

As time passed, Osada Vida started to play heavier, on one side, but on the other side, they incorporated more jazzy and ambient elements with a little bit of electronics. They are still developing their music, so no one knows where music will lead them… but we know that RoSfest will have them for a day on May 21st 2011 as our first band for the Saturday lineup.

Osada Vida official website - www.osadavida.art.pl
Osada Vida Myspace site www.myspace.com/osadavida
Osada Vida Youtube site - www.youtube.com/osadavida

After Crying and Vedres Csaba to reunite at GoPROGFest

This just in from Luis Loureiro, one of the organisers of the Gouveia Prog Festivals:

After more than a decade and a half after their split, AFTER CRYING and VEDRES CSABA will meet onstage to play together!! 

It was in '94 that AFTER CRYING released their classic "Föld és ég", an album that progressive music fans still regard as one of their musical strongest statements. After that, pianist, vocalist and composer Vedres Csaba decided to leave the band and to pursue his own ideas. 

We all know what happened from then on: After Crying started changing their artistical approach, from a neoclassical background to a more rock-oriented frame, providing us with another set of great records. Also, Vedres took on his own composing ground and developed it in a rock environment, with Townscream, as well as going deeper into his classical views, solo or with projects such as the Kairosz Kvartet.

Sixteen years after AFTER CRYING and VEDRES decided to go separate ways, the GOUVEIA ART ROCK organization asked both to play the 2010 edition of the festival. Due to the unexpected events you may still remember, related to the european airspace shutdown caused by the icelandic volcano ash cloud, it was impossible for all of them to make their air trip to Portugal, last April. But we insisted, they said "yes", and here we are, on the verge of Gouveia's autumn progressive festival GoPROGFest. Next October 23rd, the legendary AFTER CRYING and VEDRES CSABA will meet again, on stage, and are set to play together for the sake of their fabulous musical legacy and the sake of our pure pleasure as music fans.

Are you ready??

GoPROGFest'10 - 2010Oct23 Gouveia, Portugal
http://www.gaudela.net/goprog

Marprog: new ticket prices

This just in from the festival organiser:

New Lower Ticket Prices:
$20 in advance online / $25 at the door. $7 per set at the door as well.

3RDegree 12:30 - 1:45
Brett Bottomley 2:30 - 3:30
Edensong 4:15 - 5:30
Enemy Concept 6:15 - 7:00
Frank Varela 7:45 - 9:00
Holding Pattern 9:45 - 11:00

Here's the directions:
http://www.nomadsadventurequest.com/directions/index.html

It's a strange place to have show for sure but there will be food and a bar for concertgoers even though you can bring your kids for laser tag, mini-golf, paintball and lots of other stuff.

Feel free to visit the event page at Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=141940469160420&ref=mf

Virtual music festival featuring looper/guitarist Matt Stevens to benefit MS Society

Matt Stevens (who we recently covered via a review of his latest solo album Ghost here: http://billsprogblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/cd-review-matt-stevens-ghost-2010.html) sent me this info, and since he’s performing, that’s enough reason for me to post it. But it’s also for a good cause, and that makes it all the more worthwhile:


On The 18 and 19th of September there will be a web streamed music festival at http://cafenoodle.ning.com/ with donations in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Full Line Up (all times are BST - international times below):

18th Sept

3pm - Nick Tann
4pm - Steve Moyes
5pm - Rainer Straschill
6pm - Tracy Shaun
7pm - Chrissie Caulfield
8pm - Samm Neiland
9pm - Alun Vaughan
10pm - James Sera

19th Sept

3pm - Tom Slatter
4pm - Usit
5pm - Ernesto Schnack
6pm - Darren Nelsen
7pm - Matt Stevens
8pm - Pierre Masse
9pm - James Corachea


The first act will be on at 3pm BST on both days - International times are at:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?day=18&month=9&year=2010&hour=15&min=0&sec=0&p1=136

See all you there - would be great to have your support and raise some money for a very good cause.

Another Italian prog festival in November

Following on from yesterday's post about the Prog Exhibition 1970-2010 festival, here's another Italian festival happening almost the same time...

Date: November 6, 2010
Location: Mezzago (near Milan)
Performing bands:
Garybaldi
Locanda delle Fate
Alphataurus

More info:
http://www.progvention.com/

Phideaux to play RoSfest 2011

Phideaux is a band comprised of many friends who have known each other since early childhood (Phideaux Xavier and Valerie Gracious were in nursery school together). They produce recordings of adventurous art rock music and make occasional live appearances. Always eclectic and somewhat hard to pin down, Phideaux has been described as funny, serious, doomy, derivative, innovative, pretentious, goth-tinged space folk "prog" rock. They are inspired by mellotrons, flutes and keyboard heavy music but are also known to love dual lead guitars and power chords. Syncopation and tricky time signatures are sometimes used but there's always a melody to be hummed and riffs that invade your ears and mind. The lyrics tell stories - sometimes clearly, sometimes not - but always with an intent to spark an image or metaphor. Phideaux's sixth album Doomsday Afternoon generated a bit of a buzz and won best foreign album 2007 in the Italian Prog Awards. 2010 will mark the release of the album Snowtorch. This album is a continuation of the long form compositions found on Doomsday Afternoon and Chupacabras. It represents another foray into progressive rock, with perhaps a tiny bit of jazz fusion, psyche/freak out and heavy rock. It may surprise you!

Drop by the Bloodfish Records website where you can listen to tracks from all of the Phideaux albums and download some free stuff: http://www.bloodfish.com.

Discography: Fiendish (2003); Ghost Story (2004); Chupacabras (2005); "313" (2005); The Great Leap (2006); Doomsday Afternoon (2007); Number Seven (2009); Snowtorch (2010)

Look For Phideaux on the RoSfest stage with a brand new album and a brand new show.

Italian prog festival 5/6 November 2010 - Banco, PFM, Once were Le Orme, many more

Just got this in from the band Periferia del Mondo:


Hi prog friends,
a great Italian Progressive Event is scheduled for November here in Rome, to celebrate the 40 Years Anniversary of Prog, this is the Lineup scheduled at today.
Regards.

1970 Anniversary 2010
- PROG EXHIBITION -
ROMA

- 5 Novembre 2010 -
- 21:00 P.M. -
The Trip (reunion)
- Guest: Thys Van Leer
Once Were LE ORME (A.Tagliapietra T.Pagliuca T.Marton)
- Guest: David Cross
PFM Premiata Forneria Marconi
- Guest: Ian Anderson

- 6 Novembre 2010 -
- 16:00 P.M. -
Periferia del Mondo
Abash
Sinestesia
Maschera di Cera
- 21:00 P.M. -
Raccomandata con Ricevuta di Ritorno
Osanna + Gianni Leone
- Guest: David Jackson
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso
- Guest: John Wetton

ProGBury details (2 day festival October 2010)

ProGBury is a new 2-day progressive music festival at The Apex on Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds happening on 16 and 17 October 2010.

The line-up includes…

Saturday:
Curved Air
Focus
Aeon Zen
Mermaid Kiss
Future Kings of England
Mother Black Cap

Sunday:
Wishbone Ash
Nick Turners Hawklords
Mostly Autumn
ReGenesis

According to the Aeon Zen Facebook page…

“Aeon Zen will perform tracks from new October album release "The Face of the Unknown" as well as favourites from the 2009 "A Mind's Portrait" album, and are expected to be able to give their full show with the remarked studio sound and back projection cameras and images.

The featured Aeon Zen line up has been announced as:

Rich Hinks (Aeon Zen) - Bass guitar and vocals : Composer & arranger of Aeon Zen's works. Unassuming Mastermind of Aeon Zen.
Andi Kravljaca (From Sweden: Silent Call) - Guest vocals : An amazing high energy performer not to be missed
Matt Shepherd - Guitar - A powerhouse of talent shines through with each note
Jamie Brooks - Keyboards - Run off his feet in a few words!
Steve Burton - Drums - Cool and unflustered through a musically complicated set.

More information will follow on the full line up and timings. This we expect to be a full on weekend with other major bands playing too, so we hope you can save the date and be there.”


Tickets are available at https://www.theapex.co.uk/whats-on/event/4/progbury-saturday/

Summer's End Festival updates: schedule, Unto Us cancellation

Summer is pretty much at an end, so the countdown to the festival starts here! Tickets for all 3 days remain available at www.summersend.co.uk . Don’t leave it ‘til the last minute!

First of all, we are sorry to announce that festival openers, Huw’s band Unto Us will be unable to play due to the unavailability of the band’s keyboard player, who will be on his honeymoon! Rehearsals continue to go exceptionally well, and the band will make its live debut later in the autumn. More news of them very soon. The band will be replaced, most likely by an acoustic act, and we will announce their identity soon.

Secondly, these are the draft timings for the festival. As always, please use these details as a guideline only, as they are subject to change at any time. Please note that there will be one long break only on the Saturday, for those of you planning meals!



Friday 8th October
Doors 7pm
7.30 – 8.10 TBC
8.25 – 9.25 Tinyfish
9.45 – 11.15 Defence of the Realm


Saturday 9th October
Doors 12noon
1 – 2 Haken
2.20 – 3.20 Ark
4.00 – 5.45 Unitopia
5.45 – 7.15 Break
7.15 Doors
7.30 – 11.00 Agents of Mercy / Karmakanic (will include 30 min interval)


Sunday 10th October
Doors 12.noon
12.30 – 1.30 Multifuse
1.50 – 2.50 Dead Heroes Club
3.20 – 4.50 Phideaux
4.50 – 6.00 Break
6.00 – 7.30 Sylvan
7.30 – 9.00 Break
9.00 – 10.45 The Watch


www.summersend.co.uk
www.myspace.com/summersendfestival

10th annual Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music 18-25 September 2010 (Muffins, Magma, UZed, more!)

The 10th annual Sonic Circuits Festival of Experimental Music & beyond will begin in less than two weeks!

Below is the complete schedule of events and locations:

Saturday, September 18, 2010
La Maison Française
3:30pm
The Muffins (MD/NC/VA)
Hume (DC)
Vector Trio (DC)
Pilesar (DC)

8pm
Magma (France)


Sunday, September 19, 2010
Fairfax Old Town Hall
11am-11pm
Music Marathon Overload!
Illusion of Safety (Chicago)
The Cornel West Theory (DC)
Controlled Bleeding (NY)
Astma (Alexei Borisov & Olga Nosova) (Russia)
Fuse Ensemble (DC)
Nobu Stowe - Lee Pembleton Project "Confusion Bleue" with Special Guest: Andrea Centazzo
(Japan/LA/NY/Baltimore/Italy)
Corridors (NYC)
Colla Parte (Perry Conticchio, Rich O'Meara, Daniel Barbiero) (DC)
RDK+Insect Factory (DC)
Aster - Eli Keszler & Ashley Paul (Providence)
Mercury Fools the Alchemist (DC)
Matta Gawa (DC)
Kingdom of Sharks (VA)
Dave Vosh (DC)
Borborites (DC)


Monday, September 20, 2010
Strathmore Mansion
8pm
Trophies (Baltimore/Brooklyn)
Gestures (DC)
Lost Civilizations (DC)


Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Strathmore Mansion
8pm
Fennesz (Austria)
Arturas Bumsteinas + Janel & Anthony (Lithuania/DC)
Low End String Quartet (DC)


Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
6pm - FREE!
Andrea Centazzo (Italy)


The Fridge
8pm
Keith Fullerton Whitman (MA)
expo 70 (Kansas City)
Ancient Ocean (Brooklyn)
Li Tieqiao (China) & John Howard (DC)
Violet (DC)


Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Fridge
8pm
Night of 100 Lock Grooves - District of Noise Vol.3 Release Party
DJ/turntable abuse/live sets by
U.S. Girls (Philadelphia)
BLK w/BEAR (DC)
Sean Peoples (DC)
Tone Ghosting (DC)
Cole Goins (DC)


Friday, September 24, 2010
La Maison Française
8pm
Merzbow+Richard Pinhas (Japan/France)
Blue Sausage Infant (DC)
TL0741 (DC)


Saturday, September 25, 2010
La Maison Française
7pm
Univers Zero (Belgium)
Miriodor (Canada)


The website for the festival with complete information is here: http://dc-soniccircuits.org/

Ticketing information is here: http://dc-soniccircuits.org/festival/2010/#tickets

Marprog reminder (new lower ticket price)

An update/reminder about Marprog, coming up in about a month. Please note the new ticket prices below. So many great bands here (3RDegree, Edensong, Holding Pattern, and more!)...if you're in the area, there's no reason not to go!


Marred Productions is once again proud to present Connecticut's only progressive rock and art music festival MARPROG 010 Saturday October 2, 2010. Doors open at 12:00 and music starts 12:30. This year's event has been shifted to the newly renovated and much more pleasurable venue Nomads Adventure Quest located at 100 Bidwell Rd., South Windsor, Connecticut. Nomads is a full service family entertainment facility that features 16,000 square feet of fun as well as a full service cafe and bar. It is very easily accessed from I-91 and parking is not an issue at all. Our audience will have plenty to keep themselves occupied between sets as the day goes by. It is a beautiful facility and the staff immediately embraced the idea of presenting the show. Hampton Inns has agreed to give us group rates so decent accomodations are available at a reasonable price. Simply mention Marprog when making reservations.

This year the lineup includes the return of Holding Pattern as well as Toy Masheen. Both bands put on impressive displays last year and are very enthusiastic about their return engagements. I'm excited to see what they have been up to since we've last seen them. Newcomers consist of very local South Windsor band The Enemy Concept who I find to have an excellent edge with their clever fusion of psychedelic rock and hip hop. It's an interesting concept and feels very fresh. Opening the show will be New Jersey based band 3RDegree. I found their CD Narrow-Caster to be one of the shining stars amongst the many submissions I have received for consideration over the past year and I thought I'd like to see the live version. Another local performer we'll be featuring is Frank Varela. Frank is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in Connecticut. He will be joined by Bob Laramie, equally considered by many to be among the best bass players in Connecticut. With a combination like that, you can't lose. Rounding out our musical montage this year will be none other than Edensong riding the wave of their new release Echoes of Edensong into the midst of the Marprog. I must admit to having not reviewed the it as of yet but if it's anything like The Fruit Fallen I seriously doubt any of us will be disappointed.

So there you have it, a full day of the finest prog rock to be found anywhere near Connecticut at any time and you are all invited to join us. Please see the website at www.marprog.com for further details, schedule, directions and contact information. Advance tickets this year are $40. They are available directly through the website and payable by Paypal. Tickets are $45 at the door.

Ethelfest debuts in Chicago

Welcome to the debut of EthelFest, the Chicago-area progressive rock music event! Our goal is to provide an opportunity for progressive rock fans to spend an evening together to bond over the music we love.

EthelFest sprang from similar events held over the past two years, hosted by Uncle Norm and Magog of “Da Midwest Gang” - the informal name of a large, but tight-knit Chicago-area circle of friends who love high-quality live music.

In the future, we hope EthelFest will grow into something far bigger, but in the meantime, please join us for a wonderful evening of music and friendship!

Saturday October 2, 2010 - 7PM $12 Cover
4660 W 147th St
Midlothian, IL 60445
Phone: (708) 385-9200
http://www.papats.net/Midlo/
http://www.ethelfest.com/index.html

Grand Parade reunites to headline Ethelfest!

Band Members
Roey Ben Yoseph - vocals, percussion
Jay Fuentes - bass, 12-string guitar, bass pedals, vocals
Jeff Denton - 6 & 12-string guitars
Brian Harris - keyboards
Bill Harrison - drums, percussion
Website: http://www.grandparadeprog.com

Grand Parade has been performing the music of Genesis for over a decade. With special emphasis on the technically challenging progressive rock era, Grand Parade uses a wide range of electric, acoustic, and synthesized instruments to capture the details of studio recordings while emphasizing the energy and enthusiasm of live Genesis performances. An evening with Grand Parade will include a cross-eras performance of early Genesis music from the 1970s, ranging from the eclectic, often quirky Peter Gabriel-era (along with reproductions of some of his famous costumes and masks) to the lush, romantic, and sometimes jazz-fusion influenced Collins-era.

Silver Pipe - Jethro Tull Tribute

Band Members
Steve Royce - flute, vocals, acoustic guitar
Dale Stubitsch - electric guitar
Rich Poston - keyboards, guitar, vocals
Luis Nasser - bass
Bill Harrison - drums, percussion
Website: http://www.silverpipemusic.com

Silver Pipe was formed in 2007 by an eclectic group of veteran Chicago musicians. Since then, Silver Pipe has honed a unique and exciting live show, establishing itself before a wide audience comprised of Jethro Tull fanatics and classic rock devotees of all ages.

A key attraction of the Silver Pipe show is that, in addition to the well known hits from the Jethro Tull songbook, Silver Pipe also performs many of the complex gems that Jethro Tull themselves have long eliminated from their sets but which fans love hearing live. Focusing on the unique power of the electric Tull, the band channels the music, contagious energy, humorous banter and stage antics that Jethro Tull is famous for into a truly memorable presentation.

The Champions of Nothing
Performing Kevin Gilbert's "The Shaming of the True"

Band Members
Luis Nasser - bass guitar
Mark Pieper - keyboards and vocals
Matt Pieper - drums and vocals
Rich Poston - guitar, keyboards and vocals
Dale Stubitsch - lead guitar
Charlie Williams - lead vocals and guitar
Website: http://www.championsofnothing.com

THE BAND & THE MAN

With a combined professional musical experience of nearly a century in a diverse variety of genres, The Champions Of Nothing came together in 2008 to begin realizing the second-ever performance of perhaps the greatest rock opera ever written - “The Shaming Of The True.” Kevin Gilbert was one of the most talented musicians/composers/producers of Generation X, counting Michael Jackson, Madonna, Tina Turner, Keith Emerson and Eddie Money among his many collaborators. Kevin died in a tragic accident in 1996, at the tender age of 29, during the recording of his magnum opus “The Shaming Of The True.” His colleagues then completed the album for release in 2000, and its only live performance was at the ProgWest festival in 2002. Until now. In addition to their many other musical projects, The Champions Of Nothing have taken it upon themselves to rescue this masterpiece from undeserved obscurity, in order to keep the musical legacy of Kevin Gilbert alive for the next generation of fans.

THE STORY

“The Shaming Of The True” is a classic rags-to-riches-to-rags tale of a young singer/songwriter named Johnny Virgil who moves to LA to try to become a star. In order to achieve this goal he is forced to compromise his artistic vision, becoming rich but cynical in the process. Johnny eventually succumbs to the allure of drugs and debauchery, and a nervous breakdown forces him out of the game. This story is all-too-common in show business, but much more poignant given that it’s mostly autobiographical. The difference is that whereas an aging Johnny Virgil sometimes hears his songs “on the oldies radio,” Kevin passed away at the beginning of a very promising career. Our tribute to “The Shaming Of The True” is also a celebration of the life of Kevin Gilbert, and the star he would have become if fate had only been kinder to him.

Marprog 2010 details (3RDegree, Edensong, Holding Pattern, more)

This just in from Robert James Pashman of 3RDegree:

There's so many gigs going on that I'm reticent to add to the noise but there is going to be a second annual "Marprog" festival. Last year's was at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT-this year will be at Nomads Adventure Quest in South Windsor, CT-near Hartford. Here is the rough running order of bands:

3RDegree 12:30 - 1:45
Brett Bottomley 2:30 - 3:30
Edensong 4:15 - 5:30
Enemy Concept 6:15 - 7:00
Frank Varela 7:45 - 9:00
Holding Pattern 9:45 - 11:00

Here's the directions:
http://www.nomadsadventurequest.com/directions/index.html

It's a strange place to have show for sure but there will be food and a bar for concertgoers even though you can bring your kids for laser tag, mini-golf, paintball and lots of other stuff.

Feel free to visit the event page at Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=141940469160420&ref=mf

KINETIC ELEMENT to play Progday preshow

http://kineticelement.com/schedule.html

Friday 09/03/2010 - 9:00 pm

ProgDay Festival Pre-Show
Local 506
506 West Franklin Street
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
(919) 942-5506
Map of the venue and environs

Our 2nd time at the Prog Day festival Pre-Show! Our first gig with any kind of affiliation with a festival. This time again as a trio, but this time with a guitar player instead of a bass player. If you are coming for the festival, I'm sure you won't miss out on the Pre-Show. We may even have a special guest sit in on a few tunes.

Freakshow Artrock Festival 2010 - Part II announced

(NB: This is from the promoter’s press release.)

Although we have already had our festival back in march starring quite a bunch of great newcomers to the scene (Accordo Dei Contrari, Phlox, Beardfish, Neom, Camembert, Jerseyband), we decided to do a second part of it in autumn, due to the fact, that our dearest friends Of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum will be back again in Europe for quite one week, guesting at the prestigious RIOfestival in Carmaux in the south of France and once again in Würzburg.

And because there are some people around here that are dedicated followers of the French cult band Magma, we thought about arranging a double feature starring one cult band that draws its fame from the past up to the present, and one cult band that seems to be firmly rooted in the present with a nod here and there to some of the greats of the past of advanced rock music!

So when we were about to arrange things for this double feature, another of our favourites jumped in, announcing the release of their 4th record in autumn and wanting to do a show with their newly recruited drummer (they did not have one before) in Würzburg in the wake of aforementioned RIOfestival, where he (the drummer) will certainly be present as representative of his own record company. We are talking about Dave Kerman (drummer of present and thinking plague), who is guesting on the soon to be released ALTROCK label effort by Belgium chamber rock ensemble Aranis.

So now we are very proud to announce the Freakshow Artrock Festival 2010 - Part II as a one-day festival on the 25th of September.

Galerie 03 / Freakshow Present Freakshow Artrock Festival 2010 - Part II
Würzburg

"Rock Music For Advanced Listeners"
25.September 2010
Posthalle, Bahnhofsplatz 2, 97070 Würzburg (http://www.posthalle.de/)
All tickets will qualify for a seat!
Doors Open: 12:00
Start Of Concerts: 13:00


Aranis (featuring Dave Kerman on drums): www.myspace.com/aranis
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum www.myspace.com/sleepytimegorillamuseum
Magma www.myspace.com/magmaofficial

For more info, including ticket purchase information:

www.myspace.com/freakCha
www.artrock-festival.de

FLASH to play Progday 2010

NB: I knew I had seen this press release around the end of the week last week...when I went to find it again, I couldn't. At that point I honestly thought I had been imagining this announcement. Apologies for the delay, then, in posting this...



In 1971, Colin Carter, formerly lead singer with Peter Barden’s Camel, initiated an idea with Peter Banks, recently the first ex-Yes guitarist, to form a new band. Musician Ray Bennett had previously met Banks while staying with Bill Bruford, Bennett's former bandmate from The Breed. Recently returned to London, Bennett arrived right on time to fill the bass spot. Carter and Banks discovered Mike Hough, a hard working drummer with a jazz, rock and big band background, playing in a ballroom in London. Together they formed Flash.

In the early 70s Flash put out three albums on EMI/Capitol Records, had the hit single "Small Beginnings" (#28 Billboard), and toured Europe and the USA four times. They even made it to Australia. But after two and a half years, Flash disbanded. All four members later reunited in various combinations during the late 70's and early 80's. But by 1982 the Flash members had gone their separate ways.

In 2002 all four original members made contact again and were initially enthusiastic about a Flash reunion. Now spread out across the globe, plans to get together were discussed over several months. However, in the end, Banks and Hough failed to commit. In late 2004 it was Flash songwriters Ray Bennett and Colin Carter who began working together again. They discovered that the old chemistry was still there and in 2005 they officially re-launched their musical partnership as Flash.

2009 saw the almost miraculous resurrection of the fully realized Flash. Gibson Guitars listed Flash's In the Can as one of their top 10 vintage classic prog-rock albums. Also in 2009, all of their albums were reissued. Now, with a spectacular new 5-piece line-up and a studio album of new material in the works, these prog-rock pioneers set sail again with renewed vigor and their hallmark originality, ready to continue their saga. Advance copies of the new album should be available in September at Progday.

Mars Hollow, The Muffins, Half Past Four and Mahogany Frog join Flash at ProgDay 2010. ProgDay is the longest running progressive rock festival in the world. The 16th edition will take place on Saturday, September 4, and Sunday, September 5, at Storybook Farm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For more information, and to hear music from this year's bands, please visit us at www.progday.net. Three more bands to be announced soon!


Current Line Up:
Colin Carter: Lead Vocals
Ray Bennett: Guitar, Vocals
Mark Pardy: Drums
Wayne Carver: Bass
Rick Daugherty: Keyboards

Discography:
Flash (1972)
In The Can (1972)
Out Of Our Hands (1973)
Psychosync (archival recording from 1973) (1997)
Flash 4 (To be released 2010)

http://www.myspace.com/flashbennettcarter

A Day of Prog in Pittsburgh PA

Saturday, August 14, 2010
1PM - 11PM
Doors @ Noon

"A DAY OF PROG"

featuring:
SKLENIK
GRAVITY
MANDRAKE PROJECT
SYZYGY

Advance Tickets: $30 | Day Of Show: $35

Friday night Pre-show August 13,2010 8:00pm
$10/ per ticket - will feature :
"Going For The One" - A YES Tribute.

At RPM's Rock Club
1020 Washington Pike
Bridgeville, PA. 15017
www.rpmsrockclub.com

Tickets on sale now: for more information, head to http://www.3rprogfest.com/

Some Festival news

PROGDAY:

THE MUFFINS is one of those amazing bands that you used to hear about from the 1970s...after it had disbanded. Formed in 1973, the band released its first official album, "Manna/Mirage," in 1978. This would later be hailed as one of the best all-time American prog releases from the 70s and an essential release for any progressive music collection. But while the band developed a cult following on the US east coast, notoriety on a larger scale was elusive. Despite continuing to create excellent music and working with artists like Fred Frith (the band backed Frith on his 1980 album "Gravity"), THE MUFFINS played it's last show of the period in 1981 and broke up soon afterwards.

However, the legend of THE MUFFINS continued to grow long after its demise and in 1998 the progressive music scene was given a reprieve when the original members decided that they still had something to say and reformed. Unlike many other "reunions," THE MUFFINS really DID still have something to say and the band started writing and playing music again like they had never taken a 17 year vacation. This culminated in the release of a new critically acclaimed studio album, "Bandwidth," in 2001. Since then the band has continued to record and perform, appearing at ProgDay in 2001 and 2002, and at NEARfest in 2005. We are very happy to host the return of THE MUFFINS to the Storybook Farm stage.

THE MUFFINS is joined by Half Past Four and Mahogany Frog at ProgDay 2010. ProgDay is the longest running progressive rock festival in the world. The 16th edition will take place on Saturday, September 4, and Sunday, September 5, at Storybook Farm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For more information, and to hear music from this year's bands, please visit us at http://www.progday.net



NEARFEST:

Signed for NEARfest 2011 are simakDIALOG (Indonesia) and Gosta Berlings Saga (Sweden). Bios to follow shortly, or alternatively:

http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3083 (Gosta Berlings Saga)
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=4831 (simakDIALOG)

http://www.nearfest.com



CALPROG:

German progressive rock band RPWL was signed this week as the 4th performer at the 7th annual CalProg Progressive Rock Festival. The event will be held on October 2 at the Center Theater in Whittier California. The complete lineup is:

Ambrosia
RPWL
District 97
miRthkon

Tickets go on sale Saturday July 10 @ 7am. All seats reserved.

Visit http://www.calprog.com for more details and to listen to audio samples of the bands.



SUMMER’S END:

The Summers End Festival to be held at Lydney Town Hall, Gloucestershire on October 8,9,10 is delighted to announce that day tickets will go on sale on 1st July from www.summersend.co.uk. We are also pleased to announce the draft day line-ups now that all the bands have been confirmed.

Ticket prices. Day tickets Friday - £17. Saturday and Sunday - £27.50 per day
A small booking fee will be applied to each order to cover the transaction fees for online purchases. Still available: 3 day tickets £60. 2 day (Saturday and Sunday) tickets £45

Draft line up - subject to change

Friday 8th October
The Defence of the Realm with 3Js and a P - featuring Jem Godfrey, Pete Trewavas and John Mitchell (UK)
Tinyfish (UK)
Unto Us (UK)

Saturday 9th October
Karmakanic (Sweden)
Agents of Mercy (Sweden)
Unitopia (Australia)
Ark (UK)
Haken (UK)

Sunday 10th October
The Watch (Italy)
Sylvan (Germany)
Phideaux (USA)
Dead Heroes Club (Ireland)
Multifuse (UK, France, Italy)

http://www.summersend.co.uk

NEARfest 2010 dates announced

"Where to begin? With the first of many NEARfests under our wings, one thing is apparent: It ain't easy puttin' this thing together!!! A Salud to Chad and Rob for all the wonderful years of hard work and great festivals. A gargantuan thanks to you, the audience, the music fan, the beer lover for helping bring such a fine festival to fruition once again, we do it for you, for anyone who is passionate about their music. All the bands deserve a big hug for making the first NEARfest under the new guys, a rousing success. So many performances not soon forgotten, yet it's time to look to next year, which brings me to part two of this prose; NEARfest 2010 will be held on June 18th, 19th and 20th, 2010 - same great venue, same great people. Keep an eye out for more information, there's even a band announcement imminent. Jim, Kevin and I look forward to seeing you all back with us next year. It wouldn't be the same without you.


-------------
Ray Loboda, Festival Co-Director, NEARfest '0"

ProgDay tickets on sale now

Tickets for ProgDay 2009 will go on sale WEDNSDAY JUNE 24, 2009. They may be purchased via credit card on the ProgDay web site or by personal check. Checks should be made out to ProgDay and sent to:

Jeff Wilson
521 Limestone Rd
Carlisle, Pa
17015-4348

For more information visit the "tickets" section of http://www.progday.net

Ticket Prices for 2009 will be the same as last year:

Weekend Patron Pass - $140*
Advanced Weekend Pass - $90 (through Aug 23)**
Weekend Pass At The Gate - $100
Single Day Pass At The Gate - $60

*Our patron program is provided as a way for prog fans to provide an extra donation to ProgDay. ProgDay patrons do receive privileged parking closer to the venue (Storybook Farm Venue Only). Patrons will also receive a free copy of this year's program. Patron passes are limited due to the size of our parking area.

**Advanced weekend passes are also limited due to the size of our back up bad weather venue, so get yours early.

Hotel Information:

Once again this year the official hotel for ProgDay will be:

Comfort Inn University
3508 Mount Moriah Road, Durham, NC 27707
(919) 490-4949

A special rate $80 will be available for ProgDay attendees. Please call the local hotel number (919) - 490-4949 to reserve your rooms. Additional information can be found under the "local information" section of the ProgDay web site: http://www.progday.net