Theo Travis to guest on new Syn album

It has been announced that Theo Travis will be recording material for the forthcoming Big Sky album by The Syn.

From http://www.myspace.com/theotravis

"I have had the privilege of playing and recording with some amazingmusicians including Palle Mikkelborg who guested on my 2001 CD Heartof the Sun; Anja Garbarek (2001 album and tour); David Sylvian (Nine Horses CD); Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree CDs , No Man, Bass Communion); John Etheridge, Soft Machine Legacy; Richard Sinclair and Hatfield and the North; Dick Heckstall-Smith; Bill Bruford; Tony Coe; Pierre Moerlin, and the late Slim Gaillard. In 1999 I became a new member of Daevid Allen's Gong touring the USA, Europe, Japan,
Scandinavia, and the UK and co-writing most of the group's album Zero to Infinity released in Feb 2000. I subsequently produced their live album Live to Infinitea, released in October 2000 and to date have played over 120 dates with them all over the world.

I am also a member of the new Progressive band - the Tangent (http://thetangent.org) which is doing great things at the moment. My website is at http://www.theotravis.com and I do try and keep it up to date with gigs, recordings etc."

The Syn announce US tour

February 18, 2009, New York - Progressive rock band The Syn will show off a new lineup and a new vision with their latest CD Big Sky and an extensive North American tour that includes a performance at the world famous progressive rock festival in Philadelphia, RoSfest. Stops also include Baltimore's famed Orion Sound Studios, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York and much more. The group will also be doing two full evenings of fundraising performances in Virginia with all proceeds to be donated to music, education and the arts.

Formed in 1965, The Syn was a precursor of the band Yes, with that band's bassist Chris Squire as one of the founding members. At various times The Syn has also included Yes alums Peter Banks and Alan White in their lineup. Now The Syn continues forward with a core lineup of Steve Nardelli (founding member, songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist), Francis Dunnery (of It Bites and Robert Plant fame - guitars and vocals) and Tom Brislin (Spiraling - also keyboardist on Yes' Symphonic tour - keyboards and vocals). The lineup is augmented for the tour by Paul Ramsey (Echolyn) providing drums and other percussion and Brett Kull (also of Echolyn) on guitar.

Much of the Big Sky tour will be filmed. The footage will be released as a documentary of the tour. This film will be available in both digital and physical formats. For more details you can find the Syn on the web (and get a full listing of tour dates) at myspace.com/thesyn.

Peace Frogs, a leading US manufacturer of ecologically responsible, sustainable living, and green-themed clothing is sponsoring the tour. A jointly-designed authentic branded Syn merchandise line will be available for sale at all of The Syn's live performances and selected in-store appearances and promotions.

The Syn Big Sky Tour 2009

April 25th: Baltimore, MD - Orion Sound Studios
April 26th: Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar (with Echolyn)
April 27th and 28th: Gloucester, VA - Music & Education: The SYNergy of SYNtropy'
Gloucester High School Auditorium
(fundraising event; ticketing through venue - announcement made when ticketing available)
April 30th: NYC, NY - Joe's Pub
May 1st: Glenside, PA - RoSfest
May 8th: Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theater
May 9th: Cleveland, OH - Wilbert's Food & Music

May 11th: Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
May 12th: Chicago, IL - Martyrs
May 13th: Poplar Grove, IL - Chubby Rain House of Tunes

More dates to be announced.

Progressive Rock Series shows in Philly announced

This from Alan Benjamin of Advent:

Just a quick note to announce that Advent will be kicking off "The Progressive Rock Series" at the North Star Bar in Philadelphia this Sunday night, followed by The Red Masque and Kohoutek. Doors open at 8:00 PM and Advent is scheduled to go on promptly at 8:30. Tickets are only $10 and are available via a direct link on our website:

http://www.adventmusic.net/

A very big thank-you to Lynnette Shelley of The Red Masque for all her efforts in launching this brand new series. I sincerely hope that the entire evening is a resounding success--and that the series thrives and continues to bring much wonderful live progressive music to Philly
for a very long time to come.

Also, please note that two additional show in this series have been announced:

3/29 - Thee Maximalists/The Red Masque/Igor's Egg
4/26 - The Syn/Echolyn

For additional details, please see the venue's website at:

http://www.northstarbar.com/

ROSFest post 2: The Syn as newly signed special guests

In light of APOCALYPSE having to bow out of the festival, we are pleased to announce THE SYN playing the second spot on Friday night. Progressive rock band The Syn will show off a new lineup and a new vision with their latest CD Big Sky and an extensive North American tour

Formed in 1965, The Syn was a precursor of the band Yes, with that band’s bassist Chris Squire as one of the founding members. At various times The Syn has also included Yes alums Peter Banks and Alan White in their lineup. Now The Syn continues forward with a core lineup of Steve Nardelli (founding member, songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist), Francis Dunnery (of It Bites and Robert Plant fame – guitars and vocals) and Tom Brislin (Spiraling – also keyboardist on Yes’ Symphonic tour – keyboards and vocals). The lineup is augmented for the tour by Paul Ramsey (Echolyn) providing drums and other percussion, Brett Kull (also of Echolyn) on guitar and Dorie Jackson doing backing and harmony vocals.

The SYN website - http://www.synmusic.net/
Visit the Syn Myspace site for music samples: http://www.myspace.com/thesyn

Syn news update

The Future (of The Syn) Will Be Televised
New core lineup announced as Brislin, Dunnery and Nardelli

February 24th, 2008 — As a founder of TheONETV and founding member of the band The Syn, Steve Nardelli has always shown himself to be a true innovator on many different levels. With the recording of the new Syn CD (Big Sky) Nardelli takes that spirit of innovation to a new plateau. The recording process of the album is going to be filmed and televised via IPTV broadcast and mobile telephones world-wide. Music fans will have an intimate, inside experience - a concept that is sure to take off so remember where it originated.

Nardelli is the lead singer, songwriter and overall "main man" of The Syn. In the past, The Syn has included Yes members Chris Squire, Pete Banks and Alan White in its ranks, and currently boasts a lineup that is every bit as impressive. Nardelli is joined by Francis Dunnery on guitar and vocals and Tom Brislin on keys and vocals. Dunnery is probably best known for his work in the legendary band It Bites and for his great solo work. He also played in Robert Plant's band (the Led Zepplin connection continues with Umbrello Records featuring John Paul Jones on their up-coming Julie Felix release). Tom Brislin was the very talented keyboardist for Yes on their symphonic tour and not only has worked with Meatloaf and Debbie Harry but also has his own band called Spiraling, which has developed quite a following. The Syn will also be joined on the new album by a number of very notable guest performers.

The CD release will mark the launch of Nardelli's US operation. His new company - based in New York - is Umbrello Music Entertainment. UME's main focus will be delivering quality music via such Web 2.0 portals as IPTV, mobile telephone and multi-digital download. "Technology is transforming the industry." says Nardelli. "You can either be a part of it or sit back and watch. Either way, it's going to change the way music is presented from here on out."

In step with his innovative style, Nardelli will lend his vocal and songwriting talents to "14 Hour Technicolour Dream: The Virtual Band." This side-project will feature the talents of many individual musicians working together - virtually - from locations throughout the USA. Participants signed onto the project thus far include Umbrello Records recording artists Kurt Michaels and Anton Roolaart, the California-based indie band The Tomorrowes, and both indie recording artist/producer Kevin Still and vocalist/project executive producer Steve Sikes-Nova. 14HRTD:TVB is currently underway with plans to have its first Nardelli-penned song ready for release around the same time that Big Sky will be released worldwide.