The Gardening Club is back with their second single, “Mr. Forster Reflects,” from their forthcoming album, “Another Country,” set to release later this year.
Rejoining the musical journey are Martin Springett on vocals and acoustic guitars, Drew Briston (Sultans of String) on fretless bass, and Kevin Laliberte, handling music and production direction. The band also welcomes new member Chendy Leon on drums and percussion.
Music by Martin Springett, Kevin Laliberte Lyrics by Steve Bennett
About “Mr. Forster Reflects” Martin was eager to delve into Forster’s idea, articulated in the final passage of “Howards End,” that achieving a connection between rational thought and emotional impulse – the head and the heart – could lead to greater enlightenment, both personally and politically.
We aimed to depict Forster’s Cambridge – where he studied and taught at King’s College – as an imagined journey along the River Cam. This approach acknowledges the city’s broad cultural and intellectual influence, as well as Forster’s own struggles with his ‘open’ sexuality and his conscientious objection to war, despite his active service overseas.
Some listeners may notice subtle references to Pink Floyd, Crick and Watson, Nick Drake, and the Chinese poet Xu Zhimo, along with occasional glimpses of familiar Fenland landscapes. Others might decide that these references are unimportant and simply enjoy the song by embracing Forster’s own timeless advice: ‘only connect.’ – Steve Bennett
US prog artist Leon Alvarado is excited to unveil his newest album, “The Changing Tide.” Set to release on May 31st, this highly anticipated album follows the successful EP release, which previewed two of the album’s tracks; a captivating cover of Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage,” and the enchanting instrumental “Dance of The Pink Elephants.”
Alvarado explains, “The creation of ‘The Changing Tide’ was very much influenced by the musical heritage of Pink Floyd. We aimed to seamlessly blend their timeless formula with our unique styles to produce material that charts its own course.”
While acknowledging the influence of Pink Floyd as a foundational element, Alvarado emphasizes the infusion of his own creative perspective. “Listeners can anticipate a departure of sorts from my previous works,” he shares, “yet they’ll find my hallmark keyboard textures and atmospheric nuances intricately woven throughout.”
Alvarado is joined on this musical endeavor by an ensemble of exceptional musicians, featuring bassists Tony Franklin (known for his work with Jimmy Page and Paul Rogers on The Firm) and Gary Gnaedinger, guitarists Edoardo Scordo and Damian Darlington (both renowned members of Brit Floyd), alongside Jimmy Griggers also on guitars and saxophonist John Helliwell (from Supertramp fame). Additionally, L.A. session musician Pablo Hopehayn contributes on strings. The backing vocals on Brain Damage are skillfully provided by Jeff Sanson, Liz Hall, and Linda Alvarado.
“The Changing Tide” will be available for streaming on all major platforms and will also be released on CD through Melodic Revolution Records. The physical CD promises to be a sensory delight, boasting stunning artwork within an impeccably designed package that will undoubtedly enhance any music enthusiast’s collection.
About Leon Alvarado: Leon Alvarado is a progressive rock artist known for his innovative fusion of electronic and rock music. Over the course of more than two decades, Alvarado has consistently demonstrated his ingenuity as a musician, constantly expanding the horizons of his artistic vision with each successive project. His repertoire boasts collaborations with esteemed figures in the Prog rock scene, earning him widespread acclaim and nurturing a devoted fanbase worldwide. Beyond his own musical creations, Leon frequently collaborates with bands and promoters, channeling his artistic skills into crafting fascinating album covers and promotional tour materials.
Track list: 1. THE EQUILIBRIUM OF TIME 2. A DAY OF A DIFFERENT SORT 3. A VIEW FROM A DIFFERENT ROOM 4. DANCE OF THE PINK ELEPHANTS 5. THE CHANGING TIDE. 6. BRAIN DAMAGE
Credits: Leon Alvarado: Drums, Keyboards & Effects on all, Bass on 5, Vocals on 6 Edoardo Scordo: Guitars on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Tony Franklin: Bass on 1, 2, 3, 4 John Helliwell: Saxophone on 3 Pablo Hopenhayn: Violin, Viola and Cello on 1 Gary Gnaedinger: Bass, Guitar & Keyboards on 6 James Griggers: Guitar & Slide Guitar on 6 Jeff Sanson: Backing Vocals on 6 Linda Alvarado: Backing Vocals on 6 Liz Hall: Backing Vocals on 6 Produced and mixed by Leon Alvarado Mastered by Maor Appelbaum Design and Art Direction by Synergy Design Label: Melodic Revolution Records
ProgStock 2024 is October 18-20, 2024. Pre-show: October 17, 2024 Williams Center, Rutherford, NJ
Single-Day Passes on sale starting Sunday, May 12 at 12:00 PM EDT You will still be able to choose a Regular or Prog-Ducer 3-day pass, but half of the remaining seats are now set aside for Single-Day Passes.
Current Schedule, Subject to Change, All times shown below are in US Eastern timezone (EDT)! Dates/Times for opening acts have not yet been announced.
Early lobby access every day of the festival (PATRONS get in even earlier)
Priority access to artist meet-and-greets (PATRONS are FIRST in LINE)
Special merchandise package, including: Special items exclusively for Prog-Ducers
Select items from our festival merch catalog (PATRONS also get the t-shirt for FREE)
Festival Poster, Wristband, and Program (contains autograph pages!) (PATRONS also get a special merch pack from our performing artists)
AND NEW in 2024 for Patrons & Prog-Ducers: $10 USD credit is redeemable at our central merchandise table!
PLUS We’ve cooked up a REALLY Special Event for Friday, October 18 at 1:00PM ET Exclusively for our Patrons and Prog-Ducers!
Richard Macphail’s Book of Genesis That’s right! Richard Macphail, author of “My Book of Genesis,” will join us for an interview and Q&A led by Larry Fast with Jerry Marotta, Paul Whitehead,and other special guests (TBA).
You have to be a 5-Year Patron or Prog-Ducer to attend this special event!
The upcoming single from the album, “The Next Dream” serves as a precursor to the EP “Creatures of the Night.” It’s a poignant track denouncing global warfare and violence, crafted with lyrical collaboration from Patrizia Pieretti and the steadfast Gianluca del Torto.
The ensemble features Michael Trew of Moon Letters on lead vocals, with Amy Breathe providing backing vocals. Roberto Falcinelli and Luigi Pistillo handle guitars, Andrea Amici of Leviathan on synths, accompanied by the stirring strings of Ms. Lisa Green on violin and Gianni Pieri of Agorà on cello. Fabrizio Russo contributes with fretless bass, while drumming duties are expertly managed by the esteemed Mattias Olsson from Anglagard.
Francesco Mattei’s adept mixing and mastering finesse the track at the Underworld studio.
Jazz Sabbath, the jazz trio helmed by Adam Wakeman (keys Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne) has announced a 17-date UK tour in 2025. This summer, the trio is scheduled to play 2 shows in Los Angeles and an Australia tour.
Jazz Sabbath have released 2 albums exploring the boundaries between jazz and the songs that defined heavy metal. Echoing already present jazz riffs and discovering new ones in the process. Their last album, Vol. 2, featured seven new jazz interpretations of Black Sabbath classics and peaked at #6 in the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.
Wakeman is currently on tour with Uriah Heep in the US, and played with Deep Purple last December, filling in for Don Airey.
Watch Jazz Sabbath – Children of the Grave (Live in Germany) Here
Jazz Sabbath tour dates
11 & 12 Jun: Los Angeles US – Catalina Jazz Club
20 & 21 Jul: Perth AU – Ellington Jazz Club
24 Jul: Brisbane AU – The Old Museum
25 & 26 Jul: Sydney AU – Pleasure Club
27 Jul: Melbourne AU – Brunswick Ballroom
11 Feb: Liverpool UK – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Along with the release of the new prog rock album, “Intourist,” on Saturday, May 4 at 12 PM noon CT / 1:00 PM ET / 10 AM PT / 7 PM Amsterdam time, Refestramus’ new music video will be played on YouTube at
Directed by Anna Fokin, “Smiling” features Romanian actress/actor Monica Pop (https://www.facebook.com/MonicaPopArt) as Agent M. Refestramus’ drummer/songwriter/Wizard Derek Ferguson discovered Ms. Fokin’s work on YouTube, where she has “the absolute best video series for learning Russian”: (https://www.youtube.com/@yourrussian6200).
Derek loves “recurring characters, like ‘Aqualung’ and ‘Cross-Eyed Mary,’ which appear in multiple Jethro Tull songs. Combined with my belief that Prog needs to be more photogenic, I created the character Agent Mikrovolnovka, which is a joke. ‘Mikrovolnovka’ sounds mysterious and alluring, but it is actually the Russian word for ‘microwave oven.’”
Both the song and video for “Smiling” are about maintaining other people’s happiness by not expressing your own displeasure. There’s a bit in the middle of the video and song where the music stops, the aquarium breaks, and all the water breaks loose, and that’s a metaphor for bottling things up and then having them all spill out.
Art rock group Refestramus, pronounced re-fes-TRA-mus, is named after a word that Derek’s mother made up to mean “rearrange.” Colouratura’s Ian Beabout produced the new album, “Intourist” (Melodic Revolution Records)!
Much of the group was found on Fiverr.com: Induction lead singer Craig Cairns, Brazilian keyboardist maestro Rogelio Desouza, and rock vocalists NIDA, Denisse Ferrara, and Vedrana Lina. The rest of the group came from work connections Ian and Derek have, including Colouratura bandmates Derek Pavlic and Nathan James, saxophonist Mitch Lawrence, plus multi-instrumentalists Jerry King (bass) and Dave Newhouse (accordion).
Derek sums up his band’s mission, “Our music seeks to embrace the full spectrum of human emotions, weaving narratives that reflect both the peaks and valleys of life, in line with Prog Magazine’s praise of our ‘high-brow concepts and bizarre comedic turns.'”
Sweden-borne folkloric progressive rock band Kaipa proudly announce their new album Sommargryningsljus. 49 years after the release of their debut album, the band is set to reveal the 15th longplayer of their musical journey, Sommargryningsljus, which will be released via InsideOutMusic on June 28th, 2024.
The announcement comes with the release of the first single of the album, which is a mélange of both the opening and closing track of Sommargryningsljus, subsequently named “Sommargryningsljus (Single Edit)”. Two of the songs from the album, the opening track Sommarskymningsljus and the ending track Sommargryningsljus, can be heard together in this single edit version, as they were originally written.
The song is about dusk and a journey through the night to meet the light again at dawn. The single comes with a lyric video that showcases the mystical vibes of twilight and gives a glimpse of the album aesthetics and illustrations.
Watch the video for Sommargryningsljus (Single Edit) here:
Relaxing image of a cold foggy landscape in the sunrise with a lonely tree.
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Hans Lund comments:
„I had written all the songs for the album and the total playing time was 70 minutes, but then something unexpected happened. One day when I was recording with Aleena Gibson, we took a break and went out into my garden to have a cup of coffee. Suddenly Aleena started singing some notes and I said it was beautiful. ‘Okay, let’s write a song‘, she said. So we returned to the studio and 15 minutes later a new song had been born. We were both delighted with the result and said that this song must be on the album and the lyrics must be in Swedish. I developed the song and created an interlude built on the same chords. The melody was hovering around in the studio and it landed gracefully in my fingers when I started to play. One early morning a few weeks later, the words suddenly came floating down and landed in my consciousness.“
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Sommargryningsljus will be available as
Ltd. CD Mediabook with extensive 24-pages booklet 12’’ Gatefold 180g 2LP black vinyl digital album
Tracklist:
Sommarskymningsljus 00:01:30 Seven Birds 00:09:50 Like Thousand Dawns 00:11:08 Revelationview 00:09:28 Chased by Wolves And Burned by The Sun 00:10:17 Spiderweb Train 00:15:29 Songs In Our Hands 00:13:00 Sommargryningsljus 00:03:58 Sommargryningsljus (Single Edit) 00:05:24
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Kaipa are:
Hans Lundin – keyboards & vocals Per Nilsson – electric & acoustic guitars Jonas Reingold – bass Darby Todd – drums Patrik Lundström – vocals Aleena Gibson – vocals KAIPA online:
Today, SiX By SiX, the progressive power trio featuring Ian Crichton (Saga), Nigel Glockler (Saxon) and Robert Berry (3.2), release their brand new album ‘Beyond Shadowland’. To celebrate, they also announce their first ever live dates.
The band will play three shows in Germany and the Netherlands in the second half of September, prior to appearing at the renowned ProgStock festival in the USA in October.
Robert Berry says: “I cannot wait to step out on stage for the first time with Ian and Nigel. Having come together as a band originally in 2020, we have made two albums and in the process spent plenty of time together in my studio in northern California. But until now the diaries have never quite aligned for us to be able to play live. I’m hoping that these shows will be the first of many in the coming years.”
Ian Crichton adds: “Over the years I have been a regular visitor to Europe playing numerous shows with Saga and always enjoy playing to appreciative European fans. I am really excited about the prospect of SiX By SiX performing live. We’ve got enormous potential as a live band and the format of a trio really gives me the chance to stretch out on the guitar – and I fully intend to make the most of the opportunity!”
Nigel Glockler comments: “From the day I joined Robert and Ian in SiX By SiX, we were all absolutely united in wanting this to be a proper band that gets out on the road rather than just another studio project. I’m delighted that we’re now making it happen with this short run of dates and am looking forward to getting close up with fans in some smaller venues and establishing SiX By SiX as a live band.”
SIX BY SIX – 2024 LIVE SHOWS
Tuesday 17th September – Colos-Saal Aschaffenburg, Germany Wednesday 18th September – De Cacaofabriek, Helmond, The Netherlands Thursday 19th September – Boerderij Cultuurpodium, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands
Sunday 20th October – ProgStock Festival, Rivoli Theater, Williams Center, Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
For ‘Beyond Shadowland’ the band reconvened in Berry’s own Soundtek Studios in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023 to bend, shape, hammer and caress their diverse musical talents into 11 impressive new tracks. With this album, they continue to define and build upon their unique melodic space, welding guitar-driven rock, metal and prog into a unique and powerful sonic setting.
‘Beyond Shadowland’ is available as a Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 180g Black 2LP (featuring 4 exclusive bonus tracks) & as a Digital Album. The artwork was once again created by Rob Fowler.
‘Luck and Strange’ was recorded over five months in Brighton and London and is Gilmour’s first album of new material in nine years. The record was produced by David and Charlie Andrew, best known for his work with alt-J and Marika Hackman. Of this new working relationship, David says, “We invited Charlie to the house, so he came and listened to some demos, and said things like, “Well, why does there have to be a guitar solo there?” and “Do they all fade out? Can’t some of them just end?”. He has a wonderful lack of knowledge or respect for this past of mine. He’s very direct and not in any way overawed, and I love that. That is just so good for me because the last thing you want is people just deferring to you.”
The majority of the album’s lyrics have been composed by Polly Samson, Gilmour’s co-writer and collaborator for the past thirty years. Samson says of the lyrical themes covered on ‘Luck and Strange’, “It’s written from the point of view of being older; mortality is the constant.” Gilmour elaborates, “We spent a load of time during and after lockdown talking about and thinking about those kind of things.” Polly has also found the experience of working with Charlie Andrew liberating, “He wants to know what the songs are about, he wants everyone who’s playing on them to have the ideas that are in the lyric informing their playing. I have particularly loved it for that reason.”
The album features eight new tracks along with a beautiful reworking of The Montgolfier Brothers’ ‘Between Two Points’ and has artwork and photography by the renowned artist Anton Corbijn.
Musicians contributing to the record include Guy Pratt & Tom Herbert on bass, Adam Betts, Steve Gadd and Steve DiStanislao on drums, Rob Gentry & Roger Eno on keyboards with string and choral arrangements by Will Gardner. The title track also features the late Pink Floyd keyboard player Richard Wright, recorded in 2007 at a jam in a barn at David’s house.
Some contributions emerged from the live streams that Gilmour and family performed to a global audience during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021; Romany Gilmour sings, plays the harp and appears on lead vocals on ‘Between Two Points’. Gabriel Gilmour also sings backing vocals.
The album’s cover image, photographed and designed by Anton Corbijn, is inspired by a lyric written by Charlie Gilmour for the album’s final song ‘Scattered’. Of working with his family on ‘Luck and Strange’, David says, “Polly and I have been writing together for over thirty years and the Von Trapped live streams showed the great blend of Romany’s voice and harp-playing and that led us into a feeling of discarding some of the past that I’d felt bound to and that I could throw those rules out and do whatever I felt like doing, and that has been such a joy.”
Luck and Strange
1. Black Cat 2. Luck and Strange 3. The Piper’s Call 4. A Single Spark 5. Vita Brevis 6. Between Two Points – with Romany Gilmour 7. Dark and Velvet Nights 8. Sings 9. Scattered
Asia is absolutely delighted to announce The Heat of The Moment Tour, headlined by Asia and also featuring Focus, Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash and Curved Air and MC’d by artist Roger Dean.
The tour will commence on 3rd July 2024 and will incorporate 21 dates across the USA and Canada.
The tour has been masterminded by rock music keyboard legend and original Asia member, Geoff Downes (Buggles, Asia, Yes).
Asia was the biggest selling album of 1982, number 1 on Billboard for 9 weeks and pioneers of the MTV era! Downes’ brand new iteration of Asia first began to evolve last Summer, at the concert held in memory of late lead singer, songwriter and bassist, John Wetton (King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, UK, Asia, John Wetton Band, Icon). Downes invited old friend John Mitchell (It Bites, Frost*, Lonely Robot, Kino, John Wetton Band, Icon) and new-comer Harry Whitley to join him on stage to celebrate Wetton’s life by performing some of the classic Asia hits. Such was the uproarious reception to their set, that Downes wondered if something magical was beginning to take shape.
“And so it was that the John Wetton tribute last August really reminded me how much Asia’s music belongs on the stage. The response to it all was literally…spine-tingling.”
Downes’ new-look Asia will once again feature Mitchell on guitars and Whitley on lead vocal and bass. The quartet will be made complete by the addition of Virgil Donati (UK, Southern Sons, Steve Vai, Allan Holdsworth) on drums.
Downes continues, “With the addition of Virgil Donati & John Mitchell, two of the finest musicians in the world in their respective classes, this is almost going full circle bearing in mind their previous close collaborations with John W. Completing this circle is also the amazing Harry Whitley who absolutely floored the audience with his incredible vocal interpretation of the Asia songs that John W and I so lovingly wrote over the years.”
The tour will also feature sets from other classic acts, Focus, Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash and Curved Air. All three support acts boast their founder bandleaders and have deservedly attained the status of legend.
Focus will be releasing a brand new studio album later in 2024. Led by the indomitable Sir Thijs van Leer, featuring original 1970’s drummer Pierre Van Der Linden, plus the virtuoso talents of Menno Gootjes on guitar and Udo Pannekeet on bass.
Martin Turner was lead vocalist, bassist, founding member and creative force behind 70’s rock music behemoth Wishbone Ash, best known for such classic albums as Argus and Pilgrimage.
Formed in 1970, Curved Air are one of the founders of progressive rock and a retrospective collection of their most influential and ground-breaking material is currently in the planning stages. Sonja Kristina (vocals) and Kirby Gregory (guitar) will treat audiences to an acoustic set featuring some of the band’s most memorable musical moments. They will be joined by violinist Grzegorz Gadziomski.
Each performance on the tour will be MC’d by legendary artist Roger Dean. For so many, Dean’s artwork is synonymous with the music of the time and stands to represent the very best of British rock music.
The final word goes to Geoff Downes, “I am convinced that John (Wetton’s) spirit is with us as we set out on this new adventure. After all, it is the Year of the Dragon – just as it was in 1982, when we released our first Asia album. It’s as though it was meant to be. Looking forward to seeing you there, my friends – bring it on!”
Heat Of The Moment 2024 Tour Dates:
Wednesday, July 3: Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT
Thursday, July 4: Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON
Saturday, July 6: Chevalier Theatre, Medford, MA
Sunday, July 7: The Paramount, Huntingdon, NY
Tuesday, July 9: Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ
Wednesday, July 10: Count Basie Center, Red Bank, NJ
Friday, July 12: Tropicana Showroom, Atlantic City, NJ
Saturday, July 13: Wind Creek Event Center, Bethlehem, PA
Sunday, July 14: American Music Theatre, Lancaster, PA
Tuesday, July 16: Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, Spartanburg, SC
Wednesday, July 17: Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
Thursday, July 18: Columbia County Performing Arts Center, Evans, GA
Saturday, July 20: Hard Rock Live, Orlando, FL
Sunday, July 21: Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, FL
Monday, July 22: Seminole Hard Rock, Tampa, FL
Wednesday, July 24: North Charleston PAC, North Charleston, SC
Thursday, July 25: Macon City Auditorium, Macon, GA
Friday, July 26: Saenger Theatre, Mobile, AL
Sunday, July 28: VBC Mark Smith Concert Hall, Huntsville, AL
Tuesday, July 30: The Arcada Theatre, St Charles, IL
Wednesday, July 31: The Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI
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