Prolific psychedelic rock musician Marco Ragni returns with his first single; featuring Bjørn Riis on Lead Guitar, the founder of the band Airbag. The forthcoming album “Oceans of Thought” will be released June 21st. Pre-orders will be available soon.
According to Marco, I wrote the song thinking about Colin Tench and when I recorded the piano parts and wrote the lyrics, I thought I’d ask Bjørn Riis if he wanted to play the lead guitar. I’ve been a fan of Airbags and his guitar playing for many years. He didn’t know my music but when I let him hear some songs, he told me “great stuff!” So I sent him the track and we started talking about it. Then he sent me the guitar parts and when I listened to the mixed song, I got a giant smile and then a tear … One of my dreams was coming true!”
In English & Norwegian Close to the Rain, Bergen Prog Festival, is back with its third edition. 8 bands will fill the program and we’re proud to announce two of the giants from the Norwegian prog-scene: Leprous and Airbag.
ENGLISH
Close to the Rain, Bergen Prog Festival, is back with its third edition. This time in the excellent venue USF Verftet, one of the most renowned venues in Bergen. Verftet is known for hosting concerts with acts such as Devin Townsend, Steven Wilson, Swans, Opeth, Katatonia and Anathema, and is equipped with top of the line PA and acoustic treatment. Being literary by the sea, it is the perfect spot for Close to the Rain. A total of 8 bands will fill the program spanning the 7th and 8th of June, and we’re proud to announce two of the giants from the Norwegian prog-scene: Leprous and Airbag https://www.facebook.com/closetotherain.no/
LEPROUS With a calendar filled with sold-out shows in Europe and North America, Leprous is quickly becoming one of the lead acts of the Norwegian prog scene. 2017 saw the release of their 5th studio album “Malina” to critical and public acclaim. Since then the band has been touring non-stop, filling venues in North and South-America, Europe and Asia. After a 4 year absence, Leprous is finally back in Bergen, headlining the Friday at Close to the Rain. https://www.facebook.com/leprousband/
AIRBAG Fresh back from the floating Caribbean festival Cruise To The Edge, AIRBAG returns to Bergen. This time with an exclusive set marking the 10 year anniversary of their debut album “Identity”. On CTTR the band will perform the album in its entirety. https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound/
OAK Following the release of their second album “False Memory Archive”, OAK has taken a big leap towards the front of the Norwegian prog scene. In addition to being booked to Close to the Rain, the band is scheduled to play Night of the Prog 2019, one of the biggest genre festivals in the world. With a sound that can draw references to acts such as Talk Talk, Pink Floyd and Steven Wilson, and boasting members of the Airbag and Bjørn Riis live bands, Oak is definitely one to watch! https://www.facebook.com/oakinoslo/
PANZERPAPPA …have since their formation in 1998 become an institution in the Norwegian prog-rock scene. Due out with their seventh album “”Summarisk Suite” on the 3rd of May, the band describes their music as “Progressive Rock with a friendly face”, reminiscent of inspirational precursors such as Samla Mammas Manna, King Crimson, Henry Cow, Univers Zero and Frank Zappa, while at the same time sounding unmistakably… Panzerpappa! https://www.facebook.com/Panzerpappa-112379508814650/
SWIFAN EOLH & THE MUDRA CHOIR …is a new band from Norway, continuously busy discovering their unique kinds of brew, mixing elements of rock, jazz, psychedelic, progressive etc. Founded in 2015, the band just released the debut album “The Key” (2019) on Apollon Records Prog to great reviews. https://www.facebook.com/mudrasiddhi/
THE WINDMILL …is a Norwegian progressive rock band formed in 2001 in the outskirts of Oslo. Musically the band can best be described as symphonic neo prog, influenced by several bands from the golden years of the seventies, such as Genesis, Pink Floyd, Camel and others. The debut album “To be continued …” was released May 2010, and the followed up by “The Continuation” in 2013 to great reviews around the world. 5 years later, 2018 saw the birth of “Tribus” to great acclaim from fans and critics. In addition to seeing The Windmill at this years Close to the Rain, they can be seen at Summers End, the UKs longest running prog-festival. https://www.facebook.com/The-Windmill-142175499160527/
Close to the Rain, Bergen Prog Festival, er tilbake i tredje utgave, og for første gang på Bergens storstue USF Verftet. Totalt vil 8 band fylle programmet som går over to dager, og vi er stolt av å kunne presentere gigantene Leprous og Airbag som to av årets hovedattraksjoner. https://www.facebook.com/closetotherain.no/
LEPROUS Med en kalender fylt av utsolgte konserter i både Europa, Asia, Sør- og Nord-Amerika har Leprous blitt et godt kjent navn i alle kriker og kroker, og er et av Norges største og mest aktuelle progband om dagen. I 2017 kom studioalbumet «Malina», som har skutt dem til værs og med høye terningkast og fulle hus verden over. Etter en omfattende turne i Sør-Amerika returnerer bandet til Bergen for første gang på 4 år, hvor de headliner fredagen på Close to the Rain. https://www.facebook.com/leprousband/
AIRBAG …fra Oslo er nylig tilbake fra den flytende festivalen Cruise To The Edge i Karibien. Bandet er nå klare for å returnere til Bergen, og denne gangen med en helt spesiell konsert eksklusiv for CTTR hvor de spiller debutalbumet “Identity” i sin helhet i forbindelse med albumets 10-årsjubileum. https://www.facebook.com/airbagsound/
OAK I etterkant av slippet av OAKs andre album, «False Memory Archive», har bandet tatt et svvmilssteg mot fronten av den norske progrockscenen. Utover å være booket til årets Close to the Rain, kan bandet ses på årets Night of the Prog festival i Tyskland, en av verdens største festivaler i sjangeren. Bandet har et uttrykk som kan beskrives med referanser til band som Talk Talk, Pink Floyd and Steven Wilson, og med medlemmer av livebandet til Airbag og Bjørn Riis, er definitivt Oak et orkester å få øynene opp for. https://www.facebook.com/oakinoslo/
PANZERPAPPA …har siden oppstarten i 1998 blitt en institusjon i den Norske progrockscenen. Bandet er aktuelle med «Summarisk Suite» som slippes 3 mai, og kan beskrives musikalsk som progressiv rock med et vennlig ansikt. Utover å låte genuint kan en finne linker til inspirasjonskilder som Samla Mammas Manna, King Crimson, Henry Cow, Univers Zero og Frank Zappa i bandets musikk. https://www.facebook.com/Panzerpappa-112379508814650/
SWIFAN EOLH & THE MUDRA CHOIR …er et nytt band fra Norge. Bandet mikser elementer fra rock, jazz, psykedelia og prog og ble grunnlagt i 2015. Debutplaten «The Key» ble sluppet på Apollon Records Prog i 2019, og har mottatt strålende kritikker. https://www.facebook.com/mudrasiddhi/
THE WINDMILL …ble grunnlagt i 2001 i utkanten av Oslo. Musikalsk kan bandet beskrives som symfonisk neo-prog, inspirert av band fra det gylne 70-tallet som Genesis, Pink Floyd og Camel. Debuten “To be continued…” ble sluppet I 2010 og fulgt opp av «The Continuation» i 2013. Fem år senere slapp bandet “Tribus” til strålende mottakelse fra kritikere og fans. I tillegg til å se The Windmill på årets Close to the Rain er de booket på Summers End, den lengstlevende festivalen for progressiv rock i Storbritannia. https://www.facebook.com/The-Windmill-142175499160527/
I’m very excited to announce that I will release a new solo album next year! A follow-up to my highly acclaimed debut, Lullabies in a Car Crash (2014), the new album, again released on Karisma Records, will feature members from Airbag, Oak and several other guest appearances.
I’ve once again teamed up with long-time Airbag collaborator, Vegard Sleipnes, who also worked on Lullabies in a Car Crash. We have ventured back to my roots, exploring a harder and darker musical territory, with a strong focus on rhythms and sounds, as well as the more lush soundscapes of movie scores.
It’s still early in the process, so all I can say at this moment is – sometime by the first half next year. I’m proud and excited and can’t wait to share everything with you!
Please stay tuned and watch my Facebook Page and web site, bjornriis.com for all the news and details.
– Bjorn
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