2021 THE BEST OF PROG IN PICTURES & WORDS

by | Jan 10, 2022 | Album Of The Year, Album Review

I am back as years before, struggling to know if I missed any albums on this list, and the answer would be a resounding yes. Every year see thousands of releases just in the prog genre alone. It’s virtually impossible to discover and hear every prog release in any given year, so I did my best to showcase the cream of the crop, but then again I must point out these are one man’s points of view and will vary from publication and reviewer abroad. My taste in music is vast so I hope you all feel I have done justice by showcasing these 21 releases.
The Un-qualified Critic

  • 1) A Gardening Club Project – The Blue Door We Are The Truth
  • 2) Evership – The Uncrowned King (Act 1)
  • 3) Hasse Fröberg & Musical Companion – We Are The Truth
  • 4) Soen – Imperial
  • 5) Lifesigns – Altitude
  • 6) Cast – Vigesimus
  • 7) Nine Skies – 5.20
  • 8) Mostly Autumn – Graveyard Star
  • 9) Big Big Train – Common Ground
  • 10 ) Ciccada – Harvest
  • 11) Transatlantic – The Absolute Universe Forevermore
  • 12) This Winter Machine – Kites
  • 13) Kerrs Pink – Presence of Life
  • 14) Drifting Sun – Forsaken Innocence
  • 15) GorMusik – Snakes & Angels
  • 16) Copeland King Cosmo & Blew – Gizmodrome Live
  • 17) Dream Theater – A View From The Top Of The World
  • 18) Meer – Playing House
  • 19) Jeffrey Erik Mack The Forgotten Earth
  • 20) Sylvan One to Zero
  • 21) Leprous – Aphelion

1) The Blue Door 
First full-length release by Candian Progressive jazz folk-rock act, A Gardening Club Project
CD & Digital
Melodic Revolution Records
http://gardeningclubmusicandart.ca

2) The Uncrowned King (Act 1) 
The third release by US art-rock band, Evership
CD & Digital
Self-released
https://www.evership.com
 
3) We Are The Truth
Sixth studio album by Swedish progressive rock band, Hasse Fröberg & Musical Companion
CD, LP & Digital
Glassville Records
https://www.hfmcband.com

4) Imperial
Fifth album by progressive metal supergroup, Soen
CD, LP & Digital
Silver Lining Music
https://soenmusic.com

5) Altitude
Third album by English progressive rock band, Lifesigns
CD, LP & Digital
Self-released
https://lifesignsmusic.co.uk

6) Vigesimus
Twenty Seventh release since 1994 by Mexican neo-prog band, Cast
CD, & Digital
Progressive Promotion Records
http://www.castofficial.com

7) 5.20
Third studio album by progressive rock band, Nine Skies
CD, & Digital
Anesthetize Productions
https://nineskiesmusic.com

8) Graveyard Star
Fourteenth studio release by progressive rock band Mostly Autumn
CD, & Digital
Self-released
https://www.mostly-autumn.com

9) Common Ground
Fourteenth album by English progressive folk-rock band, Big Big Train
CD & Digital Self released
LP Plane Groovy
https://www.bigbigtrain.com

10) Harvest
The third release from Greek Progressive rock band, Ciccada
CD, LP & Digital
Self-released
https://ciccadabem.bandcamp.com/album/harvest

11) The Absolute Universe Forevermore
Fifth studio album by multinational progressive rock supergroup, Transatlantic
CD, LP & Digital
InsideOut (Europe) Metal Blade/Radiant (US)
https://www.transatlanticweb.com

12) Kites
Third album by English progressive rock band, This Winter Machine
CD & Digital Self released
LP Plane Groovy
https://thiswintermachine.uk/about/

13) Presence Of Life
Seventh album by Norwegian progressive folk group, Kerrs Pink
CD, LP & Digital
Self-released
https://kerrspink.com

14) Forsaken Innocence
Eight studio by UK-based Progressive Rock band, Drifting Sun
CD, LP & Digital
Self-released
https://driftingsun.co.uk

15) Snakes & Angels
The second release by US progessive metal artist, GorMusik
Melodic Revolution Records
CD & Digital
https://gormusik.com

18) Playing House
2nd release by progressive art-rock band, Meer
Karisma Records
CD, LP & Digital
http://meerband.com

19) The Forgotten Earth
Debut solo release by Scarlet Hollow prog band bassist, Jeffrey Erik Mack
Melodic Revolution Records
CD & Digital  
https://www.jeffreyerikmack.com

16) Copeland King Cosmo & Blew, Gizmodrome Live
First, live album and second release by progressive rock supergroup Gizmodrome formed in Italy
Ear Music
CD, LP & Digital
https://www.facebook.com/Gizmodrome

17) A View From The Top Of The World
Fifteenth studio release by US prog metal pioneers, Dream Theater
Inside Out Music
CD, LP & Digital
https://dreamtheater.net

20) One to Zero
Eleventh studio album German progressive rock band, Sylvan
Gentle Art Of Music
CD, LP & Digital
http://www.sylvan.de/home/

21) Aphelion
Eighth studio album by Norwegian progressive/avant-garde metal band, Leprous
Inside Out Music
CD, LP & Digital
https://www.leprous.net

RoSfest opens Ticketing Counter for Gold Tickets this Saturday at noon!

by | Oct 19, 2019 | Festivals, News

Description

RoSfest Gold tickets go on sale October 19th at 12:00 noon EST.

Gold Seat tickets gives you admittance to three days of the festival for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will be available for sale at the total ticket price of $355.00 each.

For credit card purchases, add an additional TBA.

Gold Tickets provide you with select premium seating, a special limited-edition Gold ticket wrist band and a 11″ x 17′ RoSfest autograph poster.

How to order tickets.
Step 1. TBA

For patrons that donated advance funds to Guardians of the Galaxy, non-for-profit status funding, call George Roldan directly to select your seats.
(484-432-7357)

Payment must be received within 10 days or your seat selection will be released.
Once payment is received, your tickets will be mailed out to you.
That’s it!

Refund Policy:
All sales are final. We are unable to offer refunds, exchanges, or receive ticket donations.

About RoSfest
The Rites of Spring Festival, better known as RoSfest, is the Premier International Art Rock Festival in North America and has successfully featured 159 Progressive Rock Bands over the past 15 years from around the world. Now in our 16th year, RoSfest is an annual 3-day event showcasing 11 prominent live bands featuring ALL original music from around the globe. Our new home at the Sarasota Opera House (an audio-files dream) located in Sarasota, Florida raises the bar even higher as RoSfest delivers an incredible line-up to perform in a spectacular venue located in one of the best vacation destinations in the USA

2020 Lineup:
Cast – Big Big Train – Thank You Scientist – United Prog Fraternity – Pattern Seeking Animals – Arc Iris – Dilemma – Lobate Scarp – Moon Letters – The Tea Club

Festival Dates May 8th, 9th, & 10th, 2020

Follow RoSfest
http://rosfest.com
https://www.facebook.com/RoSfest/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rosfest/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1692271961045972/

Mexican prog band CAST set to headline Friday Night at RoSfest 2020

by | Aug 11, 2019 | Festivals, News

Mexican progressive rock band Cast, is a well-known entity to many in the progressive rock community. With a history going back to 1978 and more than two dozen releases to their name. Cast is a true veteran progressive rock band and their specialty is symphonic progressive rock. They have developed their craft in a meticulous manner and are among a select few bands where their later releases by and large are also their most revered.

Cast is a band where fans are more likely to call out for current material than for songs written and released decades ago. There aren’t too many other veteran progressive rock bands who can state that on their resume. Cast has been selected in a well-deserved headliner slot and they will perform on Friday, May 8th, 2020. Everyone will be in for a treat with this excellent live band from Mexico. More than 40 years as an active band and one of the rare cases of a seasoned veteran band getting increasingly better and steadily improving with age and experience.

Official Sites and Social media Links:
CAST official Website: http://www.castofficial.com/
Discography Bandcamp: castoficial.bandcamp.com

RoSfest Dates: May 8th, 9th & 10th, 2020
Platinum Tickets go on sale September 13th, 2019.
Gold Seat Tickets on sale October 18th, 2019.
Regular Seat Tickets go on sale November 22nd, 2019.

RoSfest Website:  https://rosfest.com

PROGTOBERFEST III Tickets Go On Sale To The Public Today!

by | Mar 14, 2017 | News

progtoberfest 3
Progtoberfest III is Three Days of Live Music in Two Rooms!

Cost
$75 – $350

Where
Reggies Rock Club
2109 South State St.
Chicago, IL

Who’s Playing,  When & Where?

Friday 10/20: Doors 3pm Music Joint:
Sons of Ra/ Echoes of Giants/ Five of the Eyes/ In the Presence of Wolves/ AISLES

Friday 10/20: Doors 4pm Rock Club:
Luz de Riada/ District 97/ Thank You Scientist/ Dave Kerzner Band/ The Alphonso Johnson Band

Saturday 10/21: Doors 11am in Rock Club:
Frogg Cafe/ ABACAB/ Wave Mechanics Union/ CAST/ Mike Keneally & BFD/ WOBBLER/ Karmakanic/ The Tangent

Saturday 10/21: 11am in Music Joint: 
Roswell/ NEW! Performing NEU!/ King Llama/ Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius/ Karcius/ Necromonkey/ Bruce Soord of The Pineapple Thief

Sunday 10/22: Doors 11am in Rock Club::
Randy McStine/ Kinectic Element/ Discipline/ XmarsX/ Schooltree/ Mano/ Martin Barre

Sunday 10/22: Doors  11am in Music Joint:
EYE/ Amalgam Effect/ Lost World Band/ Progger/ Agori Tribe

All tickets good for both Music Joint and Rock Club room. Complete times and Meet & Greet schedule TBA.