ProgStock Announce 2023 Dates, Lineup and New Venue

Our first set of official lineup announcements!

Posted on  by ProgStock Festival

Last night, on The Waiting Room with The Prog Doctor on House of Prog Radio, we made our first set of official lineup announcements.

Joining us this year will be:

  • Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear
  • Dave Kerzner, with a new album, full band, and audiovisual experience
  • Matt Dorsey, with a full band
  • Mystery
  • Rachel Flowers
  • The Mahavishnu Project
  • Unitopia

Exhibitors:

  • Bob Moog Foundation featuring Robeone (Robert Schindler)
  • The Bandwagon USA
  • ProgRock.com

More to come!

A New Home!

After 6 years, ProgStock has a new home in 2023!

The Williams Center in Rutherford, NJ, a 101-year-old performing arts center in the heart of Rutherford, located at 1 Williams Plaza, Rutherford, NJ 07070, will be the home of the ProgStock Festival in 2023 and (we hope) for many years to come!

We bid a fond farewell to our former home, the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, NJ. We will especially miss her crew, but the time has come to make a fresh start!

Ticket sales will start on Saturday, June 3rd at 12:00PM US Eastern time with our ProgDucer passes. 

Our 5-year Patron passes are already available with your choice of the best available seat this year and for future years at ProgStock, plus many other incredibly awesome perks! Contact us now for details before tickets start selling to the general public.

ProgStock 2023 Ticket Options & On-Sale Dates

Available NOW until October 6, 2023:

ProgStock 5-Year Patron Pass: Click below for details!

Hint: This lets you lock-in the best available seat this year and for future years at ProgStock…plus many other incredibly awesome perks!


Available starting June 3, 2023:

Prog-Ducer 3-Day Pass: $295 USD (plus taxes & fees)

  • Early access to the lobby each day (30 minutes before regular attendees)
  • Priority access to artist meet-and-greets each day (after 5-Year Patrons)
  • Merchandise package, including some special items only for Prog-Ducers:
    • Exclusive ProgStock 2023 Prog-Ducer Wristband (wear it proudly!)
    • Other special items (to be determined) exclusive to Prog-Ducers
    • Select items from our ProgStock 2023 merchandise catalog
  • Festival Poster, Wristband, and Program (contains autograph pages!)
  • Option to pre-order Festival T-Shirt (in your style/size, at a discount!)

Available starting June 17, 2023:

Regular 3-Day Pass: $185 USD (plus taxes & fees)

  • Access to artist meet-and-greets each day (after Prog-Ducers)
  • Festival Poster, Wristband, and Program (contains autograph pages!)
  • Option to pre-order Festival T-Shirt (in your style/size, at a discount!)

Available starting September 5, 2023:

Single-Day Pass: $50/$80/$80 USD (plus taxes & fees)

  • Friday: $50 USD, Saturday: $80 USD, Sunday: $80 USD
  • Access to artist meet-and-greets that day (after Prog-Ducers)

Available starting in mid-September:

Live-Streaming: $10-$15 USD (for each performance)

Can’t make it to the festival this year, but want to join in the fun from the comfort of your own home? Each main stage performance of this year’s festival will be broadcast as a separately ticketed event on the StageIt livestreaming platform. Prices for these livestreamed shows are very affordable, so feel free to throw us onto the big screen at home and join us for as many of our stellar performances as you wish!

NOTE: If you have any difficulty purchasing tickets, please contact us at (252) 402-5395 or attendees@progstock.com.

ASIA RELEASE PHOENIX AS 2LP VINYL SET ON 26TH MAY

18th May 2023: ASIA are a multi-platinum selling, English Rock band who formed in 1981 and celebrated their 40th Anniversary in 2021. ASIA announce the release of Phoenix for the first time as a 2 vinyl LP set on 26th May. Phoenix was originally released in 2008 and was their first studio album with the original line-up in a quarter century.  

In terms of sound this emotional, compelling comeback album sees Asia continue the very high standards from where they left off in 1985, as ever displaying suppleness when stretching out into multi-part suites while retaining a knack for big, arena pop hooks.

Their 1982 self-titled debut album reached number one in several countries, including 9 weeks topping the US charts, with lead single ‘Heat Of The Moment’ making the top 40 in over a dozen, including US #4.

This is the second of four critically acclaimed ‘reunion’ releases (2007-2012) featuring vocalist John Wetton ex of King Crimson, guitarist Steve Howe and keyboard player Geoff Downes from Yes and drummer Carl Palmer from Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

The sleeve comprise unique artwork by world famous rock music artist Roger Dean.

Tracklisting

Side A
1. Never Again
2. Nothing’s Forever
3. Heroine



Side B
1. Sleeping Giant / No Way Back / Reprise
2. Alibis
3. I Will Remember You


Side C  
1. Shadow Of A Doubt
2. Parallel Worlds / Vortex / Déyà
3. Wish I’d Known All Along


Side D  
1. Orchard Of Mines
2. Over And Over
3. An Extraordinary Life

Buy here: https://Asia.lnk.to/PhoenixPR

About ASIA

Pooling the talents of bassist/vocalist John Wetton, drummer Carl Palmer, keyboardist Geoff Downes and guitarist Steve Howe, ASIA immediately became the epitome of a supergroup of rock aristocracy and the natural heir to its members’ legendary bands of the 70s – King Crimson, Emerson Lake & Palmer, The Buggles and Yes.

Leaving behind their progressive roots, ASIA embraced the commercial FM rock sound that dominated US airwaves and took that, and the new MTV video channel, by storm. The single Heat Of The Moment was a world-wide monster smash and their eponymous 1982 debut album spent an incredible 9 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard chart as Asia became the biggest selling album of the year and world tour dates sold out.

A second album, Alpha, was released in 1983. The four original members reconvened in 2006 for a world tour, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that incredible success, and the album Phoenix followed.

While the members were still heavily involved in other projects, they came together again to record Omega in 2010 and XXX in 2012, both albums were acclaimed by their faithful fans and supported by more world tours.

Steve Howe stepped back from ASIA to concentrate on his work with YES and was absent for 2014’s Gravitas. Following this tour came the news of John Wetton’s treatment for cancer, a fight he sadly lost in 2017.

Buy here: https://Asia.lnk.to/PhoenixPR

Band Links:

Website: https://originalasia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asiatheband
Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=asia%20(band)&src=typed_query
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1bdytLV3FPjyhfrb6BhMej?si=tFUt026CRze3h7lgBA5VJA

Kinetic Element Set to Launch New Studio Album Chasing the Lesser Light on March 20th Through Melodic Revolution Records in Advance of their Appearance at the Winter’s End Festival in the UK on April 1st. Pre-orders Kick-off March 3rd

Melodic Revolution Records is thrilled to announce the upcoming release Chasing the Lesser Light by US Symphonic Prog band Kinetic Element.

Chasing the Lesser Light is a sixty-minute symphonic prog journey through human’s desire to explore space. From the lunar missions of 50 years ago to the present-day planning for a journey to Mars.

Five songs cover the past, present, and future:

1) First Stage (6:15) – contemplating space travel, as we learn to fly high without wings.
2) Chasing the Lesser Light (19:50) – landing on the moon, and seeing the earth as one world.
3) Radio Silence (9:55) – the perils of space travel, with the emotional impact on an astronaut’s son.
4) We Can’t Forget (11:35) – glancing back at the moon, as we look ahead to mars.
5) Door To Forever (15:18) – reopening the door to space travel, and to become the Starman in the sky.

The cover artwork portrays space travel as commonplace with a man in a business suit and helmet, as he observes an Apollo launch that brought a nation and the world together.

Mike Visaggio: Piano, Organ, & Synthesizers
Michael Murray: Drums
Mark Tupko: Bass
Saint. John Coleman: Vocals
Peter Matuchniak: Guitars

Track 2, 5, by Mike Visaggio
Track 1, 3, by Peter Matuchniak
Track 4, by Mike Visaggio and Peter Matuchniak

All arrangements by Kinetic Element
Mixed and mastered by Peter Matuchniak Engineered by Michael Murray, Peter Matuchniak
Layout and Graphics, Man in the Mountain

Kinetic Element is a neo/symphonic progressive rock band from Richmond, Virginia that harbors musical roots in classic artists like Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Yes, Asia and Genesis and blends those influences with philosophical and spiritually powerful and uplifting lyrics. They are a known act in the prog-rock genre.

Kinetic Element has been invited to perform at the Winters End Festival UK on April 1st, 2023, the band has also performed at many prestigious festival in the past i.e., Prog Day, RoSFest, Progtoberfest, ProgStock, in the USA and Terra Incognita in Canada

Follow Kinetic Element
Website ~ https://kineticelement.rocks
Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/kineticelementband
Bandcamp ~ https://kineticelement.bandcamp.com
YouTube ~ https://www.youtube.com/@miketheorganist

Melodic Revolution Records Online
Website: https://mrrmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelodicRevolutionRecords/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MelodicRevolutionRecordsMusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodicrevolutionrecords/ 
Bandcamp: https://myrevolution.bandcamp.com/

Multi-instrumentalist Matt Dorsey To Release 
New Progressive-Pop-Rock Album “Let Go”

Featuring Marco Minnemann and Dave Kerzner

photo by Andy Wright

Let Go” is a new collection of songs written and recorded by multi-instrumentalist Matt Dorsey. Stylistically it stands as a blend of all the artists and bands that influenced him including, Rush, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, XTC, The Police, Peter Gabriel, Steely Dan and more. It can be described as progressive-pop-rock. On it Matt sings and plays guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion and, on two of the songs, the drums. Marco Minnemann provides drums on three tracks and Jonathan Mover on another three. Dave Kerzner performs a keyboard solo that he wrote for one of the songs. 

Says Matt, “‘Let Go’ is a collection of songs that cover many aspects of life. I studied philosophy in college and the first song I wrote following my studies was MAN, which is something of a summary of the human condition and a celebration of the mystery and miracle of human existence. Following my college days, I shifted my focus from western to eastern philosophy and you can hear a sense of that influence in the song Echo which expresses a deep connection with all living things. ‘Let Go,’ too, is a reflection of the eastern philosophical tradition expressing a sort of taoist disposition toward the flow of things and a zen-like non-attachment. Waiting for the Fall and Castles Made of Sand are a bit darker, expressing a more existential despair, the one about perpetual failure and the other about the fleeting nature of time. But, to round the album out, Compromise, Dangerous and Impossible Friends are more straight-forward love songs. Life is many things. Art should reflect that. ‘Let Go’ is an album about the philosophy of life.”

The album contains 8 tracks recorded almost entirely at Matt’s home studio in Orange County, except for the drum tracks provided by Minnemann and Mover, and the keyboard solo by Kerzner. The album was mixed by Matt and mastered by Andy VanDette. The album artwork was created by Ed Unitsky.

Best known as a founding member of Sound of Contact, he has also played with Beth Hart, Dave Kerzner, In Continuum, and most recently with the all-star progressive rock cover band ProgJect. 

Says Matt, “I hope those who listen to my music actually get something meaningful or useful out of it, even if it’s just the enjoyment of the rhythms and melodies or the tapping of the foot. If one gleans anything more deeply significant, all the better. If I’m honest, I write and play music entirely for the sheer joy of it. I guess that’s a bit selfish to say. That said, I know there is power in music, to be sure, and it can move people in very potent ways. I feel privileged to be a part of that. I guess to sum it up my message is simply, life is extraordinary and we would do well to look longer and more carefully at it.”

Track List:

1. Castles Made of Sand
2. Compromise
3. Waiting for the Fall
4. Man
5. Impossible Friends
6. Echo
7. Let Go
8. Dangerous

Release date: April 7, 2023

Pre-Order Campaign date: January 13, 2023 

To purchase:

Physical Product https://thebandwagonusa.com/collections/matt-dorsey
Digital Product https://mattdorsey1.bandcamp.com/music

Find Matt Dorsey Online:
Website http://www.mattdorseyofficial.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/matt.dorsey.1291
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mattdorseyofficial/
Twitter https://twitter.com/MattDorsey18

Ascher Releases First Single The Great Divide from their Debut Album Beginnings and Accompanying Music Video

Christian Progressive Rock From Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Newcomers, Ascher, premiered their video, ‘The Great Divide’, to promote the first single from their upcoming debut album, Beginnings, today. The performance video was edited in black and white and features the members of Ascher interspersed with several anonymous clips that help convery the message of the song.

The Great Divide was written by Doug Bowers to convey feelings he had concerning friendships ‘lost along the way’. The lyric, “Time is not the enemy – Does not provide the wait-and-see” is the writer’s way of saying that that the passage of time time cannot be blamed for the loss of a friendship and it doesn’t necessarily heal all wounds. It is up to the individual to keep relationships alive. The song came about late in the writing sessions for the album, ‘Beginnings’, and each band member’s contributions during the recording sessions made the song the standout piece that it is.

‘The Great Divide’ is currently available as a digital download at Ascher’s Bandcamp site. The page also contains the song’s lyrics. Vocals and lead guitars were recorded remotely by Kyle Graves and Rob Perez respectively with the bulk of the song recorded at Berwood South in Fort Walton Beach by Doug Bowers. The song was mixed and mastered by Doug Bowers at Berwood South.

The Great Divide is the first single from the album, Beginnings.

THE GREAT DIVIDE LYRICS

Here in the shadows of a self-made reality, the product of all I have known
Built from assurance that the life out in front of me was all that my mind’s eye was shown

Here, now, we never thought to figure in the how
Gaze, smile, this moment will be gone in just a while, just a while

Reaching for promise while lost in the innocence of youthful dreams so far, so neatly placed
No thought of the notion that a hat tip to common sense might help ease the future that I faced

Youth, haste, too much to do to let time go to waste
Friends lost, in moving on I didn’t count the cost

Time is not the enemy, does not provide the wait and see
We all must face the truth to heal our wounds
The great divide will only grow if left unchecked the seeds we sew
Will bind us  

Left to my thoughts and consumed by the arrogance of a life well lived, the product of my goals
Behind me the paths that might have been my inheritance, untrod, my unfulfilling roles

Truth, lies, the compass I create I will despise
Give, take, the moment won’t exist for its own sake

Time is not the enemy, does not provide the wait and see
We all must face the truth to heal our wounds
The great divide will only grow if left unchecked the seeds we sew
Will bind us  

A message from a long-lost friend arrived yesterday 
In it, I heard faint echoes from my past
The great divide with no amend had led us astray
If only time could make that friendship last 

But, time is not the enemy, does not provide the wait and see
We all must face the truth to heal our wounds
The great divide will only grow if left unchecked the seeds we sew
Will yield the vines that grow, surround, and bind us

Song Credits

Music and Lyrics by Doug Bowers
Recorded by Doug Bowers, Rob Perez, and Kyle Graves
Mixed and mastered by Doug Bowers

Ascher is:

Doug Bowers: Keyboards, Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion Programming, Lead and Backing Vocals
Blake Dickeson: Acoustic and Electric Rhythm Guitars
Rob Perez: Lead Guitar
Kyle Graves: Lead and Backing Vocals

Ascher Links

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088891564545
Bandcamphttps://ascher1.bandcamp.com/track/the-great-divide
YouTube: https://youtu.be/sSYSEfy_u4c

Media Contact
Doug Bowers
dougbowers03@gmail.com