Roine Stolt’s The Flower King – Stolt discusses how ‘Manifesto of an Alchemist’ came together in new video

Roine Stolt, known as the guitarist, singer, writer and at times band leader of the groups The Flower Kings, Transatlantic, Agents of Mercy, Kaipa DC, as well as from his work with prog icon Jon Anderson and the new super-group The Sea Within, is releasing a new album on November 23rd, 2018. Under the moniker ROINE STOLT’S THE FLOWER KING, ’Manifesto Of An Alchemist’ offers 10 songs and almost 70 minutes of playing time celebrating the style Roine is most revered for: progressive rock, richly orchestrated with all the trademark elements from four decades of the genre.

Watch Stolt discuss how the album together in this brand new interview video here:

A lyric video for the track ‘Lost America’ was released recently. Watch it now here: https://youtu.be/y919myxnMAc

Roine comments: “Lost America is one of the longer tracks on my new album – it goes through a series of melodic themes and riffs – most of them familiar in style from the vast Flower Kings catalogue of course. The song, and much of the album, is interesting in the way it has fragments drawn from different periods of the last 25 years – song ideas that were never fully developed or utilized – even if parts may have been already on the table for both The Flower Kings and Transatlantic.  This particular song is kind of two songs – the first a melodic prog jigsaw – while the latter is a more straight riff-based tune – I do the lead vocal but both my brother Michael and Hammond dude Max Lorentz do quite a bit of backing me up with hairy vocals – Marco Minnemann on drums and Jonas Reingold on bass.

The lyrics are kind of touching upon the idea that we’ve lost our souls to the golden calf again. Profit, pride and profanity rule over soul, serenity and the sacred. Despite the song title, this is NOT a dig at the American people or culture, but rather a general global observation. We are all at risk.”

‘Manifesto Of An Alchemist’ is a celebration of all the styles that have been part of the colourful, daring and dynamic songwriting and arrangements that Roine masters like no other, yet also offers a more immediate, more hands on approach. “Like that first TFK album, I’m the main lead vocalist here again – it works as these lyrics are important to me and resonate with my view of the world. A lot of the guitar work is actually my spontaneous ‘demo’ guitars” and that goes for much of the synth work, too. I didn’t want to ‘process’ ideas too much as there is much power in the initial creation – I wanted to keep it that way.”

The album features a host of other musicians, including long-time collaborators Jones Reingold, Hans Froberg & Michael Stolt, as well as fellow The Sea Within member Marco Minnemann, Max Lorentz, Zach Kamins, Rob Townsend & Nad Sylvan.

‘Manifesto Of An Alchemist’ features stunning artwork from Shaun Beyond (https://www.instagram.com/shaunbeyond/), and will arrive as a limited edition CD digipak, Gatefold 180g 2LP + CD & as digital download.

Pre-order limited coloured vinyl at the InsideOutMusic store: https://roinestoltstheflowerking.lnk.to/Manifesto/Insideoutshop

Pre-order the album at Roine Stolt’s store: https://www.roinestolt.com

All presales: www.insideoutmusicshop.com

You can find the full track-listing below:

1.Rainsong
2.Lost America
3.Ze Pawns
4.High Road
5.Rio Grande
6.Next To A Hurricane
7.The Alchemist
8.Baby Angels
9.Six Thirty Wake-Up
10.The Spell Of Money
As previously announced, Roine will take The Flower Kings catalogue on tour later this year, as well as playing tracks from this new album. He comments: “I am excited that the album will be released in November this year and at the same time will be in South America playing The Flower Kings music with a band that also includes Hasse Froberg & Jonas Reingold and also introduces two younger friends; Zach Kamins on keyboards and Mirko DiMaio on drums – both fabulous musicians. We will also bring this to Europe where we join forces with legends Spock’s Beard.”

South America 2018
16th November – Carioca Club, Sao Paolo, Brazil
18th November – El Teatrito, Buenos Aires, Argentina
19th November – Teatro Nescafe, Santiago, Chile
21st November – Teatro Del Patronato Peruano Chino, Lima, Peru
23rd November – C3 Stage, Guadalajara, Mexico
24th November – Auditoria Blackberry, Mexico City, Mexico

InsideOutMusic 25th Anniversary European Tour feat. Spock’s Beard & Roine Stolt’s The Flower King
30th November – Cosmopolite, Oslo, Norway
1st December – Kulturhuset Studion, Stockholm, Sweden
2nd December – KB, Malmo, Sweden
4th December – Zeche, Bochum, Germany
5th December – Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland
6th December – La Machine, Paris, France
7th December – De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
8th December – Hedon, Zwolle, Netherlands
9th December – Islington Assembly Hall, London, UK
10th December – Academy Club, Manchester, UK

CANADA – North America   2019
28th February – Club Soda, Montreal, Canada
1st March – Salle Jean – Paul Tardif, Quebec City, Canada

Welsh Rock Heroes MAN Continue Their EVOLUTION With A New 6CD Box Set!

Los Angeles, CA – The unsung heroes of UK psychedelic rock, Man, have been quietly evolving over the course of their incredible 4+ decade career, transforming from the 5-piece upstart outfit who released their debut album in 1969 to a massively celebrated musical institution they’ve become in their home country and around the world. The key to that success, and their survival as a musical unit, has been the group’s unflagging efforts to push musical boundaries further as they explore creative mutations to become ever more adaptable to the current climate. For proof, just check out the latest collection from the band, Evolution, a spectacular 6CD box set featuring 4 superb studio albums in their entirety from Man’s turn-of-the-century period (1992-2006) PLUS a thrilling double concert album recorded in Berkeley CA 1976 with Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina!

Each CD is packaged in its own jacket, recreating the artwork from the original release, along with liner notes by music historian Dave Thompson. The CD box will be available starting November 2 from Purple Pyramid Records, a division of Cleopatra Records, Inc.

Track List:
DISC 1: ENDANGERED SPECIES (2000)
1. Conflict Of Interest
2. Stuck Behind The Popemobile
3. Saints & Sinners
4. Face To Face
5. Hangin’ On
6. Tie Up The Wind
7. Victim Of Love
8. Love Isn’t Love

DISC 2: THE TWANG DYNASTY (1992)
1. A Feather On The Scales Of Justice
2. Mad On Her
3. Jumpin’ Like A Kangaroo
4. The Chimes At Midnight
5. The Price
6. Circumstances
7. Women
8. The Chinese Cut
9. Out Of The Darkness
10. Fast And Dangerous
11. The Wings Of Mercury

DISC 3: UNDRUGGED (2002)
1. Scotch Corner
2. Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You
3. I Always Thought The Walrus Was Protected
4. Dream Away
5. Manillo
6. Asylum
7. Trying To Get To You
8. Listen To Me, Sister
9. Georgia On My Mind
10. Sail On Sailor
11. Day And Night

DISC 4: DIAMONDS AND COAL (2006)
1. Diamonds And Coal
2. All Alone
3. Freedom Fries
4. Twistin’ The Knife
5. Man Of Misery
6. Welsh Girl
7. Thank God It’s Not Miss Cathy
8. Teddy Boys Picnic
9. When You’ve Got Someone To Hold

DISC 5: LIVE AT THE KEYSTONE
1. Let The Good Time Roll
2. 7171 551
3. Hard Way To Die
4. The Welsh Connection
5. Something Is Happening
6. The Ride And The View
7. Out Of Your Head
8. Born With A Future

DISC 6: LIVE AT THE KEYSTONE
1. C’mon
2. Many Are Called, But Few Get Up
3. Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You
4. A Hard Way To Live
5. Romain
6. Bananas

Buy the CD: https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/man-evolution-6-cd/

Henry Cow Legend John Greaves To Release New Album “Life Size” on Manticore Records

Manticore Records is proud to announce the new album by Alternative music legend John Greaves, now a Manticore Records Artist

British bass guitarist and composer John Greaves, best known as a member of Henry Cow and his collaborative albums with Peter Blegvad is releasing a new album titled “Life Size” on Manticore Records on November 30, 2018. John was also a member of National Health and Soft Heap, and has recorded several solo albums, including “Accident” (1982), “Parrot Fashions” (1984), “The Caretaker” (2001) and “Greaves Verlaine” (2008).

Says Manticore Records president Max Marchini, “When Greg Lake wanted me to be the artistic director of the renaissance of Manticore he was very precise: ‘I don’t want Manticore to be nostalgic but respectful and helpful of any great talent, old or new. We don’t want to be a progressive only label but open to any kind of music for progressive it is not a genre but an intention’.

“It’s a great honor to be able to continue his quality control and tradition of perfectionism and creativity. And I am lucky enough to have trusting friends who help me and to share with projects: Regina Lake, Alberto Callegari at the amazing Elfo Recording Studios and Manticore artist Annie Barbazza. Our aim is to live up to Greg Lake’s vision and production skills with new albums that can match his demanding standards.

“I have been lucky enough to work with one of the most respected and talented British composers, Welsh-born John Greaves who is a true living legend in alternative music.”

John Greaves led the European avant-garde as a founder member of Henry Cow with Fred Frith and Lindsay Cooper, then his bass was the driving force in bands like National Health and Love Of Life Orchestra. He played with Brian Eno, Robert Wyatt, Mike Oldfield, Michael Nyman, Penguin Café Orchestra, Carla Bley and Michael Mantler just to mention a few.

In recent years he has produced albums for the French classical label Harmonia Mundi for Radio France of composition upon words of Paul Verlaine and for Dark Companion a precious critically acclaimed live album called “Piacenza”. He appears on the new Sony relate of Gabrie Fauré songs “Ici-bas”. His songwriting partnership with Slapp Happy’s Peter Blegvad gave birth to gems like “Bad Alchemy”, “How Beautiful You Are “ and “The Song”.

On his new album “Life Size”he shares the vocals with a remarkable cast. Three fabulous, uniquely different female voices: Valérie Gabail, Annie Barbazza, Himiko Paganotti and Greaves himself sing a collection of songs in French, English and Italian, moving from pure pop thru Debussy-esque Apollinaire to sensual spoken-word; there’s even a song by Robert Wyatt, an old friend from way back when. The line-up of musicians is equally stellar: Olivier Mellano and Jakko Jakksyk (from King Crimson) on guitars, Vincent Courtois on cello, Zeena Parkins on harp, Matthieu Rabaté on drums.

“Life Size” features new compositions and the revisiting of old ones into a new, breathtaking contemporary and classical style, featuring some of the most acclaimed international musicians. Treat yourself to a very special musical journey.

Says Max, “’Life Size’ is an album of stunning beauty and inner grace and sure will be a classic for the future, and intended to be the logical sequel to the critically acclaimed ‘Songs’, which, by the way, has been remastered at our Elfo Studios to state of the art sound quality and re-issued by Dark Companion Records.”

‘Life Size” was recorded and mastered to exemplary sound standards in audiophile premium colored vinyl and golden high-end CDs. This first pressing will be of 1,000 CD and 500 vinyl only.

Tracklist
01. Air de la Lune
02. The Same Thing
03. In Te
04. God Song
05.  Kew Rhône is Real
06. Earthly Powers
07. Still Life
08. La Lune Blanche
09. Sweetheart Goodbye
10. Hôtels
11. How Beautiful You Are
12.  Lie Still, Sleep Becalmed

Personnel:
John Greaves: voice, bass guitar piano, sequences, string arrangements
Annie Barbazza: voice (3,6,7,11) piano (11), acoustic guitar (3)
Valérie Gabail: voice (1, 10)
Himiko Paganotti: voice (8)
Vincent Courtois: cello
Matthieu Rabaté: drums
Olivier Mellano: guitar (1,2,6,8)
Sophia Domancich: treated piano (8)
Zeena Parkins: harp (10)
Jakko Jakszyk: electric guitar (4)
Lino Capra Vaccina: piano, gongs, vibes, cymbals, percussion (12)
Camillo Mozzoni: oboe
Max Marchini: sub aquatic electric guitar (3)
Jordi Tagliaferri: vibes (2,10), congas (7)
Irene Barbieri: violins (1,7)
Diego Romani: violas (1,7)
The Warm Morning Brothers:  bkg. vocals (3)

To purchase:
Golden Papersleeve CD: http://store.maracash.com/product_info.php?products_id=476&osCsid=ov26hva7m913qd4ouabprj8vl6
Gatefold Purple Coloured LP: http://store.maracash.com/product_info.php?products_id=477&osCsid=ov26hva7m913qd4ouabprj8vl6

Links:
www.johngreaves.co.uk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Greaves_(musician)
https://youtu.be/5TuPm6fHFdA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W51RE62ew04

Dave Bainbridge Tour News

(Above: A fun moment on stage with Jon Poole during the Lifesigns appearance at Resonate Festival, London, 8th September 2018)

Hi, Thanks to everyone who came out to see us on the various gigs over the past couple of months. So many great highlights, including my first tour of Canada with Strawbs (great to meet a number of Iona fans at those gigs! Iona played in Canada several times). I’m just about to start another month of touring in the UK with Lifesigns and Strawbs, so I do hope some of you can make it along – we’re getting to a few places we’ve not been to for a while, including the North East and Scotland, which I’m looking forward to.

Also just confirmed, a very special Dave & Sally gig in The Wirral on 8th December. My good friend and Iona co-founder David Fitzgerald will be joining us on flutes/saxes/whistles, which I’m thrilled about.

Lots more exciting stuff coming up over the next 6 months, including the Strawbs 50th Anniversary weekend in New Jersey in April, with some amazing special guests, including Tony Visconti, Larry Fast, John Ford, Blue Weaver, Annie Haslam, a 30 piece orchestra (recruited from the finest orchestral players in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia), and a certain caped crusader….I’m currently working on a few of the orchestral arrangements for this, so it’s all go at the moment.

GIG GUIDE
Gigs below are in chronological order.

LIFESIGNS

7th November, O’Riley’s, Hull, UK
8th, Queen Vic, South Shields, UK
9th, Backstage at the Green, The Green Hotel, 2 The Muirs, KY13 8AS, Kinross, Scotland
10th, Drygate, 85 Drygate Street, G4 0UT, Glasgow, Scotland
11th, Bannermans, Edinburgh, Scotland

STRAWBS UK TOUR

14th November, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
15th, The Robin, Bilston
17th, HRH Prog Festival, Pwllheli, Wales
18th, Corn Exchange, Hertford
19th, Public Halls, Harpenden
21st, The Pier, Worthing
22nd, The Brook, Southampton
23rd, The Astor Theatre, Deal
24th, Waterside Arts Centre, Sale
25th, Cheese & Grain, Frome
26th, Under the Bridge, Chelsea Football Ground, London

More Info
http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk/ 
www.facebook.com/groups/strawbs/ 

LIFESIGNS

28th, November, Bullingdon, Oxford
29th, Wharf, Tavistock,
30th, Electric Theatre, Guildford
1st December, Level III, Swindon

DAVE BAINBRIDGE & SALLY MINNEAR
(with special guest David Fitzgerald)
8th December, 8pm, The Lantern, St Lukes Church, Breck Rd,
Wallasey, CH44 3BB

Tickets from 
www.eventbrite.co.uk

FERNANDO PERDOMO BAND

4th-9th February 2019, Cruise to the Edge, Caribbean

STRAWBS

10th-15th February, On The Blue cruise, Caribbean

LIFESIGNS

March European Tour, (further dates still to be added)
7th March, Das Rind, Offenbach, Germany
8th, Bluesgarage, Isernhagen, Germany​
9th, De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands​
10th, Yard Club, Cologne, Germany
17th, The Musician, Leicester, UK
24th, The Half Moon, Putney, London, UK   

STRAWBS

12th April, YMCA, Boulton Center, Bay Shore, NY, USA
13th, Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ, USA
14th-16th, USA dates TBC
17th, Lovin’ Cup, Rochester, NY, USA
18th, USA date TBC
19th, Towne Crier, Beacon, NJ, USA
20th, Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA, USA
26th-27th, Strawbs 50th Anniversary weekend, Lakewood, NJ, USA
(with very special guests and symphony orchestra)

www.facebook.com/groups/strawbs/

Above: photos from the Strawbs Canadian Tour.

Top: Strawbs rocking the Club Soda in Montreal, 11th October 2018

Bottom: First concert on the tour, playing to a packed house at Maison de la Musique, Quebec City, 10th October 2018. Photos by Sharon Rudolph.

Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear – Live in the Studio DVD
Released in 2018

A beautifully filmed and recorded document of the duo’s live set, honed over numerous concerts throughout the past 4 years. The main programme features around 85 minutes of material and demonstrates the range and diversity of music that Dave & Sally perform at their always well received concerts. Featuring the duo’s arrangements of music from Dave’s previous band Iona, his solo albums and several traditional Irish folk pieces, filmed, recorded and mixed at Dave’s Open Sky Studio. DVD Extras include Dave & Sally ‘In Conversation’, plus some live footage from their concert at The Lantern Theatre, Sheffield in March 2018.

‘Wonderful’ -Tom Newman (producer Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells etc)

“Dave Bainbridge, Thank YOU! ..it was a stupendous evening. Absolutely brilliant and beautiful performance. Sally’s singing is incredible, we loved every minute! Everybody go and see this duo, they are something very special indeed, we can’t wait to have them back.” -Debs Earl (promoter – www.folkinthebarn.co.uk )

“Great show last night with Dave Bainbridge and Sally Minnear.” -Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention)

“I’m not sure I have the words to say how much I enjoyed every moment from 3pm to pack down – Sally (what a voice!) and Dave were a joy to work with and absolutely fantastic throughout. As for the gig one word – Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!” -Steve (promoter)

“Great Dave Bainbridge and Sally Minnear gig last night in Farncombe performing a mix of Iona, Dave solo and some traditional arrangements. Two amazingly talented musicians! I can’t think of too many musicians who are both virtuoso guitarists and pianists but Dave excels on each and not forgetting his pretty mean bouzouki playing! I’m sure Dave could turn his hand to stand up comedy too – some very funny introductions last night! Beautiful vocals too from Sally. If you get the chance to catch them live then grab it. ))” -Ian Jones (Karnataka)
PERSONNEL:
Dave Bainbridge – Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Bouzouki, Keyboard
Sally Minnear – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Percussion, Tenor Recorder, Tin Whistle, Keyboard

PRODUCED BY: Dave Bainbridge

LABEL: Open Sky Records
TRACK LISTING:
1 Kells Theme
2 Treasure
3 Vox loops/Heavenfield/Jigs
4 My Lagan Love
5 Piano Impro/Machrie Moor
6 The Humours of Ballyloughlan
7 Caoineadh Cu Chulainn
8 Today
9 Songs of Ascent Pt 2
10 The Storm
11 Shuil a Ruin
12 Innocence Found
13 Revelation
14 Heaven’s Bright Sun
15 Beyond These Shores
16 Castlerigg/Reels

1 Chi-Rho
2 Veil of Gossamer
3 Irish Day
4 Luke – The Calf

Buy Album DVD: £16.00 
http://www.iona.uk.com/albums/detail/id/36/live-in-the-studio

Gryphon to Release “Reinvention” LP via Plane Groovy Records

Gryphon are a British progressive rock band return with first ne studio album in 41 tears, formed in the 1970s, and best known for their unusual medieval and Renaissance sound and instrumentation. The band briefly flourished in the progressive rock heyday of the early 1970s, and then retired to other musical activities before reforming for a one-off reunion in 2009. Subsequently, Gryphon played some gigs in 2015, featured at the Cropredy Festival in 2016, and in 2017, an invitation to a ProgRock festival in Portugal, and in the UK, the NewDay Festival near Canterbury.

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Pipe Up Downsland Derry Dell Danko (4:49)
2. Rhubarb Crumhorn (5:56)
3. A Futuristic Auntyquarian (5:58)
4. Haddocks’ Eyes (10:58)
5. Hampton Caught (5:12)
6. Hospitality At A Price… Anyone For? (3:11)
7. Dumbe Dum Chit (3:08)
8. Bathsheba (5:37)
9. Sailor V (8:37)
10. Ashes (3:32)
11. The Euphrates Connection (4:43)
12. Bonus Track

Line-up / Musicians

Graeme Taylor / acoustic & electric guitars, producer
Graham Preskett / violin, mandolin, keyboards, harmonica
Brian Gulland / bassoon, bass crumhorn, baritone sax, recorders, piano, vocalizations
Andrew Findon / flute, piccolo, fife, soprano crumhorn, soprano sax, clarinet
Rory McFarlane / electric & double basses
Dave Oberlé / drums, percussion, vocals

Releases information

Artwork: John Hurford

CD was self-released on August 17, 2018, in the UK

According Chri Topham at Plane Groovy, Another huge announcement today; the wonderful new album from Gryphon”Reinvention” will be released on Plane Groovy, hopefully just before Christmas. We’ve been given a priority manufacturing slot for this one. Double heavyweight vinyl, strictly limited to just 300 copies worldwide. There is one bonus track in addition to the CD version. Orders through Burning Shed will come with a download code too. We *might* be making a small number of these colored if so it will be just 100 copies. I expect pre-ordering to go live next week and details will be finalized before then

Plane Groovy Links
https://www.facebook.com/Plane-Groovy-317446981663663/
https://burningshed.com/store/planegroovy

Please feel free to share this message; let’s spread the word!

Gryphon Links
http://www.thegryphonpages.com
https://www.facebook.com/newgryphon/
https://burningshed.com/store/gryphon