Album Reviews View More
Rafael Pacha With The Friends of (Con)Fusion – Not Normal After Music
Rafael Pacha first came to my attention as part of The Samurai Of Prog universe, collaborating with such acts as Kimmo Pörsti, Guildmaster and Inner Prospekt. His exceptional talents on a huge variety of instruments have lifted all the music…
Sykofant – Red Sun Leaves
Sykofant are yet another new band from Norway, and Red Sun Leaves is their sophomore album, comprising two EPs. Red Sun was released last year, and shows the band’s heavier side, whilst the recently released companion EP Leaves reveals a…
Nektar – Down To Earth: Remastered & Expanded [4CD Edition]
My Nektar collection has looked rather like a piece of Swiss cheese recently, but slowly and surely, Esoteric has been plugging the gaps. The reputation of each Nektar album is uncannily similar to that of the Star Trek film series,…
Mountain – Don’t Look Around: The Recordings 1969-1974 (7CD Boxset)
Mountain’s imposing, statuesque lead guitarist Leslie West is often mentioned as a key early influencer by musicians, many of whom went on to have much more commercial success, longevity, and ultimately left more of a musical legacy than Leslie himself.…
Galasphere 347 – The Syntax Of Things
The Syntax of Things is the sophomore album from Galasphere 347, a band named after a spacecraft from the early sixties puppet series Space Patrol. Despite my advancing years, I don’t recall it at all, but Stephen James Bennett obviously…
A Different Aspect (ADA) View More
A Different Aspect #99
Featured artists: Lite | Lari Basilio | Joy Shannon | Steve Blanco Four bite-sized reviews taking a snapshot of just some of the 2025 albums and EPs to land at TPA over the past few months… • Lite – The…
A Different Aspect #98
Featured artists: Edenya | Riffstone | Barend Tromp | Jonhatan Tenerini | Path Of Ilya Five bite-sized reviews taking a snapshot of just some of the recent albums to land at TPA over the past few months… • Edenya –…
Concert Reviews View More
Lifesigns
Poppodium Boerderij, Zoetermeer [NL] Sunday, 22nd February 2026 After a three-year absence, British prog rock quartet Lifesigns returned to a Dutch stage and once again, the venue chosen was Zoetermeer’s prog temple Boerderij, the same venue where they recorded their…
Sad Café
Wrecking Ball, Hull Friday, 13th February 2026 Frequently, when talking about contemporary bands, I have said that if they had been around in earlier musical periods, they would have been massive. Personality, talent and powerful music, just in the wrong…
Spock’s Beard
Poppodium Boerderij, Zoetermeer [NL] Saturday, 7th February 2026 American prog quintet Spock’s Beard returned to De Boerderij after an eight-year absence. The last time they played here, it was as part of a double bill with Sweden’s Flower Kings. Now,…
Martin Barre Band
The Exchange 1856, North Shields Friday, 31st January 2026 I will be the first to admit that I went to a lot of concerts last year and I already have a long list of names that I will be seeing…
Pete Roth Trio
The Forum, Darlington: Tuesday, 27th January 2026 Seven Arts, Leeds: Thursday 29th January 2026 For bands that are not always familiar to the average Progger, and their albums are not taking up space on their shelves, it is often the…
John Hackett Band / Dikajee
The Forum, Darlington Friday, 28th November 2025 Yes, before any of you go out of your way to point out that I have already reviewed both artists in April ’25 and mentioned the JHB in a festival review, I will…
Halestorm
O2 Arena, London Wednesday, 26th November 2025 Sometimes you go to a concert with quietly hopeful expectations, prepared for an enjoyable evening’s entertainment and the chance to hear a few of your favourite tunes. Then there are those rare evenings…
Tony Patterson and Doug Melbourne / Candacraig
St George’s Venue, Hartlepool Friday, 24th October, 2025 I think that I should start this review not with talk about the music, or bands, but with a brief discussion about the venue. But please indulge me as I think that,…
Interviews View More
Clare Lindley – Big Big Train
Sometimes you know before the conversation even begins that it’s not going to be a standard interview. Clare Lindley is one such person. A violinist, singer, composer, rock climber, and a fixture within Big Big Train (BBT) for several years…
NVRF 2025 – Day One
Grimsthorpe Castle, Bourne Thursday, 4th September 2025 Intro and first impressions… Despite this festival being in its third year I was still a virgin to Nene Valley Rock Festival. So, other than seeing a line up full of interesting bands,…
John Holden
Following TPA’s review of The Great Divide, multi-instrumentalist and composer John Holden kindly agreed to talk with Jane Lee where he elaborates on the artistic vision that has shaped his music. Jane Lee [JL]: Hi John. Thanks for agreeing to…
Des Tong – Sad Café and more…
At a time when, seemingly at least, Punk ruled the airwaves and snarling teenagers were saying naughty words on the TV – it looked like bands with talent were threatened with oblivion. Some carried on regardless, other bands folded, while some…
Michael Woodman
TPA’s Dann Chinn covers all bases in this long chat with Michael Woodman, who gives us the lowdown on his new album Hiss of Today, and much, much more besides… Dann Chinn (DC): Let’s talk about stories, Michael, and storytelling,…
Al Winter – This Winter Machine
For those of you who are unfamiliar with today’s guest, and his band, firstly shame on you, but secondly, let me introduce him to you. In 2016 Al Winter formed the award winning This Winter Machine and captured people’s attention…