Latest Prog News from across the progressive music spectrum & updated throughout February 2023.
11/02/2023: Kite Parade release Retro from forthcoming album
Andy Foster’s Kite Parade release Retro video taken from their second studio album which will be released through White Knight Records on 28th March 2023…
“Stylistically, I think we’re on familiar territory but maybe Retro has an ever so slightly darker feel. I can’t wait for everyone to listen to the album. After starting out as a studio based project, I’m happy to announce that I’m in the process of putting a band together to get Kite Parade out there playing live at festivals and support slots. Exciting times ahead!”
TRACK LISTING
01. Retro
02. Speed Of Light
03. Wonderful
04. Shadows Fall
05. Under The Same Sun
06. Merry-Go-Round
SOURCE: Kite Parade
10/02/2023: eMolecule release The Architect video
eMoloecule – Simon Collins and Kelly Nordstrom release the video for their latest single The Architect, the title track from their debut album released via InsideOut Music on 10th February 2023…
TPA’s Leo Trimming concludes his album review: “With The Architect, eMolecule have produced a musical evocation of a great cyberpunk novel. It’s a remarkable debut album, fusing a variety of influences and styles with impeccably crisp production, consummate musicianship and imaginative, immersive sound design. Kelly Nordstrom and Simon Collins have formed a potent partnership to realise their fresh, original and captivating musical visions. It will be fascinating to see where they go next with this project.”
You can read the full review of The Architect HERE on TPA
SOURCE: TPA (The Progressive Aspect)
08/02/2023: Big Big Train announce ‘The Journey Continues’ European dates
Big Big Train have announced 15 further shows in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland and the UK to take place in August and September 2023…
These additional dates form part of the band’s The Journey Continues tour and are in addition to the band’s previously announced headlining appearance at the 2 Days + 1 Festival in Italy on 2nd September 2023. At these performances the band will be promoting the forthcoming Ingenious Devices album, which will be released on 30th June 2023.
For these shows Big Big Train will consist of lead vocalist Alberto Bravin, drummer Nick D’Virgilio, guitarist/keyboardist Rikard Sjöblom, bassist Gregory Spawton, violinist Clare Lindley, keyboardist Oskar Holldorff and guitarist Maria Barbieri. Barbieri is deputising for Dave Foster, who has prior commitments in September with the Steve Rothery Band. The Big Big Train brass ensemble, led by trombonist Dave Desmond, will perform at all shows.
SOURCE: Big Big Train
Keep up to date with the UK dates with the TPA Gig Guide
07/02/2023: Pendragon announce new mini album
Pendragon have announced the release a new mini album, North Star, scheduled for May 2023 and via Toff Records.
Nick Barret comments on the release: “The North Star has guided mankind out of trouble for thousands of years and this is a positive message that uses this as a way forward for everyone after the last 3 years without mentioning the wretched C-word”
TRACK LISTING
North Star – part 1 A Boy And His Dog
North Sar – part 2 As Dead As A Dodo
North Star – part 3 Phoenician Skies
Fall Away
The mini album features 25 minutes of all new music & sees Johanna Stroud on backing vocals and violin. North Star will initially be available on CD at the VIP Weekends.
After almost three years the band are all together and working hard preparing for the VIP weekends. At the present time these are the only dates we have planned for 2023, this year celebrates 45 years of Pendragon and we want you to join in with the fun. Each weekend will have one show with all of the Love Over Fear album, and one show with all of Not Of This World, both shows will also include a bunch of classics and favourites throughout the years. But that’s not all…..there will also be an acoustic set and a Q&A session.
SOURCE: Pendragon
Keep up to date with Pendragon’s UK dates with the TPA Gig Guide
07/02/2023: Transatlantic share We All Need Some Light live video
Transatlantic have shared the live clip for ‘We All Need Some Light’ from the new concert set entitled ‘The Final Flight: Live At L’Olympia’…
Written by Neal Morse, We All Need Some Light, originally appeared on the band’s 2000 debut album SMPT:e, and the new live version is taken from their forthcoming live release The Final Flight: Live At L’Olympia, which is scheduled for 17th February via through InsideOut Music.
SOURCE: InsideOut Music
03/02/2023: Jon Anderson with The Paul Green Rock Academy confirm European shows
Following on from the previous announcement of a UK show (see below), Jon Anderson performing with The Paul Green Rock Academy has announced European dates in Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany and Spain in July…
Jon Anderson & The Paul Green Rock Academy – European Tour 2023
09/07/23: Budapest – Papp László Sports Arena, [HU]*
11/07/23: Prague – TBC, [CZ]
15/07/23: Bad Doberan – Zappanale Festival [DE]
19/07/23: Madrid – But La Paqui [ES]
22/07/23: London – Shepherd’s Bush Empire [UK]
* with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
SOURCE: Jon Anderson
Keep up to date with the UK dates with TPA Gig Guide
03/02/2023: Dave Foster Band (DFB) release Dive In single
The Anglo-Dutch ensemble Dave Foster Band (DFB) have released their new single entitled Dive In, and takend from their forthcoming new album, Glimmer…
Dinet Poortman explains that the song “is about ‘diving in’, head first, after being hurt, trusting your own instinct and daring to be vulnerable by opening yourself up again. Good things can come from it and you let some ‘glimmer’ back into your life.”
Discussing the making of ‘Glimmer’, Foster explains that “the pandemic stopped any further touring of ‘Nocebo’, but instead allowed us to embark on a really inspiring run of writing songs. We actually recorded the drums between lockdowns, which was frustrating but at least meant that we could let the songs mature. By the time we got round to recording again the songs had grown and developed into their final shape.”
The LP & CD formats of Glimmer are scheudled for 21st April 2023, with the digital release following four weeks later.
SOURCE: Red Sand PR
02/02/2023: Spike Worsley Memorial Concert
“In honour of Spike Worsley, who sadly passed away last year, we will be hosting an open to all memorial evening at The Sherriff Centre in Hampstead on the evening of Saturday 20th May 2023, with all profits going to Cancer Research UK & North London Hospice. North London Hospice were a wonderful support whilst Spike was ill enabling him to remain in his flat surrounded by his beloved vinyl. He desperately did not want to go into hospital, so we are hoping to raise money to be able to grant others their wish to stay at home in their final days.”
The night will be an informal and relaxed evening where we can mingle and remember Spike, in addition to live music, stories, videos and a silent auction of some of Spike’s possessions.
Anyone who wishes to perform, make a speech or contribute in any way on the night, please feel free to get in touch.
– Doors at 7:30pm
– Tickets are minimum £1, however you can donate more through Eventbrite should you wish and donations will be welcomed on the door
– There is a maximum capacity of 200, so grab your tickets in the Eventbrite link if you wish to attend
SOURCE: Ben Worsley
Keep up to date with the UK dates TPA Gig Guide
01/02/2023: Karnataka announce new studio album
Karnataka announce the release of their new studio album Requiem For A Dream, scheduled for 5th June 2023.
“The album explores themes of personal adversity, loss, despair and forgiveness, experienced through the prism of global chaos, climate change and environmental destruction.” comment Ian & Sertari. “A beautiful world slowly dying and tinged with fear, yet grasping for hope. We are reminded of the fragility of Sagan’s unique ‘pale blue dot’ floating in a vast ocean of stars. We are dancing in the rain. This is our requiem for a dream.”
Requiem For A Dream is to be released on World Environment Day (05/06/2023) featuring eight new songs, and will include “our most ambitious track to date, the 25 minute epic, ‘Requiem For A Dream’”. The album also includes special guest and long-term band collaborator, Troy Donockley on uilleann pipes and low whistle.
SOURCE: Karnataka
01/02/2023: Nene Valley Rock Festival
Nene Valley Rock Festival is a new weekend festival of live rock music, at Nene Park near Peterborough on 31st August to 3rd September 2023. Featuring over 60 bands playing classic rock, blues and prog rock, it will showcase performances by legendary artists including Ten Years After, Colosseum and the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, as well as old favourites and some up-and-coming young acts.
Festival organisers are running a Crowdfunding campaign – details can be found HERE. The crowdfunder will run for 6 weeks. “We need pledges to buy at least 400 adult full 4 day festival tickets during this period to make the festival viable.”
SOURCE: NVRF
Keep up to date with the TPA UK Gig Guide & TPA UK Festival Page
01/02/2023: Jon Anderson announces UK date in June
As part of ‘The Classic Albums Tour’, Jon Anderson, with The Paul Green Rock Academy, will play the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Saturday 22nd July 2023. The concert will celebrate the Close To The Edge album released.
Tickets will go on sale on 3rd February 2023 at 12:00
SOURCE: O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Click image to go to the TPA UK Gig Guide