The Fire Station, Sunderland Saturday, 8th February 2025 Just because Jan Akkerman might not leap to the mind when thinking about the best guitarists on the planet, that doesn’t mean that his skill and pure talent is any less spectacular.…
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CONFUSINGLY, Focus 12 is the veteran Dutch proggers’ 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th or 17th studio album, depending on how you count them. As an additional headscratcher, the track named after the band (there’s one on nearly every album) is…
View More Focus – Focus 12
The Earl Haig Club, Cardiff Wednesday, 19th April 2023 This is the fourth time I’ve seen Focus play live, and each time it has been at the same venue. The fact that the Earl Haig is within walking distance of…
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Cantley Park, Wokingham, UK Monday, 29th August 2022 The Berkshire town of Wokingham offers a most delightful summer festival! It’s a small family-friendly community event, with live music as the big draw, taking place in one level field in Cantley…
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The Oval Cricket Ground, Kennington, London Saturday, 30th September 1972 Howzat! 50 & Out This time last year I decided to mark the 50th anniversary of the ‘Goodbye Summer’ festival, the first of three similar events held at the Oval…
View More Melody Maker Poll Awards Concert 1972
O2 Academy, Sheffield Sunday 3rd April 2022 After two years of waiting, as well as venue and line-up changes, HRH Prog XI finally took place over the weekend of April 2nd and 3rd at the O2 Academy, Sheffield. It was…
View More HRH Prog XI (Day Two)
Under the Bridge, London Friday, 25th Oct 2019 An evening of delight and surprises! The venue, although tucked away and a bit further to walk within Chelsea football club grounds than one might expect, works really well for gigs; the…
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The Civic, Stourport on Severn Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th March 2019 Tony: A weekend of progressive music at a bargain price, great venue, very well organised by Steve Gould, The Progmeister, who even managed to arrange some quality street…
View More Fusion Festival 2019 – Day One
Focus 11 is, of course, the celebrated Dutch band’s 14th album (or 15th, depending on how you count them) and focuses on what they do best: melodic, guitar-driven instrumentals, sometimes fast and frantic, sometimes stately and formal, mixing jazz fusion…
View More Focus – Focus 11
Hafan Y Mor Haven Holiday Park, Pwllheli, Wales 17th & 18th November 2017 HRH Prog 6 put on display an impressive range of bands old and new in the now familiar yet remotely beautiful North Wales location. Following on only…
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