John Wesley Announces New Album and Tour

Renowned singer / songwriter & guitarist John Wesley has announced he will release his forthcoming 8th studio album 'a way you'll never be' on October 7th, 2016.

John had this to say:

"'a way you'll never be' was fairly big step for me in that I have worked extremely hard at bringing the two sides of my writing together; the "acoustic singer songwriter" and the "electric heavy guitar" elements. This album is most certainly the set of songs that has successfully combined my introspective lyrics with the aggressive type of guitar playing and writing that I love. Mark Prator and Sean Malone brought the songs to life as an amazing rhythm section. The themes of the lyrics, the melodies, and the playing make these my favourite, most cohesive and adventurous set of tracks to date. Stylistically the songs revisit some of the guitar music of the 70's that grabbed me and made me want to be a guitarist. Sonically I combined those 70's big guitar tones with the modern sounds available to us as guitarists today."

In support of the album, John will head out as support to Marillion & Steven Wilson in the US & Canada:

With Marillion
Oct 21 2016 - The Regency Ballroom San Francisco, CA, USA
Oct 22 2016 - Saban Theater Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, CA, USA
Oct 25 2016 - Paramount Theatre Denver, CO, USA
Oct 27 2016 - Vic Theatre Chicago, IL, USA
Oct 28 2016 - Vic Theatre Chicago, IL, USA
Oct 29 2016 - Hard Rock Live Northfield, OH, USA
Oct 31 2016 - Danforth Music Hall Toronto, ON, Canada
Nov 1 2016 - Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre Montreal, QC, Canada
Nov 2 2016 - L'Impérial Bell Québec, QC, Canada
Nov 4 2016 - Royale Boston Boston, MA, USA
Nov 5 2016 - 9:30 Club Washington, DC, USA
Nov 6 2016 - Keswick Theatre Philadelphia, PA, USA
Nov 8 2016 - Playstation Theater New York, NY, USA

With Steven Wilson
Nov 17 2016 - Center Stage Atlanta, GA, USA
Nov 18 2016 - The Plaza Live Orlando, FL, USA
Nov 19 2016 - State Theatre Tampa, FL, USA
Nov 20 2016 - Culture Room Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

'a way you'll never be' was produced by Jim Morris at the legendary Morrisound Studios and sports a cover by renowned artist Carl Glover.

'a way you'll never be' tracklist:
1.   by the light of a sun
2.   a way you'll never be
3.   to outrun the light
4.   the revolutionist
5.   nada
6.   the silence in coffee
7.   unsafe space
8.   sun.a.rose
9.   epic
10.  pointless endeavors

John Welsey online:www.john-wesley.com
www.facebook.com/johnwesleyofficial
www.twitter.com/johnwesleymusic

Steven Wilson to Release Vinyl Only Compilation

Steven Wilson, who has, in the past, been reticent to anthologize his music and to even put his face on his album covers, has now given in to both.

Transience will be an introduction to Wilson's catalogue of song-based tracks from 2003 to 2015, a nice way to introduce a friend to SW music without the more “difficult” stuff getting in the way. It is expected for a September 4th 2015 release in the UK, and October 2nd 2015 for the Rest of the World.

Transience contains over 1 hour of music. Pressed as a 3 sided LP in a lavish gatefold sleeve, the fourth vinyl side features an etching of the original handwritten lyric sketches for Happy Returns.

As well as containing a few especially created edits, the album contains a new studio recording of Lazarus, based on his 2015 live performances of the song.

Transience track list:
Side 1:
1. Transience (Single Version) (3.10)
2. Harmony Korine (5.07)
3. Postcard (4.27)
4. Significant Other (4.31)
5. Insurgentes (3.54)

Side 2:
1. The Pin Drop (5.01)
2. Happy Returns (Edit) (5.11)
3. Deform to Form a Star (Edit) (5.53)
4. Thank You (4.39)

Side 3:
1. Index (4.47)
2. Hand. Cannot. Erase. (4.13)
3. Lazarus (2015 Recording) (3.57)
4. Drive Home (7.33)

Side 4:
Etching

This is a strictly limited one-off pressing which you can pre-order now from Burning Shed.

Steven Wilson and Steve Hackett Announce Box Set

Steve Hackett's first 6 albums, those originally released on the famous Charisma label have now been remixed by Steven Wilson with the help of Mark Powell, and are set to be released as 14 CD box set.

Universal are releasing Premonitions: The Charisma Years 1975 - 1983. It will include Steve's first six albums, four of which have been redone in surround sound by Steven Wilson. It will also include live recordings, such as the whole Oxford show over two CDs, 1981 Reading show, 1979 Drury Lane show, as well as a 1983 BBC session.

Since the multi tracks for two of the early Steve Hackett records could not be located, Steven Wilson created a surround sound up-mix, which he says is very immersive and worthwhile.

Premonitions is set to be released at the end of 2015 or beginning 2016. Amazon UK announces it for October 16, while Steven Wilson said that it might be in January 2016.

Word has not come out yet about a possible release as single albums outside of the box set.

Tim Bownes Hard at Work in the Studio

Tim Bowness has been in NAM studios recording for his forthcoming album, to be released on the InsideOut label. Due in late Summer, the album is a follow-up to 2014's acclaimed Abandoned Dancehall Dreams and features Bowness' live band (including Porcupine Tree's Colin Edwin), alongside Anna Phoebe, Peter Hammill, Andrew Keeling and other guests (to be announced shortly).

Tim had this to say:

"If Abandoned Dancehall Dreams was something of a bolder and more dynamic extension of No-Man's Schoolyard Ghosts, I'd say that the new album is something of a bolder and more dynamic extension of Abandoned Dancehall Dreams. A logical step forward with some surprises, I hope. It's been really exciting working with the band on most of the pieces and getting some special contributions from the likes of Anna Phoebe, Peter Hammill and Andrew Keeling."

Abandoned Dancehall Dreams was released last year to critical acclaim, with Classic Rock calling it a "cinematic, contemporary classic and Prog Magazine naming it "arch art-progger Bowness's masterpiece." Prog Magazine also included it in their top 20 critic's albums of the year 2014.

You can watch the video for The Warm-Up Man Forever from Abandoned Dancehall Dreams here:

Tim Bowness is primarily known as vocalist/co-writer with the band No-Man, a long-running collaboration with Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree).

Tim Bowness online:
http://www.timbowness.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/timbowness
https://twitter.com/TimBowness

No New PT Album Says Steven Wilson

With rumours flying all over the internet that Porcupine Tree will reform after Steven Wilson's latest album launch and tour are completed, the man himself decided to weigh in publicly during an interview with FaceCulture.

Here is the video, via Youtube.

 

 

To hear and see more I invite you to follow the link above to FaceCulture's website.

Steven Wilson Announces Completion of Album and Tour

Steven Wilson has announced that he will embark on a UK & European tour in March and April 2015 to coincide with the release of his long-awaited fourth solo album Hand. Cannot. Erase. which is to be release in February 2015 on Kscope.

A special edition of the new album, recording of which was completed recently, will soon be available for pre-order.

Meanwhile, tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday, the 21st of November, at 10 am. No announcements as of yet for a North American tour, but that news is surely forthcoming.

Steven Wilson had this to say:

We are currently developing a show that I hope will raise the bar both musically and visually from my previous tours, with a set list based around the new album (of course), as well as casting the net further back into my songwriting past for a few surprises.

To find out more about the UK & European tour, click here:

http://stevenwilsonhq.com/sw/hand-cannot-erase-uk-european-2015-tour-dates/

A Passion Play Remixed by Steven Wilson Pre-Orders

In his continuing quest to remix the classic albums of progdom, Steven Wilson remixed (stereo and 5.1) Jethro Tull's A Passion Play, following his own remix of their Thick as a Brick, as well as Yes, King Crimson, and Emerson Lake and Palmer remixes of early albums. When did he find the time, given his busy schedule? Well, the man is a workaholic, and his passion for the music shows in these carefully remixed albums.

A Passion Play (An Extended Performance) features new Steven Wilson mixes of the album, alongside Steven Wilson mixes of the infamous Chateau Disaster recordings that preceded it. Packaged with an 80 page book detailing the album, the band’s 1973 tour and the Chateau recordings, A Passion Play will be a a glorious way to celebrate a one of a kind release.

To pre-order the 2CD/DVD set click here: https://www.burningshed.com/store/jethrotull/product/444/5713/

To pre-order the vinyl version, click here: https://www.burningshed.com/store/jethrotull/product/444/5714/

Tim Bowness to Release Second Solo Album

Tim Bowness recently revealed he had signed to InsideOutMusic for the release of his forthcoming second solo album Abandoned Dancehall Dreams on the 23rd June 2014. The record will be released as Limited edition 2CD Digipak, 180g Gatefold LP (incl. album on CD) & digital download and a beautiful cover art.

The full track-listing is as follows:  1.    The Warm-Up Man Forever
2.    Smiler At 50
3.    Songs Of Distant Summers
4.    Waterfoot
5.    Dancing For You
6.    Smiler At 52
7.    I Fought Against The South
8.    Beaten By Love

Bonus Disc  
Mixes:
1. There Were Days (Smiler At 52, Grasscut Mix)
2. Sounds Of Distant Summers (Songs Of Distant Summers, Richard Barbieri Mix)
3. Singing For You (Dancing For You, UXB Mix)
Outtakes:
4. Abandoned Dancehall Dream
5. The Sweetest Bitter Pill
6. The Warm-Up Man Forever (Band Version)
7. Songs Of Distant Summers Part 1 (BandVersion)
8. Songs Of Distant Summers Part 2 (Band Version)

Abandoned Dancehall Dreams was produced by Bowness and mixed by Steven Wilson. It also features performances from Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson), Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), Anna Phoebe (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) and members of the No-Man live band (Stephen Bennett, Michael Bearpark, Pete Morgan, Steven Wilson, Andrew Booker and Steve Bingham).

TIM BOWNESS online:  http://www.timbowness.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/timbowness
https://twitter.com/TimBowness

Steven Wilson Preparing New Solo Album

Steven Wilson announced this week that he is writing and preparing to record a follow-up to his critically acclaimed The Raven That Refused to Sing (and Other Stories).
 
Steven just completed a limited tour of Europe with Blackfield and an extensive tour of the world with his solo shows. Listeners of the IPRS have voted The Raven That Refused to Sing their Top Album of 2013.
 
Here is Steven's post in full:
 

This week sees the first anniversary of the release of The Raven that Refused to Sing, which as well as hitting a personal high water mark, has subsequently become the most acclaimed and best selling album of my career. After more than 20 years and 30-40 albums that is a humbling and extremely gratifying thing to be able to say!

This year will see the writing and recording of the follow up album to The Raven that Refused to Sing (news, audio and video from those sessions when we have it), and next year will see a lot of touring with a new live show, planned to be even more spectacular than the one presented in 2013.

Thank you for your continued support!

SW

The Listeners Have Chosen, Part 2

The follow-up to last week's post, continuing the Listeners' Countdown of Top 20 CDs of 2013. Here are numbers 10 to 1. Any surprises? If so, please comment!

10		The Greatest Show on Earth Airbag (Norway)
9		Le Sacre du Travail The Tangent(United Kingdom)
8		Himjlabacken, Volume 1 Moon Safari (Sweden)
7 (Tie)		Dimentionaut Sound of Contact (United Kingdom)
7 (Tie)		English Electric Full Power Big Big Train (United Kingdom)
6		Lifesigns Lifesigns (United Kingdom)
5		The Mountain Haken (United Kingdom)
4		Shrine of New Generation Slaves Riverside (Poland)
3		Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep Spock's Beard (United States)
2		The Theory of Everything Ayreon (Netherlands)
1		The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories) Steven Wilson (United Kingdom)

2013 Progressive Music Awards Winners

Last night was the night. Prog Magazine unveiled the winners of the Prog Music Awards in the beautiful setting of the Kew Gardens.

And this year’s winners are:

Limelight – Sound Of Contact

Breakthrough – Big Big Train

Anthem – Von Hertzen Brothers' Flowers And Rust

Event – Steve Hackett - Genesis Revisited at Hammersmith Apollo

Band Of The Year – Marillion

Album – Steven Wilson's The Raven Who Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)

Grand Design – Family Box Set

Virtuoso – Mike Portnoy

Visionary – Steve Hillage

Guiding Light – Thomas Waber, founder of InsideOut

Lifetime Achievement – Dave Brock

Prog God – Ian Anderson

 

Congratulations to all the winners!

King Crimson to Release "The Road to Red"

On 14th October King Crimson will release a 21 CD/1 DVD/2 Blu-Ray discs Deluxe Edition box set called The Road to Red. This set is part of the Steven Wilson remix and remaster project he's been doing with all King Crimson releases. With a new mix of Red and a total of 16 recorded concert, the set also includes an extensive booklet and memorabilia.

The Road to Red includes:

20 CDs of live material drawn from:
10 concerts recorded on stereo soundboard cassettes directly from the band's mixing desk - all previously unreleased on CD, audio newly restored at DGM Soundworld in 2013.

5 concerts professionally recorded on multi-track tape. Parts of these shows have been previously included in the USA & The Great Deceiver releases, but they are all included here in full on CD for the first time.

1 CD drawn from an audio restored high quality bootleg of the band's final 1974 New York concert previously available only via mail order and now remastered.

CD 21 features a new stereo mix of Red by Steven Wilson & Robert Fripp

1 DVD (compatible with all DVD players & DVD Rom players):
High Resolution Stereo mixes of the Asbury Park/USA concert in its various released/unreleased configurations (24bit/48khz).
2 Blu-Ray Discs:
Blu-Ray Disc 1 features full lossless audio 24/192 transfers of four complete professionally recorded concerts newly transferred at the highest possible resolution from the original analogue Dolby SR half inch mix-downs in DTS-HD master sound stereo.

Blu-Ray Disc 2 features a 24/192 transfer of the Asbury Park/USA concert, a new stereo mix of Red in 24/96 DTS-HD master sound stereo by Robert Fripp & Steven Wilson, and also contains the original stereo mix of Red along with the 5.1 mix of the album in 24/96 DTS-HD + bonus audio material.

You can pre-order the Deluxe Edition through Burning Shed here!

A breakdown of the CDs, with concerts presented in full for the first time, are:

Disc 1: Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Columbus, OH, April 28, 1974
Disc 2 & 3: Stanley Warner Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA, April 29, 1974
Disc 4: Hofheinz Pavilion, Houston, TX, June 5, 1974
Disc 5: Tarrant County Convention Centre, Fort Worth, TX, June 6, 1974
Disc 6: Fairground Arena, Oklahoma City, OK, June 7, 1974
Disc 7: Civil Auditorium, El Paso, TX, June 8, 1974
Disc 8: Coliseum, Denver, CO, June 16, 1974
Disc 9: Performing Arts Centre, Milwaukee, WI, June 22, 1974
Disc 10: Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI, June 23, 1974
Disc 11 & 12: Massey Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada, June 24, 1974
Disc 13: Convention Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada, June 25, 1974
Disc 14: Kennedy Centre, Washington, DC, June 27, 1974
Disc 15 & 16: Casino Arena, Asbury Park, NJ, June 28, 1974
Disc 17: Penn State University, University Park, PA, June 29, 1974
Disc 18 & 19: Palace Theatre, Providence, RI, June 30, 1974
Disc 20: Central Park, New York, NY, July 1, 1974
Disc 21: Red mixed by Steven Wilson & Robert Fripp
DVD Audio: Casino Arena, Asbury Park, NJ - 2005 & 2013 Mix
                       USA, 30th Anniversary Remaster & original UK vinyl transfer
Blu-Ray 1: Stanley Warner Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
                    Massey Hall, Toronto, Ontario
                    Penn State University, University Park, PA
                    Palace Theatre, Providence, RI
Blu-Ray 2: Casino Arena, Asbury Park, NJ - 2005 & 2013 Mix
                    USA, 30th Anniversary Remaster & original UK vinyl transfer
                    Red - The 2009 Surround Mix
                    Red - 30th Anniversary Remaster
                    Red - 2013 Stereo Mix

Blackfield Unveil New Jupiter-Sized Video

Blackfield has unveiled today a new video, this one for a song called Jupiter from the forthcoming album Blackfield IV.



Blackfield IV will be released August 26th (27th in North-America). Blackfield is now mostly an Aviv Geffen vehicle, with Steven Wilson as guest artist also mixing the 5.1 version. Other guests include Brett Anderson (Suede), Jonathan Donahue (Mercury Rev) and Vincent Cavanagh (Anathema).

TRACKLIST:
Pills
Springtime
X-Ray (feat. Vincent Cavanagh – Anathema)
Sense of Insanity
Firefly (feat. Brett Anderson – Suede)
The Only Fool is Me (feat. Jonathan Donahue – Mercury Rev)
Jupiter
Kissed by the Devil
Lost Souls
Faking
After the Rain