Progworld

Friday, September 11, 2015

Enchant Prepares for European Tour

After almost a decade, Enchant, the Bay Area's long-running Prog Rock institution, are soon to return to Europe for live appearances next month in promotion of their acclaimed comeback album The Great Divide, which was released last year via InsideOutMusic.

Therefore, the band has checked in with a special video message about the upcoming tour:

The tour will be a double-headlining bill featuring Enchant as well as Hasse Fröberg & Musical Companion, kicking off (for Enchant) at the 2015 edition of ProgPower Europe festival in The Netherlands on October 4th.

Enchant + Hasse Fröberg & Musical Companion - European Tour 2015:
Oct 4 - Baarlo, The Netherlands - ProgPower Europe (Enchant only!)
Oct 5 - Berlin, Germany - Magnet (Tickets)
Oct 6 - München, Germany - Kranhalle (Tickets)
Oct 7 - Oberhausen, Germany - Zentrum Altenberg (Tickets)
Oct 8 - Rüsselsheim, Germany - Das Rind (Tickets)
Oct 9 - Stuttgart, Germany - Schocken Club (Tickets)
Oct 10 - Zoetermeer, The Netherlands - De Boerderij (Tickets)
Oct 11 - London, UK - The Underworld (Tickets)
Oct 12 - Bilston, UK - The Robin 2 (Tickets)
Oct 13 - Paris, France - Backstage (Tickets)

Additionally, Enchant have confirmed the following appearances in North America:
Oct 23 - Houston, TX - BFE Rock Club
Oct 24 - Austin, TX - Empire Control Room & Garage
Nov 15-19 - Cruise To The Edge

Enchant Line-Up:
Ted Leonard - Lead vocals (Spock's Beard / Thought Chamber)
Douglas A. Ott - Guitars and backing vocals
Ed Platt - Bass guitar and bass pedals
Bill Jenkins - Keyboards (Sound Of Contact / Thought Chamber)
Sean Flanegan - Drums (Cynthesis)

Enchant online:
www.enchantband.com
www.facebook.com/enchantband
https://twitter.com/Enchantband

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Odin's Court Launch Crowd Sourcing Campaign

US based progressive rock and metal band Odin's Court announced a crowd sourcing campaign to release 2 albums: Deathanity (R3) and Turtles All the Way Down Vol, II. Deathanity (R3) is a “reboot” of the original ProgRock Records album released in 2008, consisting of a remix (original recording), new recording (e.g., vocals), and a re-master. Turtles All the Way Down, Vol. II continues the concept started in 2015’s album by the same name.

Rewards for campaign backers include CDs, digital releases, shirts, signed drum heads, vinyl banners, coasters, picks, an invitation to a listening party, and more. Samples and more details may be found at the following link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/odinscourt/odins-court-deathanity-reboot-and-turtles-ii

By launching this crowd sourcing campaign, the band wishes to continue the momentum gained from the positive press received on their latest album Turtles All the Way Down.

Band leader Matt Brookins commented on the decision to revisit Deathanity:

“This was an important album to the band – we worked hard independently, and then shopped it to labels. It was picked up by ProgRock Records in 2008, and to date remains our best selling and most popular release. While we were, and still are, proud of what we did, there are some factors that made us want to revisit and improve the quality of the album…mainly, the addition of Dimetrius LaFavors (lead vocals), but also my improvements as an engineer and producer. Additionally, the concept of the album is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, so hopefully we will reach even more ears with this re-release. Stylistically, this album is heavy, progressive, and artsy.”

Turtles All the Way Down, Vol. II continues where the last album left off, exploring the concept of infinite regression and individuals’ methods of finding their place and coping in such a vast universe.

Odin's Court is:
Matt Brookins – Guitarist, Keyboardist, Vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist
Rick Pierpont – Guitarist and Backing Vocalist
Dimetrius LaFavors – Vocalist
Gary Raub – Drummer, Percussionist, and Backing Vocalist
Jason Pierpont – Bassist

Odin's Court on the web:
Band: www.OdinsCourtBand.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/odinscourtband
YouTube: www.youtube.com/odinscourt

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

The Aaron Clift Experiment to Release Sophomore Album

The Aaron Clift Experiment will be releasing Outer Light, Inner Darkness this September. This is the second CD by the Austin, Texas ensemble and marks a musical plateau for the group with its intricate compositions, complex arrangements and virtuosic performances.

Band leader, Aaron Clift explains:

“Outer Light, Inner Darkness is a concept album about duality: light vs. darkness, individual vs. group, hope vs. despair, etc. Songs in the first half of the album detail the conflict between these opposing forces, while the songs in second half of the album are a journey toward reconciling the extremes. The album culminates with Bathed in Moonlight, a song about how humanity can learn to embrace its outer light and inner darkness and become one with both sides of its nature.”

Watch the new video for Kissed by the Sun:

The Aaron Clift Experiment combines elements of classic and cutting-edge music into an innovative whole by drawing from a wide range of influences – from classic progressive rock acts like Genesis, Pink Floyd, and Rush to modern groups like Porcupine Tree and Opeth to classical and jazz composers like Beethoven, Schubert, and John Coltrane.

In 2012, the band released its critically acclaimed debut album, Lonely Hills, to rave reviews from both fans and the music press and was named one of the best unsigned bands of 2013 by Prog Magazine.

Says Aaron:

“Although The Aaron Clift Experiment started as my solo project, Outer Light, Inner Darkness marks the birth of ACE as a full-fledged band.”

The Aaron Clift Experiment:
Aaron Clift – Vocals/Keyboards
Eric Gutierrez – Guitar
Joe Resnick – Drums
Devin North – Bass

To purchase Aaron Clift Experiment's Outer Light, Inner Darkness CD:
www.aaronclift.com/shop

For more information:
http://aaronclift.com/

Friday, September 4, 2015

Fughu to Kick Off European Tour

Prog metal gauchos from Buenos Aires, Fughu are coming to Europe later this month for their first European tour. The band that opened for Dream Theater at the Luna Park in 2008 will play in Vienna (Austria), Subotica (Serbia), Novi Sad (Serbia), Belgrade (Serbia), Szeged (Hungary), Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Bielsko-Biala (Poland), Wroclaw (Poland), Poznan (Poland), and Berlin (Germany). The Argentinians will be joined by Polish post/prog rock band Abstrakt on select dates.

For the full tour dates check below.

Fughu released three studio albums so far: Absence in 2009, and in 2013 they put out two fantastic albums simultaneously Human (The Tales) and Human (The Facts), which were received very well by fans and media. The records feature guest contributions by guitarist Jeff Kollman, and singers Dario Schmunck and Damian Wilson (Threshold, Headspace, Landmarq, Maiden United, Ayreon, Star One).

The band is currently readying their fourth studio record, but they will take a break from September 17th to September 27th and visit Europe for the first time.

Fughu 2015 European tour dates:

Sept 17 – Vienna (AUT) @ Reigen Live with Tsar Alliance and Palindrome
Sept 18 – Subotica (SRB) @ Clash Club
Sept 19 – Novi Sad (SRB) @ Firchie Think Thank Studio with Gernika and Counterfate
Sept 20 – Belgrade (SRB) @ Danguba with Nula
Sept 21 – Szeged (HUN) @ Live Music Club with Taine and Dramatic Morals
Sept 22 – Cluj-Napoca (ROM) @ The Shelter with The Hourglass and Vespera
Sept 23 – DAY-OFF
Sept 24 – Bielsko-Biala (POL) @ Rudeboy Club with Abstrakt
Sept 25 – Wroclaw (POL) @ Od Switu Do Zmierchu with Abstrakt
Sept 26 – Poznan (POL) @ Blue Note with Abstrakt
Sept 27 – Berlin (GER) @ Cortina Bob with Abstrakt and Jordi Kuragari

Fughu online:
http://www.fughu.com
https://www.facebook.com/fughu

Thursday, September 3, 2015

4th Annual Prog Award Winners

Prog Magazine unveiled the winners of the 4th Annual Prog Music Awards. This year the awards were presented at the Underglobe venue beneath Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London on September 3rd 2015.

And the winners are:

Limelight Award (Newcomer)

Heights (UK)