District 97 Lineup Change and 2016 Tour

There have been some major changes for District 97 in the past few months, Rob Clearfield (keyboards) and Patrick Mulcahy (bass) have both parted ways with the band. The split is amicable and everyone remains on good terms.

Luckily, two very talented Chicago-based musicians are ready and eager to join Leslie, Jim and Jonathan in moving the band forward: Andrew Lawrence (keyboards) and Tim Seisser (bass).

District 97 will also be launching a Kickstarter on Wednesday, November 18th so that the new lineup can take the world by storm in 2016!

Here are the confirmed dates so far:

26 March 2016 - The Borderline, London, UK (with Dave Kerzner Band) - tickets
27 March 2016 - The Musician’s Pub, Liecester, UK (with Dave Kerzner Band) - tickets
28 March 2016 - The Robin 2, Bilston, UK (with Dave Kerzner Band) - tickets
29 May 2016 - Sound Control, Manchester, UK - tickets
1 April 2016 - Art Rock IV Festival, Reichenbach, DE (with IQ, RPWL and many more) - tickets
3 April 2016 - Progdreams Festival, Zoetermeer, NL (with Three Friends, Focus, and many more) - tickets

US dates to come in May 2016 !

Dream Theater’s New Album Will Be Concept Album

As Dream Theater were announcing a new European tour for early 2016, one in which they announced that they'll be performing their forthcoming album in its entirety, promoters were leaking the new album's title. Dream Theater confirmed that the new opus will be called The Astonishing. This will be the first concept album they've written since 2002's Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence.

We now know a little more about the album itself, thanks to Dream Theater's own newsletter sign-up.

The Astonishing will relate the story of a rebellion against the Great Northern Empire of North America, led by the Ravenskill Militia. It is 2285, the people of North America live under the rule of Lord Nafaryus, emperor of the Realm. Ravenskill, a small town on the outskirts of the Realm, is trying to start a rebellion against the tyrant by sending a message via the implants all the inhabitants of the Realm have.

When you go to their main website, you have to choose one of two sign-up pages. One is for the Great Northern Empire, the other is for the Ravenskill Rebel Militia. Go and sign-up to both to receive both the Emperor's message and the Militia's message, and learn more about the upcoming battle.

Dream Theater will be releasing the album in early 2016, and will present it live on the following dates (more dates to come):

Feb 18, 2016 – Palladium – London, United Kingdom
Feb 19, 2016 – Palladium – London, United Kingdom
Feb 22, 2016 – Carre Theatre – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Feb 27, 2016 – Oslo Concert Hall – Oslo, Norway
Feb 28, 2016 – Oslo Concert Hall – Oslo, Norway
Mar 2, 2016 – Cirkus – Stockholm, Sweden
Mar 5, 2016 – Le Palais des Congrès – Paris, France
Mar 6, 2016 – Le Palais des Congrès – Paris, France
Mar 18, 2016 – Teatro Degli Arcimboldi – Milan, Italy
Mar 19, 2016 – Teatro Degli Arcimboldi – Milan, Italy
Mar 23, 2016 – Kongresshaus – Zurich, Switzerland

Arcade Messiah II Album Preview and Release Date

John Bassett from Psychedelic Prog band KingBathmat just announced the upcoming release of his second solo effort under the name of Arcade Messiah.

Arcade Messiah's first released a self titled debut album last year and introduced us to a heavier sound with experimental and post metal sounds.

Arcade Messiah II builds upon the elements of the first release with the genre blending of metal, stoner, doom, prog, math rock, and ambient post rock continuing into an ever increasing dynamic storm of controlled chaos.

Preview the album with the complete track Read the Sky, online from forthcoming second album Arcade Messiah II, which can be heard here: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIieaGcm6LM

Arcade Messiah II will be released on November 27th on Stereohead Records.
Pre-Order here: https://arcademessiah.bandcamp.com/album/ii

1. Moon Signal
2. Red Widow
3. Black Dice Maze
4. Gallows Way
5. Fourth Quarter
6. Via Occulta
7. Read The Sky
8. Start Missing Everybody
9. The Four Horsemen (CD only)

Here is another sampler:

Headspace Announce Release of Second Album

Headspace, the band featuring Damian Wilson (Threshold) & Adam Wakeman (Ozzy Osbourne, Snakecharmer), have announced they will release their second album All That You Fear Is Gone on February 26th, 2016.

The band, completed by guitarist Pete Rinaldi (Hot Leg) & bassist Lee Pomeroy (It Bites, Steve Hackett), have also announced a new drummer in the shape of Adam Falkner (Babyshambes, Dido, One Eskimo).

Damian Wilson comments on the new album:

"The conforming individual represented in the first album that breaks away, is reflected in All That You Fear Is Gone. Free thinking, fighting against natural grouping, what appears as destructive rebellion is in fact evolution. Written to make the listener think, whilst capturing the ear with complexity and simplicity combined."

The band has previously posted video updates from the studio, and you can view those below.

Studio Diary 1:

Studio Diary 2:

All That You Fear Is Gone is the follow-up to 2012's debut album I Am Anonymous which was described by Prog Magazine as 'one terrifically exciting ride' and by Powerplay as 'a feast for both the ears and the mind.'

Headspace Online:
www.headspaceonline.com
www.twitter.com/headspaceonline
www.adamwakeman.co.uk
www.twitter.com/wakemanofficial

Allan Holdsworth's Live Pay-per-View Streaming

Don't miss this once in a lifetime event: guitar legend Allan Holdsworth will be doing something he’s never done before in his 40 year interstellar career: Streaming Live.
 
As Holdsworth’s fans know all too well, Allan’s live appearances in recent years are few and far between and in this once in a lifetime event, Allan will be streaming live his show from Jazziz Nightlife in Boca Raton, Florida on November 21st at 8:00 PM EST. There will be no DVD made from this live event.

As Allan winds down the touring part of his amazing career, future live shows will be limited to no more than a few dozen in next few years and in a very selected key markets. So this will be one of the last chances to catch Allan live!
 
Allan’s current trio lineup features drummer extraordinaire Virgil Donati and the incomparable Jimmy Haslip on bass.  This concert will be available worldwide as a pay-per-view event only for $14.95 on NMB Live at www.numubu.com/allanholdsworth. For more info: www.numubu.com/172420-profile-allan-holdsworth.html
 
Should you miss the event live or choose to watch more than once, the video will also be made available to watch as many times as you like from the NuMumBu archives until November 28th of this year. After that, this show will no longer be available to the pay-per-view audience.

Allan Holdsworth Band's Pirates of the Caribbean Tour
featuring Jimmy Haslip and Virgil Donati
 
Nov. 15-19, 2015: Cruise to the Edge  (Miami, Bahamas, Key West)
Nov. 21, 2015: Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, upstairs from Jazziz Nightlife, Boca Raton, FL
Nov. 22, 2015:  Largo Cultural Center, Largo, FL
Nov. 24, 2015: The Plaza Live, Orlando,FL
Nov. 26, 2015: Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Voivod Announce 2016 Tour of the USA

 

 

Voivod are excited to follow up the success of the Napalm Death tour of USA last winter with a new tour with Vektor and Eight Bells as support. This will be part 1 of a 2 leg tour with West coast dates in mid 2016.

 

Voivod + Vektor + Eight Bells - US Tour 2016:

02.06.16 Providence, RI - Fete Ballroom
02.07.16 New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
02.08.16 Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero
02.09.10 Morgantown, WV - Mainstage
02.10.16 Pittsburgh, PA - Altar Bar
02.11.16 Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony
02.12.16 Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club
02.13.16 Washington, DC - Black Cat
02.14.16 Richmond, VA - Strange Matter
02.16.16 Raleigh, NC - Kings
02.18.16 Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre
02.19.16 Sanford, FL - West End Trading Co.
02.20.16 Ybor City, FL - The Orpheum
02.21.16 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
02.22.16 Knoxville, TN - The Concourse
02.24.16 Chicago, IL - The Abbey Pub
02.25.16 Cudahy, WI - The Metal Grill
02.26.16 St Paul, MN - The Amsterdam
02.27.16 Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
02.28.16 St. Louis, MO - Firebird*
02.29.16 Louisville, KY - Zanzabar*
03.01.16 Valpariso, IN - Big Shots*
03.02.16 Columbus, OH - A&R Music Bar*
03.03.16 Ferndale, MI - The Loving Touch*
03.04.16 Toronto, ON - Mod Club*
03.05.16 Hamilton, ON - This Aint Hollywood*

 

* = Vektor and Black Fast supporting Voivod

 

The Canadian progressive metal pioneers are currently touring Europe until the end of November as part of the heavyweight "Deathcrusher 2015" tour alongside Carcass, Obituary, Napalm Death and Herod.

In the light of tour dates worldwide, Voivod have also released their split 7" EP together with labelmates Napalm Death. The 7" EP features the new Voivod track Forever Mountain as well as Napalm Death's exclusive track Phonetics for the Stupefied.

 

This special vinyl-only release is limited to 2,500 copies in the following versions/colors:

Black: 1200 copies (CM Distro Europe / USA)
Solid White: 300 copies (CM Distro Europe)
Transparent Red: 700 copies (CM USA)
Neon Yellow: 300 copies (Only available from the bands at the Deathcrusher tour!)

The Split 7" comes with classy artwork (both bands have an A side with own artwork!) created by Voivod drummer Michel "Away" Langevin and can be ordered here: http://smarturl.it/ndvCMDISTRO