Camel Expand Snow Goose Tour

UPDATED (April 20): Added more dates and links:

More dates are being confirmed for the long-expected comeback of Camel. As mentioned before on this blog Andrew Latimer will be joined by Colin Bass, Denis Clement, Guy LeBlanc and special guest Jan Schelhaas for the shows – their first since their farewell tour in 2003.

The band previously explained of the now sold-out London appearance: “The evening pays tribute to former band member Peter Bardens, who died of cancer at the same time as frontman Latimer was battling a terminal illness.

“Ten years later, Latimer has regained health and is willing to celebrate a career that spans over four decades. This two-set show will also embrace compositions recorded throughout those years in a personal covenant of appreciation for a deeply rewarding life of music.”

Meanwhile, the band have addressed fan inquiries as to the possibility of a new album. They explain: “It’s somewhere in the making. When you spend two full years trying to anticipate – and outwit – the worst scenario possible, it takes a rather insidious toll. When the storm passes, it’s an involuntary reflex to get right back to business. We wanted to get Camel back on the road, write a new album, record a new DVD;, just get on with it in general.

“But we hadn’t grasped one very important aspect of having gone through a life-changing experience: we are survivors. And that, in itself, is life-changing. Survivors need to exhale deeply and learn to inhale without the imposition of dread.

“Unexpectedly, we needed time to recover from the battle itself. Finally, we’re ready for the challenges ahead.”

 Dates for October/November 2013 Tour:

Oct 19	UK	Harrogate	Royal Hall		http://www.royalhall.co.uk
Oct 20	UK	Wolverhampton	Wulfrun Hall		http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk
Oct 21	UK	Manchester	RNCM		http://www.rncm.ac.uk
Oct 22	UK	Salisbury	City Hall		http://www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk
Oct 24	Belgium	Limbourg	Le Kursaal		http://www.lekursaal.be/web/
Oct 25	Holland	Groningen	Oosterpoort Main Hall		http://www.de-oosterpoort.nl
Oct 26	Holland	Amsterdam	Rabozaal		http://www.melkweg.nl
Oct 28	UK	London	Barbican		SOLD OUT
Oct 30	Germany	Bochum	Christuskirche (TBC)		http://www.christuskirche-bochum.de/
Oct 31	Germany	Mannheim	Alte Seilerei (TBC)		http://www.alteseilerei-mannheim.de/
Nov 1	Germany	Fulda	Orangerie (TBC)		Information to follow

Storm Thorgerson Dies Aged 69

Photo by JHeald for Wikipedia.

 

The man who is partly responsible for how we view album cover art died peacefully today surrounded by family and friends. Mostly known for the art he conceived for Pink Floyd, Storm Thorgerson was also responsible for The Alan Parsons Project album covers, as well as countless other artists including Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Brand X, Led Zeppelin, Rick Wright, Styx, Muse, Anthrax, The Scorpions, The Mars VoltaAudioslave, 10 CC, Black Sabbath, The Cranberries, and many more.

The iconic image of the prism on a black background for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon revealed his genius in economy when needed and brought him to international stardom as an conceptor. He is also responsible for the reviled album cover for Yes's Tormato album.

A teenage friend of David Gilmour's, he started working on album covers as part of the Hipgnosis team of artists. After the dissolution of Hipgnosis in 1983, he formed his own design company named Storm Studios formed by a loose group of freelancers. Storm also worked on music videos for Yes, Robert Plant, David Golmour, and Pink Floyd.

His last work was on the 2011 and 2012 reissues of the Pink Floyd catalogue, including the fantastic box sets for DSotM, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall.

A statement on the Pink Floyd.com official site said: "We are saddened by the news that long-time Pink Floyd graphic genius, friend and collaborator, Storm Thorgerson, has died.

"Our thoughts are with his family and many friends."

Sound Of Contact Reveals Teaser for 'Dimensionaut'

I've had the pleasure of seeing this band live at the Marillion Weekend here in Montreal. Jonathan Schang subbed as drummer and John Wesley on guitars and they were great. The crowd really wanted to hear more and hoped the CD would be available at the CD stands, but they weren't. I am really looking forward to hearing their output!

 

SOUND OF CONTACT is set to release their debut album, Dimensionaut, May 28th in North America (May 20th in Europe). To give fans a preview of this upcoming release, the band has unveiled a sampler of the concept album here:

 

http://www.progrockmag.com/news/sound-of-contact-premiere-dimensionaut-teaser

 

The band recently played their first-ever live show as support to MARILLION. "It was a thrill playing our first SOUND OF CONTACT show at the Marillion Weekend in Montreal to thousands of people who had never heard our songs before," says Simon Collins, lead singer and drummer for SOUND OF CONTACT.

 

"The reception was incredible" adds Dave Kerzner, keyboardist for SOUND OF CONTACT. "It really got us pumped for the upcoming InsideOut 20th Anniversary tour of Europe with SPOCK'S BEARD and BEARDFISH."

 

The brainchild of Simon Collins (son of legendary musician Phil Collins) and keyboardist/co-producer Dave Kerzner, SOUND OF CONTACT marks the beginning of something that Collins had always wanted to put his hand to after ten years of promoting his own solo career. Recorded with Kerzner, Matt Dorsey, Kelly Nordstrom and Hannah Stobart (WISHING TREE), and mixed by Nick Davis (GENESIS, XTC, MARILLION), Dimensionaut brings his vision to life.

                                                                                             

Before Dimensionaut's release, the band will begin a stint with legendary prog band SPOCK'S BEARD and label-mates BEARDFISH as part of the InsideOut Music 20th Anniversary Tour, a premier event that will see the band taking their music to Europe for the first time. The line-up for these shows will feature Collins and Kerzner as well as Matt Dorsey, John Wesley (PORCUPINE TREE, FISH) and Ronen Gordon.

Check out the video that unveiled Dimensionaut here:

 

 

May 2013 European tour dates feat. SOUND OF CONTACT, SPOCK'S BEARD, BEARDFISH

(G/S/A dates presented by: Rock Hard, Eclipsed & Dragon Productions)

5.3.2013--Corporation--Sheffield, UK

5.4.2013--The Arches--Glasgow, UK

5.5.2013--Academy--Newcastle, UK

5.6.2013--Robin 2--Bilston, UK

5.7.2013--The Garage--London, UK

5.8.2013--La Scene Bastille--Paris, France

5.9.2013--Z7--Pratteln, Switzerland

5.10.2013--Hirsch--Nürnberg, Germany

5.11.2013--Majestic--Bratislava, Slovakia

5.12.2013--A38--Budapest, Hungary

5.14.2013--Szene--Vienna, Austria

5.15.2013--Colos-Saal--Aschaffenburg, Germany

5.16.2013--Das Rind--Rüsselsheim, Germany

5.17.2013--Zeche--Bochum, Germany

5.18.2013--De Boerderij--Zoetermeer, Netherlands

5.19.2013--Markthalle--Hamburg, Germany

SOUND OF CONTACT online:

http://www.soundofcontact.com

http://www.facebook.com/soundofcontact

http://www.youtube.com/soundofcontact

The Electric Garden Festival Wants You to Pledge

The second edition of the Electric Garden Festival is gearing up and will take place on May 3 and 4 in Blackpool, but they needs your support if it is to survive and prosper. The First edition of the EG Festival in 2011 was a huge success, with positive feedback from all who attended. In 2012 the festival took a hiatus due to the Olympics being hosted by England. Now they return with a fantastic line-up.

IT

Karnataka

Comedy of Errors

The Fierce & The Dead

Nth Ascension

Counterparts (Rush Tribute)

Knifeworld

Trojan Horse

Now all they need is you to make it happen. No tickets will be available at the door. Instead those who want to attend are asked to support the event’s Fundervine campaign, with a live DVD option available for people who can’t make the date. I will order the DVD since going to England is a bit much for me this year. Different options are available so choose one and participate. If they cannot reach their goal, the festival will be cancelled.

Rock'n'Roll Fantasy Camp with Yes

When you were a kid you probably went to camp during the summer. There are all kinds of camps for kids: music camp, astronomy camp, nature camp, farm camp, even camp camp! Now that you are an adult you probably even send your own kids to camp during the summer. It is always a great experience when groing up.

Now, as an adult lover of prog, you can go to camp too, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

One of the most successful progressive-rock bands in history, Yes combined virtuosic musicianship, suite like neoclassical structures, and three-part high vocal harmonies to form an intricate whole that audiences loved and are now coming to Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp!

Surpassing other progressive rock bands in the 1970s and 80s, Yes' incredible, innovative sound has gotten nine of their albums on the top ten charts in the US and UK. Once Yes dipped into the pop rock pool, album sales peaked, especially after their remarkable album "90125". This massive album includes the number one hit single "Owner of a Lonely Heart." Singles "Leave It" and "It Can Happen" caught them national attention, making it onto the Billboard Charts. Yes also earned their first Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1985 for the two-minute track "Cinema". Their music received positive recognition throughout the music community, earning the band several Grammy Nominations, such as Best Pop Performance by a Due or Group With Vocals with "Owner of a Lonely Heart", Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Amazing Grace" and "Masquerade".

Now's your chance to surround yourself and become part of YES with the epic vocals of Jon Davison, the multi-layered keyboard sounds of Geoff Downes, the precise percussions of Alan White, and the legendary guitar playing by Steve Howe and Chris Squire. It's time to JAM with YES!   

For more info on prices and bookings go to Yes Rock'nRoll Fantasy Camp.