Prog Festivals 2016 Update

Finally updated the 2016 Prog Rock Festivals page. Go take a look at what's in store this year in prog here.

And to those of you who are prog festival promoters and want your festival on this list, please send all info at progrockshow(at)hotmail.com.

Beardfish’s Rikard Sjöblom Announces Solo Album

 

Over the past few months, Beardfish's Rikard Sjöblom has been working on a solo album which will be released in February 2016. Titled The Unbendable Sleep, the record brings eight songs which certainly possess quality to appeal to music fans of different genres. Rikard has once again created a diverse album, but in a more intimate format than we are accustomed to.

 

Speaking about his decision to release an album under his name at this point of his career, Rikard says:

“There are a number of reasons why I did this, but the main one is that Gungfly which started out as a solo project later became more of a band with members and all that and it’s a really good band and I love it and all that but I guess to really be solo you almost have to use your birth name?"

 

Thematically, The Unbendable Sleep goes around the usual subjects: love, life, death, and it deals a lot with self-esteem and believing in yourself.

“Sounds cheesy, I know, but it’s pretty important stuff,” Rikard continues. “I found myself singing about mirrors quite a lot and that’s also referring to just that, looking into the mirror and not recognizing the person staring back at you.”

 

The Unbendable Sleep will be available starting February as digital download and CD via Gungfly Productions. The vinyl version of the album will be available from Plane Groovy.

 

The Unbendable Sleep track listing:

 

01. Love and War, Part One: I Am Who You Are
02. Realm of You and Me
03. Rhyme and Reason
04. Will We Cry?
05. Under Northern Skies (Villemo's Song)
06. Building a Tent for Astor
07. Anna-Lee
08. Love and War, Part Two: Lucky Star

 

Rikard Sjöblom on the net:

https://www.facebook.com/rikardsjblom
http://rikardsjoblom.com/

http://www.beardfishband.com/

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: