Book Review – John Wetton An Extraordinary Life
It is hard to think of many musicians who were as important in the world of progressive rock than John Wetton, and many of the other candidates for that title he had played alongside. Family, friends and fans worldwide were shocked by his death in January 2017, even though his health issues had been widely…
Roots in June
Congress – John Ward Is it a CD? Is it a book? Is it a live show? Is it a BBC Radio Series? Yes to all! I deferred this review so that it took pride of place at the top of the pile. Inspired by visiting museum and grave of William F Cody, and learning…
Yes Release Circles Of Time Video
Yes has released another video for Circles Of Time taken from the just released album, Mirror To The Sky. The current band is comprised Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood & Jay Schellen, have released their new studio album Mirror To The Sky on InsideOutMusic/Sony Music this week. “This is a very important…
Asia – Vinyl Release for Phoenix
Asia, the progressive-pop supergroup, has announced the release of Phoenix for the first time as a 2 vinyl LP set on 26th May 2023. Phoenix was originally released in 2008 and was their first studio album with the original line-up in a quarter century. In terms of sound this emotional, compelling comeback album sees Asia…
YES Announce UK Dates For The CLASSIC TALES OF YES Tour 2024
Progressive stalwarts Yes has announced UK dates for the Classic Tales of YES Tour 2024. The nine UK dates includes a visit to London’s Royal Albert Hall and the Bristol Beacon together with seven dates rescheduled from the 2023 UK tour, for which all tickets remain valid. Yes is delighted to include the Royal Albert…
Roots in May
Amy Thatcher & Fransesca Knowles – Emergency of the Female Kind Amy Thatcher is a professional folk accordionist based in the North East of England who has worked with Kathryn Tickell, Sting, The Royal Northern Sinfonia and Monster Ceilidh Band. Francesca Knowles performs and records primarily on drum kit, with additional skills and experience on…
CD Review – Yes – Mirror To The Sky
It must be something of a quandary for an established band or artiste of some standing, steeped in a rich and varied history, and from any given style, to know how to pitch a new album. The options would appear to be limitless, from plain indifference to a possibly not much more cheerful “here we…
CD Review – Yes – Mirror to the Sky
“This is a very important album for the band,” said Steve Howe back in March. Yes’ longest serving member was producer of the album this time round “We kept the continuity in the approach we established on The Quest, but we haven’t repeated ourselves. That was the main thing. As Yes did in the seventies…
Jethro Tull Release Hammer On Hammer Video
A third video, Hammer on Hammer, has been released from Jethro Tull’s new album RökFlöte out on 21st April. The track takes inspiration from the god Thor, a loyal and honourable warrior who wears a powerful symbolic belt and wields a hammer. His mortal enemy and nemesis was Jormungand the sea-serpent. VIDEO LINK to Hammer…
Steve Hackett’s 1990’s solo albums Guitar Noir and Darktown to be released on vinyl for the very first time
Legendary progessive guitarist Steve Hackett has announced that two of his 1990’s solo records will be released on vinyl for the first time ever in 2023, marking the beginning of a series of vinyl reissues of his solo catalogue. On the 2nd June 2023, the 1993 album Guitar Noir and the 1999 album Darktown will…
CD Review – Jethro Tull – RökFlöte
The band Jethro Tull has always seen musicians come and go, like so many of its contemporaries have. There have been great upheavals in the past, notably when the band switched from being somewhat of a Blues band to something more progressive around 1969-1970, and moved through time seemingly alternating between progressive and folk rock.…
Roots in April
Dan Walsh – O’Neill’s Tunes “This is basically the album I’ve been wanting to make my whole career! It’s these wonderful tunes that inspired me to play banjo in the first place played clawhammer style with guitar accompaniment. It’s simple but I’m so happy with it and I can’t wait for you to hear it! “…
Yes Postpone Relayer Tour
It is said that with enormous regret that, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the band’s control, Yes have taken the decision to postpone their 2023 Relayer European and UK tour. This is disappointing for the band as well as fans. It is the third time that this tour has been postponed The band and their…
Yes Confirm New Album And Single Release
Yes has announced a new studio album, Mirror To The Sky, to be released on InsideOutMusic/Sony Music on the 19th May 2023. “This is a very important album for the band,” says Steve Howe, Yes’ longest serving member, master guitarist, and producer of Mirror To The Sky. “We kept the continuity in the approach we…
John Wetton An Extraordinary Life
John Wetton An Extraordinary Life is now available for preorder in two editions of this very special and much anticipated book created with John’s family and management. For a limited period, people can choose to be a part of it by adding a name to the Roll of Honour of supporters printed in the back.…
Jethro Tull Release A Second Single from The ForthComing Album
Jethro Tull continue the build up to the release of the new album RökFlöte, on the 21st April 2023, by releasing a single called The Navigator. Appearing as a special single edit version, mixed by Bruce Soord, who many will know from The Pineapple Thief, you can watch the video (created by Christian Rios) here:…
Roots in March
Tapestri – Tell Me World Tapestri is a Welsh Folk/Americana band fronted by Lowri Evans and Sarah Zyborska and this is their debut. Both played the the Welsh Pavilion stage at the 2019 Festival Interceltique de Lorient (Lorient Celtic Festival) in France, met and decided to form a female fronted band showcasing their own brand of folk, roots…
Focus Belated 50th Anniversary Tour
Due to the restrictions placed on musicians, amongst others, due to the Covid pandemic, Focus found that it had to abandon plans for a celebratory tour of it’s 50th Anniversary. In 2019 Focus released their first studio album for 6 years, Focus 11, which came complete with brand new Roger Dean artwork. The year was…
I am thrilled to become the new drummer with YES says Jay.Schellen
Yes has confirmed that drummer Jay Schellen has joined the band as a permanent member. Following the sad passing of iconic drummer, Alan White on 26th May 2022, Jay will fulfil Alan’s wishes in taking up the drum duties with the band. Jay was Alan’s choice to stand in for him during the Topographic Drama tour,…
Roots in February
The Trials of Cato – Gog & Magog Originally formed in Beirut, the band focused on the UK from 2016 onwards, performing tirelessly up and down the country (I remember watching them in York’s Parliament Square and was, even then, blown away. Their debut album, Hide and Hair, gained attention in national publications and won Best Album at…
John Wetton – An Extraordinary Life
The launch of the official book about the legendary singer and bassist John Wetton at http://www.johnwettonbook.com has been announced. The sign-up is now open for people to be a part of this much anticipated book created with John’s family and management. Some seventy-plus people who knew and worked with John, from his school days through…
Jethro Tull Announce New Album – RökFlöte
Having left nearly twenty years between last year’s album The Zealot Gene and its predecessor, The Jethro Tull Christmas album in 2003, Jethro Tull has announced the release of a new album RökFlöte on 21st April 2023. The record is based on the characters and roles of some of the principle gods of the old…
Album Review – Asia- Fantasia, Live in Tokyo 3lp
You know you’re getting old when you realise that there may be some people reading this review who weren’t around when Asia first burst onto the scene. They weren’t listening to music when the astonishingly fresh and vibrant sounds of the barnstorming debut album by this supergroup first came out. And for those of us…
Asia – FANTASIA – LIVE IN TOKYO 2007 3 LP Set
Pop-prog supergroup Asia has announced the release, for the first time ever on vinyl, of Asia Fantasia, Live in Tokyo 2007 as a 3LP set. Recorded on Asia’s 25th anniversary 2007 world tour, and featuring the reformed original line-up, Fantasia Live is to be issued on vinyl as a 3LP set with booklet, including band…
Roots in January
Luke Daniels & The Cobhers – Luke Daniels & The Cobhers Started in 2019 by Luke Daniels (melodeon, guitar & vocals) he’s joined by Matt Tighe (fiddle), Scott Turnbull (guitar), Michael Biggins (piano) and Elanoe Dunsdon (clasarch). The album is produced by Paul Savage (Mogwai, Paulo Nutini). He’s got an interesting track record – Riverdance…
Roots in December
Bonfire Radicals – The Space Between Bonfire Radicals is a zesty 6-piece folk/world band that embraces original and traditional material: Katie Stevens – Clarinet/Kaval/Vocals; Michelle Holloway – Recorders/Flute/ Vocals; Sarah Farmer – 5 string Viola/Vocals; Pete Churchill – Bass/ Vocals; Emma Reading – Guitar; and Ilias Lintzos – Drums. They tout themselves as playing “(un)tradtional folk” The fiery fiddle tune opener…
Focus – Yardbirds Rock Club Grimsby 27 Nov 2022
Focus was the most successful and appreciated of all Dutch music exports back in the 70s. Fronted by founding member Thijs Van Leer, and best known for their hits “Hocus Pocus” and “Sylvia”, I remember buying ‘Moving Waves’ on cassette and seeing schoolmates looking cool with the LP ‘Hamburger Concerto’ under their arms. After a…
News of a Jethro Tull album
Prog rock veterans Jethro Tull reports that it has completed work on the recording of their twenty-third studio album, following swift on the heels of their critically-acclaimed return earlier this year with ‘The Zealot Gene’, their first album in two decades. Ian Anderson checks in with the below: “We have been putting the finishing touches…
1st of December : The Spirit @ Christmas The Dame + Ghost of the Machine + The Far Meadow
It’s only a few weeks to go now until we play host to NL based The Dame, and what a treat we’ve got got you all. It’s at Corporation, Milton Street, Sheffield , S1 4JU Returning to support them are Ghost of the Machine and as an amazing extra bonus we’ve got The Far Meadow.…
Keith Emerson Biography
A book celebrating Keith Emerson is being released on what would have been his seventy-eigth birthday, 2nd November. It is lavishly illustrated, and features family, friends, colleagues and fans talking about the Keith’s life, work and legacy. There are two deluxe editions – the Classic, and the Signature which is signed by author Chris Welch…
CD Review – My Soliloquy- Fusion
“There has seldom been a more pressing question than the mystery of our own divinity. It has consistently presented humankind with its BIG question, and, in equal measure, big conflict. Both personally and collectively, our species has tried to reach an answer we can all agree on. Are we foundation’d in the eternal? Are we…
Roots in November
Eddi Reader – Light is in the Horizon This is a new album of previously unreleased recordings left behind from the sessions of her “Vagabond” and “Cavalier” albums, featuring many of Eddi’s longtime collaborators (Boo Hewerdine, John Douglas, Alan Kelly, Roy Dodds) and featuring numerous talented musicians. What sets Eddi apart is the depth and…
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Spirit of Progressive Rock 