Music News Blog

What’s happening in the world of prog and other related scenes. News about gigs, record releases, new videos and band changes.

Transylvania: The Count Demands It

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Tim Hall

Announced today by Mostly Autumn records.

Bryan Josh – the heart and guitar of Mostly Autumn andf eaturing Troy Donockley (Nightwish), Anna Phoebe, Alex Cromarty (Mostly Autumn), Olivia Sparnenn-Josh (Mostly Autumn) and Marc Atkinson amongst others, this is the first part of Bryan’s brand new project, taking us from ‘the back lane’ into the heart of Transylvania.

A beautiful vampire, her evil but enigmatic father (The Count) and various other creatures are encountered by the hapless Bryan on his journey.

Difficult to pigeonhole, the first part of the Transylvanian series is an exciting mix of superb rock music with imaginative storytelling. For sale now at Mostly Autumn Records - delivery early April

The first Josh & Co album contained the line “There’s Adolf Hitler, he’s really pissed-off because Julias Caesar won’t give him a sausage”. This one promises to be every bit as silly.

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Haken – Initiate

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Tim Hall

A new track from of of the most innovative contemporary prog-metal acts out there, a taster for their forthcoming album.

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Anne-Marie Helder releases live EP

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Tim Hall

Anne-Marie Helder has done a Beyoncé and released a new record out of the blue with no prior announcement. Called simply “Solo Live”, it’s a five track EP of live recordings of her solo material.

In the mid-2000s, between the disollution of the first incarnation of Karnataka and the start of Panic Room, Anne-Marie toured extensivly as an acoustic solo act, playing 200 gigs in one year at one point. As first Panic Room and then Luna Rossa became more established, the solo side of Anne-Marie’s music has taken less prominence, though she did support Steve Hackett in some major venues in 2013.

.As Anne-Marie explains on her Facebook page, these recordings for this EP date from 2009 when she was the tour support for Ultravox. They were made by the sound engineer at Portsmouth Guildhall, and had been thought lost. But they’ve turned up, and have been professionally mixed and mastered by Panic Room’s and Luna Rossa’s producer Tim Hamill.

The EP can be streamed or purchased as a download from Anne-Marie’s Bandcamp page.

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Government moves to protect live music venues

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Tim Hall

Some good news on the future of small grassroots music venues reported by M Magazine.

The British government is introducing new legislation giving local authorities the powers to better protect live music venues against redevelopment pressures.

The new regulations, which come into effect on 6 April 2016, mean developers are now required to seek prior approval on noise impacts before changing the use of a site from offices to residential dwellings.

Recent development right extensions, which have allowed premises to change from commercial buildings to residential ones, have put pressure on music venues by making them prone to noise complaints from residents once they move into the area.

UK Music, the Music Venue Trust and the Musicians’ Union have welcomed the government’s move.

This is probably a case where The Devil is in the details, especially given the sometimes murky relationships between property developers and local government planning departments, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

And as the full article rightly states, it’s not about preventing much-needed housing from being built, it’s about not putting property developers’ profits ahead of the pre-existing cultural life of the area.

It’s too late for The Point in Cardiff. But let’s hope it makes the future of venues like The Fleece & Firkin in Bristol a little more secure.

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Touchstone return!

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Tim Hall

Touchstone anniunce their return to the live stage with two dates in December 2016, at London’s Borderline on Saturday 17th, and Bilston Robin 2 the following night.

The latest update from the via Touchstone Facebook Page sents the message that things are heading in the right direction.

Little update from TSHQ, alls moving in the right direction, keyboards finally in place and sounds STUNNING… lead female vocals getting there and a few things to sort but again in the right direction. Great keys, bass, guitar writing session last Wednesday and the arrangement for the song we are working on is in place, next week will be worked up with the full band. The older tracks are sounding great also, with some new twists and really looking at getting all the little bits not heard before live on these new versions… Website in good shape for launch and we hope to be able to make an official announcement in the press soon. The REDHEAD has requested by pain of death that no demos slip out so max impact on launch… however the next teaser will appear on YouTube soon… TSXX

At the moment the identity of enigmatic REDHEAD remains a closely-guarded secret. Is it the new singer, or is it a reference to the sinister-looking mascot on the Touchstone Web Page?

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RIP Keith Emerson

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Tim Hall

2016 contines to be a complete and utter bastard of a year, as yet another of the giant figues of the progressive rock world passes.

Much like Chris Squire, who died last year, Keith Emerson was one of the defining figures of progressive rock. He was both a virtuoso musician and a showman, combining jaw-dropping keyboard pyrotechnics with sticking daggers into a Hammond organ. In some ways he was to the keyboards what his contemporary Jimi Hendrix was to the guitar.

As this wonderful tribute by Anne-Marie Helder, who knew him, says, he was also a wonderful human being with no trace of rock star ego.

I saw him live the once, when ELP reformed to headline the main stage at the High Voltage Festival at Victoria Park in London in 2010, which turned out to be one of their last gigs together. Even if they weren’t quite the band they had been at their peak, it was still a hugely enjoyable and entertaining show, everything a festival headliner should be.

For some of the punk generation, he represented the antithesis of everything they stood for. But surely his taking avant-garde classical music and performing it in the most rock’n'roll manner imaginable a lot closer to the spirit of punk that much of today’s derivative indie music?

Rest in Rock, Keith, and enjoy jamming up there with David Bowie and Lemmy.

(Slightly revised from yesterday’s post)

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Mostly Autumn to support Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Tim Hall

Nothing on the band’s own website yet, but according to the Genting Arena website, Mostly Autumn will be the support for Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow in June.

Mostly Autumn have supported Ritchie Blackmore in the past, when Bryan, Heather and Angela played as an acoustic trio supporting Blackmore’s Night on a UK tour. But getting this prestigious arena gig is still a major coup.

Update: Now confirmed by the band:

We are very proud to announce that Mostly Autumn, as a four piece, have been invited and confirmed, to be the support for Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow on June 25th 2016 at the Birmingham Genting Arena.

Our most sincere and heartfelt thanks go to all in the Ritchie Blackmore camp for this incredible opportunity.  As you may well know Ritchie Blackmore has been a major influence on me ever since I was a child, in fact, one of the main reasons I picked up a guitar in the first place all those years ago.

This will be very special for so many reasons.

Hope to see you there..

Bryan Josh

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Morpheus Rising on tour

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Tim Hall

York’s finest hard rockers take to the road again with an extensive tour taking in the length and breadth of Britain.

Following last year’s successful tour co-headlining with an Iron Maiden tribute act, they doing something similar this time, sharing bills with a number of different tribute bands up and down the country. One exception is the opening night, when they’re sharing the bill with the violin-driven goth-metal of Symphony of Pain.

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Mostly Autumn announce tour dates

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Tim Hall

Olivia Sparnenn

Mostly Autunn have confirmed some live dates over the spring and summer, four British and two Dutch gigs plus the already announced appearance at the Cambridge Rock Festival in August.

The dates as listed on the website are:

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High/Aflame

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Tim Hall

Psychedelic rockers Knifeworld release a promo video for the track from their forthcoming album “Bottled Out Of Eden”.

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