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.

Heather Findlay Band to tour in 2016

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Tim Hall

John Mitchell and Heather FindlayHeather Findlay has announced a tour in April 2016, to support the album “The Illusion’s Reckoning.

Because Dave Ketzner and Dave Kilminster are both unavailable due to other commitments, the tour is billed as The Heather Findlay Band rather than Mantra Vega, though they’re promising that they’ll be playing the album in full along with a few selected older favourites.

For this tour it will be a six-piece band including Angela Gordon on keys and flute, and John Mitchell on lead guitar alongside Chris Johnson and the rhythm section of Alex Cromarty and Stuart Fletcher.

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Acts announced for Ramblin Man 2016

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Tim Hall

Following an earlier announcment that included Procul Harum and Uriah Heep on the Prog stage, the Ramblin Man Fair have announced several more bands, inckuding The Fierce and the Dead, Lifesigns and The Von Hertzen Brothers.

Though the latter two have a dedicated following in prog circles, I find both of them rather overrated myself. But it will be good to see The Fierce and The Dead on a big stage.

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Mantra Vega’s “The Illusion’s Reckoning” Pre-Order

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Tim Hall

Mantra Vega The Illusions ReckoningThe long awaited album “The Illusion’s Reckoning” is finally available for pre- order from The Merch Desk. The album will ship on 25th January 2016.

As regular readers of this site ought to know, Mantra Vega is the collaboration between Heather Findlay and Dave Kerzner, also featuring Alex Cromarty, Chris Johnson, Dave Kilminster and Stuart Fletcher. The album has been two years in the making, and if the single “Island” is anything to go by, it should be well worth the wait.

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Luna Rossa – Christmastime

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Tim Hall

Luna Rossa, the acoustic duo of Anne-Marie Helder and Jon Edwards, have released a Christmas single,which also features Sarah Dean on harp. You can download from the Luna Rossa Bandcamp page.

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Reports of Rush’s death may be exaggerated

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Tim Hall

Rush may not be quite as dead as we thought. Geddy Lee is quoted in The Guardian.

But was Peart really saying what they thought he was saying? In the absence of an official clarification from Peart, it was Rush bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee who set the record straight, when he spoke to Prog magazine on 8 December. According to Lee, what Peart said was merely a confirmation of what he has said repeatedly in recent years – that he is no longer willing to tour for months on end, as Rush have done throughout their 40-year career. Simply, that Peart is “retired” from touring, but not from the band. “I think Neil is just explaining his reasons for not wanting to tour with the toll that it’s taking on his body,” Lee said, alluding to the tendonitis the drummer now suffers from.

Much like Judas Priest didn’t retire a few years back, but stopped doing gruelling world tours in favour of one-off festival appearances. Still, even though this is not the end for Rush, it is probably the beginning of the end.

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Neil Peart calls it a day

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Tim Hall

Sad but understandable news that Rush drmmmer Neil Peart is calling it a day, citing chronic tendonitis as one of the reasons. Though The Rolling Stones might still be able crank out their 12-bar blues into their 70s, it’s a different case with the far more physically demanding music of Rush. Just look at the video above.

Like many other fans, I had guessed the band were on their final lap, but had hoped for one last British tour so I could see them once more.  Sadly that isn’t to be.

But nothing can take away their legacy; a 40 year career that produced an impressive body of work (Just how good is that run of eight albums from 2112 through to Power Windows?), and they were at the top of their game live right through to the end. My first ever piece of professional music writing was about Rush.

Enjoy your retirement, Neil, and thanks for all the music.

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“Serious Structural Damage” at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Tim Hall

Bad news for London’s live music scene. One of the city’s important medium-sized venues is currently closed due to “serious structural damage”.

All gigs up to the end of the year have either been cancelled or switched to alternative venues in the capital.

There are no public details on the nature of the damage, but speculation on Twitter suggests the problem might be with the balcony. It’s clearly a serious problem if the building in its present state is too unsafe for gigs to take place.

We will probably know more in a few days, when it ought to become clearer when the venue is likely to reopen. Let’s hope the cost of the necessary repairs are not so large they threaten the future of the venue.

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Fish reschedules Dutch shows

Posted on November 29, 2015 by Tim Hall

It never rains but it pours for Fish. After having to postpone a nunber of earlier shows due to yet another throat problem, he’s now had to reschedule three Dutch Shows for April 2016 after keyboard player John Beck broke his arm.

The UK dates in December will be going ahead as scheduled with Tony Turrell, who has been part of Fish’s band in the past, stepping in as a hasty replacement.

I hope these hastily rearranged dates will not have any knock-on effects for any other bands that share musicians with Fish’s band.

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Mantra Vega announce album release and launch party

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Tim Hall

Mantra Vega & Dave Kerzner Poster

Mantra Vega announce the release date of their long-awaited album “The Illusion’s Reckoning”

After almost 2 years in the making, Monday January 25th 2016 will see the release of The Illusion’s Reckoning from transatlantic project band, Mantra Vega co-founded by Heather Findlay and Dave Kerzner  (Sound of Contact).

“The Illusion’s Reckoning album features lead vocals from Heather Findlay; keyboards and vocals from Dave Kerzner whilst at the band’s core is rhythm section Alex Cromarty on drums and bassist Stu Fletcher along with lead, rhythm and acoustic guitarists Chris Johnson (Halo Blind) and Dave Kilminster.

Joining the project for special guest appearances are Nightwish‘s Troy Donockley on vocals and lead guitar; Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon) lead guitar; Irene Jansen (Star One/Ayreon) on vocals; Angela Gordon (Mostly Autumn/Odin Dragonfly) on recorders and vocals and Dutch woodwind player, Remko de Landmeter on Bansuri.

“The Illusion’s Reckoning is a concept album flowing more like a film score than a more typically linear piece. The album’s journey is painted with far reaching audio moodscapes which in their diversity, purposely echo thoughtful lyrical themes. The album is delivered in a predominantly progressive rock package, but at times takes on a hard rock, contemporary, retro, and even acoustic, folksy twist…”

And there is to be a “Moorland Gathering” the celebrate the launch

To celebrate the release, there will be a very special pre-release party gathering at The Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge (spiritual home of many of the band’s musicians) on January Saturday 23rd January. There will only 60 tickets available which will include a meal, one off acoustic performance from Heather, Chris, Angela, Stu and Alex (and may also feature one or two very special guests!) Slightly ahead of the scheduled release date, this event will be a chance to buy and hear the album for the first time!

Making this event all the more special is the fact that this will be a one off for the now retired, legendary moorland venue too!

Tickets for the event will be just £20 and will go on sale on Monday 30th November at 9am from www.mantravega.co.uk

Depending on number wishing to travel via this option, there may be a coach/bus which will run from York across the North Yorkshire Moors and back for those wishing to travel from the nearest city.

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Secrets and Lies

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Tim Hall

Luna Rossa have released a video of the title track of “Secrets and Lies” ahead of their mini-tour in December.

The band will be played The Gate in Cardiff on Friday December 4th, The Chattery in Swansea on Saturday December 5th, and The Robin 2 in Bilston the following weekend on Sunday 13th.

The band will again be a four-piece lineup with the core duo of Anne-Marie Helder and Jon Edwards joined by Sarah Dean on Celtic harp and Andy Coughlan on double bass.

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