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.

Stolen Earth – Searchlight

The band have been teasing us with stills from this for months. Now Stolen Earth have unleashed the full video of the song “Searchlight”, which will be on their as yet untitled second album due for release in the Autumn.

It’s a very different Stolen Earth from the band that recorded 2012′s “A Far Cry From Home“, indeed only singer Heidi Widdop and drummer Barry Cassells remain from that incarnation. The track features Riversea’s Brendan Eyre guesting on keys while the band seek a permanent replacement for the recently departed John Sykes.

I like this song a lot; give it a listen and see what you think!

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Mostly Autumn Changes

Mostly Autumn at The Komedia in Bath, September 2012

Announcement from Bryan Josh of Mostly Autumn.

As you will have noticed if you came to any of the gigs, there was a different drummer – in order for Mostly Autumn to progress and move forward freely I have had to take the decision to choose the line-up on a tour by tour basis, as members sometimes, quite rightly, have their own commitments. For the rest of the year, barring 3 concerts, Alex Cromerty from the Heather Findlay Band, will be drumming with us in place of Gavin. Hannah Hird (most recently seen harmonising with Ellie Golding on her recent tour) will be fulfilling the rest of the year on harmony vocals and keys in place of Anne-Marie.

We sincerely wish Anne- Marie and Gavin the best of luck with anything they do and look forward to embracing the many talents of Hannah and Alex. The rest of the band will be as normal.

After many years of a constantly changing band Mostly Autumn had finally had achieved some stability by keeping a lineup together for three years, and this has been reflected in some increasingly powerful live performances. So it’s sad to see the 2010-2013 incarnation of the band coming to an end.

Anne-Marie’s stage presence and flute playing will be greatly missed from Mostly Autumn’s live shows, and the apparent dropping of the flute from the band’s sound severs the last ties with the celtic-folk sound of their early albums. Admittedly there has been very little flute on recent albums, but I can’t imagine older songs like “The Last Climb” appearing in the set for the rest of this year at least.

As for Anne-Marie, her own music must come first, and this year might see a lot more opportunities both for Panic Room and her solo work. It was amazing hearing her voice fill the mighty Hammersmith Apollo on Friday night opening for Steve Hackett. Her solo acoustic appearances have been few and far between over the past few years given her commitments with both Mostly Autumn and Panic Room, and I’m hoping we see a few more of these this year.

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Free Single from When Empires Fall.

Announcement from When Empires Fall, the new band from York featuring former Breathing Space and Stolen Earth bassist Paul Teasdale.

Hi all, hope you are loving the weather and had a good holiday weekend!

We have great news from the ‘When Empires Fall’ camp – our first “single”, Call To The Night’s Watch, is to be released on Thursday evening!

To receive your FREE copy of the track, simply send a blank email to when.empiresfall@yahoo.co.uk – You will be then receive your own copy of the single (in high quality MP3 format) and a free HD backdrop wallpaper, on Thursday evening

A free single for the price of getting on their mailing list? Sounds good to me.

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Shadow of the Sun – I’m Coming Home

Welsh rockers Shadow of the Sun, the band formed by Dylan Thompson, formerly of The Reasoning, have released their first video, featuring the song “I’m Coming Home” from their debut album “Monument”.

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Stolen Earth seek new keyboard player

Announced today on the Stolen Earth Facebook Page.

So, all is good in the Stolen Earth camp, writing for the second album is really chugging along :) , our demo and video are almost ready and we are all buzzing, however, due to the fact nothing in the music world is straightforward and it’s hard to juggle family and work commitments along with band stuff, an opening has developed and we will be holding auditions for a keyboard person over the next few weeks! This is an exciting opportunity for the right person as your input on the forthcoming album will be vital!

If you’re able to gig with a band based in York, and have what it takes to be the keyboard player for this superb atmospheric rock band, this might just be the gig for you!

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Gibbo leaves Morpheus Rising

Morpheus Rising at the Cambridge Rock Festival

Announcement today from Morpheus Rising.

Sadly, we have to announce that Gibbo and Morpheus Rising have agreed to part company and he will no longer be part of MR..

Gibbo has been with us from the start, and his drumming has been an intrinsic part of Morpheus Rising from the very beginning, both live and recorded. Behind the scenes, Gibbo has contributed a huge amount of time and hard work to the band and we are sorry to see him go. We will miss him and wish him all the best in the future.

We will be joined for the summer tour dates by Henry Rogers, who many will know as sticksman with DeeExpus, Touchstone and Nerve Toy Trio. We’re very grateful to Henry for stepping in to fill the vacancy, and look forward to rehearsals for the tour with Panic Room.

It’s always sad when a founder member leaves a band. I’ve had the priviledge of meeting Gibbo many times, and he’s a great bloke, and isn’t nearly as scary as he looks! As for Henry Rogers, having seen him with Touchstone and DeeExpus, Morpheus Rising’s drumming will be in safe hands.

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Mostly Autumn hit the road for Spring 2013

Mostly Autumn at The Komedia in Bath, September 2012

It’s come round quickly. Mostly Autumn are back on the road again, with four gigs over the bank holiday weekend. They kick off on Thursday 2nd at The Komedia in Bath, followed by Friday 3rd at The Robin 2 in Bilston, Saturday 4th at The Citadel in St.Helens, and finally on Sunday 5th they play The Brook in Southampton.

The band return with further dates in June, and there are more to be announced. At the moment it’s not confirmed what the lineup of the band will be since a couple of those clash with Panic Room’s shows. But it’s my understanding that Anne-Marie Helder (above) will definitely be part of the band for the four shows in early May.

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Howard Sinclair joins Also Eden

Howard Sinclair at The Railway in Winchester

Also Eden annouce announce their new keyboard player, replacing Ian Hodson who left the band in April.

Finding a replacement for Ian was never going to be easy but that, in itself, gave rise to some radical thoughts about the future shape of the band, involving pedals, guitar synths and more. This forward-looking approach has resulted in the arrival on board of Howard “H” Sinclair.

Howard is well known as a solo artist, having supported Panic Room and others and being particularly prolific on the Bristol scene. He’s opened up for Also Eden before now, also appearing on the same bill as vocalist Rich Harding and guitarist Si Rogers, in their acoustic guise of Neo Deals, including at the Assorted Acoustic Afternoon in December 2010, when Rich was still in a wheelchair following his horrific motorcycle accident. Concidentally, a year earlier Howard had been playing keyboards in another band for whom Rich auditioned before joining Also Eden.

The new line-up’s first two gigs will be with F2 labelmates Manning, at The Robin 2, Bilston on Sunday, June 9th and The Met, Bury on Saturday, July 6th. Neo Deals are opening up for Red Jasper and Crimson Sky at The Fleece, Bristol on June 27th.

I didn’t see that one coming. It will be very interesting to see what Howard brings to Also Eden in the coming months and years.

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Claire Malin leaves IOEarth

IOEarth

Announcement from via IOEarth:

Due to personal and health reasons Claire Malin is no longer a vocalist for IOEarth, as she is unable to commit to IOEarth to the level the band needs. Together we came to a mutual decision that we have to part our ways so she can focus more on her personal life. IOEarth wishes Claire and her family all the best for the future. x

“I would like to thank the entire IOEarth family and all our wonderful fans for the best time ever. My time with the band is full of great memories that I will never forget…but it is time for me to focus on my health, my children and my wonderful husband Steph who has been my rock. I wish IOEarth all the best for the future and hope that they get to where they deserve to be. Love to you all, Claire x”

Sad news, although given the number of gigs Claire has had to miss of late for health reasons, it’s understandable and not entirely unexpected.

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Mostly Autumn with Chantel McGregor in October

Chantel McGregor at The Bullingdon Club Oxford

Chantel McGregor (above) will be supporting Mostly Autumn as a very special guest in October. So far two dates, at Holmfirth Picturedrome on the 4th, and Islington O2 Academy on the 5th have been announced by the venues, but I’m given to understand there are more dates in the pipeline.

I’ve always thought Mostly Autumn and Chantel McGregor would make a great double bill, two contrasting acts, but with enough in common to appeal to each other’s audiences. It’s not the first time Mostly Autumn have shared a bill with a blues-rock act, American band P.A.U.L supported them for a couple of dates in the West of England back in 2010.

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