“Not enough gigs” depends on where you live and how far you’re able to travel.

I do think a lot of bands, especially prog-friendly ones don’t play live enough, and when they do, it’s always the same circuit of the same half-dozen venues. Seems to me that there’s a hard core of prog fans who will travel considerable distances, and a much larger crowd who won’t travel more than 15-20 miles. So unless a band plays their town they’ll never see them. At most venues it’s always the same faces you see every time.

Guess it’s down to economics; when bands venture off the usual Bilston/Southampton/London/Manchester circuit they often struggle to attract enough people to make it worthwhile. I’ve been to too many woefully poorly attended gigs over the years; people can’t complain that bands never play their town if they don’t support the bands when they do. And the same people will probably turn out to see tribute bands… But that’s another rant.

Good that the likes of Mostly Autumn and Fish do travel to more out-of-the-way places; but they’ve been around a long time and put in the hard work to build up their fanbases.

speaking of which, will you be at CRF?