Category: General News

Godsticks release new video for ‘Angry Concern’ / UK shows announced

Following the release of Welsh rockers Godsticks’ new studio album –  Faced With Rage the band have released a video for the song “Angry Concern”.

The clip was filmed during the recording sessions for Faced With Rage at the world-renowned Monnow Valley Studio in Wales. Darran Charles, Godsticks vocalist, guitarist and main writer talks in depth about the track and their time at Monnow: “‘Angry Concern’ is probably one of our most experimental sounding tracks to date and testament to how integral each band member’s contribution is these days. Dan and Tom’s bass and drums are key to keeping an aggressive edge to what is a deceptively vocal-heavy track. I remember that this was one of the first tracks we recorded drums for at Monnow Valley and unusually for us, we ended up tracking drums for the entire song rather than section by section. This ensured a certain dynamism to the performance and I remember that after Tom’s very first take of this track we were all stunned into silence, including James our producer – it blew us away! One of my very favourite drum performances since the band first got together.”

Godsticks, having recently toured with The Pineapple Thief and appeared at Planet Rockstock festival, have also confirmed they will playing two headline shows in the UK in May – their hometown of Cardiff and in London.

A rather excited Darran Charles comments on taking that step to headlining: “After spending the best part of a decade as an opening act you can imagine we have been chomping at the bit to finally do our own headline shows. We’ve more than paid our dues I think, and with 4 albums behind us it’s time to stand on our own 8 feet! We’ll be performing tracks that we’ve never played live before and rehearsing harder than ever to ensure these are the best two Godsticks shows you’ve seen to date. We genuinely cannot wait!!”

4th May – Cardiff – Buffalo Bar

5th May – London – Camden Assembly

Ticket details: https://www.godsticks.co.uk/gigs

 

Sills & Smith Release Video For ‘Maps’, From Forthcoming New Album ‘Maps – Burned Or Lost’

Here’s the music video for Maps from the upcoming Sills & Smith studio album ‘Maps – Burned or Lost’ that has just been released on YouTube. The beautiful video was created by California painter Peter Gullerud. Featuring the talents of Jeremy Sills, Phillip Victor Bova, T Bruce Wittet, Don Wallace, Jim McDowell, Marianne Dumas, Brian Tansley and Frank Smith. ‘Maps – Burned or Lost’ will be released world-wide in January 2018 on iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp, CD Baby and in select box stores!

YES Announce Official 50th Anniversary Celebrations Including UK Fan Convention Day, 25th March 2018, #YES50

Fifty years since the formation of Prog giants, YES, is something worth celebrating and YES intend to celebrate with their fans. They have announced a weekend of events to coincide with their two London shows on 24th & 25th March, the final dates of their 2018 UK tour.

 

On Sunday, 25th March, the London Palladium will host the YES FAN CONVENTION, an afternoon devoted to all things YES, attended by both current members of the band and YES alumni. This unique event is sponsored by Prog Magazine and will feature:-

 

The official launch and world-wide exclusive availability of the Drama line-up version of Fly From Here, new lead vocals throughout by Trevor Horn, and remix by Trevor, including an unreleased track. (limited numbers available for purchase)
Roger Dean artwork on display and for sale. Trading Boundaries (Prog Rock venue) will host Roger’s stand at which a new piece of artwork for Close to the Edge will be revealed for the first time
Q & A with various guests & Roger Dean
Exclusive free YES FAN DAY souvenir programme (limited numbers available)
Raffle of YES collectables (monies will go to the chosen charities)
Prog editor, Jerry Ewing. will discuss Prog Magazine and future book release
YES Memorabilia display in the foyer (Curated by David Watkinson)
YES tribute bands: SeYeS and Fragile (with Clair Hamill) will perform classic YES songs

 

More announcements will follow. Tickets for the Fan Convention are £30 (plus booking fee). Free entry for those who have bought Meet & Greet packages for Saturday or Sunday shows.

 

All profits from the YES Fan Convention will be donated to 2 charities: The Christie Hospital in Manchester, who looked after the much-loved YES fan Malcolm Birkett, prior to his passing in 2015 (www.christie.nhs.uk/the-christie-charity) and Kangaroos, whose aims are to enhance the lives of special needs and disabled children (www.kangaroos.org.uk)

 

For full details and to book please go to: yesworld.com or http://bit.ly/2AqIU8x

 

YES concert Tickets for the Palladium and all UK shows are available via the ticket links at http://yesworld.com/ 24hr Ticket Hotline 0844 249 2222 (subject to fees). Also available from venue box offices and select authorised ticket agencies.  Front row, Meet & Greet & VIP packages are also available from YESWORLD.com There is no support.   Please see ticket for start time.

 

Full UK Tour details are:-

 

MARCH 2018 (UK & Europe)

 

Tues 13th        Bristol           Colston Hall
Weds 14th        Sheffield       City Hall
Fri 16th        Glasgow       SEC Armadillo
Sat 17th        Manchester   Bridgewater Hall
Sun 18th        Gateshead    Sage
Tues 20th        Birmingham  Symphony Hall
Weds 21st        Brighton       Centre
Fri 23rd        Liverpool       Philharmonic Hall
Sat 24th        London       Palladium
Sun 25th        London       Palladium

The Franck Carducci Band (Featuring Steve Hackett) Release Video For ‘Closer to Irreversible’ – by Progradar

Today sees the official release of the latest video from The Franck Carducci Band.

You can see the full video for the brilliant ‘Closer to Irreversible’ here:

Franck had this to say about the song and the video:

“I co-wrote ‘closer’ with my friends Francesca Laneri and Toff ‘crazy-monk’ a few years ago when I was living in Amsterdam. I recorded the song for my second album ‘Torn Apart’ [2015] and was thrilled when Steve Hackett offered me to play the final guitar solo,  especially because of its psychedelic bluesy feel which is a bit unusual for him. But I totally love the final result!

I wanted to make a music video for it after that, but never got the opportunity until I met the team of La Koloc Production in my hometown of Lyon, France. They’re a gang of youngsters all passionate about video making, and they brought a really fresh touch to the song. The video contains a fictional part and a live part with the band performing on a TV and a smartphone screen. When looking for someone to play the main female character in the fiction, it was pretty obvious it had to be our own backing-vocalist, and tiny dancer: Mary Reynaud I have to say, I was totally impressed by her performance”

 

Prog ‘Supergroup’ Shits n’ Giggles release Christmas Charity EP ‘Wake Up’

It’s that time of the year where Christmas Songs come flying at you from left, right and centre. Prog Rock collective Shits n’ Giggles have announced the release of their charity Christmas E.P. ‘Wake Up’ which will be online for purchase this evening.

Here’s the press release:

“With Christmas fast approaching, a bunch of us have teamed up to concoct a festive song entitled ‘Wake Up’ which was released as part of an EP on December 1st. Wake Up features Colin Tench (Corvus Stone), Gareth Cole (Mike Kershaw, Tom Slatter), Ben Bell (Patchwork Cacophony, Gandalf’s Fist), Stefan Hepe (Gandalf’s Fist), Peter Falconer, Pat Sanders and Manu Michael (Drifting Sun). The song was mixed and mastered by Jon Huxtable at Smallfish Studios, Scotland. Also included in the EP are 7 songs previously recorded by the musicians who contributed to the making of ‘Wake Up’.

All the profits from the sales will go to TIERHILFE SAUERLAND E. V. Barbara Hellekes, CEO of the animal welfare organisation said “We’re over the moon about this! Winter is coming, and it’s really hard to get the poor souls through the winter, especially in Hungary and Greece, where we support and help privately organised shelters in keeping the streets free of stray dogs, trying to find them a forever home”

We, Shits ‘n Giggles, take this opportunity to thank everyone who has taken up their valuable time to bring their contribution to this EP to help make this release possible, and we hope that the charity organization we have chosen will benefit greatly from the generosity of the people who donate to their cause, cheers everyone and Merry Christmas to all!”

The EP is available to purchase from:

Purchase the ‘Wake Up’ Charity EP here

 

 

Death, Politics & American Standards- Phoenix metalcore band comes together to release an album about falling apart

Sometimes strong emotions can make you lose focus. That’s not the case for Phoenix, AZ based four-piece American Standards. After losing their founding guitarist to suicide, then shortly after the vocalist Brandon Kellum’s father to cancer, the chaotic hardcore band founded in 2011 released their most emotionally and socially poignant album to date.

“ANTI-MELODY” released on April 28th, 2017 displays the political noise-punk outfits ability to navigate the troubled waters of depression and loss while still incorporating the social commentary that the band has become known for. More so, once signed to an imprint of Victory Records, the band took a new approach of self mixing, producing and independently releasing the album after recording at Kingsize Soundlabs (Mars Volta, Letlive, Bad Religion). The result is a raw and powerfully resonate glimpse into the group’s minds during the troubled times.

Now more focused then ever, American Standards has hit the road playing over 300 DIY booked shows to date, sharing the stage with bands such as; Every Time I Die, Norma Jean, Zao, Comeback Kid, Stick To Your Guns, Stray From The Path, Knocked Loose, He Is Legend, Emery and Atreyu.

‘ANTI-MELODY’ which had premiers on Revolver Magazine, Alternative Press and Lambgoat; is available now on iTunes, Google Music, Amazon and Spotify or you can pick it up along with exclusive merchandise through the American Standards Bandcamp page.

BANDCAMP:

http://AmericanStndrds.bandcamp.com

FACEBOOK:

http://www.facebook.com/AmericanStandards

 

KSCOPE TO RELEASE THE 2001 FOURTH ALBUM – RETURNING JESUS – FROM NO-MAN – THE STEVEN WILSON & TIM BOWNESS DUO ON 2CD & 2LP FOR THE FIRST TIME

Originally released on the 3rd Stone label in February 2001, Returning Jesus is a collection of ambitious songs which combine Singer-Songwriter, Chamber Jazz, Progressive and Ambient influences with the band’s unique widescreen production and seductively melancholy compositions. Released two months following Steven Wilson‘s 2017 solo album To The Bone, which reached #3 in the UK charts, #2 in DE, #1 in FI, #4 in NL and CH, #7 in AT, #12 in BE, #14 in IT and #15 in NO, and following Tim Bowness‘ 2017 album Lost in the Ghost Light, which reached #5 in the UK Rock charts and #8 in the UK Progressive charts.

Returning Jesus received positive reviews in Q, Uncut, Billboard, Classic Rock and other publications at the time of its release and has continued to be seen by both critics and fans as one of the best albums by the duo of Tim Bowness and Steven Wilson.

Guest musicians include Steve Jansen (Japan/Rain Tree Crow) on drums, Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree) on bass and double bass, Theo Travis (Soft Machine) on saxophone and flute, and Ian Dixon on trumpet. The late trumpeter Ian Carr (Nucleus), David Kosten (Faultline, Bat For Lashes) and Ben Christophers contribute to the evocative opening piece “Only Rain”.

The double CD edition features a 2017 remaster from Steven Wilson and sleeve notes by Tim Bowness – and contains the original album, plus a bonus disc of b-sides, demos and alternate versions; plus additional artwork and photographs from regular No-Man collaborator Carl Glover. With the double 180g heavyweight audiophile double vinyl edition also featuring a 2017 remaster by Steven Wilson, packaged in a gatefold sleeve with additional artwork and photographs from Carl Glover.

(Picture of Tim and Steven also by Carl Glover.)

Listen to “Outside The Machine” here: 

NO-MAN – RETURNING JESUS – TRACKLIST DETAILS (2CD VERSION )
DISC 1
1 Only Rain
2 No Defence
3 Close Your Eyes
4 Carolina Skeletons
5 Outside The Machine
6 Returning Jesus
7 Slow It All Down
8 Lighthouse
9 All That You Are
DISC 2
1 Something Falls
2 Close Your Eyes (EP Version)
3 Carolina Reprise
4 Until Tomorrow (Hifi)
5 Chelsea Cap
6 Darkroom
7 Until Tomorrow (Lofi)
8 Song About The Heart
9 Lighthouse (First Demo)
10 Darkroom (alternate version)
11 Like A Child
12 Chelsea Cap (alternate version)
13 Lighthouse (second demo)
14 Slow It All Down (long version)
15 All That You Are (demo)

Returning Jesus is released on 3rd November and available to order here: http://burningshed.com/store/noman

 

Beatrix Players – Prog Awards Winners 2017 Release New Single with Fertility Network UK

London-based all-female trio Beatrix Players have been announced as winners of the Prog Magazine Limelight Award for 2017 at the ceremony last week. The band are celebrating the win with the release of their new, double A side single All That Thinking / Hurt; with All That Thinking being released in support of Fertility Network UK to help raise awareness of National Fertility Awareness Week which takes place on 30th October – 5th November. This year they are celebrating 40 years since the first successful IVF treatment.

This is a campaign that especially resonates with Beatrix Players’ vocalist Amy Birks: “I was told today that 1 in 6 couples experience difficulties with fertility. A fact that took me right back to the NHS waiting room, a very beige room filled with pensive faces; couples and individuals of all ages from all walks of life and all with one thing in common, fertility difficulties”

 
All That Thinking begins with these lines
 
‘Sometimes I’m scared, at the end of another wait. All that thinking for nothing because nothing ever came, and I don’t mind if it’s you but I’ll weep if it’s me…’
 
and those sentiments clearly resonated with the charity –
 

 ‘Fertility Network UK are very much looking forward to working with Beatrix Players during this year’s National Fertility Awareness Week. Their single, All That Thinking is incredibly emotive and is something we believe will connect with anyone who is struggling, or has, struggled to have a family.’  Susan Seenan, CEO, Fertility Network UK  

THRESHOLD – RICHARD WEST DISCUSSES HAVING GLYNN MORGAN BACK ON VOCALS + THE CAMEO OF FOUNDER MEMBER JON JEARY

UK progressive metal quintet THRESHOLD are set to release their colossal double concept album Legends Of The Shires on September 8th via Nuclear Blast. In anticipation of the new release, the band have started rolling out trailers discussing various aspects of the album. In today’s trailer, keyboard player Richard West discusses Glynn Morgan returning to take on vocal duties for the first time since 1994’s Psychedelicatessen album, as well as the cameo appearance by founder member Jon Jeary:

Watch the stunning official video for ‘Small Dark Lines’,

Speaking about the track and video, Karl Groom commented: “The people at Sitcom Soldiers have created just the right atmosphere in our new video clip and it was an enjoyable experience to film for the band. We managed to find some excellent extras and tortured them with freezing showers in the clip, with some travelling as far as Sweden for the pleasure! It is great to have Glynn back in the band with Small Dark Lines showcasing all his power and versatility. This single should give people another glimpse into the double album Legends of the Shires and an idea of what is to come on release day 8 September 2017.”

Legends Of The Shires is available to pre-order on a variety of formats:

Limited Edition Gatefold Double NB Anniversary Green Vinyl inc signed insert from the Nuclear Blast UK store: http://bit.ly/ThresholdShop
Limited Edition Digipack CD and Limited Edition Gatefold Double Vinyl inc signed insert from Recordstore.co.uk: http://bit.ly/RSThreshold

One of THRESHOLD’s founder members Jon Jeary, who last performed with the band in 2002 also appears on the new album. Jon can be heard performing vocals on ‘The Shire (Part 3)’.

Speaking about his cameo, Jon commented: “I always look forward to hearing a new Threshold album and this time I’m doubly excited because Glynn will be singing and also, I am proud to say, there will be a small cameo vocal performance from me on ‘The Shire (part 3)’. It’s great to be able to appreciate what Threshold do now as one of their faithful army of fans and a privilege to make a small contribution.”

Jon Jeary was the band’s bassist and also performed backing vocals on songs such as ‘Eat The Unicorn’. He co-wrote a number of the band’s early classics, including ‘Sanity’s End’, ‘Into the Light’ and ‘The Ravages Of Time’. Jon previously appeared on the THRESHOLD albums Wounded Land (1993) to Critical Mass (2002).

Catch the band on December 10th at O2 Academy Islington. Tickets here: http://www.songkick.com/concerts/28850284-threshold-at-o2-academy-islington

They will also be making an appearance at HRH Prog in Wales on Nov 17th. Buy tickets: https://www.hrhprog.com/tickets.html

Electric Guitar Soundscapes – Anna Coogan Heads To The UK

US singer-songwriter and former fisheries biologist, Anna Coogan is excited to announce her return to the UK on tour following the release of new record The Lonely Cry of Space & Time, including a show at London’s Sound Lounge on Thursday 19th October.

Take a listen to single Burn For You taken from the recent album:

The album, a virtual two-person effort which features Willie B (Brian Wilson) on drums and Moog bass, combines Coogan’s three-octave soprano vocals, electric guitar soundscapes and pointed social commentary into a fierce cohesive piece which combines the personal and the political, in a musical hybrid of rock, country, pop and classical opera into a unique whole. Her new direction was born from her series of performances in her adopted hometown of Ithaca, NY, in which Anna and Willie B created live musical accompaniments for vintage silent films.

A true independent, Anna releases her own albums and books her own tours, which have taken her all over the world, including international festivals like the Blue Ball in Lucerne, Switzerland, Maverick in Suffolk, UK, as well as the Glasgow Americana Festival and Celtic Connections in Scotland. She has also played extensively in Germany and the Netherlands, and toured as a member of the Johnny Dowd Band.

ANNA COOGAN UK TOUR DATES
Wednesday 18th October – Loves Cafe, Weston-Super-Mare
Thursday 19th October – The Sound Lounge, London
Friday 20th October – Edgemoor Hotel, Bovey Tracey
Saturday 21st October – The Band Room, Farndale
Sunday 22nd October Tape – Community Arts Center, Colwyn Bay