Archives for the year 2007
December 29, 2007
Arvania at Bar Le Cactus!
Get ready for a rockin' evening of prog metal in Rimouski at the Cactus Showbar (45 St-Germain Street East, Rimouski) on Friday, January 18 2008 with Arvania, accompanied by Tenebrae Symphonia and Deamonarth!
Arvania is an intense prog metal sextet from the Rimouski region with Martin Denis on lead guitar, Jean-Simon Otis on guitars, Marilyn Dubé on lead vocals, Max Doiron on keyboards, J-Philippe Tessier on drums and Pierre-Luc Pelletier on bass. Their captivating symphonic brand of prog metal is influenced by bands like Angra, Blind Guardian, Icewind, Nightwish, Symphony X, Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius.
Tickets are $5 and the show begins at 10:00 PM. Tickets are available in advance by calling Marilyn at 418-731-2532.
December 4, 2007
Adamind and Dreamcatcher at Café Chaos
Montreal prog metal band Adamind will be at the Café Chaos (2031, St-Denis Street, Montreal), on Sunday, December 9 2007, accompanied by Dream Catcher.
Adamind combines melodic, progressive rock and heavy metal and is inspired by Symphony X, Dream Theater, Ayreon and Megadeth. Visit their MySpace page at http://myspace.com/adamind.
Dream Catcher, also from Montréal, is a power metal quintet inspired by the likes of Sonata Arctica, Kamelot, Edguy, Stratovarius, Ayreon and Iced Earth. Visit their website at http://dreamcatcherqc.info/.
The show begins at 7:30 and admission is $6.
November 27, 2007
Rik Emmett's new project: Airtime
In 2003, Triumph lead singer and guitarist Rik Emmett met Michael Shotton backstage at an orchestra rehearsal, and the two musicians having several common interests, they began a studio writing project, working towards a hard, melodic rock album that would have some progressive leanings, featuring mature lyric themes, polished songwriting and arranging, and challenging ensemble instrumentation. The project is called Airtime and the resuling album, which took two years to complete, is entitled Liberty Manifesto.
Inspired by the great classics styles of Rush, Led Zeppelin and Journey, the hard-rocking album is available right now at all fine record stores. The duo will be accompanied by long-time Emmet sidemen Dave Dunlop on guitar and Steve Skingley on bass for their upcoming tour.
May 15, 2007
Jethro Tull at La Place Des Arts!
On Friday, November 23 2007 the legendary art rock band Jethro Tull will perform in Montreal at the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of the Place-des-Arts (175, Ste-Catherine Street West) as part of their worldwide acoustic and electric tour. Their tour will start in May in England, will continue in Europe, South America and will end in December 2007 in United States.
Three and a half decades after their formation as a strange little blues band driven by a madman flautist, Jethro Tull have sold well over 60 million albums, performed live to over 20 million people in 40 different countries, and received over 60 gold and platinum awards worldwide. Jethro Tull have differed from any rock n’ roll band by nature of their eclectic incorporation of rock, jazz, blues, Celtic, progressive music and English folk. Jethro Tull’s music has tended to be ‘organic’ - back tracks and melodies composed for pure musicality and rarely following conventional songwriting practices.
Jethro Tull have always been driven by the vision of one man - singer/songwriter Ian Anderson. For the Place des Arts concert, Ian will be accompanied by his trusty sidekick Martin Barre on guitar. Throughout their expansive and impressive career Jethro Tull produced records and tours that proved throughout the world the enduring artistic credibility of a band continually able to reinvent themselves. Their legendary live performances saw the popularity of the band extend into parts of the world where rock music had not been encouraged and the band’s legend from Buenos Aires to Budapest took root, eventually to be rewarded by the many tours in places where other acts did not tread. On Friday, November 23rd at the Wilfrid-Pelletier Theatre, experience live - both sides of Jethro Tull - with the band performing both acoustic and electric setsl
Tickets are $49.50 - $59.50 – $69.50 (+ service charges), available at the Place des Arts Box Office and at all Admission outlets, by phone at (514) 842-2112 or 1 866 842-2112 and (514) 790-1245 or order online at www.pda.qc.ca or www.admission.com and www.geg.ca. A Gillett Entertainment Group presentation.
November 8, 2007
Trans-Siberian Orchestra back at the Bell Center
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra will be making a stop again in Montreal, this Thursday, November 22 2007 at the Bell Center, following their sensational performance last year.
Formed in 1996 by composers Paul O'Neill, Robert Kinkel and Jon Oliva of the group Savatage, the trio forms the core of the writing team. Trans-Siberian Orchestra is in fact two groups touring at the same time often on opposite sides of the continent.
With a release of The Lost Chrismas Eve in 2004 reach world-wide fame. Being recognized as a kind of Alan Parsons Project refering to the multiples collaborations of musician and their conceptual compositions. Take a little Christmas nostalgia, add rock, classical, blues and Broadway music, plus a dose of opera and lyrical poetry, then bathe the production in a spectacular light show, and you’ll get an idea of what the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s performance will be like They are right now working on their latest album, Nightcastle, due to be released in 2008.
Formed around the core of Jennifer Cella on vocals, Al Pitrelli on guitar, Dave Z. on bass and Robert Kinkel on keyboards, the twin groups are completed by a who's who of the most talented musicians including, Alex Skolnick, Chris Caffery and Angus Clark on guitar, Carmine Giglio, Mee Eun Kim and Jane Mangini on keyboards, John Lee Middleton on bass, John O. Reilly and Jeff Plate on drums, Anna Phoebe and Mark Wood on violins, Steve Broderick, Tommy Farese, Jill Gioia, Kristin Gorman, Danielle Landherr, Michael Lanning, Guy LeMonnier, James Lewis, Tany Ling, Stephanie Linn, Jay Pierce, Peter Shaw and Bart Shatto on vocals, with Tony Gaynor and Bryan Hicks as narrators.
The show begins at 7:30 PM and tickets are $45.50 - $55.50, plus taxes and fees, available at the Bell Center boxoffice and through Admission by phone at (514) 790-1245 or online at www.admission.com. A Gillett Entertainment Group presentation.
November 5, 2007
Ploz at l'Hémisphère Gauche!
One of Montreal's most original and radical new avant garde bands, Ploz, will be at the Bar L'Hémisphère Gauche (221 Beaubien Street East, Montreal) on Saturday, November 10, 2007.
The young quintet is composed of Dominic Bérubé on drums, vocals and guitar, Samuel Lacasse on lead vocals and soprano clarinet, Audrey Bérubé on bass, Nicolas Létourneau on guitar and mandolin and Alexandra Robinson on alto clarinet. Their music is a cool blend of experimental, progressive rock, RIO and is inspired by groups like The Residents, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits and Pearl Jam! They are renowned for their highly theatral performances, humorous, crazy costumes, and their outrageous, refreshing and incredibly original compositions. Their music is to say the least quite unusual, and can only be described as a highly experimental form of rock in opposition/fusion. Truly a group to discover! Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/ploznroll.
The show begins at 9:30 PM and admission is $7. Don't miss them!
November 5, 2007
Signs of One launches new album
Unicorn Digital is proud to announce the release of Quebec City progressive rock band Signs of One's new CD, Innerlands. The groups's third CD, and first one on the Unicorn Digital label, will be released on Tuesday, November 20 2007 at the Liquor Store in Quebec City.
Formed in 1997, Signs of One has released 2 albums on their own before being approached by Unicorn Digital to open the first edition of FMPM (Le Festival des Musiques Progressives de Montreal) in September 2006. Click here for some pictures of their performance at La Place à Côté. Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/signsofone where you'll be able to hear a few captivating audio excerpts.
The group is composed of David Schram on vocals, Steeve Tremblay on guitars and vocals, Daniel Gagnon on bass and vocals, Yannick Lapointe on keyboards and vocals and Phil Prince on drums and percussion. Innerlands was produced by Serge Samson and Signs of One. The album contains 14 pieces for a total time of 71 minutes of great progressive music recorded between June 2006 and February 2007.
Innerlands will be released at the Liquor Store, Place de la Cité, 2600, Boul Laurier, Ste-Foy, Quebec on the 20th of November 2007. The new album (#UNCR-5047) will be available through the Unicorn Digital website, and also at any good record store near you!
November 5, 2007
Sense to release new album
Quebec band Sense will be releasing their fourth album, also on Tuesday, November 20 2007. This long-awaited new CD, entitled Going Home, will be introduced at the Quartier de Lune bar (799, Avenue Cartier, Québec City) where the group will play a few selected tracks. Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/sensemusik.
September 30, 2007
Montreal Drum Fest!
What a great lineup this year! On Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11 2007, the Montreal Drum Fest will be celebrating its 15th anniversary, at the Salle Pierre-Mercure (300 Blvd. De Maisonneuve East). Here's the schedule of the weekend:
Saturday, November 10th (11am - 7pm)
Yamaha "Rising Star" Showcase (with Guest Guy Nadon)
Terreon Gully & Trio (Christina McBride, Dianne Reeves)
Yanic Bercier (Quo Vadis)
Dave Langguth & Friends
Will Calhoun (Living Colour)
Daniel Adair (Nickelback) with the Dave Martone Trio
Sunday, November 11th (11:30am-7pm)
Marko Djordjevic
Blandiloquenta
Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty)
Thomas Lang
Latin Percussion Explosion (Cuba)
Peter Erskine (Weather Report) & Alex Acuña
One day tickets are $70 and the full 2-day pass is $110, available at the Salle Pierre-Mercure boxoffice, and through Admission by phone at (514) 790-1245 or online at www.admission.com.
September 30, 2007
Wishmaster at le Saphir!
Nightwish tribute band Wishmaster will be at club Saphir (3699 Saint-Laurent, Montréal) on Saturday, November 3, 2007, accompanied by Back On Earth and Art Of Life.
Wishmaster delivers a blistering interpretation of classic hits of the famous finnish prog metal band. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/wishmasterband where you'll find sensational audio and video excerpts of the group.
The concert will begin around 8:00 PM. Tickets are $7, available at the door on the day of the show.
October 21, 2007
Echoes at the Medley!
Pink Floyd tribute band Echoes will be playing at the Medley (1170 St-Denis Street, corner René-Lévesque) on Friday November 2, 2007.
The group, formed in 2005, is composed of Nicolas Blais on bass, Dominique Cright on drums, Étienne Ducharme on guitars and vocals, Robin St-Pierre on guitars and vocals, Mike Vinet on keyboards, accompanied by Carolyne Leblanc on saxophone, Marie-Pierre Tremblay, Marie-Josée Truchon and Patricia Walsh on vocals. Their perfect interpretation of the Pink Floyd classics, covering all eras of the band, accompanied by their elaborate light show, will captivate and mesmerize you!
Doors open at 8:30 PM and the concert will begin at 10:00 PM. Tickets are $12, available through Ticketpro and at the Medley boxoffice.
October 21, 2007
Therion at the Medley!
Swedish gothic symphonic death metal band Therion will be playing at the Medley (1170 St-Denis Street, corner René-Lévesque) on Wednesday, October 31 2007, accompanied by symphonic prog metal band Aesma Daeva and Quebec City guitarist Mag.
The group is composed of Christofer Johnsson on guitar and keyboards, Kristian Niemann on guitars and keyboards, Johan Niemann on bass, guitar and acoustic guitar and Petter Karlsson on drums and vocals, accompanied by Thomas Vikström, Snowy Shaw, Lori Lewis and Katarina Lilja on vocals. Their formidable and unique brand of symphonic hard metal will simply blow your mind! An ideal way to spend halloween evening!
Doors open at 6:30 PM and the show begins at 8:00 PM. Tickets, are $27.10 (taxes included), available through Ticketpro and at the Medley boxoffice.
August 22, 2007
The Australian Pink Floyd back at the Bell Center!
Celebrating their 14th anniversary, the demand for this band is stronger than ever before! The Australian Pink Floyd show, Floyd's best known tribute band, will be back in Montreal on Sunday, October 28, 2007 at the Bell Center (1260 De La Gauchetière West).
Since the performance of Pink Floyd at Live 8, London in July 2005 interest in The Australian pink Floyd Show has further increased, selling thousands of tickets in Europe this summer. Their sell out show in Liverpool, England sold over 8,000 tickets.
The show is a phenomenon! What started out over ten years ago in Adelaide, Australia, has evolved into a truly magnificent sound and light spectacle performing to hundreds of thousands of people at major venues around the globe. David Gilmour, Pink Floyd's guitarist, is a fan himself, having witnessed the Australian Pink Floyd Show three times.
These Aussie kindred spirits have amassed a dedicated crew of over twenty like-minded obsessives, all addicted to the gloriously pioneering psychedelia of Gilmour, Waters, Barrett, Wright, and Mason. Together they travel the planet putting on this spellbinding re-creation of the cream of the Pink Floyd catalogue, fulfilling the desire of Floyd fans everywhere who crave to hear these amazing songs performed live once again.
It’s a tantalizing voyage, from the trippy Barrett era to the mystery of Dark Side of The Moon, from the majesty of Wish You Were Here to the twisted intensity of Animals, from the relentless power of The Wall through to the lush grandeur of The Final Cut and The Division Bell. Floyd fans who haven’t yet witnessed the show are seriously missing out. Believe the hype, it’s as good as everyone says. Here are some reviews: "The best tribute show in the world" – London Times "I never thought I would hear this music live again, you must go and see this show" – Los Angeles Times.
Tickets are $42.50 plus taxes and fees, available through Admission by phone at (514) 790-1245 or online at www.admission.com. A Gillett Entertainment Group presentation.
September 25, 2007
Comfortably Numb at Club Soda!
The show that many consider the finest tribute act in North America, Comfortably Numb - Canada's Pink Floyd Show, will be back by popular demand at the Club Soda (1225 St-Laurent, Montreal) on Thursday, October 25 2007. The band will also present two shows in Gatineau at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (100 Laurier Street, Gatineau) on Saturday, October 27 2007. Early this year the band played four consecutive sold-out shows in Toronto in front of over 4,000 enthusiastic fans.
The bands success is a testament to the continuing interest in the music and legacy of Pink Floyd, and Comfortably Numb's authentic re-creation of the Floyd experience. The new show will touch on all era's of Pink Floyd's historic career. Since forming over 12 years ago, Comfortably Numb has earned the much-deserved reputation as one of the leading Pink Floyd tribute acts in the world. Brain Damage, the only fan website in the world recognized and supported by the members of Pink Floyd and Rogers Waters, recently reviewed a show as "Considered musically, one of the best in the world!"
Led by Azim Keshavjee, a well-respected, talented and versatile musician, the bands consistently sold out shows feature world-class musicianship combined with spectacular multi-media and visual effects. Fans of all ages have endorsed Comfortably Numb as being a must-see live act.
Doors for the Montreal show open at 7:30 PM and the show will start at 9:00 PM. Tickets are $22.00 (+ taxes & charges) available through Ticketpro or at the Club Soda boxoffice.
Tickets for the Gatineau shows are $35, available through Ticketmaster and there will be one performance at 3:00 PM and another at 8:00 PM.
September 24, 2007
André Delage plays Genesis at the
Chapelle Historique du Bon Pasteur
Classic pianist André Delage will present a special performance on the grand piano in the solemn and dignified setting of the Chapelle Historique du Bon Pasteur (100 Sherbrooke Street East, Montreal) on Thursday, October 25 2007. His setlist will consist of a series of classic Genesis compositions from the Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett era.
Doors open at 7:15 PM and the show will begin at 8:00 PM. Admission is $12. For more information, please call (450) 542-9508.
September 2, 2007
Code Rouge at L'Espace Dell'Arte!
Clément Larose, the brilliant guitarist of Yes tribute band Relayers, will be presenting his new solo project entitled Code Rouge on Monday, October 22 2007 at L'Espace Dell'Arte (40 Jean-Talon East, Montreal).
For his performance, Clément will be accompanied by 4 excellent musicians. You will also be able to purchase his brand new album on that occasion.
The General admision show will begin at 8:30 PM, and tickets are $20, available at the Espace Dell'Arte boxoffice at 514-490-9613, or by calling 450-651-1387, the tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the show.
October 8, 2007
ProgtoberFest III
October is synonym for the lovely bavarian tradition of Oktoberfest, as well as halloween, where kids in costumes run wild on a sugar high! Another great tradition, Ottawa's ProgtoberFest, will hold its 3rd edition at the Alumni Theater of the University of Ottawa (75 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, ON) on Saturday, October 20 2007.
The fest, organized by Gary Lauzon, host of the radio show La Villa Strangiato on CHUO FM 89.1, and Rick Barkhouse, of the group Widow's Walk, will feature a whole day of first class canadian progressive music, with Montreal band Hamadryad headlining the festival, accompanied by The Rebel Wheel, Hunter Eves & Solar Architect.
Doors open at 1:00 PM, and there will be a dinner break 6:30 PM. Headliner Hamadryad will go on stage at 8:30 PM. Tickets for the event are $20 (general admission), available at the door on the day of the show.
Here's the official schedule of the day:
Hunter Eves: 2:00 - 2:45 PM
Solar Architect: 3:30 - 4:30 PM
The Rebel Wheel: 5:15 - 6:30 PM
Hamadryad: 8:30 - 10:15 PM
You can also get your tickets in advance by dropping me a line at bob@progmontreal.com . Methods of payment include Paypal, money order or cash.
August 27, 2007
Slippermen at La Place à Côté!
The Genesis tribute band Slippermen will be at La Place à Côté (4571 Papineau Street, Montreal) on Friday, October 19 2007. They will present their much acclaimed Seconds Out-Genesis Classics 76/77 show. The show begins at 9:00 PM and tickets are $10, available in advance starting Sept. 1st. at La Place à Côté and on the day of the show.
Slippermen is composed of Réjean Arsenault on lead & acoustic guitars and bass pedal, Nicolas Beaudoin on drums, François Fournier on bass, 12-string & acoustic guitars, bass pedals, backing vocals, Marc La Fontaine on keyboards, Sonia Pon on Flute, backing vocals, Michel Sergi on vocals, guitars, percussions. Their brilliant performance will be made even more authentic by the use of classical vintage instrument like the ARP synth, the Shergold double-neck and much more.
August 22, 2007
Led Zepplica at the St-Denis Theater!
Bet you wish you had seen Led Zeppelin in the 70’s. And if you did, those memories would be hazy, if available at all! See them now with California’s premier tribute band coming back to Montreal for one amazing show at the Théâtre St-Denis (1594 St-Denis Street, Montreal) on Wednesday, October 17, 2007.
Led Zepplica is world renowned as being the best Zeppelin tribute band ever. Expert musicians dedicated to accuracy, they portray Led Zeppelin flawlessly and leave audiences in awe. It’s more than the music – Led Zepplica has captured the chemistry and the vibe of the live Led Zeppelin show of the 70’s an era during which they were known as "the biggest band in the world".
The tour in 1973 broke attendance records, selling out 3 nights at Madison Square Garden and playing for 56,800 fans in Tampa. They were changing music forever, they were making history.
Led Zepplica brings that experience to the stage again in a 100 minute show featuring big screens, live cameras, great lights with just enough smoke and a stunning representation of the classic hits like Kashmir, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog and many more. For details visit: www.led-zepplica.com
Tickets are $29.50 - $47.50 (+ service charges) and are available at the Théâtre St-Denis box office and by phone at (514) 790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595 or online at www.tel-spec.com and www.geg.ca. A Gillett Entertainment Group presentation!
June 1st, 2007
Nightwish at the Metropolis!
Legendary Finnish prog metal band Nightwish will be in Montréal on Sunday, October 21, 2007 at the Metropolis (59 Sainte-Catherine Street East).
The group is composed of Tuomas Holopainen on keyboards, Marco Tapani Hietala on bass and vocals, Emppu Vuorinen on guitars and Jukka "Julius" Nevalainen on drums. The replacement for ex-lead singer Tarja, who did not leave in the best of circumstances, has now officially been announced, it's Annette Olzon from Sweden. The power prog band is renowned for their sumptuous orchestrations and hard symphonic themes, and will be back in Montreal for a majestic performance!
Tickets are $35.28 (plus taxes), available at the Metropolis boxoffice and also through the Ticketpro network and by phone at (514) 908-9090.
May 24, 2007
After Forever at Club Soda
Dutch dark symphonic prog metal band After Forever will be in Montreal on Thursday, October 18 2007 at the Club Soda (1225 Saint-Laurent Blvd.), accompanied by Montreal's own Trance Of Mine.
Formed in 1995 and with over 6 remarkable albums under their wings, the group has acquired a worldwide following over the years. After Forever is composed of Floor Jansen on lead vocals, Sander Gommans on guitars, Joost van den Broek on keyboards, Luuk van Gerven on bass, Bas Maas on guitars and vocals and Andre Borgman on drums. Their classically-influenced music will remind you of groups like Nightwish and Angra. Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/afterforeveronline.
Montreal band Trance Of Mine was formed in early 2001 by Isabel Plant and Phil Coupal, and is composed of Yanik Daunais on synthetizers, Philippe Laroche on bass, Francis Fillion on drums, Isabel Plant on vocals and keyboards and Phil Coupal on guitars. Their powerful style of prog metal is inspired by groups like Lacuna Coil, The Gathering, Evanescence, Porcupine Tree and Tool. Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/tranceofmine.
The show will begin at 8:00 PM, and tickets are $20.18 - $25.01 (+ taxes), available through TicketPro, and at the Club Soda boxoffice, or by phone at 514-286-1010. A BCI presentation.
September 27, 2007
Kinetic Element at the Pop Montreal Festival!
(please note – change of venue)
Prog rock band Kinetic Element, from Richmond, Virginia, will be among the groups performing at the Pop Montreal Festival on Saturday, October 6 2007, moving from their scheduled appearance at Katacombes to the more comfortable Divan Orange, located at 4234 St-Laurent Blvd.
The group is composed of Michael Murray on drums and vocals, Matt Harris on bass and Mike Visaggio on keyboards and vocals. The group will be performing compositions of Mike Visaggio's latest solo album, Starship Universe, as well as other original compositions and a few delicious classic prog covers! The group's music is influenced mainly by ELP and Yes as well as Return To Forever, Happy The Man, Le Orme and Renaissance. Visit Mike's MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/mikevisaggio, where you'll hear a few exerpts from the album Starship Universe.
The show will begin at 11:30 PM and tickets are available through the PopMontreal website, at the Divan Orange boxoffice, and at the door on the day of the show.
September 2, 2007
Père Ubu at Le National!
Père Ubu, the wild "avant-garage" band from Cleveland OH, will be at Le National (1220 Sainte-Catherine Street East, Montreal) on Wednesday, October 3 2007, accompanied by local band Thundrah.
The theatrical avant-garde band, spearheaded by singer David Thomas, will present selections from their latest album Why I Hate Women, as well as compositions from their numerous releases dating back from 1975!
The show will begin at 8:30 PM and tickets are $20, available through Admission, also at Atom Heart Records, Cheap Thrills and L'Oblique. A Pop Montréal presentation.
September 30, 2007
Vecteur K and Karcius at the Petit Medley!
Get ready for a fantastic triple-bill on Friday, October 5 2007 when Montreal prog fusion band Karcius will perform with the group Vecteur K and Maken Kozapo at the Petit Medley (6206 St-Hubert, Montreal).
This will be your last occasion to see Karcius live for a while, because they will be entering the studios for the long process of writing, recording and mixing their long-awaited third album. The group, composed of Mingan Sauriol on keyboards, Thomas Brodeur on drums, Simon L'Espérance on guitars, and Dominique Blouin on bass, performed a phenomenal set in front of a packed Alizé for the FMPM pre-show last September 14. They are are renowned for their highly dynamic and energetic shows. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/karcius.
They will be accompanied by Repentigny band Vecteur K. The group is composed of Marc-Antoine Sauvé on guitars, Benoit Dalpé on bass, Éric Cournoyer on drums and Marc-André Noël on vocals and guitars. They play a fresh, dynamic mix of francophone alt-rock and progressive music, with influences as varied as Genesis, Harmonium, Supertramp and Dream Theater. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/vecteurk .
Joining the already excellent evening, Montreal band Maken Kozapo. Their style of francophone contemporary rock is inspired by groups like Radiohead, The Cure, Peter Gabriel, U2, Pink Floyd, Daniel Lanois, early Genesis, Talking Heads and the Beatles among others. The group is composed of Maxime Landry on vocals, guitars and piano, Patrick Francke Sirois on guitars and vocals, Charles Prénoveau Giguère on bass and Jean-Sébastien Massol on drums.
The show will begin at 7:30 PM and tickets are $10, available at the door on the day of the show.
August 13, 2007
Karcius and The Rebel Wheel in Papineauville
Another great double-bill coming up on Saturday, September 22 2007 when Montreal prog fusion band Karcius will perform with the group The Rebel Wheel at the Louis-Joseph Papineau auditorium (378, Papineau Street, Papineauville, Qc). All proceeds of this benefit show will go to the local junior football team Les Partriotes.
Karcius has been gathering quite a bit of momentum lately, with appearances at the Crescendo prog festival in France and the FMPM pre-show on September 14. The group, composed of Mingan Sauriol on keyboards, Thomas Brodeur on drums, Simon L'Espérance on guitars, and Dominique Blouin on bass, are renowned for their highly dynamic and energetic shows. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/karcius.
The Rebel Wheel is a modern progressive-rock ensemble based out of Ottawa, featuring David Campbell on guitars, vocals, bass and keyboards, Gary Lauzon on bass, bass pedals and keyboards, Angie MacIvor on saxophone, vocals and keyboards, Paul Joanis on guitars, keyboards and drums and Alain Bergeron on drums and Keyboards. With influences that range from Gentle Giant to Frank Zappa via Genesis and Rush, the band features a frenetic mix of rock aggression, odd-meter vamps, and turn-on-a-dime arrangements. Their new album, Diagramma, was recently released on 10-T Records. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/rebelwheel.
Papineauville is located pretty much half-way between Montreal and Ottawa, on route 148. The show will begin at 7:00 PM and tickets are $20, available at the door on the day of the show.
September 2, 2007
Crimson Sunset at the Medley!
Montreal's ultimate Dream Theater tribute band Crimson Sunset will be at the Medley (1170 St-Denis, corner René-Lévesque) on Friday, September 21 2007. They will be accompanied by Rush tribute band A Farewell to Kings.
Crimson Sunset is composed of Isaac Dumont on drums, Marc O'Brien on bass, Sébastien Jutras on guitars, David Trottier on keyboards and Jean-Philippe Major on vocals. Their playlist covers all eras of the famous New York band. All members are diehard Dream Theater fans who know the expectations of their audience. Crimson Sunset strives to deliver a performance that is as close to the real thing as possible. Each member painstakingly tries to recreate the magical parts that have made DT the leading band in the Progressive Rock genre. Five extremely talented musicians whose skills will blow you away!
Doors open at 8:30 and the concert will begin around 10:00 PM. Tickets are $12, available through Ticketpro, and at the door on the day of the show.
July 2, 2007
FMPM 2007: Final lineup announced, plus upcoming goodies!
JELLY FICHE joins the FMPM lineup • Preshow to be announced soon!
ProgresSon Music (ProgQuébec), in association with Unicorn Digital, announces that the 2007 edition of the Montreal Progressive Music Festival will be held on Saturday, September 15th and Sunday, September 16th, 2007 at the magnificent Salle Pierre Mercure of the Centre-Pierre-Péladeau. This year’s line-up will include legendary symphonic prog band IQ, the world famous STRAWBS in their electric formation, Swedish legends SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA, as well as native Quebec groups NATHAN MAHL, HAMADRYAD and VILLE EMARD BLUES BAND (VEBB) and back by popular demand, last year's FMPM sensation MIRIODOR from Montreal. To complete the lineup, Montreal band JELLY FICHE will be the eighth and final band in FMPM's programmation this year. They will be opening things up on Saturday. Their booking demonstrates FMPM's continued commitment to supporting local progressive artists in the Montreal area.
Plus, our team is working on the last details of a cool preshow on Friday the 14th of September, stay tuned as we will provide you more info on that very soon! You can find the detailed schedule of FMPM 2007 right HERE!
THE LINEUP:
One of the most storied bands of the second wave of British progressive rock of the early 80s, IQ was one of a small number of British bands including Marillion, Pendragon, Twelfth Night, and Pallas, that carried the torch of progressive rock when many of the original proponents were no longer active. In their career spanning twenty-five years, they have released over a dozen studio and live albums and three DVDs, and are one of the most popular and best-selling independent progressive rock bands in the world. IQ has headlined progressive rock festivals around the world, and are a two-time headliner of the North East Art Rock Festival in the United States. Their elaborate symphonic rock, featuring extensive guitar and keyboard leads and the dramatic vocals of Peter Nicholls, has gained a legion of fans worldwide and their return to Montreal has been greatly anticipated. Their only North American date of 2007 will feature the world premiere of some of the material from their next album, due for release in October, with a full multimedia presentation.
The STRAWBS are one of the most renowned British progressive bands of their era. Their highly successful 1970s albums, Hero and Heroine and Ghosts, were rightfully acclaimed by music fans selling over 250,000 copies each, and their mixture of emotional progressive rock and folk have won them legions of fans around the world. Other notable albums include Grave New World, Bursting At The Seams, Burning For You, and Deep Cuts. In recent years the acoustic STRAWBS have played across North America, and in 2004, the electric band headlined NEARFest, playing a few other sold-out concerts as well. Rock fans in Quebec have been patiently waiting over 25 years for a chance to see the electric STRAWBS in concert, and will finally have the opportunity to see the complete original electric formation of David Cousins, Dave Lambert, Chas Cronk, John Hawken, and Rod Coombes.
SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA is one of the great progressive bands from Sweden, and one of the founding members of Rock in Opposition. Since their first album in 1970, they have combined instrumental virtuosity, tight group interplay, sophisticated compositions, and a sense of fun and infectious energy that cannot help but bring a smile to anyone who sees them play. Albums such as Måltid and Klossa Knapitatet are stone-cold classics, and their 1999 release Kaka was hailed as a brilliant return to form. The current line-up of the band includes original members Lars Hollmer, Coste Apetrea, and Lars Krantz, and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida of Ruins, Koenji Hyakkei, and Korekyojin fame. SAMLA headlined the ProgDay festival in 2003, but appearances in Quebec have proven elusive until now.
Back by popular demand, the world's most renowned emissary in the field of RIO, MIRIODOR , will be back at FMPM 2007. Their brilliant music combines equal parts jazz, progressive rock and chamber music into a powerful sound that may remind of better known artists like Univers Zero or Art Zoyd. Music that is full of fire and eclecticism, but a bit more heavy on the melodic end. Bass player Nicolas Masino came up with this description of MIRIODOR's music: "rock-oriented post-modern chamber music, with definite humorous overtones". The group was invited twice at the presitgious NEARFest prog festival, in 2002 and a year later for their preshow. MIRIODOR headlined at the Gouveia festival in Portugal in 2005. On their latest CD, Parade+Live at NEARFest (2005), Samla Mammas Manna's Lars Hollmer collaborated on a few tracks. Last year at FMPM, they performed what was to be one of the most acclaimed performances of the entire festival!
Outaouais valley-based NATHAN MAHL, led by keyboardist and composer Guy LeBlanc, has been at the forefront of the modern symphonic progressive rock sound. After releasing the obscure gem Parallel Eccentricities in 1983, the band went underground for 15 years before emerging with the prog-fusion powerhouse The Clever Use of Shadows, since re-interpreted as Shadows Unbound. After blowing away the audience at NEARfest 1999, NATHAN MAHL embarked on a symphonic album trilogy called Heretik which saw its sound approaching that of the legendary group CAMEL while retaining its uniqueness. LeBlanc then joined CAMEL, where he participated on A Nod and a Wink , embarking on a world tour. With a new album entitled Exodus coming out in 2007, it is time for NATHAN MAHL to make another high-profile festival appearance. The line-up today includes Guy LeBlanc, Marc Spenard, Guy Dagenais, and Alain Bergeron.
Montreal’s home-grown VILLE EMARD BLUES BAND comprised the largest stage in prog music history, consisting of up to 24 musicians, and combining rock, jazz, funk, and folk. VEBB headlined the Montreal Forum and was nominated for best new group at the 1975 Canadian Juno awards, a category won by RUSH that year. The complete works of VEBB were reissued on CD by ProgQuebec in 2004. Former band leader Bill Gagnon’s son, Chris Gagnon, now heads-up the core group of 12, along with veterans Serge Vallières, Michel Dion, and Richard Perotte. FMPM 2007 will showcase this unique ensemble performing a special set of its most progressive and energetic jazz-rock, featuring tracks by related groups CONTRACTION and TOUBABOU, proving that Quebec was a bastion of creativity during the 1970s.
HAMADRYAD has acquired worldwide recognition, since they introduced themselves to the world with their stunning 2001 release, Conservation of Mass. This record, which sold out its first pressing in five months, is still to this day, one of the best sellers on the Unicorn Digital label. Their latest release, Safe In Conformity (2005), is a brand new direction musically and stylistically, a more powerful, soulful sound with elaborate compositions and splendid musicianship, influenced by the great classics like Genesis and Yes.Their live shows are dynamic and fun.
A trio, JELLY FICHE features Syd on bass and vocals, Eric Plante on keyboards and saxophone, and Jean-François Arsenault on guitar. All of these musicians come from very different backgrounds. Syd has a background in poetry and aspires to integrate it into rock the way classic artists did. Plante comes from a jazz background and has composed for Cirque du Soleil, while Arsenault is a trained jazz guitarist and fan of 70s progressive rock. Their "live" formation also includes Sylvain Auclair on bass and vocals, as well as Mathieu Bergeron on drums. The music they form together could be described as song-oriented progressive rock, but free of too many preconceived ideas and cliches about what that should mean. Their first album will be released on Unicorn Digital later this year.
This year's FMPM will be held at the Pierre Peladeau Center, in the Salle Pierre Mercure. A beautiful and intimate auditorium seating just under 800, the Pierre Peladeau Center has fantastic acoustics and sightlines. This venue is also very conveniently located in the heart of the Latin Quarter, right next to the Berri-UQAM subway station, and only four street blocks away from Highway 20. It also features an indoor parking as well as easy access to people with limited mobility. While we have a great appreciation for the high quality of the Gesù, we feel now is the right time to move to a venue that can accommodate everyone interested in seeing this line-up perform, rather than see a lot of people get shut out.
Regular and Gold tickets are on sale at www.progquebec.com. Gold tickets cost $160 (about $152 US), while regular tickets are priced at $95 (about $90 US). Gold tickets offer preferred seating, our eternal gratitude, and maybe some other neat stuff along the way. For more information, please consult this website and www.fmpm.net on a regular basis and direct any inquiries to info@fmpm.net. We thank everyone for their interest in our event and expect that this year’s festival will be an even greater success than the last.
July 19, 2007
Ruins Alone with Tatsuya Yoshida at Sala Rossa!
As part of the "prog weekend" surrounding FMPM 2007, legendary japanese drummer Tatsuya Yoshida (of Ruins and Samla fame) will be at La Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent blvd, Montreal) on Thursday, September 13 2007 to present Ruins Alone, Yoshida's solo version of the famous avant-garde/Zheul/RIO duo. A pre-preshow of some sort for FMPM! Told you we'd keep you busy! Tickets are on sale at the Sala Rossa boxoffice, by calling 514-284-0122 and are $10 in advance, or $12 at the door!
July 8, 2007
FMPM 2007 pre-show!
featuring Quartik, Capharnaüm and Karcius • TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
The FMPM pre-show will take place on Friday, September 14 2007 at l'Alizé (900, Ontario Street East, at the corner of St-André, five blocks away from Salle Pierre-Mercure). Doors open at 7:00 PM and the show will begin at 8:00 PM.
There will be three bands performing, Quartik, Capharnaüm and Karcius. Tickets are $10, available in advance right now through this website by dropping me a line at bob@progmontreal.com . Methods of payment include Paypal, money order or cash. Tickets are also at the Alizé boxoffice at 514-523-0622.
Karcius is one of the leading bands of the current Montreal prog scene. Karcius is an instrumental group that plays a mix of hard progressive rock and jazz fusion. They have released two albums on Unicorn Digital, Sphère and Kaléidoscope, and have performed at the FMPM 2006 as well as Prog in the Park in Rochester. They are also making festival appearances this year in France and the USA (in Milwaukee). A group bursting with youthful energy, respectful of the past but with their own musical goals, Karcius is at the forefront of renewal within the progressive music world.
Capharnaüm is a guitar-driven, modern and melodic instrumental rock band that was formed way back in 1991 in Quebec City. The title of their album, Le Soleil Est Une Bombe Atomique (which literally means The Sun Is An Atomic Bomb) reflects at the same time the foreboding and hope that they are trying to communicate whenever they play together, compose or perform live. It's slightly demented heavy music with a touch of prog and a lot of rhythm.
Quartik is an instrumental prog-fusion quartet from Quebec city featuring guitar, bass, vibraphone, and drums. They have one release to date, 2004's Hecho a Mano on the Ipso Facto label. In addition to periodic live performances, Quartik's highly proficient musicians are all in high demand to work with other Quebec artists. They have performed twice at the Terra Incognita festival in Quebec City, in 2005 and 2006.
There are now eleven bands that are part of the FMPM weekend from September 14 to 16, 2007!
August 18, 2007
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum this Tuesday at the Cabaret!
Back by popular demand after their amazing performance at La Tulipe on March 13, San-Francisco band Sleepytime Gorilla Museum will visit Montreal again this year, this time at the Cabaret du Musée Juste Pour Rire (2111 St-Laurent Blvd. Montreal 514-845-2014) this Tuesday, August 21 2007 to support the release of their brand new CD, In Glorious Times! Accompanying SGM on this tour is Tub Ring, a cool experimental/avant garde band from Chicago.
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is composed of Nils Frykdah on guitar, flute and vocals, Carla Kihlstedt on violin, percussion guitar, vocals, Dan Rathbun on bass, slide-piano log, pedal-action wiggler, cockroach, vocals, Michael Mellender on various percussions, guitars, and vocals and Matthias Bossi on drums, mallet percussion, oration and vocals. Musically inspired by the likes of Henry Cow and Meshuggah on a heavy metal diet, their exuberant avant-garde theatrical performances will appeal to RIO fans that are fond of Thinking Plague with a punk metal edge! among the highlights of their colorful shows, the band members use several hand-made eclectic musical instruments.
The show will begin at 9:00 PM and tickets for the show are $16, available through Admission.
August 13, 2007
Dream Theater at the Bell Center!
Just a quick reminder that Dream Theater will be in Montreal this Friday, August 17 2007 at the Bell Center. Supporting acts will be Redemption and Into Eternity. The group will be presenting material from their latest album, Systematic Chaos, released this June. A great evening of top notch prog metal with one of the most popular hard rock bands in the world!
The show will begin at 7:30 PM, and tickets are $45 and $55, available at the Bell Center boxoffice, by phone at 514-790-1245, at all Admission outlets and online through www.admission.com. Only a few tickets left, so act quickly! A Gillett Entertainment Group presentation.
Read my review of Systematic Chaos in the album Reviews page.
June 2, 2007
Rick Wakeman in Joliette and Rimouski this weekend!
Legendary Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman will be in Joliette and Rimouski this August, playing at the salle Desjardins-Telus (25 Saint-Germain Street West, Rimouski) on Friday, August 17 2007 and at the Amphitéâtre de Lanaudière (1575 Base-de-Rock, Joliette) on Saturday, August 18 2007. Rick will also appear at the Danforth Music Hall (147 Danforth Avenue, Toronto) on Sunday, August 19 2007.
For his canadian tour, Rick will be accompanied by the English Rock Ensemble, consisting of Tony Fernandez on drums, Lee Pomeroy on bass, Dave Colquhoun on guitars and Ashley Holt on vocals. Rick will play classic tracks from his vast repertoire, including Journey to the Center of the Earth, Lancelot and the Black Knight, Catherine Howard/Catherine of Aragon and Starship Trooper. Many thanks to Korg Canada and Roland Canada for providing Rick's amazing keyboard setup throughout this tour.
The Joliette show will begin at 8:30 PM come rain or shine, and will be held at Amphithéâtre de Lanaudière, a vast outdoors auditorium that can hold up to 2000 people. Tickets for the Joliette show are available right now through Admission. Tickets are $62.67 on the floor area and $29.63 for the surrounding grass area.
The Rimouski show will begin at 8:00 PM and will be held at the salle Desjardins-Telus, a reserved theatre seating auditiorium. Tickets for the Rimouski show are $60, available through the Billétoile network!
August 11, 2007
Karcius at the Bar Le Sofa
Karcius will be at the Bar Le Sofa (451 Rachel Street, Montreal) this Sunday, August 12 2007 for a great warmup performance, just as they are about to go to Europe on August 16 and 17 for the prestigous Crescendo prog fest in St-Palais Sur Mer, France.
So it will be a great opportunity to see them play their fiery prog fusion music, as well as to wish 'em luck and a safe trip. It will also be the ideal occasion to get your tickets for the FMPM preshow on September 14, which will be on sale at the concession table.
The concert will begin around 9:00 PM and admission will be $5. The guys will play two sets of approximately 45 minutes.
July 31, 2007
Three back in Montreal!
After Joey Eppard's sensational solo performance opening for Porcupine Tree at the Metropolis last May, a lot of people have been looking forward to see Joey's band, 3. Well, the wait is over, because they will be in Montreal on Friday, August 10 2007 at the Petit Café Campus (57 Prince-Arthur Street East, 2nd Floor)! Montreal hard prog rock band Third Era will be opening for 3.
Three is composed of Joey Eppard on vocals and guitar, Billy Riker on guitars, Daniel Grimsland on bass, Chris Gartmann on Drums & vocals and Joe Stote on percussion and keyboards. Their style of flamboyant, hard progressive rock will blow you away! Visit the group 3's Myspace Page at http://www.myspace.com/3.
Tickets are $14.50, or $12.50 in advance, available at all Admission outlets and online through www.admission.com.
July 31, 2007
Zappa plays Zappa back at the Métropolis!
In response to the highly acclaimed sold-out concert at the Metropolis last October, and due to overwhelming popular demand, the Zappa Plays Zappa crew will be back at the Métropolis (59 Sainte-Catherine Street Est, Montréal) on Tuesday, July 31 2007!
The amazing band is composed of Dweezil Zappa on guitar, Aaron Arntz on keyboards & trumpet, Scheila Gonzalez on saxophone, flute, keyboards & vocals, Pete Griffin on bass, Billy Hulting on marimba, mallets & percussion, Jamie Kime on guitar, Joe Travers on drums & vocals and of course, with very special guests Napoleon Murphy Brock on vocals, saxophone & flute, and Ray White on guitars and vocals!
Dweezil is proud to mention that the band has learned 25 new songs of the grand wazoo, so the performance will be quite different from last October's set, with great video presentations!
The show will begin at 7:30 PM and tickets are $54, available through Ticketpro or at the Metropolis boxoffice.
July 24, 2007
Hamadryad at the Bell Center, opening for Deep Purple!
Our very own Hamadryad will have the immense honor of presenting the opening show for legendary rockers Deep Purple this weekend in Montreal on Saturday, July 28 2007 at the Bell Centre Theatre from 8:00 to 8:30, and at the Pavillon de la Jeunesse in Quebec City on Sunday, July 29 2007 from 7:30 to 8:00!
The group is composed of Denis Jalbert on guitar and back vocals, Yves Jalbert on drums, Sébastien Cloutier on keyboards and back vocals and Jean François Désilets on bass and lead vocals.
This band has been incredibly busy lately: In late June this year, the group released the album Hamadryad - Live in France, featuring the band's memorable concert at the Crescendo Progressive music festival in St-Palais Sur Mer, France, on August 18, 2006. The new album, produced by Michel St-Père and Hamadryad, includes 12 tracks for a total of 77 minutes and captures the band in one of their most glorious and intense performances ever! And of course, Hamadryad is part of this year's lineup of the Festival des Musiques Progressives de Montréal!
And in addition to that, the group will participate this October at the prestigious Prog-Résiste music festival at the Spirit of '66 in Verviers, Belgium, and also at the Progtoberfest music festival also in October at the University of Ottawa, ON.
July 24, 2007
Deep Purple at the Bell Center!
One of the top classic bands in the history of rock, Deep Purple will perform for one night only in Montreal on Saturday, July 28 2007 at the Bell Centre Theatre. For this performance, the star lineup will be composed of Ian Gillan on vocals, Don Airey on keyboards, Steve Morse on guitars, Roger Glover on bass and Ian Paice on drums! The group will also be at the Pavillon de la Jeunesse in Quebec City on Sunday, July 29. For Both show, Montreal's Hamadryad will be the opening act!
As they did in August 10, 2004 during their last visit at the Bell Centre, they will offer you a dazzling show lived up to their reputation with powerful guitar riffs and amazing solos! Considered an icon and often cited as a reference, Deep Purple has a significant place in the world of rock. Since their beginning in 1968, the band innovates and dares to go beyond their style through a mix of instrumental performances and a wide range of atmospheres.
On July 28th, Deep Purple will delight rock fans with songs from their latest album, Rapture of the Deep, bearing in mind unforgettable hits such as Smoke On The Water, Black Night or Highway Star.
Tickets are $44.50 - $59.50 (+ service charges), available at the Bell Centre Box Office and at all Admission outlets, by phone at 514-790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595 or online at www.admission.com and www.geg.ca. A Gillett Entertainment Group presentation.
July 19, 2007
Martin Orford to leave IQ!
HIS FINAL APPEARANCE WITH IQ WILL BE AT FMPM 2007!
With great sadness, we have to announce that Martin Orford has decided to leave IQ. A founder member of the band since its inception in 1981, his contribution to IQ in the years since then has been incalculable. Everyone will be extremely sorry to see him go but we wish him every success in his future endeavours.
Martin explains the reasons for his decision:
"So...26 years in IQ. Well, it had to end sometime and after a lot of thought I've decided to (metaphorically speaking) hang up my keyboard player's cape and give someone else a chance.
There are lots of factors that contributed to my decision so I won't bore you with too many details, but basically I've just become weary of the whole process of 'being in a band' and I need a bit of time and space to do my own thing, and hopefully to re-discover some of the joy and enthusiasm that brought me into music in the first place. Including The Lens, Jadis and the John Wetton Band I've been in bands continuously for 30 years now with hardly a pause for breath and I urgently need a break from all that intensity.
And it has been incredibly intense and not without a certain amount of friction. IQ has always prided itself on being a democracy but in recent years I've found myself increasingly at odds with the process of all the band members writing together. Having been brought up with classical music where it's perfectly usual for everything to be written by one person, I've never felt at all comfortable with the idea of collective writing. I guess I'm just not a natural team player when it comes to music.
IQ is not something that I walk away from lightly. It's a fantastic band, easily the best of the Class of '83 that came through in the New Wave of Prog Rock, and we've done some brilliant stuff which I'll always be proud of. But as I've grown as a musician and a writer, I've found that I need to work and interact with other musicians less and less, and whilst I remain in a band, the vision I have for a piece of music is often blurred or altered out of all recognition by the intervention of others. So, rather than have a solo career that is almost permanently on hold because of IQ commitments, I now want to seize the opportunity to make my own music in my own way. It may be, of course, that the public deem it to be unmitigated rubbish, but I hope maybe you'll give it a chance.
And it goes without saying that I hope IQ will continue for many more years. Of course it will be different without my involvement, but it might even be better. People almost always overstate the impact of line-up changes - would Pink Floyd have made 'The Dark Side of the Moon' if Syd Barrett had been with them, or would Fleetwood Mac have made 'Rumours' if Peter Green was still in the band? Probably not, but both are iconic albums nonetheless.
Finally, a big thank you to all the band members for their understanding and support following my decision to leave. Everyone has been incredibly sensible and grown-up about the whole thing. Although I won't miss the collective writing process at all, I will miss each and every one of the members of IQ. They're a decent bunch at the end of the day."
Martin's final appearance with IQ will be at the Pierre-Péladeau Center in Montreal on 16th September 2007.
The good news is that IQ will continue and they would like to hear from any keyboard players interested in stepping into Martin's illustrious shoes. Please email the band at: iqkeyboards@hotmail.com. Live dates in November and December will still be going ahead. Meanwhile, work progresses on the new studio album, with Martin's involvement, although the release date has been put back while the band concentrate on recruiting a new keyboard player. Full details will be announced nearer the time.
July 15, 2007
Capharnaüm at the 3812!
Montreal's own Capharnaüm will present a show on Friday, July 27 2007 at the aptly named Club 3812 (3812 St-Laurent Blvd., Montreal), accompanied by Montreal band After The Weather.
The experimental/instrumental progressive rock band is composed of François Blanchard and Marc-André Blanchard on guitars, Philippe-Antoine Bernard on bass and Maxime Brisebois on drums. Their latest album, Le Soleil Est Une Bombe Atomique, is available on the Unicorn Digital label. And of course, the quartet will be part of the FMPM pre-show on September 14! Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/capharnaum4music.
The show will begin at 9:00 PM, and admission is FREE!
July 13, 2007
Dimension X - A new CD!
With the release of Dimension X' Implications of a Genetic Defense, the band from Milwaukee, WI continues with two traditions: A Friday the 13th release date, and a story worthy of their old time radio namesake (Dimension X was one of the first serial science fiction radio programs, running from April 8th, 1950 until September 29th, 1951).
Implications of a Genetic Defense is a concept album that deals with the impact of modern genetic science on the law, or in the absence of law, justice. This new CD brings two new members to the group: drummer Eddie Shapanske, and guitarist Troy Stetina (aspiring shredders will be familiar with the Stetina Series of guitar books and DVDs as well as his featured column "Return to Shred" in Guitar One Magazine).
Heavy, brooding, and intricate, Implications of a Genetic Defense delivers the goods. The album will be available as of today, July 13, at all fine record stores, as well as through the Unicorn Digital online store. You can hear audio samples on the Unicorn Digital website at www.unicornrecords.com/mp3.html and also on their MySpace page at myspace.com/officialdimensionx.
June 16, 2007
Hamadryad Live CD!
Montreal's own Hamadryad is about to release their very first live CD! The album entitled Hamadryad Live In France (UNCR-5046) will be released on June 24 2007, on the Unicorn Digital label, and features the group's memorable concert at the Crescendo Progressive music festival in St-Palais Sur Mer, France, on August 18, 2006.
The new album, produced by Michel St-Père and Hamadryad, includes 12 tracks for a total of 77 minutes and captures the band in one of their most glorious and intense performances ever! The album will be available at all fine music stores, and also through the Unicorn Digital website.
The group will participate this October at the prestigious Prog-Résiste music festival at the Spirit of '66 in Verviers, Belgium, and also at the Progtoberfest music festival also in October at the University of Ottawa, ON. Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/sebasdryad.
July 12, 2007
Symphony X at the Medley!
Prog metal band Symphony X will be in Montreal on Monday, July 16 2007 at the Medley (1770 St-Denis Street, corner of René-Lévesque).
One of the prog-metal bands that has garnered the most acclaim over the years, Symphony X is composed of Russell Allen on vocals, Michael Romeo on guitars, Jason Rullo on drums, Michael Pinnella on keyboards and Michael LePond on bass. Mixing elements of neo-classical metal in the Yngwie Malmsteen/Rainbow style, with challenging instrumental brilliance inspired by Dream Theater, and symphonic progressive suites similar to Kansas and ELP the group is renowned for their virtuoso guitar work, symphonic keyboards, strong vocals and tight rhythm section!
A show not to be missed! Tickets are $27 (taxes included) and are available at the Medley boxoffice!
July 13, 2007
Crimson Sunset at the Main Hall - cancelled!
The concert of Montreal band Crimson Sunset that was to take place at the Main Hall (5390 St-Laurent Blvd. in Montreal) on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 has been cancelled because of the Main Hall's closing.
But they will be back in montreal very soon we hope. Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/crimsonsunsetband.
July 12, 2007
Close To The Edge in Buckingham!
Yes tribute band Close To The Edge will be in Buckingham, Qc on Sunday, July 15 2007 as part of the Buckingham en fête festival, accompanying none other than Harmonium tribute band Premier Ciel.
CTTE will hit the stage at 7:30 PM, and Premier Ciel's performance will begin at 9:00 PM.
Tickets for all of Sunday's events are $18, or $25 for the whole weekend from Thursday, July 12 to Sunday, July 15, available at the festival site.
May 24, 2007
Festival d'été de Québec: Spock's Beard and Ozric Tentacles!
The entire programmation of the Quebec Summer Festival, to be held from July 5 to 15, 2007, has finally been revealed, and rumors have proven to be true, prog band Spock's Beard and space rock heroes Ozric Tentacles will be in Quebec City this July for the 40th anniversary of the Festival d'été de Québec! This will be Spock's Beard's first performance in Quebec!
Here are a few highlights of the groups that might be of interest to prog fans:
Friday, July 6 2007:
Spock's Beard • Scène Molson Dry • 7:00 PM
Ozric Tentacles • Scène Molson Dry • 9:15 PM
Saturday, July 7 2007:
Nickelback • Scène Bell • 9:45 PM
Tuesday, July 10 2007:
Johnny Clegg • Scène Molson Dry • 9:45 PM
Wednesday, July 11 2007:
Adrian Belew • Scène Molson Dry • 10:00 PM
Thursday, July 12 2007:
Forgotten Tales • Scène Molson Dry • 8:00 PM
HammerFall • Scène Molson Dry • 9:30 PM
The Quebec Summer Festival's entire programmation can be found at http://www.infofestival.com/Festival/. Many of the events above are held on the Molson Dry stage located at the parc de la Francophonie near René-Lévesque Street. You can gain access to all these events with a blinking badge that costs $20 for Quebec City residents, and $30 for the general population, available on the festival site at the Hydro Québec outlets, as well as most Couche Tard convenience stores in the city of Quebec, and that badge is good for the entire duration of the festival.
June 16, 2007
Allan Holdsworth at the Montreal Jazz Fest
Guitar legend Allan Holdsworth will be in Montreal as part of the Montreal Jazz Fest, on Monday, July 2 2007 at the Spectrum (318 Ste-Catherine West).
This exceptional musician is one of the most beloved and admired guitarists in the world, in the same class as Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck or Andrew Latimer. Lauded by Musician, heralded by Zappa, the british guitarist has been a tireless musical explorer for over 30 years. He’s played with – and left his mark on – the likes of Soft Machine, Tony Williams, Jean-Luc Ponty, Bill Bruford, Gordon Beck, Jack Bruce, UK and more recently, K2, as well as leading his own groups, in pursuit of jazz fusion nirvana. Brilliant technique, blazing solos and complex compositional skills all meet in the singularly talented hands of Holdsworth, a virtuoso on the Synthaxe as well as the guitar. In his first Festival visit, he is joined by Jimmy Johnson on bass and Chad Wackerman on drums. On a note of interest, the performance will be filmed for a television special.
The show will begin at 10:00 PM, and tickets are $34.50, available through TicketPro, and at the Spectrum boxoffice, or by phone at 1-866-908-9090 (toll free). A Montreal Jazz Fest presentation.
May 16, 2007
Steve Hogarth at La Tulipe!
Marillion lead singer Steve Hogarth will be at La Tulipe (4530 Papineau Steet) on Monday, July 2 2007. Steve will be performing the only "H Natural" solo show in North-America, and will be playing classics from Marillion as well as selections from his solo albums and music that influenced his musical carreer. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the show begins at 8:00. Tickets are $35, available through www.admission.com.
June 16, 2007
Slippermen at the Woodstock en Beauce festival!
The Genesis tribute band Slippermen will perform at the Woodstock en Beauce festival on Sunday July 1st, at 7:00 PM. They will present their much acclaimed Seconds Out-Genesis Classics 76/77 show. Tickets for Sunday only are $17.55$ + taxes, or $50.90 + taxes for the entire 4-day event, available either through the Billetech or Admission networks
Slippermen is composed of Réjean Arsenault on lead & acoustic guitars and bass pedal • Nicolas Beaudoin on drums • François Fournier on bass, 12-string & acoustic guitars, bass pedals, backing vocals • Marc La Fontaine on keyboards • Sonia Pon on Flute, backing vocals • Michel Sergi on vocals, guitars, percussions. Their brilliant performance will be made even more authentic by the use of classical vintage instrument like the ARP synth, the Shergold double-neck and much more.
June 16, 2007
NEARFest 2007!
From Friday June 22 through Sunday, June 24, the highly popular and celebrated North East Art Rock Festival (NEARFest) will hold its 9th edition in the town of Bethlehem, PA, at the Zoellner Arts Center, and of course, the ProgQuébec / Unicorn Digital / FMPM / ProgMontréal team will be there in force to support and promote Quebec's progressive artists, as well as the 2nd edition of our very own festival in Montréal.
NEARFest's lineup includes for the Friday preshow Allan Holdsworth, Secret Oyster, One Shot, and the Saturday and Sunday main event will feature Magma, Hawkwind, Magenta, Pure Reason Revolution, Bob Drake, La Maschera Di Cera, NeBeLNeST, Izz, Indukti and Robert Rich.
We hope to see you there... please come by our tables and say hi. We will be accompanied this year by the band members of the group Karcius!
June 15, 2007
Rik Emmett at Le Lion D'Or!
Rik Emmett, the heart and soul of canadian rock band Triumph, will be in Montreal on Friday, June 15 2007 at Le Lion D'Or (1676 Ontario Street, Montreal) for an evening of great acoustic music featuring Rik's solo music and maybe a few classics from his old band for good measure!
Rik will be accompanied by Steve Skingley on bass and vocals, and David Dunlop on guitars. His music, much like his musical diversity, delves into jazz, blues and even some sultry bits that are reminiscent of his majestic rocking work on songs like Magic Power, Hold On and Lay It on the Line. A unique evening not to be missed with a true rock icon. Rik will also perform at the Festival des Guitares du Monde in Rouyn-Noranda on June 1st, and in Gatineau with his electric band on June 27.
The opening act will be provided by the very talented singer/songwriter/guitarist Jarah Jane. Visit her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/jarahjanemusic.
Doors open at 7:00 and the show begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $35 and are available right now through www.monbillet.ca or at www.getitpromotions.com. A Get It Promotions presentation.
May 7, 2007
Seven Virgins And A Mule in Drummondville!
ELP tribute band Seven Virgins and a Mule will be performing a concert in Drummondville on Saturday, June 16 2007 at the Salon Gaston-Mandeville (232 Dorion street, Drummondville).
This renowned tribute band is composed of Steve Andersen on keyboards, Jamie Canivet on bass, guitar & vocals and Kevin Mulligan on drums and percussion. Their setlist is mostly composed of ELP classics from the band's first five albums. Seven Virgins puts on a magnificent show; colorful, intense, precise... get ready to be blown away by their skills!
Tickets are $18.50 in advance, and $20.00 at the door.
April 11, 2007
A new festival... MARS Fest
Joining the already growing family of progressive music festival, is the new Milwaukee Art Rock Showcase Festival, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It will be held at the Miramar Theater on Saturday June 9, 2007.
Why am I talking about another prog fest in the States, you may ask? Well, it features four groups from Michel St-Père's Unicorn Digital record label... count 'em! four!
The lineup includes Hamadryad, Karcius, Dimension X, Kopecky, Far Corner, Quark Quintet, Strange Land and Magnatherium. I'm sure quite a few montrealers might be tempted to do the trip! This new event joins an ever-growing family of great progressive-music festivals like NEARFest, RoSFest, BajaProg, ProgDay, ProgPower and our very own FMPM.
The Miramar Theater is located at 2844 North Oakland Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, and the event will begin at 11 AM. Ticket price is $25. Email at marsfestival@wi.rr.com for more info on the fest.
June 15, 2007
Crimson Sunset at La Place à Côté!
Montreal/Ottawa band Crimson Sunset will be at La Place à Côté (4571, Papineau Street, corner of Mont-Royal) on Friday, June 15 2007. They will also present a show on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at the Main Hall (5390 St-Laurent Blvd. in Montreal)
Crimson Sunset is a Dream Theater tribute band composed of Isaac Dumont on drums, Marc O'Brien on bass, Sébastien Jutras on guitars, David Trottier on keyboards and Jean-Philippe Major on vocals. Their playlist covers all eras of the famous New York band.
All members are diehard Dream Theater fans who know the expectations of their audience. Crimson Sunset strives to deliver a performance that is as close to the real thing as possible. Each member painstakingly tries to recreate the magical parts that have made DT the leading band in the Progressive Rock genre. Five extremely talented musicians whose skills will blow you away!
The Place à Côté concert will begin around 9:30 PM. Tickets are $10, available at the door.
June 15, 2007
Parabole with Arapacis at Bar Katacombes tonight!
Parabole will be at the Bar Katacombes (1222 St-Laurent Blvd, Montreal) on Friday, June 15 2007. They will be accompanied by Montreal band Rustera. The group Arapacis, who was also scheduled to play, had to drop out at the last minute because of personnel changes.
The south-shore band is composed of Jonny Senécal on guitars and lead vocals, Éric Beaudin on bass and vocals and Daniel Laflamme on drums. Their catchy compositions are a brilliant mix of québécois rock. alternative and prog rock, influenced by groups like Harmonium, Muse, Ange, Free, Rush, Opeth and Porcupine Tree. Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/parabolerock.
Doors open at 8:45 PM and the show will begin at 9:15 PM. Tickets are $7 at the door.
June 14, 2007
Karcius at the Petit Café Campus tonight!
Montreal prog-fusion band Karcius will play on Thursday, June 14 2007 at the Petit Café Campus (57, Prince Arthur East) and will be accompanied by local bands Alias and Ploz.
Karcius is composed of Mingan Sauriol on keyboards, Thomas Brodeur on drums, Simon L'Espérance on guitars, and Dominique Blouin on bass, and will be performing at the M.A.R.S. Festival in Milwaukee on June 9, as well as the prestigious Cresendo prog fest in France next August. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/karcius.
Opening for Karcius, Montreal trio Alias plays a great mixture of jazzy, funky experimental prog rock, influenced by groups like Primus, Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Also onstage, Ploz is a wildly original band from Montreal, composed of Dominic D. Bérubé on drums, vocals and guitar, Samuel Lacasse on vocals and soprano clarinet, Audrey D. Bérubé on bass, Nicolas Létourneau on guitar and mandolin and Alexandra Robinson on alto clarinet. Their music is a cool blend of experimental, progressive rock, RIO and is inspired by groups like The Residents, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits and Pearl Jam!
The show will begin at 8:00 PM and tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. (email at karcius@karcius.com for tickets).
June 11, 2007
Doro Pesch with the Chris Caffery Band at Les Foufounes!
Get ready for a power prog extravaganza featuring german metal diva Doro Pesch on Tuesday, June 12 2007 at Les Foufounes Électriques (87 Ste-Catherine East, in Montreal). Accompanying Doro will be the Chris Caffery band, and Quebec's own MAG Project.
The ex-Warlock lead singer will be accompanied by Johnny Dee on drums, Nick Douglas on bass and Chris Caffery on guitars. The prolific metal queen has over 15 albums as a solo artist and with Warlock, spanning a glorious career of over 23 years! Visit Dorothy's MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/doroband.
Chris' own group, the Chris Caffery band, is composed of Chris on guitars, Paul LaPlaca on keyboards and guitars, John Macaluso on drums and Joey Bones on bass. The world renowned guitarist has over 14 albums as a solo artist, with Savatage, Doctor Butcher and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The group will be onstage just before Doro. Visit Chris Caffery's MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/chriscaffery.
And opening the evening, Quebec City's Mag Project, featuring, Marc-André (MAG) Gingras on guitars, Daniel Perron on bass, Antoine Baril on drums and Mathieu Fiset on keyboards. The virtuoso guitarist plays a powerful style of instrumental hard rock, inspired by Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Morse. Visit MAG's MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/magproject.
Doors open at 7:00 PM and the show begins at 8:00. Tickets are $20, available at the door and through www.admission.com. A Brave Concerts presentation.
June 7, 2007
Roger Waters comes back to Montreal!
After the resounding success of his concert in Montreal last september, and back by popular demand, Roger Waters will be back at the Bell Center, Thursday, June 7 2007.
Roger is continuing his North-American tour dedicated to the classic album The Dark Side Of The Moon. Roger Waters’ band will feature Andy Fairweather Low (guitar and vocals), Snowy White (guitar), Dave Kilminster (guitar and vocals), Jon Carin (keyboards and vocals), Graham Broad (drums), Harry Waters (Hammond organ), and Ian Ritchie (saxophone) and Katie Kissoon, PP Arnold and Carol Kenyon (vocals).
Set One will be a comprehensive overview of Waters' music including early Pink Floyd material; classic compositions from the masterpiece The Wall; beloved pieces from Animals, Wish You Were Here, and The Final Cut; and songs from Waters' solo tour de force: Amused To Death.
Set Two will consist of Roger Waters and full band performing The Dark Side Of The Moon, one of the defining works of rock music history, from start-to-finish, an album that sold over 35 million copies worldwide. Waters last performed The Dark Side Of The Moon live in America with Pink Floyd more than 30 years ago.
Tickets are $69.50 - $150.00 (+ service charges), available at the Bell Centre Box Office and at all Admission outlets, by phone at 514-790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595 or online at www.admission.com and www.geg.ca. A Gillett Entertainment Group presentation.
May 24, 2007
Mystery is back with a new album!
9 years after the release of the world acclaimed album Destiny? Montreal band Mystery is finally back with a new album called Beneath the Veil of Winter’s Face. The classic symphonic prog band was founded in 1986 by Michel St-Père and this new CD will be their 5th studio release.
The Album is the first full length album featuring new singer Benoit David (of CTTE fame), who joined Mystery not too long after original lead singer Gary Savoie left the band. Benoit participated in the recording of Hey You! Performed by Mystery on the Pink Floyd tribute album Signs of Time and the song Visions of Paradise, also performed by Mystery on the Moody Blues tribute album Higher and Higher. Mystery is composed of Benoît David on vocals, Michel St-Père on electric and acoustic guitars, bass and keyboards, Steve Gagné on drums and Patrick Bourque on bass (on tracks 5 & 8), also featuring additional musicians Antoine Fafard (of Spaced Out) on bass (on tracks 3, 4 & 9) and Benoît Pépin on bass (on tracks 1, 6 & 10).
This new album contains 10 songs of great new Mystery Progressive Rock. Visit the Unicorn Digital Myspace page at www.myspace.com/unicornrecords where the track Travel to the Night from Mystery's latest album can be found. The new Mystery CD is now available at all fine record stores, also on Unicorn Digital's online store at www.unicornrecords.com/store.html.
Track list: (Total Time 62:42)
As I Am (5:41)
Beneath the Veil of Winter’s Face (5:58)
Snowhite (4:07)
Travel to the Night (8:38)
The Scarlet Eye (5:35)
The Third Dream (6:11)
Voyage to the Other Side (6:24)
The Sailor and the Mermaid (5:23)
The Awakening (11:12)
The Preacher’s Fall (3:30)
May 24, 2007
ProgQuébec reissues three Morse Code albums
ProgresSon Music, in collaboration with EMI Music Canada, is proud to announce the CD reissues on its ProgQuébec label, of the three highly anticipated classic rock albums by the group Morse Code:
LA MARCHE DES HOMMES, PROCRÉATION, and JE SUIS LE TEMPS.
One of Quebec's most popular progressive rock bands in the 1970's, Morse Code, led by the multi-talented composer-singer-keyboardist Christian Simard, originally released the highly acclaimed LA MARCHE DES HOMMES in 1975 which sold over 40,000 copies. This was followed by the epic concept album PROCRÉATION in 1976, which features the epic 26-minute title-track, and finally the group's crowning achievement, JE SUIS LE TEMPS, produced in the UK in 1977.
Both LA MARCHE DES HOMMES and PROCRÉATION feature bonus tracks, and all three albums come with 12-page booklets featuring lyrics and lots of photos. The albums will be available in all fine record stores on Tuesday, May 29, 2007, and can be also ordered right now our website at www.progquebec.com.
May 22, 2007
Opeth has a new guitarist!
It is with much sadness that Opeth guitarist Peter Lindgren announced he is leaving the group after almost 16 years. In a news release, Peter mentioned that his enthusiasm wasn't there anymore, and that the constant touring took a toll on him. Band leader Mikael Åkerfeldt mentioned that this is an amicable breakup and they will always remain friends, Mikael also announced that they have found a new guitarist, Fredrik Åkesson (of Arch Enemy and Krux). Fredrik is renowned as one of the top guitarists from Sweden. Visit his MySpace at: www.myspace.com/kfredrikakesson.
May 29, 2007
Wishmaster at Le Saphir
Nightwish tribute band Wishmaster will be at club Saphir (3699 Saint-Laurent, Montréal) this Friday, June 1st 2007. The opening band Abendlitch however, could net be available for this evening.
Wishmaster delivers a blistering interpretation of classic hits of the famous finnish prog metal band. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/wishmasterband where you'll find live tracks from their recent performance in Chicoutimi.
The concert will begin around 9:00 PM. Tickets are $8, available at the door on the day of the show.
May 26, 2007
Porcupine Tree at the Métropolis tonight!
A little reminder that the Porcupine Tree show this evening in Montréal (Saturday, May 26 2007) has been moved from the Spectrum to The Metropolis (59 Ste-Catherine Street East) Tickets for the Spectrum will be honored at the Metropolis. The group will also be visiting the Salle Albert Rousseau in Quebec City on Sunday, May 27 2007.
The group whose current lineup consists of Steven Wilson on lead vocals and guitar, Richard Barbieri on keyboards, Colin Edwin on bass and Gavin Harrison on drums and percussion, announced its North-American itinerary, covering the US East and West coasts, as well as Canada, throughout the month of May! The opening act will be provided by the group "3". Visit their Myspace Page at http://www.myspace.com/3.
Tickets are $25, available through TicketPro at www.ticketpro.ca or by calling 514-908-9090.
Their new album entitled "Fear of a Blank Planet" features six (mostly lengthy) tracks, you can find an excerpt of the title track on PT's MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/porcupinetree.
May 22, 2007
Martin Levac's Turn It On Again at the Spectrum!
Genesis tribute band Turn It On Again will be on tour during the month of May 2007, presenting their Three Sides Live/Encore show in Sherbrooke, Quebec City and Montreal, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the legendary concert by Genesis at the Parc Jarry in Montreal in 1982.
The group is spearheaded by none other than The Musical Box' Martin Levac! His amazing talent, along with his uncanny resemblance vocally and stylistically to Phil Collins will surely blow away the crowd. Martin, on lead vocals and drums, will be accompanied by an all-star cast of top notch musicians, including Jean François Laprise on keyboards, François Larouche on bass, Jean-Pierre Roy on guitars and vocals, and Joey Ayoub on drums. The show will be a faithful reproduction of the Genesis concerts from the Three Sides Live/Encore Tour in 1982, and will include the sophisticated light show, costumes, instuments and the stage setup of that era.
They will be in Montreal on Friday, May 25 2007 at the venerable Spectrum (318, Ste-Catherine West, Montreal) with special guest Close to The Edge, the ultimate Yes tribute, as the opening act. The show will begin at 8:00 PM, tickets are $49.50 (all taxes included), available at the Spectrum boxoffice and also through the Ticketpro network and by phone at 1-866-908-9090.
May 12, 2007
Clive Nolan's Caamora in Montreal!
Legendary keyboardist Clive Nolan, of Pendragon, Shadowland and Arena fame, is coming to Montreal this weekend to present his latest duo project, Caamora featuring singer Agnieszka Swita.
The two will be at La Place à Côté (4571 Papineau Street, Montreal) this Friday, May 18 2007 for a wonderful evening of elegant, classical acoustic progressive music. The duo will be performing some exclusive previews of material from the forthcoming She project, as well as acoustic piano material from Clive's extensive back catalogue with Strangers on a Train, the Nolan/Wakeman projects and Arena.
Clive met Agnieszka in 2005 when she visited England from her homeland of Poland. After working together for a short while, the duo formed Caamora, and began preparing for a Rock Opera version of the Henry Rider Haggard novel, She, due for release in 2008. Clive and Agnieszka performed at the Gouveia Art Rock Festival last April, and their Quebec tour will bring them at La Place à Côté (4571 Papineau Street, Montreal) on Friday, May 18 and at the Bal du Lézard (1049, 3rd Avenue, St-Roch, in Quebec City) on Saturday, May 19.
The Montreal show will begin at 9:00 PM. Tickets for the show are $15, available through TicketPro at www.ticketpro.ca or (514) 908-9090, at La Place à Côté, at Freeson Rock (1477, Mont-Royal Street), and at the door on the day of the show. A Unicorn Digital/ProgMontreal presentation.
March 23, 2007
Oddyssey at the Bar St-Laurent 2!
Montreal prog-metal band Oddyssey will be at the Bar St-Laurent 2 (5550 St-Laurent Blvd., Montreal, corner St-Viateur) on Saturday, May 12 2007, accompanied by Arapacis.
Oddyssey is composed of Caroline Boucher on lead vocals, Eric Beaudin on guitars, vocals and synthetizers, Martin Lefebvre on guitars and synthetizers, Richard Bilodeau on bass and Nicolas Diab on drums... the group will present new compositions from their upcoming CD, as well as a few classics! Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/oddysseyweb . They will be accompanied by the progressive hard rock/goth band Arapacis for a great evening of world-class hard prog!
The show will begin around 9:00 PM and admission price is $5.
May 7, 2007
Comfortably Numb at Club Soda!
The show that many consider the finest tribute act in North America, Comfortably Numb - Canada's Pink Floyd Show, will be at the Club Soda (1225 St-Laurent, Montreal) this Friday, May 11 2007, following previous sold-out performances. Earlier this year the band played four consecutive sold-out shows in Toronto to over 4,000 enthusiastic fans.
The bands success is a testament to the continuing interest in the music and legacy of Pink Floyd, and Comfortably Numb's authentic re-creation of the Floyd experience. The new show will touch on all era's of Pink Floyd's historic career. Since forming over 12 years ago, Comfortably Numb has earned the much-deserved reputation as one of the leading Pink Floyd tribute acts in the world. Brain Damage, the only fan website in the world recognized and supported by the members of Pink Floyd and Rogers Waters, recently reviewed a show as "Considered musically, one of the best in the world!"
Led by Azim Keshavjee, a well-respected, talented and versatile musician, the bands consistently sold out shows feature world-class musicianship combined with spectacular multi-media and visual effects. Fans of all ages have endorsed Comfortably Numb as being a must-see live act.
Doors open at 7:30 PM and the show will start at 9:00 PM. Tickets are $27.50 (+ taxes) available through Ticketpro or at the Club Soda boxoffice.
April 13, 2007
Roine Stolt on Mike Portnoy & Dream Theater
Roine Stolt, the leader of the Flower Kings, was recently asked about his opinion on Dream Theater's drummer Mike Portnoy. We all recall that Roine and Mike, along with Neal Morse and Pete Trewavas, formed in early 2000 one of the most beloved "supergroup" projects in the history of progressive music, the famed Transatlantic. Roine hinted at the possibility one day of reviving this band. So here are Roine's very encouraging words on that subject:
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mike Portnoy (and for Dream Theater for that matter) for learning
and keeping these incredibly complex pieces of music in his (their) head. Besides I haven't met many musicians in my day that are as TOTALLY devoted to his music and playing as Mike Portnoy. I can't judge wether the guy is grooving, it's very much up to individual opinions, but I surely can say that his precision and attention to detail and also his definition is top notch.
I think his position as one of the leading prog drummers is well earned.
So yeah, any day if the opportunity comes along, I'd be glad to play with Mike again and yet better with Transatlantic of course, it would be great fun to do a short tour or an album."
- Roine Stolt (13/04/2007)
Now wouldn't that be fun?
February 15, 2007
Le Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville
The lineup for the 24th edition of FIMAV (Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville) has just been announced. The festival will be held from May 17 to 21 2007 at various locations throughout Vicoriaville, including the Cinéma Laurier, Le Victorin, the Cégep de Victoriaville and the Colisée Desjardins. Lovers of experimental music, RIO, avant garde and alternative jazz will really appreciate this year's eclectic selection of artists.
You can find the complete schedule of events at http://www.fimav.qc.ca/en/2007/programmation/ . Of particular interest to avant-prog fans are the first-ever North-American appearances of Acid Mothers Gong and Koenji Hyakkei! There’s also Fond Of Tigers from Vancouver (great avant-prog/jazz/whatever) and Joane Hétu’s ensemble masterpiece "Filature" (the missing link between "Wondeur Brass/Justine" and her "Musique d’hiver" projects). And if your interests in avant-garde music run larger, then there’s also two shows by Anthony Braxton trio, John Zorn solo, Marilyn Crispell and lots more!
You can find a great discussion group devoted to the festival at http://www.yahoogroups.com/groups/fimav where you will be able to discuss the lineup, ask questions, plan your transportation, eventually read reviews of the shows and discuss experimental music in general. Discussions on this board are both in French and English.
January 22, 2007
Zombi at La Sala Rossa!
The modern, experimental, progressive duo Zombi will be in Montreal on Tuesday, May 1st 2007 at La Sala Rossa (4848, St-Laurent Blvd.) along with techno proggers Trans Am & Psychic Paramount.
Producing work that is epic in concept, sound, and artistic approach, Steve Moore, on bass, guitar, mellotron and synthesizers, and A.E. Paterra, on drums and synthetizers are the masterminds and multi-instrumentalists behind Zombi. They have re-imagined the architecture of progressive rock and dynamic instrumentals – carving a niche in underground music distinctly their own.
The band's signature sound, achieved using only electric bass, drums, and a collection of analog synthesizers, is deceptively lush considering its two man skeleton crew ensemble. Moore's bass playing and meticulous synthesizer programming interacts seamlessly with Paterra's controlled, precision drumming. Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/zombi for audio excerpts of their latest work.
The show begins at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $15, available at the Sala Rossa boxoffice, by phone at (514) 284-0122 by email at info@casadelpopolo.com.
March 12, 2007
Relayers at La Place à Côté!
Yes tribute band Relayers will be playing on Friday, April 27 2007 at La Place à Côté (4571 Papineau Street).
The group is composed of Charles Fortin on bass/vocals, Simon Mercure on keys/vocals, Jean-Philippe Fortin on drums/vocals and Clément Larose on Guitars. Relayers captures the essence of Yes and delivers a spectacular performance. Their interpretation is true to the original tracks, while giving them a cool twist. The group's repertoire includes among others Yours Is No Disgrace, It Can Happen, Starship Trooper, Heart Of The Sunrise and many other classics!
The concert will begin around 9:30 PM. Tickets are $15, available at the door.
January 26, 2007
The Rebel Wheel and Solar Architect
at Le Petit Chicago in Gatineau!
Don't miss a great double-bill on Wednesday, April 18 2007 with the long-awaited performance of The Rebel Wheel and Solar Architect at Le Petit Chicago (50 Promenade Portage, Vieux-Hull).
Rebel Wheel is a Gatineau/Ottawa based modern progressive rock group with influences that range from Gentle Giant to Frank Zappa via Genesis and Rush, the band features a frenetic mix of rock aggression, odd-meter vamps, and turn-on-a-dime arrangements. The group features David Campbell on guitar, vocals, bass and keyboards, Gary Lauzon on bass, bass pedal, keyboards and acoustic guitar, Paul Joannis on guitars, keyboards, bass and drums and Alain Bergeron (ex Nathan Mahl) on drums, keys and vocals. David has been invited this year to the prestigious NEARFest prog festival to perform with RIO legend Bob Drake!
Solar Architect is a great instrumental trio influenced by progressive rock of the 70's. The Ottawa-based group features Don Fournier on guitars, Rob Niman on bass and Frank Madore on drums.
A great evening of world-class prog and a must-see event! Doors open at 8:00 PM and tickets will be available at the door for $8.
April 14, 2007
Carlo Birri, Thomas Brodeur, and friends!
An amazing evening of rock, fusion and jazz coming up at La Place à Côté (4571 Papineau Street, Montreal) this Monday, April 16 2007 with Carlo Birri and Thomas Brodeur presenting their university graduation concert, accompanied by a who's who of the best Montreal musicians!
Here's the schedule of the evening:
8:00 PM: Carlo Birri on bass, accompanied by Sabrina Paton on vocals, Jade Lavoix on vocals, Sébastien Cloutier (Hamadryad's keyboardist), Thomas Brodeur (Karcius' drummer) and Simon L'Espérance (Karcius' guitarist)
9:00 PM: Thomas Brodeur on drums, accompanied by Carlo Birri on bass, Simon L'Espérance on guitars, Sabrina Paton on vocals, Jade Lavoix on violin and vocals, Sébastien Cloutier on keyboards, Joanie labelle on percussion, and also featuring Dominique Blouin on bass and Mingan Sauriol on keys for the grand finale, Karcius style!
The two musicians will present their interpretations of classics by the likes of Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Sting, Frank Zappa, John Scofield, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin. Two solid hours of intense and captivating music! Show begins at 8:00 PM and admission is free!
February 10, 2007
An evening of japanese Post Rock with Mono!
Japanese post rock sensation Mono will be in Montreal on Friday, April 13 2007 at La Sala Rossa (4848, St-Laurent Blvd.) along The Drift and World's End Girlfriend.
Mono, a post-rock group from Tokyo, Japan that formed around 1999, has become a highly influential band in the Japanese underground and post-rock communities. Their sound is highly influenced by the likes of Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky.
They will be accompanied by World's End Girlfriend, the musical project of Katsuhiko Maeda. The band's sound blends elements of electronica and post-rock to create a unique style. Also featured is the group The Drift, an excellent dub-jazz-rock ensemble from San Francisco.
Tickets are $10 in advance, or $12 at the door on the day of the show, available at the Sala Rossa boxoffice, by phone at (514) 284-0122 by email at info@casadelpopolo.com.
March 23, 2007
A new project: The Chronicles of Israfel!
A new project on the horizon, and from what i've heard, something incredibly good... The Chronicles of Israfel is a project that Dominic Cifarelli (former guitar player for Pulse Ultra) has been working on for over a year now. This project was born during a very uncertain and difficult period in his music career leading up to the breakup of Pulse Ultra. Many late night jam sessions with best friend and former Unbind drummer Joey Bastone combined with the constant viewing of violent japanese anime movies helped form the sound of this sometimes brutal and very dark album. The first part, Starborn, Tome I, follows Israfel, the main character, in his search for a new home and the self discovery of his superior inner design. The group/project is composed of Dominic Cifarelli on guitars, bass, voices, keyboards, Vincent Cifarelli on piano, keyboards and string arrangements, Joey Bastone on drums, Americo Antonucci on lead vocals and Joey Ranallo on bass. Their elaborate prog-metal/experimental sound is influenced by the likes of Dream Theater, Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, King Crimson and Meshuggah.
Starborn will be released in late March 2007 through Bridge of Hands Entertainment, an independent arts label dedicated to the development and the distribution of original art not limited to music. This project will be the second of 3 CDs expected to be released in the new year along with brother Vincent's debut ambient record Dream Method and his solo contemporary piano album Act 1, both of equal excellence.
Starborn Part III: On A Forever Road, Nation and Kill Division are now available to listen on their Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/thechroniclesofisrafel, so start spreading the word about this one of a kind project which is sure to turn heads.
April 2, 2007
He's baack! Zoltan Czörsz rejoins The Flower Kings
Many people thought that this was an elaborate April Fool's joke yesterday, but we can confirm this is 100% for real! Zoltan Csörsz was the Flower Kings's drummmer from 2001 to 2005, and contributed to Unfold The Future, Meet The Flower Kings and Adam and Eve, he was replaced by Marcus Liliequist in 2005.
This is the official word from Roine Stolt, from the Flower Kings newsgroup this morning, as well as a neat progress report on the recording of the Flower King's forthcoming album by the Flower King himself, including some cool studio photos with Hasse and Zoltan:
«Hi all.
I just returned from a fabulous week in the studio, where all of the band were laying down the basic tracks for our new CD.
First of all, a big NO, on the rumour that Hasse Froberg is leaving the band. He has no plans or no desire whatever to go to India to teach, nor have his wife or kids. (that was an april fools joke..)
Then a big YES, Zoltan Csörsz has recorded with the band and we are all VERY excited about the quality and the sheer committment that Zoltan has put into this recording. It's too early to tell if Zoltan will play on the tour, but we won't rule it out, it all depend on our individual schedules, what however seems unlikely at this point is that Marcus can commit 100% to drumming on this tour or future tours, more news to follow later.
The recording week has been a great experience for us all, we've been in a great studio facility that have tons of vintage gear and we've had it 24/7 so we've lived there and we've worked with our trusted team of Petrus Königson as engineeer and we've had Per Nordin there videofilming the sessions, so we have hours and hours of filmed material.
The result is as far as we can see a great symphonic & progressive rock album that has more of the Retropolis / Stardust / Flower Power vibe, but perhaps a bit more "progressive" in the sense there are no short easy listening songs, however there are very melodic and likewise catchy sections integrated in these epics. A few of these songs were really difficult to play, the intricacy of time signatures had us on our toes, but it was great fun. Yes there are similarities to songs like Stardust We Are or Garden Of Dreams but perhaps even as much to the Transatlantic epics.
The energy level was on a hi all the time and I guess it shows, again Zoltan did a terrific job behind the kit, easily as good or better than his work on Unfold The Future, it even has a bit of Terry Bozzio tom tom extravaganza and a few short solo spots that are all terrific.
The sound quality is head and shoulders above what we got from the Medley on Paradox Hotel, Petrus is a genius and the Varispeed studio with its 3 NEVE desks and old U 47 Telefunkens, Neumans etc. is the coolest and the best studio I've ever recorded in, the result is top notch and the vibe there was all late 60's and early 70's. We had the pleasure to use a custom modified (by expert Brian Davenport) Hammond B3 that sounded just fabulous and along with that we will, or have used a real Minimoog, Wurlizer, Fender Rhodes piano and a Grand Piano.
This means that this album will see more of the vintage keyboard sounds than on any other TFK record, I feel it goes well with the songs that have great melodic and warm melodies that take me back to the glory days of Procol Harum, ELP, Genesis, Yes, Focus, Gentle Giant, Jethro Tull, Deep Purple and The Beatles. I have tried to remember the feeling of standing on stage when the band sound great and we really feel like we're moving air and we're moving peoples hearts and I've tried to write from that perspective, perhaps with a less intellectual style and more of a direct soulful vibe.
Now we have a few weeks of overdubbing vocals and percussion, extra guitars and keys and hopefully by mid June, we will deliver a steaming hot new CD album to Inside Out that we're proud of and that will take you back to the glory days of prog.
In my opinion TFK have never sounded better and never delivered such a compact collection of what we do best, I admit we took a few (interesting) detours but this is what defines the band, this is as close as it gets to what I set out to do 12 years ago.
Oh, by the way, did I mention that Hasse will be singing with us on the next tour? ...and the next... And no drummer will take the lead mike, nor will we turn our amps up to more than 11, we will try keep it just below that 11 mark.
Roine Stolt (April 2nd 2007) .»
April 5, 2007
Karcius and Vecteur K at l'Hémisphère Gauche!
Another great double-bill coming up this Friday, April 6 2007 when Montreal prog fusion band Karcius will perform with the group Vecteur K at l'Hémisphère Gauche (221 Beaubien Street East, Montreal).
Karcius is back by popular demand after their amazing performance at La Place à Côté on February 23. The group, composed of Mingan Sauriol on keyboards, Thomas Brodeur on drums, Simon L'Espérance on guitars, and Dominique Blouin on bass, are renowned for their highly dynamic and energetic shows. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/karcius.
They will be accompanied by Repentigny band Vecteur K. We all remember this brilliant young band who opened for The Musical Box at the Bell Center last December in front of over 7500 people! The group is composed of Marc-Antoine Sauvé on guitars, Benoit Dalpé on bass, Éric Cournoyer on drums and Marc-André Noël on vocals and guitars. They play a fresh, dynamic mix of francophone alt-rock and progressive music, with influences as varied as Genesis, Harmonium, Supertramp and Dream Theater. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/vecteurk .
The show will begin at 9:00 PM and tickets are $8, available at the door on the day of the show.
March 27, 2007
Seven Virgins and a Mule... finally in Montreal this Saturday!
A reminder to fans of Emerson, Lake and Palmer that Toronto-based ELP tribute band Seven Virgins and a Mule will perform for the first time in Montreal this Saturday, March 31 2007 at La Place à Côté (4571, Papineau Street, corner of Mont-Royal).
This renowned tribute band is composed of Steve Andersen on keyboards, Jamie Canivet on bass, guitar & vocals and Kevin Mulligan on drums and percussion. Their setlist is mostly composed of ELP classics from the band's first five albums. Seven Virgins puts on a magnificent show; colorful, intense, precise... get ready to be blown away by their skills!
The show will begin around 9:00 PM and tickets are $15, available right now at the La Place à Côté boxoffice, or at the door on the day of the show.
January 22, 2007
Heaven and Hell in Montreal!
The grandaddies of metal will be coming to Montreal with a reunion of the Ronnie James Dio era Black Sabbath! HEAVEN AND HELL have announced their first tour dates for 2007 and will visit the the Bell Center in Montreal on Monday, March 26, 2007. The tour will feature 11 Canadian shows, along with an exciting one-night-only performance at one of the most prestigious venues in the world, New York's Radio City Music Hall. Heaven and Hell reunites Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice for the first time in 15 years.
Multi-platinum recording artist Megadeth will be joining the tour, and previewing never before heard material from their upcoming release on Roadrunner Records, United Abominations. The tour also brings the return of Down, featuring Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown from Pantera, as well as Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity. This will undisputedly be the most anticipated hard rock tour of 2007.
The heavy metal icons are also scheduled to release (anticipated date April 3rd) a new anthology entitled Black Sabbath: The Dio Years. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the show begins at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $49.50 - $59.50 (+ service charges) and are available at the Bell Centre box office and at all Admission outlets, also by phone at (514) 790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595 or online at www.admission.com and www.geg.ca. A Gillett Entertainment Group presentation!
February 10, 2007
Explosions In The Sky at Le National!
Post rock group Explosions In The Sky will be in Montreal on Friday, March 23 2007 at Le National (1220 Ste-Catherine East, Montreal), accompanied by The Paper Chase and Eluvian.
Explosions in the Sky is a post-rock band originating out of Texas. They primarily play with three guitars (on occasion one of them being a bass) and a set of drums. The band typically creates instrumental songs, which tend develop over the span of many minutes. Their sound is influenced by the likes of Mogwai and Godspeed you Black Emperor.
Doors open at 7:30 PM and the show begins at 8:30 PM, tickets are $15.00, available at all Admission outlets, also by phone at (514) 790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595 or online at www.admission.com and are also available at the National boxoffice. LATEST NEWS: The show is sold-out, but there might be a few tickets showing up on the day of the show!
March 17, 2007
Seismic Cry at La Place à Côté this Thursday!
Montreal progressive rock band Seismic Cry will be at La Place à Côté (4571, Papineau Street, corner of Mont-Royal) on Thursday, March 22 2007.
The group plays a wonderful blend of symphonic progressive rock and celtic ballads, with influences that cover Genesis to Philip Glass and Ozric Tentacles to Frank Zappa! Their two albums, The Hopeless Flare (2004) and Reverence (2006), received critical acclaim. Visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/seismiccry.
The show will begin at 9:00 PM and tickets are $4, available at the door on the day of the show.
February 10, 2007
Isis at Le National!
Post rock group Isis will be in Montreal on Sunday, March 18 2007 at Le National (1220 Ste-Catherine East, Montreal), accompanied by Jesu and Zozobra.
Isis is a Los Angeles based band, founded in Boston in 1997. They are attributed a great range of labels, including avant garde metal, post-metal, post-rock and experimental, having borrowed from and helped to evolve a sound pioneered by the likes of Neurosis and Godflesh, creating heavy music consisting of lengthy songs that focus on repetition and evolution of structure. The group will be accompanied by Jesu, an experimental/drone doom/post-metal band formed Justin Broadrick, formerly of Godflesh. Also featured will be the group Zozobra.
Doors open at 7:30 PM and the show begins at 8:30 PM, tickets are $16.50, available at all Admission outlets, also by phone at (514) 790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595 or online at www.admission.com and are also available at the National boxoffice.
March 17, 2007
FMPM: Tickets on sale now!
Tickets for the Festival des Musiques Progressives de Montréal went on sale Friday, March 9. Gold tickets are available exclusively at www.progquebec.com (which also has the lowest fees). Regular tickets are also available through ProgQuébec, at the Pierre Peladeau Center box office and through www.admission.com.
March 12, 2007
Crimson Sunset at La Place à Côté!
Montreal/Ottawa band Crimson Sunset will be at La Place à Côté (4571, Papineau Street, corner of Mont-Royal) on Friday, March 16 2007.
Crimson Sunset is a Dream Theater tribute band composed of Isaac Dumont on drums, Marc O'Brien on bass, Sébastien Jutras on guitars, David Trottier on keyboards and Jean-Philippe Major on vocals. Their playlist covers all eras of the famous New York band.
All members are diehard Dream Theater fans who know the expectations of their audience. Crimson Sunset strives to deliver a performance that is as close to the real thing as possible. Each member painstakingly tries to recreate the magical parts that have made DT the leading band in the Progressive Rock genre. Five extremely talented musicians whose skills will blow you away!
The concert will begin around 9:00 PM. Tickets are $12, available at the door. A Unicorn Digital Concerts / ProgMontréal presentation!
March 8, 2007
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum at La Tulipe this Tuesday!
Get ready for San-Francisco band Sleepytime Gorilla Museum to hit the stage of La Tulipe (4530 Papineau, Montreal, 514-529-5000) this Tuesday, March 13 2007 with their amazing no humans allowed performance of controlled insanity! Accompanying SGM is Secret Chiefs 3, a brilliant avant-garde band featuring former Mr. Bungle guitarist Trey Spruance.
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is composed of Nils Frykdahl on guitars, flute and vocals, Matthias Bossi on drums, glockenspiel, xylophone and vocals, Dan Rathbun on bass, log, roach, trombone, lute and vocals, Moe Staiano on percussions and glockenspiel, Carla Kihlstedt on violins, percussion guitar, autoharp, organ and vocals and Frank Grau on drums and melodica. Musically inspired by the likes of Henry Cow and Meshuggah on a heavy metal diet, their exuberant avant-garde theatrical performances will appeal to RIO fans that are fond of Thinking Plague with a punk metal edge! among the highlights of their colorful shows, the band members use several hand-made eclectic musical instruments.
The show begins at 9:00 PM and tickets are $17, available at all Admission outlets, also by phone at (514) 790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595 or online at www.admission.com and are also available at the La Tulipe Boxoffice in advance and on the day of the show, and at Cheap Thrills and L'Oblique. A Greenland & GEG Presentation.
January 24, 2007
Morse Code and Maneige classics on ProgQuébec records!
Montreal, January 18, 2007 – ProgresSon Music Inc., announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with EMI Music Canada to reissue some of the best progressive rock of the 1970’s created by Quebec artists. This agreement will cover the reissue on CD of three albums by the classic progressive rock group Morse Code: La Marche des Hommes, Procréation, and Je Suis le Temps, as well as the first two albums by the classically trained ensemble Maneige: Maneige and Les Porches. ProgresSon will release these titles through its ProgQuébec label. All of the recordings will be remastered and will include histories and photos of the groups, as well as bonus tracks and unreleased material.
All five of these albums have been unavailable legally on CD until now, and risk vanishing as part of Quebec’s vibrant culture. In addition, foreign companies were pirating CDs of these albums from vinyl records, an illegal process that deprives artists from getting paid royalties. Consistent with its founding mission, ProgresSon seeks to curtail piracy and produce legitimate, high-quality reissues of long out-of-print albums by Quebec artists, and now thanks to EMI Music Canada this will become a reality.
“We are extremely grateful to EMI Canada for allowing us to reissue these musical treasures,” states Stephen Takacsy, President of ProgresSon. “For a major label to work with a non-profit organization for the preservation of Quebec culture speaks volumes about its sense of responsibility towards the arts.” “Partnering with ProgresSon makes perfect sense for us, because they are specifically focused on promoting progressive music from Quebec on CD, and this will help us expand our digital catalogue” says Ralph Singh, Manager of Clearances and Licensing at EMI Canada. ProgresSon also hopes to work with other major labels so that Quebec’s progressive musical legacy, much of which is still only available on vinyl, can be readily accessible to Canadians, as well as in international markets. These albums have been scheduled to be released throughout 2007 and early 2008.
February 14, 2007
New releases from Unicorn Digital!
Unicorn Digital will be quite busy in February and March with several new releases. Here is their official calendar:
February 17: ACTIONMEN - The Game
March 1st: UNITOPIA - More Than a Dream
March 15: GOURISHANKAR - 2nd Hands
March 22: CAPHARNAÜM - Le Soleil est une Bombe Atomique
April 1st: MYSTERY - Beneath the Veil of Winter's Face
And many more releases to come throughout the summer!
Ukrainian band KARFAGEN is back with a brand new album! Their latest effort, The Space Between Us, has been released on February 11 2007 on Unicorn Digital. The group's previous album, Continium, was released in July 2006 and took the prog community by surprise. As of this day, it is still praised both by critics and fans.
Here is Karfagen's Antony Kalugin comments on this new release: "The space between rock and jazz, between sorrow and joy. This is the story about the space between you and me. We are in different places, but always close to each other. The new Karfagen album is another great journey in to the world of musical landscapes, where two lonely souls always will meet."
This new album will be available at any good record store, and also through the Unicorn webstore at http://www.unicornrecords.com/store.html .
February 5, 2007
Karcius with Kamendja at La Place à Côté!
A great double-bill coming up on Friday, February 23 2007 when Montreal prog fusion band Karcius will perform with the group Kamendja at La Place à Côté (4571, Papineau Street, corner of Mont-Royal).
Karcius are back at La Place à Côté after their spectacular performance at FMPM last year. The group, composed of Mingan Sauriol on keyboards, Thomas Brodeur on drums, Simon L'Espérance on guitars, and Dominique Blouin on bass, are renowned for their highly dynamic and energetic shows. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/karcius.
They will be accompanied by Montreal band Kamendja. The group is composed of Dominic Gamelin on guitars, banjo and sitar, Alexandre Gauthier on bass, Pascal Lepage on drums and percussion and with special guest Jeannot Bournival on saxophone. Their intense, jam-fusion style is influenced by Tool, 311 and Rabih Abou-Khalil. Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/kamendja.
The show will begin at 9:00 PM and tickets are $10, available at the door on the day of the show.
January 24, 2007
A new live album from VdGG!
Legendary proggers Van der Graaf Generator will release Real Time, a live double album on FIE! Records on Monday, March 5 2007.
On May 6 2005, Van der Graaf Generator staged their reunion concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The event had sold out within days of its announcement and over twenty five different nationalities were represented among the ticket holders, none of whom believed that they would ever see Banton, Evans, Jackson and Hammill perform again as VdGG. After all, the last time they had done so had been twenty nine years previously. Expectations and stakes were high!
Collective breath was held as they advanced on stage. What would they play? How would it sound? Would it be worth risking the reputation of the past with these present efforts?
With suprises as well as old favourites, new songs as well as recovered classics, the event was, in the end, a triumph for critics and public alike. The Real Time double CD contains every note from first to last in real time as a true document of a unique occasion. The tracklist will include: Undercover Man, Scorched Earth, Refugees, Every Bloody Emperor, Lemmings, (In The) Black Room, Nutter Alert, Darkness (11/11), Masks, Childlike Faith in Childhood's End, The Sleepwalkers, Man-erg, Killer and Wondering.
January 24, 2007
An upcoming album from Alamaailman Vasarat!
Finnish avant-garde band Alamaailman Vasarat will release a new album early this year. This amazing band is composed of Miikka Huttunen on pump organ, grand piano and keyboards, Jarno Sarkula on saxophone, clarinet & other woodwinds, Tuukka Helminen on cello, Marko Manninen also on cello, Teemu Hänninen on drums and percussion and Erno Haukkala on trombone, tuba, and piccolo trombone.... that's right, no guitars! Their unique sound is an insanely brilliant mix of RIO, klezmer and heavy metal, and is compared to early Klezmatics, Nimal and Univers Zéro. The group is renowned for their incredible, colorful and flamboyant shows, and for the long-haired headbanger trombone player... And who can forget their blistering, jaw-dropping performance at NEARFest 2003!
After intensive recording sessions at Petrax Studios, the recording, mixing and mastering of the new album is finished! This new CD is called Maahan (Into the ground) and features the best Vasar-Asian traffic jam music ever produced by man! You will find on their website at www.vasarat.com two delicious teasers of the upcoming album... Kyyhylly (Viper shelf) and Helmi Otsalla (Pearl on the forehead). The album will most probably be released mid-March 2007. How does it sound? Pure Alamaailman Vasarat, that's for sure, and freakier than ever!
January 6, 2007
Slippermen in Trois Rivières
The Genesis tribute band Slippermen will perform at Le Maquisart (323, rue des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Qc Tel: 819-379-0235) on Saturday, February 10 2007. The concert will begin at 9:30 PM. Tickets will be available at the Maquisart box office and will cost $20.
Slippermen is composed of Réjean Arsenault on lead & acoustic guitars and bass pedal • Nicolas Beaudoin on drums • François Fournier on bass, 12-string & acoustic guitars, bass pedals, backing vocals • Marc La Fontaine on keyboards • Sonia Pon on Flute, backing vocals • Michel Sergi on vocals, guitars, percussions. Their brilliant performance will be made even more authentic by the use of classical vintage instrument like the ARP synth, the Shergold double-neck and much more.
January 31, 2007
A new Porcupine Tree album soon... (updated)
With the new year chiming in comes news of a new Porcupine Tree album! Here are the latest news from the PTree website:
"01-06-2007 - Roadrunner Records and Atlantic USA have officially announced the release of the new Porcupine Tree album "Fear of a Blank Planet" in mid April. The album features six (mostly lengthy) tracks, and is the band’s most ambitious and cohesive work to date. Much of it was debuted last year on tour to a rapturous response from fans.
The lyrical content of the song-cycle on the album is a 21st century cocktail of MTV, sex, prescription drugs, video games, the internet, terminal boredom, and subsequent escape.
More news and previews of the album to follow on http://www.porcupinetree.com/ ".
LATEST NEWS: Following two album playback events in New York and at Abbey Road in London, the track listing of the new PTree album Fear Of A Blank Planet has been revealed:
Fear of a Blank Planet............7:28
My Ashes.................................5:07
Anesthetize...........................17:.42
Sentimental.............................5:26
Way Out of Here.....................7:37
Sleep Together......................7:28.
The album is set for April release through Roadrunner in Europe, Atlantic in the US, and WHD Entertainment in Japan. According to a band update, "It's likely that both the stereo CD and 5.1 surround sound DVDA will be packaged together as standard. Please note that a version of the album currently listed on several mail order sites in Japan with an additional track included in the running order, and supposedly coming out in March, categorically does not exist, so do not order it!"
In the latest issue of the Porcupine Tree fanzine Carbon Nation (issue #6), it is revealed that both Rush' Alex Lifeson and King Crimson's Robert Fripp will be making guest appearances on the Fear of a Blank Planet album.
The group has also posted some European and North American dates for February and March 2007, and will be announcing more dates very soon. Let's keep our fingers crossed that they will make a detour through Montreal on this latest tour.
January 22, 2007
A new Addicted Bones DVD now available,
and an upcoming show!
The long-awaited DVD from Montreal band Addicted Bones is now available! Recorded at the Maison de la culture Mercier on May 10, 2006, the DVD incudes 4 tracks from the live concert, and a colorful booklet containing many great photos of the show. You can also see a performance by special musical guest Patrick Lemieux of the group Kaïn.
Addicted Bones is composed of Annie Saumur on lead vocals, Martin Robert on guitars, Jonathan Moorman on violin, Serge Larouche on bass and Frédéric Brossoit on drums. The group offers a brilliant mix of alternative, progressive music with an irish twist. A moving musical odyssey where vocals and violin blend seamlessly. The irish influences of Annie and Jonathan combine admirably with the bluesy side of Martin. Each musician brings an essential element to the music, but more importantly, they bring their passion, their depth and their soul. A moving show where intensity and power mix with their ethereal sensitivity.
The Addicted Bones DVD is available through the Productions Farouche website at www.productionsfarouche.com and costs $20.
And don't miss your chance to see Addicted Bones in concert on Wednesday, February 7 2007 at CEGEP Marie-Victorin (7000, Marie-Victorin Street, in Montreal) where you'll be able to get the latest DVD and CDs!
Visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/addictedbones where you'll find audio and video excerpts of their latest tracks!
January 31, 2007
Kaos Moon in Beloeil!
After their captivating performance last year at FMPM, Kaos Moon will be back onstage to present a concert this Saturday, February 3 2007 at the Auditorium de La Polybel – 725 Lévis Street – in Beloeil.
For this performance, the lineup will include Bernard Ouellette on vocals, guitars, keyboards, drums and percussion, Denis Mailloux on drums, Denis Boulanger on keyboards, Sylvain Provost on guitars, Jean-François Bélanger on violin, nykelharpa, sitar, bouzouki and guitars, and special guest Jean-François Désilets (of Hamadryad fame) on bass and back vocals!
The show begins at 7:00 PM and tickets are $20, available though Studio Amadeus by phone at (450) 436-8816 or at the door on the day of the show. All benefits of this concert will go to the «France Soccer 2007» organization.
December 11, 2006
Slippermen: A holiday show in Montreal
The Genesis tribute band Slippermen is offering Montrealers a special holiday treat... on Saturday, December 30 2006 at the Petit Café Campus (57, Prince Arthur East), the group will present their full "Seconds Out" show. Tickets are now available at all Admission outlets, at the cost of $20 (+ service charges). Order online at www.admission.com or contact the group at info@slippermen.ca .
The group will also perform on Saturday, January 13 2007 at Bar Chez Maurice (1897 Ste-Angélique in St-Lazare, 450-455-3544). Two 1-hour sets will be presented. The show begins at 9:30 PM and tickets are $10.00 at the door.
And one more show... the group will be at Le Maquisart (323, rue des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Qc Tel: 819-379-0235) on Saturday February 10, 2007 . The concert will begin at 8:30 PM. Tickets will be available at the Maquisart box office and will cost $20.
Slippermen is composed of Réjean Arsenault on lead & acoustic guitars and bass pedal • Nicolas Beaudoin on drums • François Fournier on bass, 12-string & acoustic guitars, bass pedals, backing vocals • Marc La Fontaine on keyboards • Sonia Pon on Flute, backing vocals • Michel Sergi on vocals, guitars, percussions. Their brilliant performance will be made even more authentic by the use of classical vintage instrument like the ARP synth, the Shergold double-neck and much more.
December 8, 2006
In The Air Tonight, a tribute to Phil Collins at La Tulipe
Phil Collins tribute band In The Air Tonight will be performing at La Tulipe (4530 Papineau Street, Montreal) on Thursday, December 28 2006.
With all the talk about the upcoming Genesis reunion and North-American tour, the end of 2006 will decidedly be a great period to catch a Genesis-related show in Montreal!
In The Air Tonight was created in 1996 by renowned multi-instrumentalist and session musician Steve Gagné. Composed of 10 musicians, including 2 drummers, a brass section and back-vocalists, this tribute band is unique in North America. And just like Phil Collins, Steve sings and plays piano and drums! Steve plays over 24 Collins classics, including In the Air Tonight, Take Me Home, One More Night, and of course a few Genesis standards, including Mama, Turn It On Again and In too Deep.
Tickets cost $20 and are available at La Tulipe (514) 529-5000 and at all Admission outlets, also by phone at (514) 790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595 or online at www.admission.com . A La Compagnie LCC production.
December 11, 2006
The Musical Box at the Bell Center this Friday:
Selling England By The Pound
After the amazing success of their "Lamb Lies Down" show last November at the Bell Center, Montreal's own The Musical Box is at it again, and will this time present their stunning recreation of "Genesis - Selling England By The Pound" on Friday, December 15 2006 at the Bell Center theatre.
Well known for their high quality re-creations of Genesis’ shows at the time of Peter Gabriel, The Musical Box will perform this meticulous recreation of the "Selling England" show that was originally presented by Genesis in 1973 and 1974, this famous concert is still considered today as the pièce de résistance of their career. Impressively, The Musical Box is the only group to have obtained the Worldwide License of Genesis and Peter Gabriel.
This particular replica has required exhaustive visual, scenic, audio and musical research even tracking down the original music instruments used at the time. The visual aspect of The Musical Box's "Selling England by the Pound" is based on hundreds of amateur films and pictures taken at the Genesis concerts, as well as the original slides used by the group.
The Musical Box has presented 140 concerts in North and South America and another 10 in European cities, including a third time performance at the London Royal Albert Hall and two sold out nights at the legendary Olympia of Paris. After seeing their incredible "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" concert in Geneva last year, Phil Collins declared: «The Musical Box play it better than we did ».
Performed for the last time in Montreal in 2003 and at NEARFest on July 9 2004, "Selling England by the Pound" is a unique opportunity to discover this mystical Genesis concert and to relive a historic rock moment with The Musical Box!
Tickets are $41.50 - $51.50 (+ service charges) and are available at the Bell Centre box office and at all Admission outlets, also by phone at (514) 790-1245 or 1-800-361-4595 or online at www.admission.com and www.geg.ca. A Gillett Entertainment Group presentation!
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