February 23, 2012
Brit Floyd at the Place des Arts
Brit Floyd, The World's Greatest Pink Floyd show, will be touring Quebec, making a stop in Montreal at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of the Place des Arts on Friday March 2 and Saturday, March 3 2012. The show will begin at 8:00 PM and tickets are $42.35 / $46.70, available through the PDA website and at the PDA boxoffice.

Especially created by Brit Floyd musical director Damian Darlington to celebrate the release of the brand new official Pink Floyd 'Best Of' album, the performance will include all of Pink Floyd's best work, in its entirety - track by track - and as selected, personally, by Pink Floyd band members themselves.

As an extra bonus, and back by popular demand, Brit Floyd's new show will also include a full 23 minute show-stopping rendition of Echoes, taken from Pink Floyd's classic 1971 album, Meddle. The show will also include; Hey You, See Emily Play, The Happiest Days of Our Lives, Another Brick In The Wall pt 2, Have A Cigar, Wish You Were Here, Time, The Great Gig In The Sky, Money, Comfortably Numb, Echoes, High Hopes, Learning To Fly, The Fletcher Memorial Home, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Brain Damage, Eclipse and Run Like Hell.

The group will also be at the Granada Theatre in Sherbrooke on Thursday, March 8 2012 and at the Grand Théâtre in Québec City on Friday, March 9 and Saturday March 10, 2012 as part of the Floyd Fest.

February 23, 2012
New music
Cool new music from all around the world, here are some recent (and future) releases of interest:

RPWL - Beyond Man and Time:
Their first album in four years, RPWL's Beyond Man and Time will be relased on March 13, 2012. The new concept album will feature 11 tracks and will be available in regular and Deluxe editions. The CD can be preordered at www.gentleartofmusic.com/shop, and will be available at all good indie record stores including Freeson Rock.

Secret Society of Starfish - Dark Reflections from the Water's Edge:
A progressive rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Secret Society of Starfish present their debut album Dark Reflections from the Water's Edge. They have been described as Tool meets Porcupine Tree and their intricate music ranges from hard-driving to complex to ethereal instrumentals. Signed to Unicorn Digital, Secret Society of Starfish has performed with prog icons Yes, hard rockers King's X and many prog, metal and rock acts around the Midwest. The group is composed of veteran musicians from Milwaukee area prog-rock groups and features Pablo Sepulveda Jr. on vocals, D.R. Burkowitz on bass, Chris Vincent on drums, guitarist Joe Kopecky and Jeffrey Konkol on keys. Fantastic, catchy compositions added to top-notch musicianship make this an absolute must-have! The CD is available in Digipak format from the Unicorn Digital webstore and at all good indie record stores including Freeson Rock.

ARZ - Turn of the Tide:
A duo from Portland, OR, ARZ features guitarist/singer Steve Adams and drummer Merrill Hale. Their music is a mixture of classic symphonic prog from Britain and american power rock, with captivating compositions and brilliant polyphonic harmonies. The CD is available in Digipak format from the Unicorn Digital webstore and at all good indie record stores including Freeson Rock.

Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion:
One of the most anticipated projects in years, Storm Corrosion is a musical collaboration between Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) and Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree). The project's self-titled first studio album will be released on April 23, 2012 through Roadrunner Records and has been described by Wilson as being the final part in the odd trilogy of records completed by Opeth's Heritage and Steven Wilson‘s brand new solo album Grace for Drowning. No doubt this album will probably rank highly on various top ten lists in 2012! The album will be available at all good record stores, including HMV and Archambault.

February 5, 2012
Brian Doerner leaves Saga
Ex-Helix (and now ex-Saga) drummer Brian Doerner has left the band at the end of January, this latest news comes about one year to the day after the announcement of Michael Sadler's return to the group. Here's the official release from www.sagaontour.ca: "We would like to announce that after 6 years of touring and recording together, Brian Doerner and Saga have parted ways. We would like to take this time to thank Brian and wish him all the best in his future endeavours and musical journey.
 
Saga is gearing up for an exciting 2012 with the upcoming release of the much anticipated new CD that marks Michael Sadler’s return. The new CD, to be called 20/20, marks the bands 20th studio release and will be available soon in stores and on line under Edel’s earMUSIC label. Following the new release will be summer and fall dates in Canada, USA, Europe and South America. Please check back often for show date announcements as they are posted."

No announcement yet on who will replace Brian.

February 5, 2012
New music
Cool new music from all around the world, here are some recent (and future) releases of interest:

Flying Colors - Flying Colors:
Mascot Label Group is pleased to announce the release of the eponymous debut album from Flying Colors – the spectacular new virtuoso prog/pop/metal rock band formed by drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater) and guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple). The album will be released on Tuesday March 27 2012. Flying Colors is Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Dave LaRue (bass), Neal Morse (keyboards, vocals), Casey McPherson (lead vocals, guitar), and Steve Morse (lead guitar). “This album has bits and pieces of what you’d expect from each of us,” says Portnoy. “The sum of all its parts led to brand new, unchartered territory for everyone involved.”

The formation of Flying Colors began with a simple idea: virtuoso musicians and a pop singer joining together to make new-fashioned music the old fashioned way. Refreshing, classic, old and new, the recordings are saturated with the many styles, tones and hues of the players who in becoming a band have delivered a unique fusion of vintage craftsmanship and contemporary music.Touring plans for Flying Colors will be announced in the coming months.

The album can be pre-ordered from Mascot Label's webstore, and will be availavle at all good record stores, including Archambault.

Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson - Thick As A Brick 2 - Whatever Happened To Gerald Bostock?:
Yes it’s official! Ian Anderson’ Jethro Tull has announced that some forty years since the release of Thick As A Brick - the sequel, Thick As A Brick (Whatever Happened To Gerald Bostock?), will hit the streets on 2nd April 2012. TAAB2 is a full length Progressive Rock “concept” album worthy of its predecessor. Boy to man and beyond, it looks at what might have befallen the child poet Gerald Bostock in later life.

To be released in two formats: the simple jewel case CD with 8-page booklet and the Special Edition with CD, audio-visual DVD and 16-page booklet. The DVD contains 5.1 surround mixes, 24-bit stereo mix, videos covering the making of the album, interviews with the musicians and the lyric reading where ian Anderson reads the lyrics in various settings.

Check out this YouTube clip preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jZMCBEsZM
The album will be available at all good record stores, including HMV and Archambault.

Ambeon - Fate of a Dreamer - Expanded Edition:
After being out of print for several years, Ambeon Fate of a Dreamer is going to be reissued in a brand new, expanded edition! Originally released in 2001, Arjen’s mysterious and ambient Ambeon project features the amazing vocal talents of Astrid van der Veen, who was only 14 years old at the time of recording. Ambeon Fate of a Dreamer - Expanded Edition is now available at the Arjen Lucassen webstore. Signed copies are available exclusively through Arjen's site, and custom signings are possible (just specify your wishes during checkout).

January 22, 2012
Afterglow - A World of Genesis tribute at Calistoga Grill
Don't miss the inaugural performance of the Genesis tribute band Afterglow - A World of Genesis on Saturday, March 3 2012 at the Calistoga Grill (Plaza Pointe-Claire, corner of Donegani & Maywood • 514-630-7577). Acoustic guitarist Paul Belley will be the opening act.

A brand new tribute band with a top notch team of musicians including Réjean Arsenault on acoustic and electric lead guitars, vocals, Nicolas Beaudoin on acoustic and electronic drums, Francois Fournier om taurus pedals, bass and rhythm guitars, vocals, Michel Sergi on lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass pedals and keyboard wizard Sébastien Cloutier on keys and acoustic guitar! Their setlist will include all the great prog rock standards of the 70s as well as a few off the beaten track surprises and even a few hits from individual Genesis members' solo carreers.

Afterglow's performance will begin a bit after 9:00 PM and admission is $15.

January 8, 2012
Supergroup Les Vikings plays The Wall
Quebec's best best known musicians are uniting together for a benefit concert and will perform the prog rock classic The Wall by Pink Floyd in its entirety! Les Vikings is composed of an all-star cast comprized of Martin Deschamps, Marie-Denise Pelletier, Hugo Lapointe, Alexandre Désilets, Marc Déry, Bruno Pelletier, Eva Avila, Martin Giroux, Stéphanie Bédard, Richard Petit, Bilal Butt, Michel Bruno and Blacky, accompanied by the Pierre Dupuy School choir.

The concert will be held on Tuesday, February 28 2012 at Le National (1220 Ste-Catherine East) and funds will go to the Fonds Jason helping young adults suffering from cancer. This concert will also mark the release of the worldwide release of EMI's discovery 7-disk Boxset of Pink Floyd's The Wall.

The show will begin at 8:00 PM and tickets are $29.95, available through Admission and at Le National boxoffice.

February 14, 2012
Tarkus Live in L’Assomption
Emerson, Lake and Palmer tribute band Tarkus Live will be in L'Assomption on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Théâtre Hector Charland (225, boulevard de L'Ange-Gardien, L'Assomption • 450-589-9198).

Based on ELP's 1974 tour, Tarkus Live presents material from the bands first five albums.

Tickets for the L'Assomption show are $34.50 /$38.50, available through Admission or at the Théâtre Hector-Charland boxoffice. The show will begin at 8:00 PM.

November 4, 2011
Symphony X at Metropolis
A long-time Montreal favorite, New Jersey's Symphony X will be at the Metropolis (59 Ste-Catherine Street East, Montreal • 514-844-3500) on Sunday, February 5 2012, accompanied by Iced Earth and Warbringer.

The show will begin at 7:00 PM and tickets are $35.10/$39.49, available through Ticketmaster and at the Metropolis boxoffice.

December 30, 2011
Hamadryad at the Petit Campus
It's been a while since the guys have performed together... but fear not, Montreal proggers Hamadryad will be back onstage on Sunday, January 8 2012 at the Petit Campus (57 Prince Arthur East, Montreal • 514-844-1010) to welcome the new year! Hamadryad will be accompanied by two great bands from Vermont, Insignya and Casio Bastard! Admision price is a modest $5 and a splendid time will be had by all, guaranteed!

Check out Hamadryad's new online shop at hamadryadmusic.com where you'll find the entire discography of the bans, and many other cool collectables and memorabilia items.