Below are the bands that have been announced to date for NEARfest 2010. Use the icon to read a brief biography of each band, check out the personnel that will be performing, and listen to exclusive MP3s approved by the bands. Go to the Schedule page to view the sequence and set lengths for the weekend.
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ENGLAND SYMPHONIC/FUSION |
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The Ultimate Zero Project is primarily an instrumental lineup and features a revolving list of virtuoso musicians. The project performs music from Eddie's latest project UKZ, his solo work and also delves into his back catalog with the many projects and acts he has been a part of and helped create.
For those of you who may not know Eddie Jobson's history here is a quick synopsis for you. From his childhood in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, England Eddie started playing piano at age seven and violin at eight. By the time he was 17 he joined Curved Air and from there he stepped in to take the reins from Brian Eno in Roxy Music. In 1976 Eddie became a member of Frank Zappa's band. Then in 1977 the mighty UK was born. Joining Eddie in this monstrous band were Bill Bruford, John Wetton and Allan Holdsworth with Terry Bozzio replacing Bruford for the second and third releases. The band broke up in 1980 and solo work ensued. Shortly after Eddie was asked if he would participate on Ian Anderson's solo album which would ultimately become the Jethro Tull release called "A." Two solo releases followed in the 1980's, "Zinc, The Green Album" and "Theme of Secrets." Throughout the next 15-20 years Eddie became one the more sought after soundtrack composers in the television and movie industry. Thankfully for us Eddie made his return to the band format and the live setting starting with the 2007 formation of UKZ. Since this time many variations of Eddie's band and music have made there way back to the stage and with that a visit to NEARfest 2010.
Eddie Jobson - Violin, keyboards
Marc Bonilla - Guitar, vocals T.J. Helmering - Guitar, vocals Billy Sheehan - Bass Mike Mangini - Drums Marco Minnemann - Drums
"Radiation"
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ENGLAND SYMPHONIC |
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There is very little that prog fans don't know about the legacy of Steve Hackett. He is a renowned, iconic and immensely talented and innovative rock musician. He was lead guitarist with Genesis as part of their classic lineup with Gabriel, Collins, Banks and Rutherford that produced acclaimed albums such as "Nursery Cryme" and "Selling England by the Pound" (a favorite of John Lennon). From the post Gabriel era came the classics, "A Trick of the Tail" and "Wind and Wuthering." With Steve’s extraordinary versatility in both his electric guitar playing and his composing, he involves influences from many genres, including Jazz, World Music and Blues. His classical albums include renditions of pieces by composers from Bach to Satie, as well as his own stellar acoustic and classical guitar compositions.
Steve Hackett, guitar, vocals
Roger King, keyboards Gary O'Toole, drums Rob Townsend, brass, woodwinds, Nick Beggs, bass, vocals
"Fire on the Moon"
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ENGLAND CANTERBURY |
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This is why we maintain hope in our lives, the hope of experiencing the reemergence of Gary Green and [previously] two of his long time friends in a new band called Three Friends. This is not a Gentle Giant reunion, but a new band that will deliver faithful interpretations of the wonderful music of Gentle Giant and create new music as well. Malcolm Mortimore and Gary along with four other friends in Roger Carey, Andy Williams, John Donaldson and Mick Wilson, complete the live lineup. The Gentle Giant story is known to many of us, revered by us, and considering the relatively short active life span of the band, many progressive fans hold them closer to the heart than any other classic band. From the early days of Simon Dupree and the Big Sound right on up to “The Missing Piece”/”Civilian” era, Gentle Giant never stopped pushing the boundaries of what was considered progress in their music.
Gary Green, guitar
Malcolm Mortimore, drums Roger Carey, bass Andy Williams, guitar John Donaldson, keyboards Mick Wilson, vocals
"Just the Same"
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ENGLAND CELTIC/SYMPHONIC |
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Hailing from England, Celtic symphonic progressive rock band Iona was formed in 1989 by multi-instrumentalists David Fitzgerald and Dave Bainbridge and joined soon after by lead vocalist Joanne Hogg. The inspiration for the band and its name came from a visit that Fitzgerald made to the serene and beautiful Scottish island of Iona the year prior. By the time Iona released their self-titled debut album in 1990, Nick Beggs (bass), Fiona Davidson (Celtic harp), Peter Whitfield (strings), Troy Donockley (Uillean pipes) and Frank Van Essen (drums, violin) had joined the band.
In 1992, the band released "The Book of Kells," a concept album based on the legendary Irish tome . Terl Bryant took over on drums and percussion for this album after the departure of Frank Van Essen. Fitzgerald also left the band to pursue a degree in music. The band's third album, "Beyond These Shores" (1993), which included guest musician Robert Fripp, was loosely based on the voyage of St. Brendan. "Journey into the Morn" (1995) was a more straight-forward release inspired by the hymn "Be Thou My Vision," which bookends the album in Gaelic and features Máire Brennan, lead singer of Celtic/New Age band Clannad. After two live albums, Bryant left the band and Van Essen returned to play drums on 2000's "Open Sky," which was followed in 2002 by a boxed set called "The River Flows," the first release on the band's own label. The box contains their then-out-of-print first three albums remastered, as well as a fourth disc of unreleased tracks. After six years without a new studio album, the band released the gorgeous "The Circling Hour" in 2006 as well as a 2-disc live DVD "Iona: Live in London," featuring a 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround mix. Since then, the band has continued to play live shows across Europe to enthusiastic crowds. The band has also returned to the studio to begin work on a new album which will see the light in 2010 to coincide with their 20th anniversary.
Dave Bainbridge, guitar, keyboards, bouzouki
Joanne Hogg, vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar Phil Barker, bass Frank Van Hessen, drums, percussion, violin Martin Nolan. pipes, woodwinds
"The Island"
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ENGLAND SYMPHONIC |
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Formed in 1974 by keyboard player Robert John Godfrey, who eschewed a possible
career as a concert pianist, The Enid fused rock based music with the power, dynamics and scale of symphonic classical music. Godfrey had stopped hanging around the Royal Festival Hall and started hanging around the Roundhouse, where he met and joined the young Barclay James Harvest, living and working with them over a three-year period in a farmhouse on the Yorkshire Moors. The Enid signed first to BUK records, a tiny label which was then a part of EMI, and in 1976 released their first album, "In the Region of the Summer Stars", based on the Tarot sequence and on the writings of Charles Williams. Comparisons to any other bands were pointless; Progressive rock it wasn't, although in many ways it was what prog rock should have been. The most "indie" of the "indie bands", The Enid and their fan base took direct control of all aspects of their career, from recording to mastering, artwork to distribution – decades before Marillion took credit for the same ideas. With band leader Godfrey at the helm, current members Jason Ducker, Max Read and Dave Storey are ready to unleash their insanity onto the NEARfest stage. With no less than 12 albums under their belt, The Enid are poised to continue further into the 21st century.
Robert John Godfrey, keyboards
Jason Ducker, guitar Max Read. bass, vocals Dave Storey, drums
"Child Roland"
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POLAND PROGRESSIVE METAL |
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Founded in 2001 by guitarist Piotr Grudzinski, drummer Piotr Kozieradzki and bassist/vocalist Mariusz Duda, with keyboardist Michal Lapaj joining soon after the recording of their debut album, Riverside have been on a steady climb up the progressive metal ladder impressing fans and media alike. Experts have called them a stylistic mix of Pink Floyd, Tool, Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater and, with the completion of the trilogy of albums "Out of Myself," "Second Life Syndrome" and "Rapid Eye Movement," they have emerged with their own very distinct style. Since their pivotal appearance at NEARfest 2006, Riverside have grown and matured into one of the most important and influential bands on the scene today.
Mariusz Duda, bass, vocals
Piotr Grudzinski, guitar Michal Lapaj, keyboards Piotr Kozieradzki, drums
"Driven to Destruction"
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ENGLAND POST-PROG |
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Formed by Bruce Soord in 1999 and initially as a solo studio project, The Pineapple Thief has grown into a globally gigging outfit. With seven albums under their belt and legions of fans throughout the world, The Pineapple Thief is constantly redefining the boundaries of progressive music. From humble beginnings, their debut album "Abducting the Unicorn" rose from the ashes of Bruce’s former band, Vulgar Unicorn and was released on Cyclops Records. Encouraged by a positive review in a major Dutch publication, Bruce ventured back into the studio and released the follow up, "137" in 2001, with "Variations on a Dream" following in 2003. The band were performing regular shows across the UK and Europe after which two albums followed, "10 Stories Down" (2005) and "Little Man" (2006).
Since its release in 2008, "Tightly Unwound" marks a significant step forward in the band’s development and highlights the maturation of their songwriting style. Previous reviews have drawn comparisons to Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, Sigur Ros and Pink Floyd but "Tightly Unwound" proves that The Pineapple Thief have moved beyond these influences to create their own unique sound. Their live shows have quickly gained a reputation as some of the most exciting around, delivered with an intense level of energy and passion.
Bruce Soord, vocals, guitar, keyboards
Jon Sykes, bass Keith Harrison, drums Steve Kitch, keyboards
"Shoot First"
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FRANCE PROGRESSIVE JAZZ |
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rummer and composer Patrick Forgas has been releasing jazz-rock gems that showcase his compositional and and arranging skills for over 30 years. Forgas, who has been hailed as "the French answer to the Canterbury scene" since he first burst upon the scene in 1977 with his "Cocktail" album, will present songs from his fourth album, Axis of Madness as well as others from his catalog. In addition to the many Canterbury comparisons, also heard is a commonality with the band that Frank Zappa led with George Duke & Jean-Luc Ponty; great tunes and arrangements in a fusion style with excellent 'jazz' soloing. The group perform music that combines the most attractive aspects of jazz and rock composition with inspired solos. The quality of the music and performances is obvious from the first note and we are pleased that it isn't only us who noticed; press has been unbelievably enthusiastic towards this group's music!
Patrick Forgas, drums
Igor Brover, keyboards Kengo Mochizuki, bass Benjamin Violet, guitar Karolina Mlodecka, violin Sébastien Trognon, tenor and soprano saxophones Dimitri Alexaline, trumpet, flugelhorn
"Soleil 12"
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UNITED STATES AVANT GARDE |
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Just like their namesake (moraine - the result of glacial movement and consisting of jagged, angular rocks as well as smooth rounded boulders and flour like dust) Moraine, from Seattle, is a conglomeration not of rocks and dust and things but of progressive rock, Chinese folk, fractured bebop and plugged in power jazz all culminating in what Dennis Rea (LAND, Earthstar, Savant, Stackpole, Hector Zazou) describes as "heavy chamber music". Rea, whose guitar playing blends modern jazz, rock that pushes the limits, world music and experimental is joined by violinist Alicia Allen, reed player Jin DeJoie, bassist/baliset player Kevin Millard and drummer Stephen Cavit. The band cites numerous influences that help to create their sound including Mahavishnu Orchestra, King Crimson, Univers Zero, Dr. Nerve and traditional eastern music. Expect to wake up with Moraine on Sunday morning with a set that will greet you with haunting melodies that live on the same stage with crushing riffs, improvisation, lush textured passages and some propulsive swing.
Alicia Allen, violin
Stephen Cavit, drums Jim DeJoie, reeds, flute Kevin Millard, bass, baliset Dennis Rea, guitar |
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UNITED STATES SYMPHONIC |
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With their heads floating in the mist of Europe's original psychedelic and progressive eras, Astra brings their melodic sound, symphonic landscapes and cosmic atmospheres to the East. They began their space odyssey under the winter sun of San Diego, CA in the year 2001, and with the joining of new drummer/multi-instrumentalist David Hurley in 2006 and guitar wizard Brian Ellis, the planets aligned and Astra was complete. Already making a name for themselves on the West Coast, they've shared the stage with such like-minded and diverse acts as Dungen, Winter Flowers, Jennifer Gentle, Bigelf, and their good friends and San Diegan brethren Earthless, to name a few. The band released their debut album entitled "The Weirding" on Rise Above Records to rave reviews. Mellotron lovers unite!
Richard Vaughan, guitar, Mellotron, Moog, vocals
Conor Riley, guitar, Mellotron, Arp Odyssey, organ, vocals Stuart Sclater, bass David Hurley, drums, flute, various noisemakers Brian Ellis, guitar, Moog
"The Rising of the Black Sun"
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