Once again, projects involving keyboard maestro Erik Norlanderhave exceeded sales expectations, this time at Mindawn, the prestigious online music service. The popular symphonic rock couple Erik Norlander and Lana Lane have both dominated the Top 5 downloads in December prior to the official street date of their new releases "Hommage Symphonique" and "Gemini". Norlander is keyboardist and producer on Lane's project. This feat follows on the heels of the release of another Erik Norlander project - the new epic double album, "Revolution Road" by acclaimed American progressive rock legends Rocket Scientists which exceeded sales expectations prior to its November 7th, 2006 street date. Videos featuring Think Tank Media symphonic/prog rock couple Erik Norlander and Lana Lane are now featured on the infamous video site . The popular musicians have compiled full-length videos from the many projects they created over almost 15 years and have posted 13 videos at the Think Tank Music YouTube channel for their fans' viewing pleasure. Norlander also plans to post videos on a channel for his highly successful project Rocket Scientists in the near future.
The 21st edition of MetalMania Festival will take place on 24th March 2007 in Spodek Hall in Katowice, Poland. As usual there will be two stages where around 25 bands will perform: Testament (USA), Paradise Lost (UK), My Dying Bride (UK), Entombed (Sweden), Korpiklaani (Finland), Zyklon (Norway), Blaze (UK), Crystal Abyss (Russia), 2TM2-3 (Poland) and more.
The next BajaProg festival will be held in Mexicali, Mexico between March 21 and 24.
Bands comfirmed so far are Focus (Holland), Tony Levin (USA), RPWL (Germany), Rudess Morgenstein Project (USA), Indukti (Poland), Flor De Loto (Peru), Cast (Mexico), Proto-Kaw (USA), Univers Zero (Belgium), Ritual (Sweden), Ezoo (Mexico), Time's Forgotten (Costa Rica), La Perra (Mexico), Satellite (Poland), Fromuz (Uzbekistan), Lazuli (France), Naikaku (Japan), Mar de Robles (Chile) and Ain Soph (Japan).
The Encyclopedia of Swedish Progressive Music" 1967 - '79
With fully illustrated discography and valuation guide, bonus CD included
238 pages, format A4, color illustrated, English, plastic sealed CD
ISBN 978-91-89136-22-9 Premium Publishing, Stockholm
Shipping 1st of February 2007
"An Evening of Yes Music Plus" from Anderson-Bruford-Wakeman-Howe is officially available on again on both CD and DVD. Here's the official release information:
The year was 1989 when former Yes-men Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe, longing to rekindle the magic that defined Yes music in the 70's, joined forces to record and release a new album. Dubbed simply Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, they released the album to critical acclaim as fans around the globe watched in wide-eyed amazement at this most unlikely turn of events. And as if a new studio album wasn't enough, ABWH set course upon a breathtaking world tour titled, An Evening Of Yes Music Plus. The setlist for the ABWH tour was a Yes fan's dream, including Starship Trooper, Heart Of The Sunrise, Close To The Edge, And You And I, Roundabout, and other Yes classics. Fans were also treated to tracks from the new ABWH album, including Brother Of Mine, Themes, The Meeting, Birthright, and more, along with stunning solo performances from the four principals. A truly amazing tour, An Evening Of Yes Music Plus was captured on video and released as a CD and VHS in 1994. Sadly, these products were only available for a short time before disappearing, seemingly forever. But now An Evening Of Yes Music Plus is available in all its glory. You can once again - or perhaps for the very first time - experience the splendor and majesty that was the ABWH tour. These fan favorites are each re-released in gorgeous double CD and DVD disc Digipak packaging, complete with the original Roger Dean artwork. Both the CD and DVD package also contains a beautiful photo booklet with images of Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe as they performed. And for a limited time, the limited edition DVD boasts a very special bonus: The second disc contains original ABWH promotional video clips released in 1989 as a VHS titled, In The Big Dream. In The Big Dream boasts video shorts for Brother Of Mine, Order Of The Universe, and Quartet (I'm Alive), and is sure to be a hit with fans and collectors the world over. But you'll want to act immediately. There will only be 2,000 copies of the double DVD Digipak produced, and of those the first 1,000 will be autographed by legends Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe. There will also be 2,000 copies of An Evening Of Yes Music Plus available as a standard double DVD package (non-autographed). Once quantities of the Digipak and standard double DVD packages are exhausted, An Evening Of Yes Music Plus will become a single DVD package, and will no longer contain the limited edition bonus material, "In The Big Dream."
Starcastle, the classic and highly respected American progressive rock band, will debut its first album of new material since 1978, "Song of Times" , on ProgRock Records. This new record features Starcastle's trademark vocal harmonies, twin guitars, fluid and driving bass playing, and grand synthesizer lines. At the same time, the record has a more modern and rocking, less glossy feel than earlier Starcastle releases, more representative of their high energy live shows. The songs and arrangements are tight and melodic, and there's even one (Babylon) that's mostly in 4/4 time! "Song of Times" includes contributions from all the original members: Gary Strater (bass and vocals), Matt Stewart (guitars and vocals), Steve Tassler (drums, vocals and keyboards), Herb Schildt (keyboards), Steve Hagler (guitar and vocals), and Terry Luttrell (vocals, original REO vocalist)- alongside a number of new players and singers, including current Starcastle vocalist Al Lewis and guitarist Bruce Botts. The record was mastered by Emily Lazar (Bowie, Lou Reed, Moby, etc). The fantastic artwork by Ed Unitsky equals and surpasses the best of progressive rock artwork and packaging. Starcastle was formed in the late 1960's in Champaign Illinois. They released four records on CBS/Epic Records: Starcastle (1976),
Fountains of Light (1976), Citadel (1977) and Real to Reel (1978). Together these records have sold more than a million copies. "Song of Times" is available for immediate order and will ship in late-January and be available at your favorite brick and mortar retailer on March 13, 2007. Presales are discounted $2 on the ProgRock Records site until the album starts shipping.
