UK Tour 2012

Steve Hackett and the Electric Band are playing in the UK for their Breaking Waves Tour in February 2012.

The Electric Band involves Roger King on keyboards, Gary O'Toole drums and vocals, Lee Pomeroy bass guitar and Chapman Stick, Rob Townsend brass and woodwind and Amanda Lehmann guitar and vocals.

Farnham

Friday 10th February 2012

Farnham Maltings
Bridge Square
Farnham
Surrey
GU9 7QR

Maltings Box Office: 01252 745444

Ticketweb: 08444 77 1000

Info & Tickets at:
 
www.farnhammaltings.com
 
Ticketweb
 

Gateshead

Wednesday 15th February 2012

The Sage
St. Mary's Square
Gateshead Quays
Gateshead
Tyne & Wear
NE8 2JR

Box Office: 0191 443 4661

Info & Tickets at:
 
www.thesagegateshead.org
 

Aberdeen

Thursday 16th February 2012

The Lemon Tree
5 West North Street
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
AB24 5AT

Box Office: 01224 641122

Info & Tickets at:
 
www.boxofficeaberdeen.com
 

Edinburgh

Friday 17th February 2012

The Queen's Hall
85-89 Clark Street
Edinburgh
EH8 9JG

Box Office: 0131 668 2019

Info & Tickets at:
 
www.thequeenshall.net
 

Holmfirth

Saturday 18th February 2012

Holmfirth Picturedrome
Market Walk
Holmfirth
West Yorkshire
HD9 7DA

Box Office: 0871 230 1101

Info & Tickets at:
 
www.thegigcartel.com/gigs/gig:1305
 

Buxton

Sunday 19th February 2012

Buxton Opera House
Water Street
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 6XN

Box Office: 0845 127 2190

Info & Tickets at:
 
www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk
 

New Brighton

Monday 20th February 2012

Floral Pavilion
Marine Promenade
New Brighton
The Wirrel
CH45 2JS

Box Office: 0151 666 0000

Info & Tickets at:
 
www.floralpavilion.com/WhatsOn.aspx
 

Southampton

Wednesday 22nd February 2012

The Brook
466 Portswood Road
Portswood
Southampton
SO17 3SD

Box Office: 02380 555 366

Info & Tickets at:
 
the-brook.com/tickets.shtml#onlinesales
 

Bath

Thursday 23rd February 2012

Komedia
22-23 Westgate Street
Bath
BA1 1EP

Box Office: 0845 293 8480

Info & Tickets at:
 
www.komedia.co.uk/bath/
www.seetickets.com
 

Leamington Spa

Friday 24th February 2012

The Assembly
Spencer Street
Leamington Spa
CV31 3NF

Tickets: 0844 8541358

Info & Tickets at:
 
www.leamingtonassembly.com
 

Bilston, Wolverhampton

Saturday 25th February 2012

Robin 2
20-28 Mount Pleasant
Bilston
West Midlands
WV14 7LJ

Box Office: 01902 401211

Info & Tickets at:
 
www.therobin.co.uk
 
www.seetickets.co.uk
 
www.ticketweb.com
 

Milton Keynes

Sunday 26th February 2012

The Stables
Stockwell Lane
Wavendon
Milton Keynes
MK17 8LU

Box Office: 01908 280800

Talks are set to take place in late September with regarding the plans for Progmeister 2 The sequel to this year’s successful Progmeister festival. Various ideas have already been discussed though logistics and location have all yet to be finalised. Thanks to all artists who contacted us wanting to play at the forthcoming event. We will contact you in the oncoming months when we have a better idea of what we’re doing. An announcement will be made in the next few weeks so keep your eyes on the news page.

Your help will be appreciated in promoting the event via the usual social network sites or indeed in any way you can.

Please accept our apologies for the recent lack of input on the site by The Progmeister. It is said and it is true that sometimes life just gets in the way. Many of the day to day issues like work/life balance, health etc. have all conspired to prevent fresh updates. Coupled with our ethos of reporting on new releases and happenings which we find interesting and newsworthy, there has with some exceptions little about we wished to report.

On a positive note, a meeting took place recently between the Progmeister and a participant of the Progmeister festival to discuss possibilities of staging Progmeister2. Some ideas and matters of logistics were discussed and the seeds have been sewn. All we have to do is make it happen. Watch this space for regular updates. Please feel free to email us with any suggestions and ideas you may have for such an event. In the meantime, keep on progging!

Phew!!!!!! Where do I start? A very busy day for the old Progmeister, and one that was filled from start to finish with music, laughter, and culture. Considering the location was not one of the major cities and staged in a converted church hall in the North East of England, six incredible diverse acts of  the highest caliber took to the stage and made the first ever Progmeister festival something very special indeed.

It was said by many people present throughout the day that there was a terrific vibe. I have to concur. It was almost tangible and spirits of both attendee’s and performers ran very high. From the doors opening at 1:30pm there seemed to be a great buzz and it remained there right throughout the day.

Glacier opened the event to a very unsuspecting crowd, some of whom had never heard of this well established local band who delivered a high energy and totally enthralling performance. Jenny King (the only female drummer of the day) kept up the electric pace of some established pieces by the band Whilst John Youdale’s guitar pinned the, at this time all too thin crowd to their seat. Lot’s of questions where asked later in the day about both Glacier and the next band to play, MOG.

With military precision, as Glacier started to evacuate the premises Mog started to prepare for their more theatrical take on prog. And let me tell you, what a joy it was. I have been fortunate enough to have been privy to some of the band rehearsals for the festival coming up to the event and they exceeded even their own expectations. I did feel proud of this band as they are all local well seasoned musicians who played so cohesively through a very complex set. Head MOG man Phil Swinburne portrayed all the characters throughout the performance all about the sinister tale of Jack the vicar. Made even more interesting by the inclusion of a narrator

As the afternoon moved on other bands started to arrive backstage to unload their gear and limber up for their slot. Combination Head arrived as MOG were still playing. I am always reminded that when in the presence of this band that they are the real deal. Paul Birchall (The head, head) is without doubt one of the most charismatic musicians I’ve worked with. After smoothly yet meticulously setting up there instruments in a totally unconventional way set about playing the whole of their latest album Museum. Having totally blitzed the audience then played America by The Nice dedicated to The Progmeister himself. Mind blowing stuff.

As people came and went throughout the turn around of bands it was good to see the people from far and wide chatting over their beef burgers and beer enjoying the day. Although I overheard preferences at this point I never heard one negative comment all day about any of the bands performing. More could never have been wished for.

As John Hackett and Nick Magnus positioned themselves on stage armed only with a flute and a keyboard it became a source of wonderment that in such an environment you could hear a pin drop. Drawing from John’s “Checking Out Of London” album et al and Nick’s “Hexameron” and “Children of another God” the audience were lead through a myriad of quality moments including an astounding rendition of “Dreamtown” ably sung by Mr Tony Patterson himself, joining the duo on stage and also singing “Howl The Stars Down”, the conclusion of Nick’s “Children Of another God” album which was totally unrehearsed. None the worse for it I might add. I am both amazed and gratified that such virtuosity was not only so enthusiastically received but so vigorously applauded.

As John Hackett and Nick Magnus were setting up their sparse yet effective collection of woodwind and Kurzwiel, Guy manning and his musical commandos pitched their vast array of electronica, drums and instruments at the rear of the stage in wait. Just as well as there was a lot of bodies hit the stage during Guy’s performance. It was quite a nervous trip through the cables, mic stands, guitars, keyboard rigs etc for the poor old Progmeister to introduce them. Once there though, it was easy! Ladies and Gentlemen…Manning.

The band certainly took it from there. Not short on humour, Manning sailed their way quite literally in some points to an all too swift conclusion. Having no shortage of albums from which to draw materiel, the audience was treated to a rich tapestry of Guy manning’s huge body of work. The songs and pieces he played from Charlestown still fresh in our minds he also performed new songs which will be available very soon. Guy and his band were indeed a credit to the day.

It has to be born I mind that Manning up until the last few days of the festival were to play last as the headline act. It was only a matter of logistics that Guy and the band volunteered to play pen ultimately. However, it is without doubt that all these changes were meant to happen as it assisted with the whole event being executed seamlessly.

How do you end such a day? Well, I would say with songs that make the hair stand up on people’s neck. Songs like “Watcher Of The Skies” and “Musical Box”. SoGabriel did just that and more. Bringing to the conclusion a magical day, a powerful and emotional finale was left in the hands of SoGabriel.

Let us discount the notion here on in that SoGabriel are but a tribute band! The Progmeister describes them as a highly skilled, original group of professional musicians Playing the music of Genesis during their most prolific musical output. Playing many Genesis and Peter Gabriel favourites until the very late hours SoGabriel brought to a close the very first Progmeister Festival.

Was it a success? ABSOLTELY!

What about next time? Mmmmmmmmmmm? You tell me.

See what Mr Goodbluff has to say on the review page.