Rodrigo y Gabriela Sydney Dates

Mexican acoustic rock guitarists Rodrigo y Gabriela are celebrating having recently reached Gold status in the UK for sales of their self titled album.

It was first released in Ireland (where both live) on Feb 17, 2006, where it debuted at #1 on the Irish Albums Chart. The album included covers of Led Zep's Stairway to Heaven and Metallica's Orion., two artists whom the duo say influenced their music. Their album was subsequently certified platinum in Ireland
March Dates

Sat 22 - Australia, Melbourne, Point Nepean Festival Portsea

Sun 23 - Australia, Byron Bay Festival

Mon 24 - Australia, Bryon Bay Festival

Wed 26 - Australia, Sydney, Enmore Theatre

Thur 27 - Australia, Melbourne, The Forum

tickets @ ticketek

Image: Courtesy Rubyworks

Top Twenty "Lesser Known'" Classic Rock Tracks

If your a classic rock fan there are so many songs you probably never want to hear again, dare I say it Smoke on the Water, Stairway, Sweet Home Alabama, Paranoid. Here is Rock Revival's list of twenty songs to reignite your love of classic rock

1. Blowin Free Wishbone Ash
2. Freeride Edgar Winter
3. Funk 49 James Gang
4. Lazy Sunday The Small Faces
5. You can all join in Traffic
6. Black Cloud Trapeze
7. Bad Penny Rory Gallagher
8. The Gods Made Heavy Metal Manowar
9. Blue on black Kenny Wayne Shepard
10. Waste Away Spock's Beard
11. Whiskey Headed Woman Tommy Bolin
12. Hot and Nasty Humbe Pie
13. Wild Cherry Foghat
14. Cleveland Rocks Ian Hunter
15. Black Licorice Grand Funk Railroad
16. Back Door Man Black Oak Arkansas
17. In the Kitchen Umphries McGee
18. Rainbow in the Dark Ronnie James Dio
19. Down by the River Buddy Miles
20. Tell Mama Savoy Brown

Let us know what your favorite 'lesser known' classic rock songs are ?

Image: Courtesy MCA

Rock Revival's Best Albums of 2007

Here are our votes for the best of 2007

1. Joe Bonamassa: Sloe Gin

2. The Eagles LOng Road to Eden

3. Porcupine Tree Fear of a Blank Planet

4. Ann Wilson Hope and Glory

5. Black Sabbath The Dio Years

6. John Fogerty Revival

7. Kid Rock Rock and Roll Jesus

8. Lucinda Williams West

9.Coheed & Cambria: No World for Tomorrow

10. Radiohead In Rainbows

Image: Courtesy Premier Artists

Brian Wilson @ The Sydney Festival

Jan 5 Brian Wilson will headline the Sydney Festival, playing at the Domain right after Paul Kelly at 915. This set will be classic Beach Boys-oriented and is free.

January 7 & 8, Brian and his ten-piece band will preview songs from his forthcoming album, That Lucky Old Sun (A Narrative), a tribute to California which premiered earlier this year to great reviews at London's Royal Festival Hall.

Jan 9 at 8pm Brian will play the seminal album Pet Sounds in total at the Sate Theatre, hailed as one of the important albums of all time.
For more info http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/

Tickets at ticketmaster

Van Morrison Catalog Remastered with Bonus Material

Van Morrison's Back Catalogue has been digitally remastered and is due to be Released with Bonus Material in Feb 2008
29 albums from "Tupelo Honey" (1971) to "Down The Road," (2002) plus the 1997 2-CD collection "The Story of Them.".
The first 6 albums will be released on January 29, 2008

Each album will include unreleased recordings. Some examples below

Tupelo Honey- "Wild Night" (alternative take) and a reworking of the traditional "Down By The Riverside"
It's Too Late To Stop Now- a live take on "Brown Eyed Girl"
Wavelength - "Kingdom Hall" and "Wavelength" (Live at the Roxy Theatre, L.A., Nov 26, 1978)
A Sense Of Wonder- "Crazy Jane On God" and "A Sense Of Wonder" (alternative takes) Avalon Sunset - "Whenever God Shines His Light" (alternative take) and "When The Saints Go Marching In" (with additional lyrics by Van Morrison)

Back On Top1999 - "Philosopher's Stone" (alternative take) and "Valley Of Tears" (a completely new arrangement of the Fats Domino song)

Image: Courtesy Warner Brothers

DVD Review: Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007

Eric Clapton held his second Guitar Festival in July 2007 in the US in Chicago
The highlight of the festival was Eric’s set with Steve Winwood, playing Blind Faith tracks, “Prescence of the Lord’, Can’t Find My Way’ , ‘Had to Cry Today’ and Traffic song ‘Dear Mr Fantasy’. The performances were so successful that both will do three more shows at Madison Square Garden in Feb. 2008. Jeff Beck also played, including the classic, ‘Cause we’ve ended as lovers’. Clapton's heroes, BB King and Buddy Guy attended for the second time. with Buddy headlining and having the honor of closing the festival. The DVD includes 38 songs over 4 hours and is excellent quality.

Merry Christmas

The Band to Recieve Life Time Achievement Grammy in 2008

The Band will be given a lifetime achievement award at 2008's Grammys. Dylan chose them to back him in his move from folk to rock in 1965-66. They went on to achieve fame in their own right, blending country, rock, and rhythmn and blues in what is considered pure "american music'. Their debut album "Music from Big Pink" (1968) featured "The Weight." Martin Scorsese also famously captured their demise in the "The Last Waltz." A tribute album was released, this year, called"Endless Highway: The Music of The Band." Contributors included Jack Johnson, Govt Mule, The Allman Brothers, Los Lobos and Dr John.

Led Zeppelin Will Tour Next Year ?

If Britian's Daily Star is to believed Led Zep will be touring in the 2nd half of next year and starting off at the MIllenium Stadium in Cardiff. Robert Plant would not be available earlier due to his tour with Alison Krauss on the back of their succesful album Raising Sand.
The paper quotes an anonymous source:

“Robert was overwhelmed by the attention but he wants the fuss to die down before doing more stuff with the band. It’ll be towards the end of the year now.”

The Daily Star also claims to have contacted venue bosses who say they are in talks with the band's managment. This coupled with rumours that New York's Madison Square Garden has been booked out for them means that it's all being confirmed as a vague possibility.

Rock Revival Gig Guide

12th Australian Blues Music Festival will be held in goulbourn 7-10 February 2008, featuring an all Aussie and NZ line up

Full Tilt Boogie (TAS) - Just announced!
Gail Page (NSW) - Just announced!
Ghost Road (NSW)
Hat Fitz & Itchy (QLD)
The Hellboppers (NSW)
Jason Lowe (NSW)
Joe Robinson (NSW)
John Meyer's Blues Express (WA)

Byron Bay Bluesfest tickets are also still available, the annual blues and roots festival held in the easter long weekend John Fogerty, Buddy Guy, the great gospel singer Mavis Staples, Don mclean, Jools Holland and his rnb Orchestra, acoustic blues from Keb Mo, southern rock with the Black Crowes . An incredibel 5 days of musicBelongil fieldshttp://www.bluesfest.com/ A series of sydney concerts connected with bluesfest are also being held; Mavis Staples at the Factory 18 march/ Charlie Musselwhite and John Hammond at the Basement 20 march. And Buddy Guy and Keb Mo 13 march Enmore …………

Blues Rock 101

Can white boys play the blues?

Blues-rock typically refers to white artists of the late 1960’s and 1970’s, who picked up the mantle of Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, BB King and many more, to create an enormously popular style of electrified blues. Blues-rock is essentially a blend of blues and rock: the guitar has a faster and heavier sound than Chicago blues and includes extended jams, influenced in part by Psychedelic rock.

The most significant early figure in blues-rock is John Mayall, who, having formed the Bluesbreakers in the mid-1960’s went on to employ some of the most important young musicians of his generation: Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Peter Green, Mick Taylor and many others. Members of the Bluesbreakers would go on to form the most influential bands of the 70’s, including Cream, Savoy Brown, Free and Fleetwood Mac.

Alex Korner is also considered to be a critical figure who’s band, Blues Incorporated included Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, Danny Thompson (later of Pentangle), Dick Heckstall-Smith (later of Colloseum). Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart were also young fans of who would sometimes play with the band. These artists, initially inspired by blues-rock, would go on to become the rock heroes of the 1970’s.

Other notable blues-rock heroes are Paul Butterfield, Mike Bloomfield, Irishman, Rory Gallagher, ex-Procol Harum guitarist, Robin Trower, Texan Johnny Winter and Canned Heat.

One paradoxical outcomes of the Blues-Rock explosion of this period was the renewal of interest in black musicians. Freddie King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor and Ronnie Earl became international figures, due to the popularity of blues-rock amongst white audiences and due to the active support of blues-rock artists.

Blues-rock stagnated in the mid-1970’s, due in part to the rising popularity of southern rock, hard rock and heavy metal. In the 1980’s the major stars was Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Cray and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, replaced by the Black Crowes, the Black Keys, Gov’t Mule and Joe Bonamassa in the 90’s. Joe Bonamassa is particularly reminiscent of the early heroes of Blues-Rock, earning him Guitar One Magazine’s accolade as the best guitarist of his generation.

Here are ten tracks to get you started

1. Whiskey Headed Woman Tommy Bolin
2. Bad Penny Rory Gallagher
3. Have You Ever Loved a Woman Eric Clapton
4. Ramblin on My Mind John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
5. Born in Chicago Paul Butterfield Blues Band
6. The Sky is Crying Stevie Ray Vaughn
7. Endless Parade Gov’t Mule
8. Current Situation Joe Bonamassa
9. Be Careful With a Fool Johnny Winter
10. Tell Mama Savoy Brown

Image: Courtesy Deram

Punk Rock 101: Blitzkreig Bop for the Blank Generation

Or why Green Day, Simple Plan and Sum 41 are not punk !!

OK, lets start this one with a clear idea of what punk is not.

1. The Suburu Impreza (they claimed in a 1993 ad that their car was ‘like punk rock’)
2. Any music that is exactly the opposite of punk (see above)
3. Anyone who rides a skateboard
4. Songs with that horrible whiny American accent
5. People who think Nirvana are punk
6. Anyone who hasn’t gone through puberty

Punk rock started in the early 1970’s in the United States with bands like the Stooges, the New York Dolls, Richard Hell and the Ramones all producing uncompromising, do-it-yourself music. This music was a massive break from the psychedelic movement of long jams and love-ins. It was aggressive, fast and short. ‘Blitzkreig Bop’ (as the Ramones would say) for the ‘Blank Generation (Richard Hell).

Despite the early influence of these US bands, punk really took off in the UK, prompted in part by Malcolm McClaren’s formation of the Sex Pistols. The Sex Pistols start an avalanche of punk in the mid-70’s, from bands like The Vibrators, The Slits, X-Ray Spex, The Subversives, and The Adverts. Punk music in the UK was a political act, a cure for working class boredom, for those who couldn’t and didn’t want to participate in the commercialized culture and who certainly didn’t want to listen to Pink Floyd.

A few years later these politics would lead to a second wave in the UK, the skin-head culture and nazi-punks who spat on Oi! bands like Sham 69, Cocksparrer, the 4- Skins. This would develop into hardcore punk in the US, particularly Californiaa. There you get Black Flag, the Dead Kennedies, the Circle Jerks and the Vandals.

What about now? Which bands hold true to the origins of punk? My vote is for the great straight-edge band, Anti-Flag, but definitely not Avril Lavigne.

If you want to hear real punk music try:

1. Roadrunner Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers
2. The Ruts Babylon’s Burning
3. No More Heroes The Stranglers
4. Sunday Morning Nightmare Sham 69
5. You Broke My Heart The Vibrators
6. Gary Gillmore’s Eyes The Adverts
7. Johnny B Goode The Sex Pistols
8. Promises The Buzzcocks
9. American Psycho The Misfits
10. Anti-Flag Die for Your Government

Image: Courtesy Virgin

Psychedelic Rock 101

Psychedelic Rock 101

What do you get if you cross a folkie with the Beatles and add LSD? You get psychedelic rock

Psychedelic rock first emerged in the mid-1960’s, in part from the Beat Generation, famous for be-bop Jazz, folk, bluegrass and poetry. The shock of the Beatlemania in the US, the ready availability of LSD and a growing interest in mysticism and Eastern culture all coincided to produce a new form of electric music.

The most significant city in the development of psychedelic music was San Francisco where The Grateful Dead hosted LSD parties or acid tests which grew large enough to be hosted at the famous Fillmore venue. Many other important bands followed, including Big Brother and the Holding Company, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Moby Grape. This musical movement, coupled with a growing dissatisfaction in the Vietnam War lead to a swelling counter-culture in San Francisco culminating in the Summer of Love in 1967.

Many bands were to follow these pioneers, lesser known ones like 13th Floor Elevators, the Electric Prunes, Third Bardo and Bubble Puppy, but eventually mainstream acts like the Beatles (Sgt Peppers) and The Rolling Stones (Their Satanic Majesty’s Request) were to release fully fledged psychedelic albums. British psychedelia reached it’s zenith with bands like Pink Floyd, Cream and a heavy acid rock, the precursor of heavy metal, made it’s presence felt with Iron Butterfly and Blue Cheer.

So what are some of the key ingredients in psychedelic rock


* A creative use of studio recording techniques to create effects that mirror a trip,
including ‘phasing’, ‘swooshing’ and ‘filtering’.

* The use of Indian instruments or sounds, particularly the Sitar and Tabla

* Improvisation, or extended jamming, inspired by the free jazz of John Coltrane

* Steam of consciousness lyrics and topics alluding to drug use or social issues.

Here is my choice for the top ten psychedelic tracks:

1. Season of the Witch Donovan
2. Eight Miles High The Byrds
3. Dark Star The Grateful Dead
4. The End The Doors
5. What’s Wrong Sweetwater
6. I had too much to dream last night The Electric Prunes
7. Time Has Come Today The Chambers Brothers
8. Tomorrow Never Knows The Beatles
9. Smell of Incense West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
10.Paint It Black The Rolling Stones

Country Rock 101

Country Rock 101

Many rock fans will recoil at the idea of country music, thinking immediately of Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton or Glen Campbell. Country music, however, has had a massive influence in the history of rock music, with bands like the Eagles, the Doobie Brothers and Neil Young falling squarely in the genre of country rock.

The originator of country rock is arguably the American songwriter and guitarist, Gram Parson’s. He played pure country but is notorious for introducing it to rock musicians through his relationships with the Byrds, Keith Richards and others. He did this through the beauty of his music, but also through his rock and roll lifestyle, dying at the age of 26 of an overdose, leading contemporary singer, Lucinda Williams to write a song about him called Drunken Angel.

If Gram Parson’s is the most critically acclaimed originator of country rock, Neil Young is probably the most popular. His work with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and his solo albums all had a heavy country influence, something he has continued with the release of Prairie Wind in 2005, an album reminiscent of his most famous album, Harvest.

The Band also had a heavy country influence, blending it with rhythm and blues and rock and roll to create iconic American music. Bob Dylan recorded a number of country-style albums, most notably Nashville Skyline (1969). Other important country influenced artists of this era were Creedence Clearwater Revival, Poco, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

Nowadays country rock is best known as Americana or alternative-country, a genre that started in the early 90’s with bands like Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown and the Old 97’s. These artists mixed country with punk and rock, and sang bleaker and more serious songs than their mainstream country counterparts. The most famous alt-country star is probably Ryan Adams, the Godfather of alt-country, releasing more than ten albums in less than a decade of recording.

Here are my top ten country rock and alt-country tracks if you want to get a start on coming to grips with this genre.

Country Rock
Lay Me Down David Crosby and Graham Nash
Whiteline Fever The Flying Burrito Brothers
Long Distance Love Little Feat
Dead Flowers Gram Parsons
Fortunate Son Creedence Clearwater Revival
Riverside America
Black Water Doobie Brothers
The Weight The Band
Hole in the World The Eagles

Sky, Blue and Black Jackson Brown

Alternative Country
Two Broken Hearts Richmond Fontaine
Friend of the Devil Lyle Lovett (Grateful Dead Cover)
Come Pick Me Up Ryan Adams
The Long Ride Home Patty Griffin
Take Me Back to Mullenberg County John Prine
Song For You Whiskeytown
Tear Stained Eye Uncle Tupelo
How to Fight Loneliness Wilco

I knew this story would break my heart Aimee Mann
All the Pretty Horses Calexico

2007: The Year of the Classic Rock Cover Album

This year has seen an uprecedented trend in rock recordings, with the release of no less than five cover albums by classic rock artists. Ann Wilson (Heart), Queensryche, Tesla, Patti Smith, and Brian Ferry have all released cover albums, with Poison recently announcing plans for their own, with release next Spring. The key criterea, in my mind, for evaluating the success of these albums, is the same as for any cover. Is it a lazy copy or a re-interpretation ?

Patti Smith’s album, Twelve, released in April, is clearly from the first category. It is hard to believe that ‘Punk’s Poet Laureat’ could create such a dreadfully boring album, failing to inspire, even in her rendition of R.E.M.’s ‘Everybody Hurts’. The version of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ is phenomenal in it’s betrayal of the original song, sounding more like the bloke who played it at our local pub last week, than one of the most influential women in the history of rock.

Bryan Ferry’s album, Dylanesque, released in March this year, is far more adventurous. It’s an enourmous risk to record an album made exclusively of Dylan covers, given that this has been done an unbelievable 20, 210 times to date (DylanCover.com). Ferry, however, pulls off a masterpiece, delving into the heart of each song, delivering in his normal classy way, but providing each with an unexpected emotional punch.

Queenryche and Ann Wilson’s albums provide a mixed bag, one that supports the art of MP3 cherry picking, with complete albums only for adoring fans. Queensryche’s album, Take Cover, was only released on November 13 and takes the band in very unexpected directions. ‘For the Love of Money’ by the O’Jays ? ‘Synchonicity II’ by the Police ? What were they thinking. The idea of this album, alone, is a revelation. It fulfils my belief that only liking one genre is ok when your adolescent, but not a great sign of maturiy in an adult. It’s wonderful that a band with as much a cult following as Queensyche can show what they really like, without fear. It also fulfils the reinterpretation criterea, with the highlights being, For What It’s Worth (Buffallo Sringfield) and Heaven on Their Minds (Jesus Christ Superstar). The gem on Ann Wilson’s album must be The Immigrant Song. Given her status as a Robert Plant wannabe, you would expect hard-boiled rock. What you get is a folk treatment, that hightens the fury of the song and sets her off as one of the best female vocalists of rock.

What to say, then, of the value of this trend in rock ? A cynical view is that there is a bandwagon effect, driven by record companies who see that they are onto a good thing. My own view is that this may be a sign that time is creating a set of standards, similar to Jazz or ther Blues. Most of the Jazz and Blues standards of today were written almost eighty years ago. Perhaps the songs represented in these cover albums will also stand the test of time.

This Weeks Show December 20 Blues Special

Ths week we go out for the year with a bang with a blues special featuring white blues from John Mayall Clapton and more and Black blues from Buddy Guy, Jimmy Witherspoon, Magic Slim etxc,

Dont Miss It

Classic Rock Lives

Classic Rock is Still Alive and Kicking !
Ten Contemporary Artists You Need to Hear

Paul Rhodes

Did classic rock die with the advent of disco and New Wave in the 1980’s, or has it survived over the years? Are there any artists now that compare with the greats? Below are ten essential bands for you to check out that prove Classic Rock is alive and well!

1. Buckcherry

They formed in the mid-1990’s over a mutual infatuation with ACDC and named themselves after a transvestite who named herself as a reverse Chuck Berry, the father of rock guitar. Hard hitting and sleazy, you can’t get a better rock song than their US Number 1, Lit Up or 2006 single, Next 2 You.

2. Black Label Society

At the centre of this classic heavy metal band is Zakk Wylde, Rock God, one-time guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and one of the most original vocalists, guitarists and song-writers in rock today. Listen to tracks ‘Forever Down’ and ‘House of Doom’ to hear them at their heaviest and melodic best.

3. Porcupine Tree

This progressive rock band has been going for an incredible 20 years, were nominated for a Grammy in 2003 and won Album of the Year at the Classic Rock Awards in 2007. The album, Fear of a Blank Planet, featured Rush’s Alex Lifeson and King Crimson’s Robert Fripp. Their track, ‘The Sound of Musak’, explains it all.

4. Government Mule

A southern rock/ blues band, more famous for relentless touring than studio recording and an unusual favorite of James Hetfield of Metallica. They have collaborated with legends Jack Bruce, John Enwtistle and Chris Squire and two members were once a part of a reformed Allman Brothers in the late 1980’s. If you only hear one song it has to be Endless Parade from their 2006 album High and Mighty.

5. Derek Trucks Band

You have to be a pretty incredible guitarist to be chosen to tour with Eric Clapton in his 2006/2007 tours, as reflected in his selection in the Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Guitarists of All Time. Derek trucks is versatile, bridging the blues, jazz fusion, funk and Southern rock. Check out Pleasant Gardens from the 2002 album, Joyful Noise.

6. The Donnas

An all female rock band, all called Donna, successfully pick up the mantle of Joan Jett and more. Think Grrl Power and Kiss, ACDC do indie, or the Ramones. The Donnas have seven albums to their name, including the appropriately named American Teenage Rock 'n' Roll Machine. Hear them turn the tables of rock misogyny with ’40 Boys in 40 Nights’.

7. The Soundtrack of Our Lives (T.S.O.O.L)

Proof that there’s more to Sweden than Abba and Death Metal, T.S.O.O.L provide an eclectic mix of forty years of rock with Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles all exerting their influence. Their 2001 album, Behind the Music is a masterpiece and an essential addition to any thinking person’s classic rock collection.

8. Spock’s Beard

This band is far better than their name, taken from an episode of Star Trek when Spock meets his doppelganger from a parallel universe. They offer a harmonic alternative to progressive metal, following Genesis or Marillion’s lead with a more melodic and popular style of Prog. Waste Away, from the 1996 album, Beware of Darkness is one of the best classic rock songs of the 90’s.

9. The Black Crowes

This blues-rock band were recently hailed by Melody Maker as the ‘The Most Rock ‘n’ Roll Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World”. They have released 7 albums in the past twenty years but like Gov’t Mule are part of the ‘Jam Band’ movement, relying heavily on touring for their popularity. Check out’ Hard to Handle’, ‘Soul Singing’ and ‘Remedy’.

10. Velvet Revolver

Velvet Revolver are a supergroup consisting of members of Guns ‘n’ Roses, Stone Temple Pilots and punk band, Wasted Youth. While their material can be inconsistent, they are a critical band in contemporary classic rock, because of their heritage and because they are one of the few bands in this list to gain significant media exposure. ‘Fall to Pieces’ is a brilliant introduction to the band, reaching Number 1 on the Us Rock Charts in 2004.

Rocknrowl !

Prog Rock 101

PROG ROCK 101

How to recognise progressive rock?

- The band’s first four albums are all about a blind albino who takes over the world
- There are three drummers in the band
- Each track is over 50 minutes long with a 10 minutes mellatron solo
- You have to listen to it 12 times before you finally ‘get it’.

Progressive rock is a much parodied but important genre in the history of rock, one that emerged from the psychadelia of the 60’s and became enormously popular in the 1970’s. Prog rock is essentially a mix of classical music and rock, characterised by virtuoso solos, frequent changes in time signatures, concept albums, and less reliance on the guitar than in hard rock.

The first prog rock bands were lesser known British artists like Soft Machine (1966), Gong (1967), The Nice (1967) and Caravan (1968). By the 1970’s, however, prog was a major force, fronted by the Big Six; Emerson Lake and Palmer, Pink Floyd, Genesis, King Crimson, Yes and Jethro Tull.

In the late 70’s prog rock came under attack by punk and disco, both serving as an alternative to the seriousness of this genre. Prog did not die, however, but became commercialised at this time. Bands like ELO, Supertramp, Styx, Marillion and Kansas all demonstrated that prog could retain it’s appeal by getting rid of it’s perceived excesses.

The 1990’s saw a renaissance of prog, that has remained to this day. Bands like the Flower Kings, Porcupine Tree, Spock’s Beard, Mars Volta and Coheed and Cambria have retained the principles of the original first wave of prog. A new genre, prog metal, has also emerged since the 1990’s. Dream Theatre, Opeth, Queensryche et al. quote both Rush and Black Sabbath as influences and are helping prog reach a new audience in the Metal Nation that is the United States.

Some significant albums in prog history

In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson
Close to the Edge: Yes
Selling England By the Pound: Genesis
Brain Salad Surgery: Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Dark Side of the Moon: Pink Floyd
The Power and the Glory: Gentle Giant

2008 Highlights

Next Year we have some Special Shows planned;

Rock Chick's Show 6 March to celebrate International Women's Day

50's Rock 'n' Roll Show Febuary 7 to commemorated the "Day the Music Died', death of Buddy Holly et al.

The 27 Club Show April 5 to commemorate 14 years since the death of Kurt Cobain and all the other rock stars who died at 27 years of age