MANTICORA
MANTICORA was formed in 1997 by Lars Larsen (vocals), Kristian Larsen (guitars) and Mads Volf (drums). In the early days the band was a foursome with bass player Rene as the last member – the young guys laying the foundation of the MANTICORA-trademark sound; hard hitting power metal with both epic and thrash elements.
In 1998 MANTICORA signed with Intromental Management and shortly afterwards their first record deal was signed with Greek record label Black Lotus. The same year the band added an extra guitarist, and a keyboardist, to the line-up. The debut full-length disc, “Roots Of Eternity”, was released in summer 1999, and received tremendously good response from both media and fans around the world.
2000 saw the band signing with Scarlet Records, and half a year later the next opus, “Darkness With Tales To Tell”, was released, once again receiving great acclaim. In 2001 bassist Rene decided to leave the band to focus on his family. Kasper Gram was enrolled in the band. Along with the change of bassist came also the change of guitarist, as Flemming left MANTICORA and Martin Arendal joined the band.
In the fall 2002 “Hyperion” was released. This was the so-far most wide-spanning work of the band; an epic concept album, based on the award winning sci-fi novel “Hyperion” by Dan Simmons. The album was whole-heartedly embraced by fans and media worldwide, and with a European tour in the spring 2003 MANTICORA took another step up the ladder.
In early 2004 the band began working on and releasing their next disc, “8 Deadly Sins”, yet another conceptual one. The album was recorded in Jailhouse Studios with producer Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids, etc.). In February 2005 the band toured throughout Europe together with Angra and Edenbridge. The tour was a great success for the band and they made a lot of new fans and friends there. Joining the band, was session-guitarist Stefan Johansson. The band then did their first ever (highly successful) US appareance at the ProgPower Festival in Atlanta, GA.
With Martin Arendal (guitars) returning to the fold after the tour, the band once again went into studio, to record it’s 5th full-length album, the first part of the 2-album concept “The Black Circus”. Lyrically it deals with the horror story of a travelling circus. Once again produced by Tommy Hansen, the album was bigger, better and more adventurous than ever before. After a mini-European tour, alongside Andromeda, MANTICORA hit Jailhouse Studio to finalize the 2nd part of “The Black Circus”. With “The Black Circus Part 2” in their now extended catalogue, MANTICORAwent on both European and USA tours, as support for Jon Oliva’s Pain, and another tour was booked for Europe in May 2009, as support band for Circle II Circle. This time, going through 16 countries for 21 shows.
In 2010 MANTICORA’s 7th full length album was released worldwide. “Safe” was an even darker journey in the musical universe of MANTICORA. A European headliner tour was booked for October 2010, taking the band through nine different countries.
In August 2012, MANTICORA finally performed at the world’s largest metal festival – Wacken Open Air, and it lead to the band, re-opening the goodie-bag of writing new material. April 2013, saw the band, playing the prestigious PPM festival in Belgium, and a month later, Martin Arendal played his last show with MANTICORA (a smaller Danish show). Stefan Johansson – who appeared as session musician on the 2005 Angra tour, was enrolled as new guitarist and when bassplayer Kasper Gram left the band, MANTICORA found a completely unknown, but indecently talented guy in Sebastian Andersen.
After a European headliner tour in 2014, Mads Volf decided to leave the drum-throne, to pursue other musical endeavors, and the last 3 years, MANTICORA have spent, writing a grandiose double concept album, based on the book, that leadsinger Lars has written in the meantime.
Release is set for 2018. Until then – stay metal!
PERSEFONE
Persefone, hailing from the enchanting principality of Andorra, is a visionary base metal band that has carved its own niche in the global music scene. Formed in the year 2001, their unique fusion of progressive and melodic elements has earned them a very dedicated following. With powerful, intricate compositions and virtuosic musicianship, Persefone’s discography, including fan-favorites “Spiritual Migration” and “Aathma” but also the latest release “metanoia”, has received critical acclaim. Their lyrics often explore profound and spiritual themes, making their music a journey of self-discovery. Known for their mesmerizing live performances, Persefone has graced stages worldwide, leaving audiences spellbound. Their innovative approach to metal and commitment to pushing boundaries makes them a trailblazing force in the genre. Persefone’s unwavering dedication to their craft continues to inspire and captivate metal enthusiasts around the globe, solidifying their status as the prominent Andorran musical export.
TOMMY LUKE
GHOST BATH
⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ Ghost Bath refers to the act of ending one’s own life by submerging in a body of water. ִ ࣪⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ִ ࣪
“Perhaps when we find ourselves wanting everything, it is because we are dangerously close to wanting nothing.”
A depressive rock and roll act, the band began in 2013 as a one-man project with a Self-Titled EP. Since then, they’ve released four studio albums on Nuclear Blast and have toured around the world.
Website: https://lnk.bio/ghostbath
ִ ࣪⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ִ ࣪
DREAM ALAZIA
Nu Metalcore from Chicago. FFO: Wage War, Fit for a King, Gideon, Knocked Loose, and The Ghost Inside. Follow the links to our socials and stay safe!
Debut Album “NOMOREDOUBT” OUT NOW!
THE ARDENT
Formerly known as Before The Night Ends (BTNE), we were formed on May 15, 2010 with Angel Marcos and Rafael “Ralph” Ortiz (former member). Throughout the years, we went through multiple members and performed at various venues such as: The House of Blues of Chicago, Reggie’s Rock Club of Chicago, Mojoes of Joliet, Penny Road Pub of Barrington, IL, Q Bar and Grill of Darien, IL, and various house shows around Illinois.
On May 1st, 2014 we released our EP titled “Before The Night Ends” to the public, and it was re-recorded in 2016 and put up on Spotify and iTunes. We are in the process of recording our third EP beginning in the Fall of 2017!
ALIVE ALONE
A 4 piece Emo outfit from the south side of Chicago.
CONTRA.
Ambient Metalcore Est. 2013
JUSTIN SYMBOL
With the release of debut album ‘VΩIDHEAD’, Industrial “shock” rocker Justin Symbol emerged as a bold new force in the national scene. 2017’s ‘Fuckboi EP’ added elements of sex-crazed Hip hop to Symbol’s artistic palette.
PSYCLON NINE
An alternative to the pseudo-saviors of Judeo-Christian mythology.
GHOST APE
post-doom duo Ghost Ape weds sludge and stoner doom guitar fuzz with chopped-and-screwed drum beats, all in a grimy, slow-and-low fog
categories
STONECUTTERS
Punishing, brutal, beautiful, soothing & primal music for these uncertain & turbulent times.
NO RAZA
NO RAZA is a death metal band, formed in 1997 in the town of Bello – Antioquia (Colombia – South America).
Its ideology is based on social and political issues that make us reflect, with great technique and characteristic rhythms evinces the pain of a sick world that demands justice and peace, to those who bring us under a power snatched from our hands.
Its amazing staging recreates the desolation of a world at war and the disposition to struggle of those who guard the truth to defend our ancestral cultures.
NO RAZA has shared stage with world known artists and has participated in major festivals.
With some international tours “Misantropia Mexico Tour 2013” , “When Chaos Reigns North American Tour 2014”, and “Blood Infection México Tour 2016” also NO RAZA has participated in the last version of 70000Tons Of Metal, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise representing the South American Death Metal, in july will be playing in the biggest south American open air festival called Rock al Parque with some bands like Sepultura, Napalm Death, Decapitated, Aborted, The Black Dahlia Murder, and was invited to the Festival Internacional Altavoz 2016 in Medellìn Colombia to play with bands like Deicide, Municipal Waste, Sworm Enemy, A.N.I.M.A.L.
The latest album is called “When Chaos Reigns” it was mixed and mastered by Chris Harris “Zeuss” who has worked with important artists such as Soulfly, Rob Zombie, Six Feet Under, Kataklysm and many others. This album is listed as one of the most important albums in South America and it was edited in USA, Russia, Spain, Chile, Colombia.
Through the years it has become an icon for the South American Death Metal and one of the bands with the most international projection.
MIR FONTANE
Rapper/vocalist Mir Fontane was born Jamir Daaliya in 1994. He grew up in Camden, New Jersey, spending a lot of time drawing and listening to a mix of classic hip-hop and ’90s R&B, informed by drives to school with his grandfather listening to R&B radio
BLANK 281
With their records reaping platinum and their concert tours packing ‘em in all across Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Americas, Blink 182 has become a worldwide phenomenon. After a decade-plus career, the band announced they were going on an “indefinite hiatus.”
Because of this hiatus, three Blink fans united to form Blank 281 – A tribute to Blink 182.
Maybe you never had the chance to see the Blink ‘rock show’ live?
Now you can, as Blank 281 recreates the live shows that Blink fans have come to love! Blank 281 plays all the catchy but angsty radio hits, imitates the goofball videos, as well as the stand-up comedy stage banter, ultimately capturing Blink’s energetic live shows!
Blank 281 is the ULTIMATE Blink 182 Tribute Band!
IRATA
Irata is loud, heavy rock from Greensboro, NC.
TOKE
Rips’n’riffs.
ARCHARUS
Leviathan worshiping fuzz
INEBRIUM
2018. Chicago’s Inebrium gathers to lay down ear splitting, noisy, slack tuned riffs, catapulted by tones of massive volume while paying homage to such proto-metal predecessors as Sabbath, Stooges, and Thin Lizzy while blending early thrash guitar chuggery a la early Metallica with sludge/stoner/noise influences such as Kyuss, Melvins, and Suplecs…
Inebrium began in late 2017 when long time stalwarts in the Chicago metal scene vocalist/guitarist John Almonte (formerly Witchbanger, Wickerman) and bass player Kyle Tuggle (formerly Bloody Spades, Antioch Secret Society) actualized a long time musical vision they had been discussing. They recruited local hard hitting drummer Colin Tahi (Propane! Propane!) and got to work writing. Then in early 2018 solidified the line up with newly relocated Oakland, CA guitarist Jason James (former Damnweevil, Secret Order of Tusk).
Currently in pre-production on their first EP, look for Inebrium to be leveling venues throughout Chicago and beyond throughout 2018.
PALE DIVINE
For over a decade Pennsylvania’s Pale Divine have been the torch bearers for traditional doom metal.
JOHNNY YUMA
Dusty, Dirty, Rock’n Roll.
Elliot Heerman on Bass and Lead Vocals
Patrick Irwin on Guitar
Jane “Damage” Halldorson on Drums
SECRET COLOURS
If you didn’t know these guys were from Chicago, you’d assume they’re a bunch of Brits, with their insanely Britpop-influenced sound and their unusual spelling of Colours, but the Windy City exports manage to capture the soul of the UK in the late ’90s/early ’00s and mix in a good amount of 70’s Psychedelia for a sound all their own. Ample amounts of fuzz and pop combine to sound something like if The Stone Roses and The Black Angels decided to mate, and their offspring is something to be cherished.
SPINDRIFT
SPINDRIFT is a cinematically-driven, psychedelic “western” rock band based out of Los Angeles, CA, led by singer-songwriter-producer-composer Kirpatrick Thomas. Among many various EP/Single releases, they’ve produced and released two feature films with soundtracks available on Teepee Records, (The Legend of God’s Gun, Ghost of the West), in addition to two full LP albums on Xemu Records, (Classic Soundtracks Vol 1, The West). SPINDRIFT has contributed to several film scores and soundtracks, most notably HBO’s “East Bound & Down”, Quentin Tarantino’s “Hell Ride”, and Viceland’s “Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia.”
The band has actively toured the U.S. and Europe since 2004 while performing with acts such as X, The Dandy Warhols, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dead Meadow, The Black Angels, and Kurt Vile. They’ve helped ignite the psychedelic revival of the 2000’s, with highlighted performances being Austin Psych Fest, Roadburn Tilburg, Levitation, Liverpool Psych Fest, SXSW, and film screenings accompanied by performances at Park City’s Slamdance Film Festival and Spain’s Almerian Western Film Festival 2014, 2017. Members of the band have crossed over with other acts such as The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Psychic TV and have had strange collaborations with punk legend Jello Biafra on tunes such as “Ghost Riders in the Sky” during their Ghost Town Tour of 2012. A ambitious tour which was documented in the film “Ghost of the West”(Directed by Burke Roberts).
While in their formative years in the 1990’s, SPINDRIFT slowly developed their own mixture of sounds reminiscent of 60’s psychedelic rock like The Doors and 90’s shoegaze similar to My Bloody Valentine, however, while relocating from Newark, DE to Los Angeles in 2001, Thomas & Co. were captivated by the wide, expansive, unfolding western landscape and began to develop a more mature, conceptual approach to songwriting. Utilizing Ennio Morricone influenced chord progressions, spacey soprano vocals, twangy doubleneck bass/baritone guitar, and string section like guitar effects, their sound has evolved into that of a psychedelic, spaghetti western rock orchestra which continues to evolve with each film they score.
Most recently the band collaborated with Hollywood/Bollywood actor Bivas Biswas and actress Sapna Gandhi on the Hindi sung “Dil Gera Na De (Don’t Fall For Me)”. The new single is set to be released by Divine Droid Records in the United States and India with a new video directed by Mike Bruce (Noel Gallagher, The Legend of God’s Gun). The original East Coast lineup recently reunited to celebrate the release of the first 8 songs the band recorded (in Newark, Delaware) from 1991-1995 with a newly added studio tune “Cabin Fever,” through SDS distribution. Currently, the band is actively working on finishing the next studio release and continue to book US and European tours for 2018.
THE DEAD LICKS
The Dead Licks are an alternative rock band that met at the University of Dayton. Bands like Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, The Strokes, and Pearl Jam have heavily influenced them, and you can hear that in their sound.
The band met in 2015 at UD, when Jack Grbac (guitar) sent an email to the recording studio on campus. Lucky enough, Tom Inzinga (guitar, vocals) was the only one to respond. Soon after, Jimmy Gallagher (drums) joined the duo, creating The Dead Licks. After about a year of writing and recording, the group managed to release a three-song EP in August 2016. The band showed a lot of potential, yet still showed room for improvement. For a long period of time, the group was struggling to find a bass player. Lucky for them, Tom met Johnny McNamara (bass) in the fall of 2017. After about a month, the newly formed four-piece played their first show in October 2017.
Over the course of the next year, the band put a focus on live performances. After playing shows at local venues, word about the band started to get around the Dayton area. The band finally was able to venture out into new cities, including their biggest show at one of Cleveland’s most legendary venues, the Grog Shop.
With more than a year of experience as a complete band, their focus shifted to recording new music. In the spring of 2018, they were ready to record. With the help of Ron Pease at Refraze Recording Studios, the band recorded their debut album “Stay Away from the Aliens.”
“Stay Away from the Aliens” was released April 6th, 2018. The album consists of eight songs all written and recorded in Dayton, Ohio. The album art, wide variety of sounds, and overall theme of the record signify an important time in the band’s short history. The album as a whole paints a vivid picture for the listener as to who the band was during their time at school. This record truly shows what The Dead Licks can do and gives way into where they might go from here.
Stay tuned.
BEN WEASEL AND HIS IRON STRING BAND
(featuring members of All American Rejects and Screeching Weasel)
Playing songs from Ben Weasel, Riverdales, and Screeching Weasel
BARRENCE WHITFIELD & THE SAVAGES
There’s no harder hitter than frontman Barrence Whitfield of Boston, MA. When he hits the boards with the Savages, you’re either gonna ride the energy or be crushed by it. We’re talking Joe Louis, Howlin’ Wolf, Wilson Pickett, Smokin’ Joe Frazier. Barrence has what these greats all possessed, the one thing a trainer cannot teach a fighter: a lust for mayhem. The wilder, louder, more insane the Savages bring it, the more BW is ready to attack the mic, to bring it high, to bring it low, to wear you down on the ropes, and eventually drop you.
Backing Whitfield are the best cornermen in the business, led by garage/punk guitarist Peter Greenberg, the visionary who started the Savages after a legendary stint with the Lyres, and his sidekick Phil “Mr. Tenacious” Lenker on bass. Greenberg works his guitar with the ruthless intricacy of a chain saw ice sculptor. Lenker meshes with drummer Andy Jody for an unrelenting sequence of haymaker beats. Tom Quartulli’s saxophone rips like a foghorn through the mist.
– John Swenson
FOR ALL THE EMPTINESS
dark electronic music project responding to claims based on anti-reason.
RELIC
Relic as a band was formed in 2015 as a studio project by Jordan Davis in Cincinnati, OH. The addition of Dan Dickershied on drums brought visceral energy to the live performance and studio alike. Channeling influences from early 90’s industrial rock, the duo manifests the sonic power of their self-described sound as industrial-cyberpunk.
AMELIA ARSENIC
Designer, performer, makeup product developer, professional party goer.
KANGA
Kanga is a solo project of a Los Angeles based composer, artist, and music programmer.
RABBIT JUNK
Experimental whirlwind with roots in metal, industrial, urban, EDM and digital-hardcore.
EARTHRIDE
Pure Maryland doom for the brotherhood of music.
MIDNIGHT HOUR
Midnight Hour are one of the Chicago’s finest and most authentic Soul Bands. The 9-piece band plays the best of Stax/Atlantic Soul and Muscle Shoals R&B from the golden era of soul music. They play the hits of Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Wilson Picket and more.
BLACK AND BLUE
Black & Blue plays Rolling Stones tunes from the 70s—not just Exile or Some Girls, but hits and deep cuts from the catalog. John Mead and guitar and vocals, Jimmy Tomasello on guitar, and John Abbey on bass have played (and taught) these tunes their whole lives, and they’ll be joined by Alton Smith on keys, Zoey Witz on guitar, Peter Manis on drums, Mani Bances on percussion, and the Midnight Hourhorns.
THE ULTIMATE QUEEN CELEBRATION FEAT. MARC MARTEL
Long before his YouTube videos went viral, spawning an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and a performance with the surviving members of Queen on “American Idol,” Marc Martel spent 13 years recording and touring the globe with Canadian rockers Downhere. Not only did the rock band visit all 50 American States, but also toured throughout Europe and even Northern Africa, collecting worldwide acclaim and four Juno Awards in their native land.
After paying their dues for more than a decade in a fifteen passenger van and finally graduating to a full-fledged bus, the group wrote what they believed was the very peak of its artistry and expression, but despite the private support of radio programmers, the public never latched onto to what turned out to be Downhere’s swansong effort. Yet right around the time when that writing popped up on the wall, Martel received an email from an industry pal with a link to a contest spearheaded by the actual members of Queen.
At first, the front man almost passed on the opportunity, but with some prodding from his wife and additional friends, he casually cut a version of “Somebody To Love” in 2011, and now 30 million cumulative YouTube and Facebook views later, bolstered by the aforementioned “Ellen” appearance, Martel was declared the victor. Even legendary Queen drummer Roger Taylor remarked to the Daily Record: “That voice. You listen, close your eyes and you think it’s Freddie. It’s really uncanny.” For the last 6 years and over 160+ shows Marc has fronted Queen’s official tribute show, The Queen Extravaganza.
Fast forward to 2017, and Martel has forged for himself a unique and diverse career. He started his own Queen tribute show called The Ultimate Queen Celebration, which tours all over the world, including an upcoming Australia/New Zealand run in 2018. But Marc does not only lend his voice to rock and roll crowds, but also recently to symphony halls as he fronts Symphonic Queen with the Philharmonic Orchestra of México (OFUNAM) in Mexico City.
But even with the overwhelming demand behind Martel’s Queen-themed projects, he’s cultivated an increasingly visible solo career defined by a relentless creativity, unpredictably and practically super human abilities to simultaneously craft his own identity while flawlessly stepping into the shoes of others. In terms of his individuality, the cheekily-titled “Impersonator” (released in 2014) is an under-the-radar modern rock masterpiece produced by John Fields (also known for his work with Pink, Goo Goo Dolls, Miley Cyrus, Backstreet Boys and Switchfoot on its blockbuster “The Beautiful Letdown”) that unexpectedly spawned “Dead Ringer” as the entrance song for veteran comedian Carrot Top in Las Vegas. In 2016, he continued a Downhere tradition by releasing the EP The Silent Night which brought him back onto the Christian radio charts with his Billboard AC Monitored Top 10 single, “What Child Is This?” featuring Ron Block of Alison Krauss and Union Station.
This Christmas Marc embarks on the 2017 K-Love Christmas Tour alongside Steven Curtis Chapman, Plumb, and We Are Messengers which covers 19 cities in 24 days. He has also gone back to Christian radio with his new version of “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” featuring Plumb, which is the debut single from his upcoming EP, The First Noel, releasing in late November.
Then there’s a forthcoming covers collection, My Way Vol. 1, (coming Spring 2018) that fans have been demanding, on which Martel plans to tackle classic songs that require a massive voice, all tied together by a theme of sharing personal significance to his musical upbringing. In the meantime, he’s made additional waves performing at the direct request of Céline Dion (who avidly follows his videos) on Radio-Canada TV’s “En direct de l’Universe” in 2016, plus a jaw-dropping cover of George Michael and Wham!’s “Last Christmas” for the video game “Just Dance 2017” and Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose” on “Just Dance 2018″. Add in performances on People.com, ten nights at the Calgary Stampede, plus various San Francisco Giants, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Charlotte Hornets games, and there’s truly no limit to Martel’s unreal reach.
“I grew up believing a lie that I had to have one sound as a singer, but after I put that false belief aside, I realized I can have as many sides as I want,” sums up Martel. “I’m having the best time of my life as a professional musician right now where I’m involved with so many different things it’s impossible to get bored. Between anything Queen-related, my own recordings and these fun little side projects, I’m more diverse and happier as an artist than I’ve ever been!”
LAVISH LASHES
Lavish Lashes blend sequencers and electronic dream machines with lush ambient guitar and keyboard effects. They do this to make you want to dance, to sing along, and to make your own art.
WANDERER
Heavy.
CLOSET WITCH
Dank Evil from South-East Iowa.
DYERS EVE
Dyers eve is the most authentic sounding Metallica tribute band in the world! Dyers Eve is from Chicago, IL and features Ken Becker, the former guitarist and lead singer of Battery (who opened for Metallica on the Garage inc. tour), Kevin M Buck well known area guitarist from Blizzard of Ozz, Kevin M Buck band, and the former lead guitarist of Battery and Blackened (…played onstage with Metallica for their 30th anniversary show). With John Rix of Air Raid on bass and Jack Michener of End of Anarchy on Drums.
Dyers Eve plays the actual parts that the original band members played!
Dyers Eve plays the songs in the original (proper) keys that the songs were first recorded and played in!
Dyers Eve plays over 80 Metallica songs.
Dyers Eve gives the talent buyer a professional concert experience.
Do not miss Dyers Eve live!
MONTROSE MAN
post-everything
WILL BENNETT & THE TELLS
Will Bennett & The Tells conjure a delicious mix of supercharged country and toe-tapping rock & roll. The result is a sound that will resonate just as well with fans of The Replacements’ literate barroom rock as those of cowpunk stalwarts such as the Old 97’s and Lydia Loveless. At the heart of it all are instantly memorable tunes—infectious without being syrupy, clever without being obtuse—that dig into the marrow of murky, mid-twenties love and loss.
The band’s debut album Wichita, released in 2016, has garnered high praise from a variety of genre tastemakers, ultimately landing at #40 in the No Depression Year-End Readers Poll and earning a spot on Americana Rock Mix’s “Best of 2016” podcast. In the past year, Will Bennett & The Tells have released a standalone single “Tumblin’ Down” and opened for national alt-country acts such as Cory Branan and the Yawpers.
Will Bennett & The Tells formed in 2014 when the singer-songwriter packed up his guitar and left his hometown of Grinnell, Iowa for Columbus, Ohio, where he joined forces with drummer Daniel Martinson. Now based in Chicago, the Tells are rounded out by Ethan Kenvarg on bass and Wilson Brehmer on guitar.
BLIND ADAM & THE FEDERAL LEAGUE
Blind Adam and The Federal League, Chicago’s own folk punk americana foursome with powerful lyrics and a serious punch of soul. The band is fronted by Adam Gogola, a young man living with a rare, degenerative optic nerve disease leaving him legally blind. The nickname was given to him by his good friends in The Bouncing Souls when they embarked on a 1,000 mile motorcycle ride together years ago. Using it as a bit of inspiration, the band have been playing ever since and making waves in the punk scene. Full of gritty, soulful punk roots with Bruce Springsteen chutzpah, the band hold rustic, rock forward melodies.
THE NICK D’VIRGILIO PROJECT
Nick D’Virgilio is a US born and based composer and musician. As a child he was fascinated by drums, a fascination that became much enhanced after getting a drum kit as a Christmas present at an early age.
He joined his first band at age 15, although at that stage the music itself may now have been the most important aspect of being in a band. That would come later though. After High school he attended the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, at first specializing in drums but later switching to vocals, songwriting and music theory. He kept playing the drums though.
In 1992 he encountered fellow musicians Neal Morse and Al Morse at a blues jam, which was the start of what would eventually become Spock’s Beard. One year later he met Kevin Gilbert, and soon became a close associate of him, lasting until Gilbert’s passing in 1996. D’Virgilio had worked close enough with Gilbert to take it upon himself to finish his last album, which Gilbert had merely started working on when he passed. And in 2000 this resulted in the album The Shaming of the True.
One year before Gilbert died, Spock’s Beard had gotten their major breakthrough with their debut effort The Light, and they were working on their sophomore effort at the time Gilbert passed away. They continued issuing popular titles for the coming years, which kept D’Virgilio rather busy. And besides his mani band, he was also brought in to be the drummer of Tears for Fears in this period, a task he has continued with to this date. At the same time he was also brought in as the drummer for what turned out to be the last studio effort by Genesis, the 1997 production Calling All Stations.
Gathering some of his friends from Sweetwater Music in Indiana, Nick is excited to premiere this new fusion band.
FM
FM is a Canadian progressive rock music group formed in 1976 in Toronto. The band existed from 1976 to 1996, with a brief return in 2006, although they had a period of inactivity between 1989 and 1994. Their music has been categorized as space rock, and lyrics are dominated by science fiction themes. In November 2011, Cameron Hawkins reformed the band with two new players.
FRENCH TV
French TV is a Louisville, Kentucky – based progressive band that has been in existence since 1983.
Members of District 97 Present a Tribute to Bill Bruford/Allan Holdsworth
Some of the very first music 2016 Modern Drummer Reader’s Poll Top 5 Progressive Rock Drummer Jonathan Schang (of Chicago’s District 97) ever heard was the 1979 Bruford album “One of a Kind.” His father played it repeatedly in his youth, and the album’s blend of crisp drumming, dexterous bass, lush keyboard soundscapes, and sinewy guitar lines immediately intrigued Jonathan. Having very little point of reference though, he assumed this was just how instruments were played! After maturing and hearing more music, Jonathan came back to this album and realized it was truly “One of a Kind” indeed.
When District 97 bassist TIm Seisser took on organizing an Allan Holdsworth Tribute on the first anniversary of his passing this year, he asked Jonathan and Andrew Lawrence (D97 keyboardist) to participate. Among other songs, the group took on Five G from “One of a Kind.” Having had so much fun with that, the idea was born to play the whole album at Progtoberfest 2018. Come see this special (fittingly) one-ttme only performance! Also featured will be Cleveland-area guitarist Jeremey Poparad.
THE AARON CLIFT EXPERIMENT
AXON-NEURON
Axon-Neuron was initially formed in 2011 by Jeremey Poparad as an excuse to play some music one last time with some friends who were moving away from Ohio. In the course of four months, an entire full length album was written, rehearsed, and recorded and a few live shows were put on in Akron. The result was so enjoyable, that Axon-Neuron “2.0” was assembled to continue performing, writing, and recording after the original lineup departed.
Our first album, “Brain Songs,” was released in May 2011, with our second album, “Dreamstate,” following in June 2012. They are both available on CDBaby (http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Axonneuron) and iTunes, as well as other digital music services, and at live shows.
WESTWARD
Westward, the band from Salt Lake City, Utah. Founders of Cowboy Space Rock. Born from the minds of Andrew Marshall, Matt Morrison and Karl Grimm.
SOFT MACHINE
Soft Machine : One of the greatest UK avant/jazz-rock bands of all time.
Their work, from their earliest performances as a psychedelic band who were contemporaries of, and shared stages with, Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, all the way to being one of Europe’s best known ‘fusion’ groups, has influenced several generations of bands, and continues to be name-checked by today’s hip experimentalists.
Whilst the line-up of Soft Machine may have changed many times since the heady days of the late 1960’s, the band’s spirit of musical adventure, and the ease with which it freely avoids being pigeon holed and can move from powerful progressive jazz fusion to atmospheric psychedelia to free improvised jazz-rock to ambient loop music continues to make it both unique and totally contemporary.
THE TRANSONIC EXPERIENCE
The Tronosonic Experience is a hard hitting punk jazz band from Norway. In December 2016 the band recorded their debut album at Ocean Sound Recordings, with engineer Henning Svoren behind the recording console.
The band’s eponymous debut album was released by Losen Records in September 2017.
MOBIUS STRIP
Möbius Strip is an instrumental band formed in Sora (Italy) in 2014 and made of: Lorenzo Cellupica (25) on keyboards, Nico Fabrizi (27) on sax and flute, Eros Capoccitti (24) on bass and Davide Rufo (26) on drums. Möbius Strip was born with the intention of exploring and mixing different musical styles, in particular the sound and the improvisations of jazz with the structures of prog, without disregarding the insertion of strong melodies and searching for its own identity anyway.
THE DEVIL’S STAIRCASE
Want to hear what Fractal Geometry, Chaos and Non-linear physics sound like when the mathematics becomes music? Climb the Devil’s Staircase…Made up of Ramsés Luna (Saxophone, Midi Wind, Electronics)
Tim McCaskey (Electric and Acoustic Guitars)
Luis Nasser (Bass, Pedals, Holophonics)
Mattias Olsson (Drums, Percussion, Loops)
LUCILLE FURS
The “Hypnotic Pandemonium” of Lucille Furs has been alternately described as “poetic rhythm,” “sophisticated and mellow” and “dream beat-pop”. The group describes themselves simply as “baroque pop.” The Music Manual UK describes them as “one of the hottest offerings to come out of Chicago.”
ANDRE POWER
THE KNELLS
The Knells are an art rock ensemble from Brooklyn, NY. Drawing inspiration from over 1000 years of western classical music and deftly fusing it with the worlds of progressive, psychedelic, and experimental rock, their music “is a must for those seeking untamed new musical hybrids” (The Daily Beast). The New York Times writes, “[The Knells’] lyrics ponder cosmic conditions and cycles — time, space, dissolution, regeneration — and they are sung by three women, often in cascading counterpoint that can invoke Renaissance polyphony or Minimalism. The songs… sweep ahead, through passages of tolling solo electric guitar, of elegiac vocal melodies and harmonies, of note-bending quasi-Indian strings and guitar, of progressive-rock processionals.”
CHESTER THOMPSON BAND
From Jazz (Weather Report), to Rock (Frank Zappa and the Mothers), to Pop (Genesis/Phil Collins) to Gospel (Ron Kenoly), Chester Thompson has surpassed the boundaries of musical genres. Chester’s performance and recording experiences have influenced over three decades of music and musicians. Whether playing drum kit or percussion, Chester’s masterful subtleties and unyielding time create the firm musical foundation for any musical genre.
UNREAL CITY
Unreal City was founded in 2008 by pianist/keyboardist Emanuele Tarasconi and guitarist Francesca Zanetta. Consequently to the release of the first self titled EP in 2012, the band began an insense live activity in Northern Italy music venues, thus drawing attention from both critics and music industry operators.
In January 2013 the band signed with AMS Records and joined Hilary Studios in Genoa to start the recording sessions for “La Crudeltà Di Aprile”, Unreal City debut album, that was released on 24th April 2013 amd immediately followed by the airing of a videoclip for “Dove La Luce E’ Più Intensa”, single extracted from the album.
In January 2013 the band signed with AMS Records and joined Hilary Studios in Genoa to start the recording sessions for “La Crudeltà Di Aprile”, Unreal City debut album, that was released on 24th April 2013 amd immediately followed by the airing of a videoclip for “Dove La Luce E’ Più Intensa”, single extracted from the album.
“La Crudeltà Di Aprile” gained unexpected astonishing attention from both Italian and International critics and Unreal City decided to embark in an international promotion tour during 2014, playing on stages like the Terra Incognita Progressif Festival in Québec City (Canada), MetaRock festival with Banco Del Mutuo Socorso in Pisa, the Cre.Sta Festival and the FIM Festival in Genoa and the Il Giardino Club in Verona, Italy. At the beginning of 2017 the band renewed its contract with AMS Records and joined Studio2 in Padua to record tracks for a new album, which was released in September 2017.
BUBBLEMATH
Bubblemath. Kings of delight.
VALDEZ
Valdez is a four piece art-rock band from Philadelphia, USA comprising of singer/guitarist Simon Godfrey, bassist Tom Hyatt, keyboard player Joe Cardillo and drummer Scott Miller. The band released their debut album entitled ‘This’ in the spring of April 2017 and plan to return to the studio to record their follow up record in early 2018.
FARMHOUSE ODYSSEY
Farmhouse Odyssey was formed by five college students in a small farmhouse in the fall of 2012 in Arcata, California. Embracing an improvisational writing style and inspired by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, the band quickly developed an organic and undeniably original sound. Songs flow freely between moods and styles influenced by progressive rock, psychedelia, jazz, funk, and world music, while always retaining the distinct musical personality of the group.
AD ASTRA
New York based guitarist Joe Nardulli‘s self-titled debut CD inspired and intrigued a bunch of local progressive rock musos. After jamming with a few, Joe finally found the right people and put a band together. David Penna on drums, J. Levine on bass and Eric Davis on keys brought Joe’s solo material to life. Harold Skeete and Tony Savasta are now filling the rhythm section duties. Now as a band, AD ASTRA(Latin for “To the stars” – inspired by the title of the closing track of Joe’s self-titled debut CD) has taken the compositional process to another level and have completed a full band recording! With tone and melodic sensibilities reminiscent of Steve Morse and Eric Johnson, the focus is on compositions that are tightly structured, eschewing the bombast and length that progressive rock is known for. Smooth, thematic playing styles blend perfectly with soaring, uplifting melodies. Combined with odd and shifting time signatures, you have songs that always keep your interest and never sound monotonous.
LYBRIA
The term “space rock” has been applied loosely over the last decade, but few bands truly achieve that delicate balance between openly atmospheric and crushingly heavy. Complex times, without feeling overly mathy. The Chicago quartet have layered instrumentation reminiscent of 90’s rockers Hum, with powerful vocals that can lead the listener towards Failure, or even the Midwest rock sounds of Shiner. This doesn’t mean Lybria are stuck in 90’s, as their modern approach has the contemporary feel of a matured Thrice, or progressive nature of UK’s Oceansize. Lybria are now focused on supporting their new EP “Cylces” with regional shows throughout the Midwest, and a heavy online presence.
THE GABRIEL CONSTRUCT
The Gabriel Construct is the rock solo project of Gabriel Lucas Riccio, a vocalist, composer and performer from Salisbury, MD. His debut album, ‘Interior City’, is a dark and atmospheric concept album featuring Travis Orbin (Darkest Hour, ex-Periphery, Of Legends) on drums, Thomas Murphy (ex-Periphery) on bass, David Stivelman (ex-Debbie Does Dallas) on guitar, Soren Larson on saxophone, and frequent collaborator Sophia Uddin on violin. The album unites players from rock, metal, classical, and jazz backgrounds to create a sound which incorporates influences from a wide variety of genres, including progressive rock, 20th century classical music, extreme metal, drum-n-bass, jazz, ’90s grunge and space rock, ’80s pop and more. The album’s densely layered vocal harmonies, distorted pianos, dissonant chords, and complex rhythms envelop the listener in a hallucinatory wall of sound.
NEAL MORSE
The journey of Neal Morse has seen three decades of musical accomplishments, the latest being the inception of THE NEAL MORSE BAND. The Los Angeles born Prog-Rocker Neal Morse (Spock’s Beard, Flying Colors, and Transatlantic) has forged many relationships over the years. The most compelling and fruitful efforts have been those with Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater, The Winery Dogs, Twisted Sister, Transatlantic, Flying Colors, and more).
Together the pair has launched four bands. But the band that has endured the longest and thus with the most musical output has been THE NEAL MORSE BAND. Over the years, Neal along with Mike Portnoy and Randy George always assembled musicians as needed to support Neal’s solo music. In 2012, Neal with longtime bassist Randy George held auditions to find the musicians needed to fill out the band as a permanent lineup that would write music collectively. Bill Hubauer (keyboards, vocals) and Eric Gillette (guitar, vocals) joined the band after three days of auditions. They went on to release THE GRAND EXPERIMENT in 2014 followed by the ALIVE AGAIN live DVD/2 CD package in 2015.
Together, the five members are now embarking on THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM. This will be the eighth studio album with Morse, Portnoy and George, but the second as a true collaboration with this lineup. Neal’s most recent album is Life & Times.
DINOSAUR EXHIBIT
Dinosaur Exhibit is the brain child of former members of several historic Chicago based Rock bands: The Flock, The Mauds and Aura. These bands exploded onto the music scene during the 60’s and played
through the 70’s and are noted for being an integral part of the birth of American Rock Music! These bands through their creativity and various successes have influenced many generations of musicians to follow in their footsteps!
The Flock were well known for such hits as “Clown” and other cult classics recorded over 3 albums, and headlining around the world. The Mauds produced top hits including “Hold On”, “Knock On Wood” and “Soul Drippin” and were a charting Phenomenon in Japan!
Aura were a more obscure band, that included original members from Four Days and a Night, and not unlike The Mauds and The Flock were signed to Mercury Records and had and have developed a huge following. Dinosaur Exhibit is not a tribute band, but the original musicians playing the music that they created and the music that we have all come to know and love, Live and in person!
*Featured guest legendary violinist Jerry Goodman is recognized as the world’s finest Electric Violinist who was a member of The Flock, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jan Hammer Group and The Dixie Dregs and has appeared on countless recordings including: Hall &Oats, Styx and Toots Thieleman.
SOFTEN THE GLARE
Soften the Glare is what happens when different worlds collide. Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne), Bon Lozaga (Gongzilla, Tiny Boxes) & Mitch Hull unleash an amalgamation of captivating sounds. When Lozaga, Hull & Martinie first met in LA and started talking about getting together to create some music, they didn’t know what to expect. Now, as Soften The Glare, their music is constantly evolving, bringing in elements from all of their worlds. Currently their music is headed in a jazz/rock fusion direction with elements of metal, funk, prog and chaos.
JEAVESTONE
Jeavestone was formed in 1999 by a group of young hopefuls in Western Finland. They developed their style from a more direct approach towards what the band themselves call “prog’n’roll”
LEFTRIDGE AND THE JONES’
SHARMONJARMON
Born on the south side of Chicago, SharmonJarmon! is a Journalist, Radio Personality, and Singer/Songwriter.
Sharmon has worked with local radio stations in Chicago from Vocalo.org, TrueStar Radio on Power92 Chicago, Clear Channel Chicago, and UICRadoio.org and even host and produced her own radio show StrawberryJamz! Radio on windycityunderground.com.
Sharmon has also hosted numerous open mics, talent shows, fashion shows, and even non-for-profit seminars. Overall Sharmon likes to have fun and is always optimistic about the next step in life. She hopes to spread “peace, love and STRAWBERRIES” as she says by always presenting 2 Timothy 1:7 in everything that she does.
BILLY SHERWOOD
Billy Sherwood (Yes bassist/producer/engineer/solo artist) will be doing a clinic at Reggies Chicago on Wednesday June 6th at Noon.
Sharing insight and discussing the finer points of the music industry as well as techniques and tips on audio production, engineering, mixing, song writing, playing bass, guitar, keyboards etc… There will be a Q and A included. Come out and learn how to better improve whatever aspects of the music field you’re perusing by picking the brain of one of Progressive rocks most prolific artists/producer. Having produced/recorded/mixed over 100 professional records, Billy has a wealth of information to share and in many ares of music. A picture/autograph session is also included. Tickets are limited so make sure to get yours today !!
CANNIBAL ABORTION
Brutal Death Metal from Chicago, IL
SUPER SECRET SPECIAL GUEST
shhh… It’s a secret. Yeah it’s good.