UK band The Fierce and the Dead has been signed as the Sunday morning opening band at RoSfest 2017

The Fierce and the Dead will be the opening band for Sunday at Rosfest 2017. This slot at the festival is often dubbed The Church of Prog; the truly dedicated audience filling these chairs on an early Sunday morning, receptive to good music and eager to spread the word about it, is the equivalent of a congregation in progressive rock circles.

The Fierce and the Dead formed accidentally, beginning with the recording of UK artist Matt Stevens’ solo album and instead leading to the formation of a band. This band has become so popular that Matt’s solo career has taken a back seat. After signing with Bad Elephant Records in 2013, the band released their second album “Spooky Action,” followed by the EP “Magnet” in 2015, with more material on the way.

Depending on the point of view, The Fierce and the Dead play either post-punk, post-rock, math metal or a King Crimson-oriented variety of progressive rock. Their songs are instrumental, quirky, fairly difficult to pigeonhole, and at times rather challenging to digest. Despite of, or because of, these traits, their stature has risen steadily in the 6 years since their formation. They’ve received numerous top end placements in the best album of the year lists in 2013, have been nominated as best new act by the Prog Magazine, and have a steadily growing fanbase.

We can’t wait to see this band make their live US debut at ROSfest 2017, and we’re certain that our first-rate audience will give Matt Stevens, Kev Feazey, Stuart Marshall and Steve Cleaton a warm welcome.

The Fierce & The Dead
www.fierceandthedead.com
www.twitter.com/tfatd
www.facebook.com/fierceandthedead

Power Prog 2016 USA

US band UNIFIED PAST signed for RoSfest 2017

Veteran US band Unified Past will be the second band to play on Saturday at ROSfest 2017.

This New York-based band formed in 1998, with roots going back to early 1990’s band Labyrinth. Although the band was originally aligned towards a progressive metal-oriented sound with inspiration from bands like Rush, in the last few years their style has morphed due to a changing line-up. These days, veteran members Stephen Speelman (guitars, keyboards) and Victor Tassone (drums) have been joined by Dave Mickelson (bass) and Phil Naro (vocals).

Cue the band’s seventh album “Shifting the Equilibrium,” released on US label Melodic Revolution Records in 2015. The bite of progressive metal is still present, with traces of bands such as Rush and possibly even Dream Theater, but it’s now paired with sounds of a more vintage nature that could be compared to bands like Yes. With the excellent lead vocals of Phil Naro as the proverbial icing on the cake, “Shifting the Equilibrium” has been a true-to-life game changer for this band.

Unified Past is a veteran act that has transformed in the last couple years from relative obscurity into a group that could really be going places, and we’re sure that they are one of the bands that will make a really strong impression at ROSfest in 2017. We were surprised and amazed by their latest album, and we’re certain that this fantastic group will surprise and amaze us all on stage as well!

Unified Past official – http://www.unifiedpast.com/Unified_Past/Welcome.html

Unified Past Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Unifiedpast

The Neal Morse Band confirmed for RoSfest 2017

The journey of Neal Morse has been one that 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, 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. But in 2012 Neal with longtime bassist Randy George held auditions to find the musicians needed to fill out the band as a permanent line up that would write music together collectively.

Bill Hubauer (Keyboards, Vocals) and Eric Gillette (Guitar, Vocals) came to the band as result of 3 days of auditions. Together the five members embarked on The Grand Experiment. This would be the 8th studio album with Morse gone solo with Portnoy and George on board, but the first as a true collaboration with this line up.

The band tours worldwide almost yearly and is growing in its popularity as well as drawing in new listeners everywhere they go. The band has toured in North America, Central America and Europe. In 2013 they performed in Israel, Greece, Poland and India as well. The shows are filled with excited and extremely loyal fans, some which have regularly traveled very long distances to see the band. The band has an extensive catalog of live shows on Blu-Ray and DVD as well.

This year the Neal Morse Band will release their new project which is yet untitled. Bassist Randy George had this to say “We weren’t sure we could do a double CD and yet it seemed as though the concept and the music wanted to go there. But ultimately it will be a double CD. To cap that off we are working with a pre-imminent Classic Album Cover artist to create the painting of our concept which will grace the cover!”

Slated for a November release on Sony Metal-Blade Records the new album will be out about 2 months in advance of the 35+ date world tour the band is mounting in 2017!

The Neal Morse Band Official http://www.nealmorse.com/
Neal Morse Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/nealmorse