PROGRESSIVE ROCK SUPERGROUP REUNITES FOR NEW STUDIO ALBUM.

TRANSATLANTIC FLIES AGAIN!!! POSSIBLE LATE 2009 RELEASE PLANNED.

TRANSATLANTIC, the progressive rock "supergroup" comprised of Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Pete Trewavas (Marillion), Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) and Neal Morse (ex-Spock's Beard), have reunited after a 7 year hiatus to begin work on a brand new studio album.The band began work on the album in early April in Nashville and are expected to have it released by year's end if all goes as planned.TRANSATLANTIC have previously released two studio albums to tremendous critical and fan accl.. 2000's SMPTe and 2001's Bridge Across Forever.

The band toured on the heels of each release with an American Tour in 2000 and a European Tour in 2001 and released subsequent Live DVD's/CD's from both tours before going their separate ways for an indefinite hiatus which lasted almost the entire decade.

Mercury Records to Re-release Tubular Bells

Universal press release - Tubular BellsRelease date: 8th June 2009
Mike Oldfield is an artist like no other. Over the last 37 years he has produced timeless, unique and inspirational music that has enthralled listeners the world over. Fans old and new can celebrate the great man’s work with a special release of his classic, multiplatinum selling album Tubular Bells, out on 8th June through the Mercury Music Group/Universal Music Catalogue. This is the first classic album to be released from Oldfield’s back catalogue, which was transferred from Virgin to Mercury/Universal in 2008. It is 35 years since the opening passage was used in the film THE EXORCIST, making the album a global phenomenon.
This exciting new version of his 1973 groundbreaking album will not only be repackaged, but Mike himself has also remastered the tracks from his home in the Bahamas. There will be FOUR physical editions of the album, as well as TWO digital versions. All versions will carry a new 2009 stereo mix of the album. The DELUXE EDITION has a 5.1 mix, while the boxed ULTIMATE EDITION, complete with 60 page hardback book with a foreword by Mike Oldfield, poster, plectrums and all manner of Tubular delights, contains all of this as well as previously unheard demo and rough mixes of this epochal recording. There will 500 of these superb, limited editions available through www.mikeoldfield.com signed and numbered. For those who like things old school, there is a vinyl version being released as part of the acclaimed Back To Black series.
There will also be a double-disc edition of the album with a bonus disc of Oldfield’s biggest hits between 1974 and 1983. This edition will be extensively advertised on TV.
To celebrate the release, on June 6th at 6pm (6.6.6pm) a worldwide bell ringing event will take place. Bells will be rung in Milan (MTV), Berlin (at Siegessaule, the location were Mike performed the legendary millennium bell concert on New Years Eve Y2K), Brussells (Atomium), Paris (the George Pompidou centre), Sydney (Opera House), Japan/Narita (at one of the traditional Japanese Temples) and finally London, where bells will be rung on at famous landmarks. Footage will then be shown on Mike’s website http://mikeoldfield.org

Ozric Tentacles To Close Out Progday 2009

OZRIC TENTACLES are a band that probably need no introduction to fans of progressive rock. The band was formed when the original members met at a festival on the grounds of Stonehenge in 1983. By 1984 they had released the first of their early cassette-only titles. Soon after they grew a large and devoted fan base and eventually become legends in the UK underground. They have now been a leader of the progressive/ Soon after they grew a large and devoted fan base and eventually become legends in the UK Their new CD, “The Yum Yum Tree,” will be released in April.

Led by founding member Ed Wynne, OZRIC TENTACLES continue the tradition of free-form instrumental space rock that made them famous. Long associated with open-air events, THE OZRICS will close ProgDay weekend, as the sun sets on Storybook Farm, will be a special opportunity to experience this remarkable band.

ProgDay is the world's longest running progressive rock event. The 15th edition will take place on September 5th & 6th, 2009, at beautiful Storybook Farm near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. OZRIC TENTACLES joins MÖRGLBL and FRENCH TV for another great weekend of the best in progressive music! For more information and to hear music from all of this year 's ProgDay bands, please visit the progday website at http://www.progday/

Ozric Tentacles To Release New Album

The Ozric Tentacles return with their new studio album The Yumyum Tree. The album is available from April 27th but can be pre-ordered now from The Yumyum Tree mini-site at http://www.snappermusic.com/ms/ozrictentacles/theyumyumtree .All orders placed through this site will receive a free A2 poster with their CD.The mini-site also offers a sneak preview of the album by way of a free mp3 download of the new track Mooncalf.One of the most influential bands to emerge from the UK’s festival scene, the Ozrics layer ambient and ethereal landscapes with freeform dub trips, incredible rave grooves and psychedelic progressive rock. It’s an open exploration of music and the soul.

For over 25 years, the Ozrics have experienced the vicissitudes of the rock and roll life. The band has flourished through a number of line-up changes, spawned several side projects (including Eat Static and Nodens Ictus), created their own record label (Dovetail & Stretchy), put out close to 25 albums, scored a hit record and sold over a million albums world-wide. And yet, the basic motivation behind the band’s existence has never wavered.A campfire at the Stonehenge free festival in 1983 witnessed the birth of Ozric Tentacles. It was there that synth player Joie Hinton, stumbled upon brother’s Ed Wynne (guitar) and Roly Wynne (bass), performing in a band known at the time as Bolshem People, along with drummer Nick ‘Tig’ Van Gelder (Jamiroquai). From that very first jam session, a musical compatibility was evoked that has since been a trademark of the Ozric Tentacles. It’s a signature blend of hippy aesthetics and raver electronics with spiralling guitars, textured waves of keyboard and midi samplers, and supergroovy bass and drum rhythms.

The Yumyum Tree is their new studio album first since 2006’s The Floor’s Too Far Away and follows on from the last year’s CD & DVD set, Sunrise Festival.

Vanity, Chaos Divine, Knight Area Confirmed For Progpower Europe

VANITY (pol), CHAOS DIVINE (aus) and KNIGHT AREA (hol) confirmed for ProgPower Europe 2009.

Progpower announced 3 more bands for this year's edition of ProgPower Europe. As you
know they always try to book a very diverse line-up with bands you know and bands
that are completely unknown. And they also try to book a line-up with different
music styles, within the prog scene. Organizers have now confirmed the Dutch band KNIGHT AREA, a prog band that already released 2 albums and played several festivals including Nearfest. Later this year a 3rd album will see daylight. Secondly, they have booked the completely unknown band VANITY from Poland, their music can be described as
schizophrenic progmetal. Check them out at myspace to judge yourself, a song like Caterine is just a masterpiece. And last but not least, Progpower has booked one of the best Australian newcomers, CHAOS DIVINE. This band has just released its debut CD in their home country, the reactions are overwhelming and they are described as a mix of Dream Theater and Arch Enemy.

The Current Lineup:

CHAOS
DIVINE (australia)
CLOUDSCAPE (sweden)
KNIGHT AREA (the netherlands)
NEVERLAND (turkey)
PROSPECT (slovenia)
SEVENTH WONDER (sweden)
VANITY (poland)

8 more bands will be announced within the next few weeks, including the headliners and some bands that make their return to ProgPower Europe. Ticket sales have already started, and you can check out their website for all the details.

http://www.progpower.eu

Steve Gore Of Rascal Reporters Suddenly Passes

We have just learned that Steve Gore of Rascal Reporters has suddenly passed away.

RIP Steve Gore

TO-MERA, STREAM OF PASSION, CORONATUS Confirmed For Belgium's METAL FEMALE VOICES FEST

TO-MERA (the U.K.-based dark progressive metal band fronted by former WITHOUT FACE vocalist Julie Kiss), STREAM OF PASSION, CORONATUS and LAHANNYA have been confirmed for the Metal Female Voices Fest VII, set to take place October 17, 2009 at Oktoberhallen in Wieze, Belgium.

The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

AMBERIAN DAWN

AUTUMN

CORONATUS

DORO (25th-anniversary show)

FLOWING TEARS

KIVIMETSAN DRUIDI

LAHANNYA

MANIC MOVEMENT

MIDNATTSOL

STREAM OF PASSION

TO-MERA

TRAIL OF TEARS

UNSUN

VAN CANTO

WHYZDOM

For more information, visit www.metalfemalevoicesfest.be.

Commented TO-MERA: "We're delighted to be playing alongside some top-quality acts at such an esteemed festival!"The bands adds: "Work is now proceeding in earnest on writing the third album. So far, about 30 minutes worth of material has been written. Our aim is to complete writing by the summer and start recording by the autumn."Fan-filmed video footage of TO-MERA performing the song "The Lie" on July 24, 2008 at the Underworld in London can be viewed below.TO-MERA last year parted ways with bassist Lee Barrett (ex-EXTREME NOISE TERROR, DISGUST, MUSSOLINI HEADKICK) and replaced him with Mark Harrington, also of DEMAGOGUE.

The band released its sophomore album, "Delusions", on February 18, 2008 via Candlelight Records.