Shadow Gallery To Release New Album In October

The Shadow Gallery new album Digital Ghosts will be released October 26th (Europe) and November 3rd (North America) via the InsideOutMusic label.
SHADOW GALLERY, widely considered a major and innovative force within the realms of progressive rock and metal, have returned with their 6th studio effort “Digital Ghosts”.
After the tragic passing of lead singer Mike Baker in October 2008, “Digital Ghosts” introduces new lead singer Brian Ashland and not only sees the entire band once again sharing additional vocal duties but also features guest vocal appearances by Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear) and Clay Barton (Suspyre) to compliment the release. With “Digital Ghosts”, Shadow Gallery's members Brendt Allman, Carl Cadden-James, Gary Wehrkamp, new addition Brian Ashland and returning drummer Joe Nevolo (who appears on two songs of the record) have focused their powerful energies on creating a seamless blend of progressive, metal, and symphonic rock as a transcendent work of musical art that advances the boundaries of these genres into new directions.
Guitarist / Keyboardist Gary Wehrkamp comments on “Digital Ghosts” as follows:
“As a band, we are thrilled to have new music to share with everyone. This album is a dedication to our wonderful fans, and also to the memory of our singer and friend Mike Baker.
We had to deal with a few tragic events during the course of this recording, but pressing on we approached the production the way we always do: Trying to provide our very best. We had a terrific time making this record and hope all the emotion and love we put into it endures, transcends and touches every one who is ready for it.
You can expect some shades of a new direction on this record. We had long been trying to incorporate more prog elements and the time was right to stretch out a little bit, while remaining true to the heavy and powerful rock based songs that have been a staple of SHADOW GALLERY since the earliest days”.

The track-listing for the album reads as follows:
SHADOW GALLERY – “Digital Ghosts”:
1. With Honor
2. Venom
3. Pain
4. Gold Dust
5. Strong
6. Digital Ghost
7. Haunted
Two small first video teasers for “Digital Ghosts” can be viewed on the band’s youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/shadowgallerymusic
More details as well as music samples for “Digital Ghosts” will be available in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, please visit:
http://www.shadowgallery.com
http://www.myspace.com/officialshadowgallery
http://www.insideout.de

RENAISSANCE 2009 to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of England's "Classical Rock" Pioneers with Special Fall U.S. Tour

Annie Haslam and Michael Dunford to Lead World-Class Musicians
on 9-City Concert Tour of Theaters and Performing Arts Centers Starting Oct. 6

In celebration of their 1969 formation, English "classical rock" pioneers Renaissance are embarking on a special 40th Anniversary Fall Concert Tour to re-introduce to new generations the lush, orchestral favorites that made them a staple of 1970s progressive rock radio.
Led by Annie Haslam and Michael Dunford, the voice and principal songwriter, respectively, of the band’s most popular lineup, RENAISSANCE 2009 will embark on a nine-city East Coast tour of theaters and performing arts centers that commences Oct. 6 in Annapolis, MD, and includes New York, Philadelphia and Washington, home to the nation’s top progressive rock stations during the classic Renaissance era.
"I'm thrilled to be performing these truly unique masterpieces again," says Haslam, whose five-octave voice is one of the most legendary in rock history. “These songs are a big part of my life and I will sing my heart out."
Joining Haslam and Dunford in RENAISSANCE 2009 are keyboardist Rave Tesar and bassist-vocalist David J. Keyes, both of whom were previous members of Renaissance and the Annie Haslam Band, plus keyboardist-vocalist Tom Brislin (Yes, Debbie Harry, Meat Loaf, Francis Dunnery) and drummer-percussionist Frank Pagano (Bruce Springsteen, Smashing Pumpkins, Bette Midler, Barry Manilow). Together, these world class musicians will revisit the symphonic textures, stunning vocals and poetic lyrics that embody the band’s hauntingly compelling international themes, with fresh interpretations of their most admired compositions. “Carpet of the Sun,” “Ocean Gypsy,” “Mother Russia,” "Ashes Are Burning," “Running Hard,” “Prologue,” and "Northern Lights" are central to Renaissance’s most prolific period (1972-78), which produced the albums Prologue, Ashes Are Burning, Turn of the Cards, Novella, Scheherazade and Other Stories, and A Song for All Seasons, as well as 'Live' at Carnegie Hall (1976), the deluxe two-disc set recently reissued.
Renaissance originally rose from the ashes of the Yardbirds, with Haslam and Dunford joining at the dawn of the 1970s to define their work with folk rock and classical fusions, including quotations from and allusions to, such composers as Bach, Chopin, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff. It wasn’t long before influential progressive rock FM stations like WNEW (New York), WMMR (Philadelphia) and WHFS (Washington) were turning on America to Renaissance, while the band was thrilling concertgoers on the world’s most distinguished stages, from Carnegie Hall in New York City to the Royal Albert Hall in London.
"We've wanted to bring these songs to American audiences again and now with these great musicians," adds Michael Dunford, "I'm looking forward to it with great anticipation."

RENAISSANCE 2009 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR DATES:
October 6 Annapolis, MD Rams Head Onstage
October 8 Rochester, NY German House Theatre
October 9 New York, NY Concert Hall at New York Society for Ethical Culture
October 11 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
October 12 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere
October 13 Albany, NY The Egg – Center for Performing Arts
October 14 Harrisburg, PA Whitaker Center
October 16 South Orange, NJ South Orange Performing Arts Center
October 17 Atlantic City, NJ Xanadu Theater at Trump Taj Mahal

www.myspace.com/renaissanceofficial
www.anniehaslam.com
www.nlightsweb.com

CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS Announce Worldwide Cooperation With INSIDEOUTMUSIC & SUPERBALLMUSIC!

One of the world’s most renowned and successful labels in the field of heavy music, Century Media Records, proudly announces a worldwide cooperation with InsideOutMusic & SuperballMusic, two prominent labels featuring the finest classic acts and hottest newcomers in progressive rock/metal, post-rock and alternative. Both labels will now be distributed worldwide by EMI Music and will keep their individual trademarks and stylistic direction.

Antje Lange, managing director of Century Media Records Europe comments: “We are really glad to now be cooperating with InsideOut and Superball – two well known labels with loads of fascinating artists. Not only are we delighted to release the highly anticipated new albums of TRANSATLANTIC and OCEANSIZE, but having the labels’ founder Thomas Waber in our office finally turns a friendship into a heartily welcomed business connection. As a proper kick-off for this cooperation, we are already working on a massive label-campaign with our worldwide distributor EMI for early 2010.”

Thomas Waber, managing director of InsideOutMusic / SuperballMusic adds:“I am excited that we have found such competent and professional partners in Century Media and EMI as they really care about the music and artists we have to offer. I know the Century Media team for many years now and feel confident that this was the right decision for our bands. Both companies favour high quality instead of quantity and that is something we definitely have in common.”

The first highlights of this new partnership are TRANSATLANTIC’s stunning new opus “The Whirlwind” and the brand-new OCEANSIZE EP “Home & Minor”, which will both be released on October 26th, 2009 in Europe. Further releases 2009 include a KANSAS DVD, new albums by REDEMPTION, INME, NATIVE WINDOW, SHADOW GALLERY, DEVIN TOWNSEND, and THE TANGENT. Also expect a brand-new …AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD album in 2010!

For further information, please visit the following websites:

http://www.insideout.de

http://www.superballmusic.com

http://www.centurymedia.com

Rush May Possibly Return In 2010

Rush fans take note -- the legendary progressive rock band could be back on the road with a new album in 2010. The trio would love to work again with Nick Raskulinecz, who co-produced the last studio album, 'Snakes & Arrows,' but he'll have to hang on a bit longer.

"I think Nick calls the office once a week," laughs guitarist Alex Lifeson, "just to make sure we're still planning on getting back to work at some point."

Lifeson, lead singer-bassist Geddy Lee and drummer/lyricist Neil Peart played 120 shows behind 'Snakes & Arrows' and "were pretty beat by the end of it," says Lifeson. "We'd been working constantly for the last eight years or so, and really needed a break, and decided to take a year off. We're sort of coming to the end of that period.

"Neil and his wife had a baby just a couple of weeks ago, so he's asked if we can just wait a little bit until he gets settled and see how he feels about getting back to work or when to get back to work. So we're sort of playing it open right now."

Lifeson says he's been doing a little writing at home in Toronto, "just getting myself back into the groove again with recording and stuff like that. I would guess that sometime in the early fall we would get back together and start writing again, and then hopefully by next summer, we'd be ready to tour."

Guitarist Kerry Livgren Has Stroke

Legendary musician and composer Kerry Livgren suffered a stroke Tuesday morning. Livgren was a founding member of Kansas, and has been a tireless creative force since the early 70s. Currently he is a busy solo artist and producer, and manages his own label, Numavox records.Kerry is currently hospitalized near his home in Topeka, KS, where surgery was performed to remove blood clot in his brain. Kerry's nephew and Proto-Kaw band mate Jake Livgren has stated the family continues to be encouraged by signs his uncle is giving following the stroke he suffered Tuesday morning.Curently Livgren is working on a cantata based on the life of Lazarus, and will soon make his screen debut in the film "The Impostor".

He will also appear on the upcoming Kansas anniversary concert DVD "Know Place Like Home" due to be released in October.

News Bytes For The Month Of August

News Bytes For August:

• Morglbl's September tour of the eastern United States, has been cancelled due to Visa problems. The band is currently fixing the issue, but will not play any of their scheduled dates
• The classic progressive rock band Eloy are looking to release a new album soon called "Visionary"
• Esoteric Records is planning to re release the Rick Wakeman catalog in 2010. Also Tony Banks A Curious Feeling is to reissued as well
• Rush is planning to get back into the studio this autumn
• Rosfest is moving to Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, PA
• Kinetic Element is to release their new disc on September 5th
• Moonjune Records to release 2 CD set of Holdsworth/Pasqua/Haslip/Wackerman titled Blues For Tony. The disc is a tribute to the late great drummer Tony Williams
• Legendary Univers Zero/Present bassist Guy Segers, along with Acid Mother Temple guitarist Makoto Kawabata, Mani NEUMEIER from Guru Guru on drums, Daevid Allen on vocals and guitar performed at the "Zappanale" festival in Bad Doberan, Germany on August 14th
• Guitarist Scott McGill can be found soloing over a fusion backing track on YouTube by Jan Cyrka of BluesJamTracks.com. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L86oGy3FDqs He is also prepping to release a new album with Ritchie DeCarlo, Percy Jones (Brand X, Tunnels) and Markus Reuter (Pat Mastelotto). The release date is forthcoming
• August 30th from the museumofmakingmusic.org: Conversations in the Key of Moog
  At 1 PM, join us for a fascinating look into the world of synthesis with experts Brian Kehew and Larry Fast. Fast is best known for his series of pioneering electronic music albums recorded under the project name SYNERGY and for his contribution to a number of popular music acts, including: Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates, Foreigner, Richie Sambora, Barbra Streisand, Randy Newman and others. Brian Kehew is a musician and music producer who contributed to the development of the Minimoog Voyager, Little Phatty synthesizers, and Moogerfooger effect pedals. Kehew is also known for his book "Recording the Beatles," his band, Moog Cookbook, and his keyboard work touring with The Who.
• Progressive rock band Renaissance is to have a 40th year anniversary tour in the autumn
• Transatlantic to release their new album The Whirlwind in October
  
  

Former MEGADETH Guitarist's OHMPHREY Confirmed For JAM CRUISE 8

OHMPHREY, the new band featuring Chris Poland (OHM:, MEGADETH) and Robertino Pagliari (OHM:) alongside jam-band masters Jake Cinnger, Joel Cummins, and Kris Myer of UMPHREY'S MCGEE, has been confirmed for Jam Cruise 8, which will set sail January 3-8, 2010 on the beautiful Italian ship: MSC Poesia. The cruise will leave from Ft Lauderdale's Port Everglades and head to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Georgetown, Cayman Islands. It is described as "a musical journey like no other."

For more information, visit www.jamcruise.com

OHMPHREY's self-titled debut album was released on May 19 through Magna Carta Records.

Check out audio samples at www.myspace.com/ohmphrey