[atlantaprog] Roguefest Press Release

For Immediate Release…

June 1, 2005

ARIA presents the Fourth Annual

Rogue Independent Music Fest

June 18th & 19 th, 2005

Jakes Toadhouse, Decatur, GA

Progressive Rock - it's not just elves and fairies! Featuring a diverse line up of progressive, psychedelic, jazz and rock influenced acts, the Fourth Edition of Roguefest promises to be the most successful yet. Roguefest was founded in 2002 by local progressive rock musicians Wade Summerlin (Cobweb Strange) and Matthew Trautwein (Karma Lingo, the Lost Boys) as a response to the lack of attention their genre of music was getting in Atlanta music venues. Held at the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern for the past three years, Roguefest attracted increasing numbers of prog-rock fans from across the area looking for new musical experiences. Over the years, the types of acts booked diversified from prog acts, to a range of diverse musical styles – the common denominator of all of them being a willingness to embrace adventurous musical approaches.

This year promises to be the best Roguefest yet! Now under the helm of Summerlin and ARIA (Art Rock in Atlanta) founder Allen Welty-Green, Roguefest has moved to a new venue, Jakes Toadhouse (2272 Lawrenceville Hwy., Decatur, GA). The venue change allows Roguefest to get a bit more daring with our programming options, and will also acknowledge the relationship between progressive rock and the emerging prog influence on the jam-band scene, of which Jakes is the leading Atlanta area venue.

Tickets for Roguefest are available at the door. The cost is $25 for both days, or $15 for any one day. Advance tickets will be available soon via Ticket Alternative, accessable via the Jake’s Toadhouse website (http://www.jakesroadhouse.net).

Contact Allen Welty-Green at agmedia@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (or 404.688.4428) for more information. Information about the history of Roguefest can be found at http://www.roguemusicfest.com. High resolution pictures of many of the acts are available upon request.

The schedule for Roguefest 2005 is:

Saturday, June 18th:
4:00 – Farpoint (South Carolina) – melodic, folk-influenced progressive rock;
5:15 - DP3 (Atlanta) – jazz, ambient & world beat improvisations;
6:15 - Brass Knuckle Surfer (Atlanta) –guitar-driven instrumental space rock;
7:30 - Z-Axis (Atlanta) – post-progressive, edgy, ambient, psychedelia;
9:00 - Land of Chocolate (North Carolina) – quirky, complex, intricate progressive rock;
10:30 - IZZ (New York) – rich, melodic symphonic progressive rock;
Midnight - The Red Masque (Philadelphia) – dark, mysterious, goth-tinged ambient rock;

Sunday, June 19th:
4:00 - The Lost Boys (Atlanta) – medieval influenced, mostly acoustic folk-rock;
5:00 - Cobweb Strange (Atlanta) – dark, moody, psychedelic flavored progressive rock;
6:15 - Unbounded Sky (Atlanta) – jazzy, symphonic progressive fusion;
7:30 - Noise Dot Com (Atlanta) – muscular, edgy, intricate progressive rock;
9:00 - Man on Fire (Atlanta) – melodic and sophisticated progressive-flavored rock.

About ARIA:
Art Rock in Atlanta is an informal network of art rock musicians and fans who came together in 2002 to share contacts and resources. Activities of ARIA include an active email list, occasional showcases at local venues and occasional meetings and listening sessions. More information can be found at http://www.gnosisarts.org/aria.

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The bands (in no particular order):

IZZ

Hailing from just outside Manhattan, IZZ is a talented young band that has made a name for itself through heavy gigging and a diverse and unique debut CD, 1999’s Sliver of a Sun. The lead track from Sliver of a Sun, “Endless Calling”, received an award in the 1998 Billboard Song Contest.

Living proof that progressive rock need not be stuck in the 70s, IZZ’s take on the style is one that marries the influences of the “classic” bands with a fearlessly modern sound. Celtic, classical, funk, fusion, jazz and Latin styles are interwoven with their accessible yet forward-thinking rock, always retaining a keen sense of melody and an overall appreciation for the song as a cohesive whole. The compositions may take the listener in unexpected directions, but the way back is always marked with a great hook or melody.

The band released its second CD, I Move, in 2002. I Move solidified IZZ as a major player in the field of melodic progressive rock. Ranging from short pop-inflected tracks infused with their signature quirky sound to long epics in the Yes or Genesis mold, I Move is progressive rock for the new millennium.

IZZ began 2004 by releasing its third offering entitled Ampersand, a collection of previously unreleased studio and live tracks that span virtually the band’s entire career
.
The Red Masque

The Red Masque (Kiarash Emami: electric & acoustic guitars, mandolin, keys; Brandon Ross: bass guitar, acoustic guitar, keys; Lynnette Shelley: vocals, lyrics, noises & percussion; Vonorn: drums & percussion, flutes, Celtic harp, keys, theremin ) is an original avant rock band from the Philadelphia area. Part art, part alchemy, the group's progressive songwriting style is both angular and eerie, accented by freeform space rock improvisations, intricate acoustics, dark atmospherics and chunky riffs. Unconventional and eccentric in musical form, the band fuses together such disparate musical references as horror movie soundtracks, rock-in-opposition, zeuhl, gothic, psychedelia and kraut rock.

The band's goal was, and is, to create original music that pushes the envelope of the listener's expectations. With such influences as Magma, King Crimson, Dead Can Dance, medieval and world music, Hawkwind, Gong, Bauhaus, and Van Der Graaf Generator, the band's first two releases, Death of the Red Masque (2001) and Victoria and the Haruspex (2002), are both heady and potent musical elixirs. Their latest single, Beggars & Thieves, released in June of 2003, is charting even newer (and sophisticatedly sinister) territories, and the full-length album, Feathers for Flesh, released in July of 2004 through Big Balloon Music has garnered the band international critical acclaim.

The Red Masque is currently working on new material for a forthcoming album. The band likes to utilize both traditional and untraditional instruments (i.e. erhu, Celtic harp, didgeridoo, and sometimes even modified toys), and all the musicians are multi-instrumentalists, often switching instruments during the course of their set.

The band has opened for the likes of Chris Cutler (of Henry Cow and The Residents fame, among others),The Muffins (a DC area avant jazz band), and Sleepytime Gorilla Museum (an up-and-coming industrial/gothic/avant rock band from the Bay area).

Man on Fire

Although Man On Fire was officially introduced to the world through the release of their critically acclaimed self-titled debut CD in 1998, it was their sophomore effort, “The Undefined Design”, released in 2003 on ProgRock Records, which took the progressive rock community by storm. Featuring special guest David Ragsdale (Kansas, Smashing Pumpkins) on violin, this CD quickly rose to become one of the label’s best selling releases to date. Built around the keyboards and vocals of producer Jeff Hodges, Man on Fire also includes the elastic fretless bass and muscular guitar work of Eric Sands, the dynamic rhythms of drummer/percussionist Rob Sindon, and the vivid word imagery of lyricist Steve Carroll. Collectively they knit together the signature Man on Fire sound, which has been described as unique, modern and adventurous with a refreshing lack of obvious influences.

Guitar legend Adrian Belew is the primary guitarist for the brand new concept CD by Man on Fire, entitled “Habitat”. Belew brings his signature style to this release, providing a stunning array of searing solos and unique textural soundscapes to the recordings. Adrian’s contributions add a whole new layer to the CD, which Man on Fire believes to be their most definitive musical statement to date. Conceptually “Habitat” details a variety of different lives existing within the confines of a single urban city block. Each of the tracks paints a musical portrait of one or more of the individuals living within this block, allowing for the CD as a whole to reflect many varied emotions and dynamics. In addition to the contributions from Adrian Belew, “Habitat” once again features the amazing artistry of former Kansas violinist David Ragsdale, who adds an intoxicating combination of gorgeous, melodic atmosphere and fierce technical virtuosity to the tracks on which he performs.

Land of Chocolate

Adapted from rockzone.com: The radio single has killed good music. Does anyone remember when bands wrote no song under 5 minutes? Does convenient packaging have to apply to art now? These are questions that the people in Land Of Chocolate haven't thought about. With few songs under five minutes, these guys lay down the groundwork and proceed to go through all the essential steps of making captivating music. There are no abrupt ends, just songs that flow smoothly and pull you in. Their music has many sounds to it, but the meshing of jazz-based bass lines, heavy riffs, and melodic vocals gives it a twist only found in a band like Mr. Bungle. The music is hectic, but well thought out. It's a controlled chaos few bands can pull off.

Farpoint

Farpoint's vision is to create melodic and powerful positive music that is accessible without compromising its artistic integrity. The band's music can be described as folky art rock with a progressive edge, drawing inspiration from early Yes material, as well as from other bands like Pink Floyd, Genesis, Marillion, Jethro Tull, Alan Parsons, Rush, The Moody Blues, and Kansas. Diversity is the key to the Farpoint sound, with influences ranging from progressive, metal, and folk-rock to Celtic, classical, new age and bluegrass. Instrumentation includes the standard rock instruments (electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums and keyboards) augmented by classical guitar, mandolin, flute and various types of percussion.

Z-Axis

Post-progressive rock; New-edge ambience; Psychedelia with a world-beat flavor; Funky, frenetic jams; Eclectic soundtracks to surreal multi-media experiences...

Z-Axis was initially formed in 1997 to perform the music for the multi-media performance event, Reality Check, which premiered at 7-Stages Theater in Atlanta, GA in 1999. As they started working together, they soon discovered a unique chemistry and decided to use the band as a vehicle to push the frontiers of their own musical expressions. Their music ranges from structured suites to extended improvisations.

Z-Axis calls their style of music "post-progressive" rock, meaning that their traditional prog roots have been filtered through contemporary sensibilities, and augmented with influences ranging from world music to electronica to create a sound that pays homage to the original prog spirit, but isn't mired in the past. Founded by synthesist/composer Allen Welty-Green to perform music he had composed for "Reality Check", Z-Axis also features Welty-Green's high-school friend Phillip Hart on a wide range of percussion instruments. Bassist/vocalist Jeff Tyson and guitarist/vocalist Mark Baker round out the line-up with their startlingly original approaches to their respective instruments.
Their first CD, "Music from Reality Check" was released in 2000 to uniformly glowing reviews and is still selling briskly. Their long-awaited follow up, "Concatenations", is currently in production and should be released in 2005. They are also working on a DVD release featuring their performance at the 2004 Roguefest. They have opened for the Flower Kings, Spocks Beard, and French TV.

Cobweb Strange

With a dark, intense and sometimes psychedelic sound, Cobweb Strange has been compared to a wide variety of bands in many different genres. Formed in 1995 in Atlanta, GA, Cobweb Strange has released three studio albums, has been featured on numerous compilation CDs and DVDs and has toured across the United States.  Cobweb Strange has been compared to bands such as Porcupine Tree, The Police, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Rush and The Doors.

dp3

dp3 has been playing on the Atlanta scene for about a year and is poised to run rampant throughout the Southeast with their own blend of musical forms and electronic sounds. Steeped in styles as diverse as jazz, Hindustani, and art rock, dp3 uses unique instrumentation (violin, trumpet, bass, drums) to produce diverse compositions and distinctive improvisations."

Andrew Boring is a trumpet player with straight-ahead jazz influences who uses electronic effects in his melodies and improvisations and occasionally makes some sounds with his vintage Yamaha SK-30 Synthesizer. He has been playing on the Atlanta scene for a few years with bands such as Lucky Stray and The Flying Reverends and has also recorded session work for local studios.

Kareem Khalifa plays his six-string upright electric bass with bebop, free jazz, art rock, and electronica influences. While in Chicago, he played with the rock group Rebecca's Statue, and occasionally sat in with the house band at the Green Mill. In Atlanta, Kareem plays with dp3 and his jazz combo, the Unexplained Explainers. In addition, he is also a composer, arranger, and plays guitar.

Paul Mercer is an Atlanta-based violinist and composer who has been playing for 25 years. As a member of the critically acclaimed neoclassical quintet The Changelings, he has performed extensively around the country. He has also performed solo at various venues in Atlanta and New Orleans. His recent work includes the soundtrack to the short film Replacing Delphine and the upcoming feature film
Psychopathia Sexualis. He has also finished recording an album of avant-garde compositions for small string ensembles called 'Ghosts'.

Davis Petterson II is a percussionist conversant in free improvisation, funk, and rock who has played throughout the southeast. He came to Atlanta in 1997 with the band Just Puppets.

Brass Knuckle Surfer

Brass Knuckle Surfer was formed in the fall of 2003. The 3 piece, all instrumental unit, consists of bass, drums, and guitars, with occasional guest musicians. The music is best described as all instrumental ambient space rock, drawing influences from bands sounding like early Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Jane's Addiction, Brian Eno, Roni Size, STS9, Jimi Hendrix, and several other psychedelic acts. The debut album, "The Art of Life", released in spring of 2004, has been well received across the globe. A new album is expected to see a release in summer 2005, with an east and west coast tour to follow soon after.

Unbounded Sky

Unbounded Sky is an Atlanta based progressive rock/fusion band made up of high school students from Gwinnett and Dekalb Counties.  Their music has been described as somewhere in between Yes, Early 70's Genesis, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, with a strong compositional background in both Jazz and Classical.  Their pieces often include literary allusion, and hearken back to the sidelong suites of the progressive heyday of the 1970s.

NoiseDotCom

NoiseDotCom is an Atlanta based rock group in existence since 2000. The music of Noise is an eclectic blend of rock, metal, funk, jazz and world music. Pressed to make comparisons, the band states that some listeners have mentioned groups like Djam Karet, Porcupine Tree, Yes, King Crimson and even Steely Dan.

The Lost Boys

The year is 1599, and a new musical sensation is sweeping the youth of England! A band of four energetic performers have created a new form of music called rock and roll, and the Taverns and ale houses of the world will never be the same again...

Led by the ever-present String, veteran of stage and salon, the Lost Boys are quickly spreading their influence across all of Europe and beyond.

Rumors from the north speak of Angus Archibald Douglas, the wild, angry Scotsman, devastating audiences with his blazing fretwork and a voice that wails like a cry across the very highlands of his birth.

Exotic reports surface again and again of Prince Aaron the Moor, whose nimble fingers and low, resounding voice provide a smooth, new definition to the word "bass."

From military drill grounds to the highest courts of Europe, heated discussion rages concerning an individual named Tom Smiter whose percussive skills and razor-sharp wit have created a sensation throughout the circles of society, high and low.

Let the kettle to the trumpet speak, the trumpet to the cannons, the cannons to the heavens, the heavens to the earth:

The Lost Boys have returned...


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