Northern Prog Festival 2015
Maanlander, Leap Day,
Flamborough Head,
Hangover Paradise, Galahad

November 7, 2015 - De Uthof, Siegerswoude (NL)


Two years ago saw the start of a new progressive rock festival in the Netherlands, namely the Northern Prog Festival (see review). A festival that was very well needed in the Northern parts of The Netherlands after the disappearance of the famous legendary ProgFarm Festival. A festival which was located only a few miles from the place where the new festival would let their acts perform. The second edition of this event (see review) one year later went very well and therefore there wasn't a reason not to organise it a third time. So once again we made our way to De Uthof in Siegerwoude to tell you what happened on that rainy day in November.
 

Maanlander

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Edo Brummer
The first band that would warm up the crowd could be named as sort of a lost act in the middle of bands that are truly inspired by everything we could label as progressive rock. The band names themselves Maanlander and are located in the Eastern part of our country, Enschede. While listening to their music on their website I noticed that they had very little in common with the other bands on the bill and our beloved genre. Therefore my expectations of their performance were not very high. However when the four musicians (dressed in great looking NASA outfits) went through their set I noticed that they certainly entertained me. Maybe not everybody in the hall could respect that a band was on stage and lost interest and started to talk with each other. That they sang in their native language and a keyboard player wasn't in their line up didn't matter that much to me. The twin guitar parts of Edo Brummer and Patric Dikkers combined with the fine rhythm parts of bassist Robert Jan Meijer and drummer Luc Tiehatten were good enough to keep my attention throughout their entire set. Most of all the parts which were influenced by the space rock sound of Hawkwind and the power progrock of Rush really felt good to hear. Most of all their brand new piece Hier Komt De Storm showed that they could entertain the progheads just like all the other acts later on would do.
 

Leap Day

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Jos Harteveld
With a brand new album (From The Days Of Deucalion Chapter 2) in their bag the organisers of the festival must have felt a bit strange to climb the stage as the second act. Usually they are the centre band that would show their tricks to the audience. The reason for that was explained later on when the third band made their appearance. The days before the festival my fellow countrymen of Leap Day actually only did two rehearsals. Rehearsals that, in their eyes, didn't go very well. So I guess they must not have felt very confident when they started their set. A set that would contain lots of material taken from both chapters of their From The Days Of Deucalion concept albums. Most songs had already made
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Live video: God Of Wars
their way to their setlist. Therefore they were already very recognisable for me when I heard them perform. Just like the classic ones taken from their first two released albums. That the band didn't have the perfect rehearsals wasn't noticeable at all. For me it was one of the best performances I have witnessed from them ever. Several times the musicians made me speechless with the musicianship they showed on stage. Even if lead singer Jos Harteveld sometimes didn't know the right order of the setlist or made a mistake which song came from which album, the band was just top notch. Each and every song was a delight to hear and perfectly performed as well. I could just say they have grown to an unbelievably good live band since they started playing together since 2008. Bravo!
 

Flamborough Head

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L to R: Eddy Mulder, Koen Roozen and
Margriet Boomsma
The next act Flamborough Head used to be the organisers of the already mentioned ProgFarm Festival. During those festivals they were always the centre band to perform their music. As a tribute to what they had achieved during the 15 years of organising this great event they got the centre spot during the third edition of NPF. Seeing this excellent Dutch progressive rock act only a couple of weeks earlier at the ProgFrog Festival (see review) meant their set didn't have many surprises for me in store. The songs were exactly the same, with the addition of the beautiful epic piece Looking For John Maddock.
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Live video: Looking For John Maddock
And just like the last time I saw them some minor mistakes slipped into the songs. Once again Leap Day members Eddie Mulder and Koen Roozen made their appearances. Only this time around Eddie replaced his electric guitar for a bass guitar. However Koen could still be spotted behind his drum kit. I wasn't the only one who was aware of the fact that both of them had to spend a little bit longer on stage. Therefore it was nice of female lead singer Margriet Boomsma to ask if they could handle the situation to do two shows after another with only one short break in between. Anyway, it was once again a pleasure to watch the musicians of this band perform music of their two latest releases and one from the early days, which they certainly did in a positive way!
 

Hangover Paradise

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Elias de Vries
The fourth band on the bill was after Leap Day and Flamborough Head the third band that comes from the Northern parts of The Netherlands. Hangover Paradise a rather well known band for me as well, compared to most visitors of the festival. I guess for most of them it was the very first time they heard the music of this excellent band. They must have been surprised in a very pleasant way. Just like I was when I witnessed them the first and second time during a live performance. Comparing them to other acts isn't easy and therefore I will not. Like on earlier shows the band played songs from their debut Mirrors (2013, see review) and some material that is going to be on the second album, which will be released in 2016. That the band practised a lot before making their way to the festival certainly showed. I guess I can say this was the best concert they did that I was present at. Latest member Erwin Budike was certainly to blame for that. His melodic guitar parts have been very well integrated in the total sound of the band. Even more than the first time I saw them play with the other musicians on stage. Musicians that already knew their parts so well because they had been together longer. Lead singer Elias de Vries was again the perfect host during their excellent show. Telling stories and making jokes. The bands farewell tune couldn't be better. Religious Minds has an ending which is typical in progressive rock songs. A composition which is perfect to say goodbye to their audience. It has a real bombastic ending with an amazing guitar solo. I just couldn't ask for more! For me this band did steal the show during this festival. The highlight of the event even before the headliners did their show.
 

Galahad

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L to R: Roy Keyworth and Stuart Nicholson
It had been two years since the British act Galahad came to The Netherlands to do a concert. For me it was three years ago when I saw them at the first Progmotion Festival (see review) in Uden. At the time the band had Mark Spencer on bass guitar, but in the meantime he has been replaced by former member Tim Ashton. A very nice person who showed that he is still capable to play along with his buddies from the old days. Even though the band had a long and rough journey to the festival they didn't show they were tired. One hour and forty five minutes they entertained their audience throughout their entire set in the best possible way. Doing random songs taken from their large back catalogue. The crowd could enjoy the classic songs such as Room 801, Painted Lady,
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Live video: Sleepers
Exorcising Demons and Sleepers. During this last one lead singer Stuart Nicholson put on some real Dutch wooden shoes. The same Nicholson is still a great entertainer who always takes care of his looks, by using eyeliner and nail polish or by wearing a beautiful red coat during the first couple of songs. A coat which he accidentally threw on one of the photographers when it became too hot to wear. But looks have nothing to do with the music of course. Music most of the time people could hardly stand still to. The trance and house sounds coming out of the equipment of keyboard player Dean Baker were probably responsible for that. Galahad was the only band that could do an encore due to the strict time schedule. But anybody who knows that this band celebrates their 30th anniversary this year doesn't have a problem with that. They did Seize The Day before they said farewell to their fans, leaving them in a rather good mood to go home, because Galahad gave them a splendid show!

Just like during all former editions of this festival everything was very well organised. All bands were awesome and gave great performances. Let's hope I can say the same words next year when on November 5 the fourth edition will take place. Thanks to those responsible for this wonderful day!

Henri Strik (edited by Astrid de Ronde)

Setlist Maanlander:


Was Ik Maar 18
Mars V
Stihl
Aan tafel
Hier Komt De Storm
Weet je Wat Het Is



Pictures Maanlander by Arthur Haggenburg

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Line up Maanlander:

(left to right)
Robert Jan Meijer:
bass
Edo Brummer:
guitar and vocals
Patric Dikkers:
guitar and vocals
Luc Tiehatten:
drums and vocals
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Setlist Leap Day:


The Messenger
Changing Directions
God Of Wars
Homo Ignoramus (Amatia)
Walls
What Would You Do
Phaeton
Sandgrains
Taurus Appearance
Haemus
When Leaves Fall




Pictures Leap Day by Arthur Haggenburg

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Line up Leap Day:

(left to right)
Eddie Mulder:
electric guitar and backing vocals
Derk Evert Waalkens:
keyboards and backing vocals
Peter Stel:
bass guitar
Jos Harteveld:
lead vocals and acoustic guitar
Koen Roozen:
drums and percussion
Gert van Engelenburg:
keyboards and backing vocals
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Setlist Flamborough Head:


The Trapper
Looking For John Maddock
Lost In Time
I'll Take The Blame
Andrassy Road
Garden Of Dreams




Pictures Flamborough Head by Arthur Haggenburg

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Line up Flamborough Head:

(left to right)
Eddie Mulder:
bass guitar and backing vocals
Edo Spanninga:
keyboards
Margriet Boomsma:
lead vocals, recorder, flute and acoustic guitar
Koen Roozen:
drums and percussion
Gert Polkerman:
backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
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Setlist Hangover Paradise:


Intro
Hangover Paradise
Life Is Too Short
Not Worried
Wrong
I Rest My Case
Out In The Streets
Take Away The Fear
Out Of Sight Part 2
Coming Home
Religious Minds




Pictures Hangover Paradise by Arthur Haggenburg

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Line up Hangover Paradise:

(left to right)
Erwin Budike:
guitars
Peter Zwerus:
keyboards
Niels Voskuil:
drums
Elias de Vries:
lead vocals
Cynthio Ooms:
bass
Henk Zwerus:
keyboards
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Setlist Galahad:


Salvation I - Overture
Salvation II - Judgement Day
Guardian Angel
Barbed Wire
21st Century Painted Lady
Secret Kingdoms.. ..And Secret Worlds
The Chase
Room 801
Empires Never Last
Exorcising Demons
Sleepers
Encore:
Seize The Day




Pictures Galahad by Arthur Haggenburg

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Line up Galahad:

(left to right)
Roy Keyworth:
electric guitar, backing vocals
Stuart Nicholson:
lead vocals
Dean Baker:
keyboards, backing vocals
Tim Ashton:
bass and backing vocals
Spencer Luckman:
drums
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