A British Prog Invasion Festival XL Milky Way Gas Station, The Dame, Kyros, GU-RU, April 6, 2019 - Podium Duycker, Hoofddorp (NL)
Poppodium Duycker is a rather new concert stage in the Netherlands. They have already made their name with several
so called PROG INVASION festivals. In the past they produced three editions which had a modest vanguard of Australian,
Belgian and German bands. For the fourth edition they invited a considerable force majeure of English progressive
rock bands together with a couple of bands from the Netherlands.
So, A BRITISH PROG INVASION XL is born and it is the first true festival edition of what might become a series of festivals over the next few years. For the first edition no less than five English progressive rock acts were booked. Namely Kyros, GU-RU, Moonparticle, HeKz and IO Earth. But before they could present their songs the audience would be warmed up by the Dutch acts Milky Way Gas Station and The Dame. Milky Way Gas Station The opening act Milky Way Gas Station made their debut with the album Somewhere / Anywhere (see review) in 2017. According to their website the band members come from different outskirts of the prog universe. They found each other in the simple truth of a real song: start with an acoustic guitar, blend it with synth or Hammond, add some drums and bass and there you go. Some songs have odd time signatures but still sound like 'regular' songs. Even if they last for about half an hour. Finding the exit of a song sometimes just takes some time...
Second Attempt To Catch Nectar Drinking Butterflies In An Empty Arbour On Camera and Telescope Sight were left out due to a limited time on stage (only 45 minutes). Right from the start it became clear that the compositions they performed became more alive than on the album. On the album they sounded a bit too sterile and maybe over produced. The live feeling was reminiscent of Pink Floyd. Inspired songs that are really strong. Something which I always like when I see a band on stage. For me it was the complete set; one big musical highlight. Of course, certain tracks I loved even more. Such as Neutral, on which former Thé Lau and The Scene keyboard player Jan Peter Bast kicked ass with a brilliant solo performed on his synthesizer. But he wasn't the only musician on stage who kicked ass with a brilliant solo. Guitarist Niels Hoppe really did know how to entertain a crowd by playing several stunning parts on his instrument. But maybe the biggest complement goes out to bassist Boudewijn Geels who made his debut on stage with the band. Bravo! Another highlight was for me Moon Phases. Most of all the parts which sounded like Rush were amazing. It was probably not so strange they played music which sounded like this band, because lead singer and second guitarist Rob IJpelaan sees them as one of his musical influences. All in all, the band can look back at a excellent performance which without any doubt surprised many listeners present! [For more pictures, video clips and the setlist see below] The Dame The second act on stage have also only made one debut album. Losing Sight Of What You Want (see review) was released last year and was followed by several live performances. One of their concerts, which I witnessed, was at 't Blok in Nieuwerkerk a/d IJssel when they supported Franck Carducci and his amazing live band
[For more pictures, video clips and the setlist see below] Kyros The first British act on stage I had seen before. However, at the time they used a different name. Together with Estonian outfit X-Panda they played a concert as Synaesthesia in January 2015 at the W2 in Den Bosch (see review). As lead singer and keyboard player Adam Warne mentioned during their set, they performed
[For more pictures, video clips and the setlist see below] GU-RU
[For more pictures, video clips and the setlist see below] After the first four performances it was time for the three clinics during the one hour break. The audience could enjoy a WALK-IN CLINIC VOCALS done by Matt Young (HeKz). Or they could choose to go to the WALK-IN CLINIC GUITAR done by Niko Tsonev (Moonparticle). Finally there was the WALK-IN CLINIC DRUMS done by Robin Johnson (Kyros). Unfortunately I didn't seen anything of it myself because our team went out to have something to eat as well. Moonparticle For most people the next band was a rather unknown act. But the key member of the band is known to people who witnessed past concerts played by Lifesigns and Steven Wilson. Bulgarian-born musician, producer, composer, mixing engineer, and arranger Niko Tsonev was with both acts as the lead guitarist for a while. Between January and July 2017 he recorded with musicians Adam Holzman (keyboards), Theo Travis (saxophone),
[For more pictures, video clips and the setlist see below] HeKz
IO Earth The headliners of the festival I had seen only a couple of months earlier at the Northern Prog Festival (see review). At the time they were also the headliners and gave an impressive performance. A performance which you might think was not easy to improve. But strangely enough they did. Even if the setlist was almost the same and the spectacular
A festival which hadn't any weak performances from the acts that were on stage during the very long day. Therefore, probably not one of the visitors went home in a bad mood. Just like me they are most of all hoping for a sequel of A BRITISH PROG INVASION XL!!! Henri Strik (edited by Dave Smith) |
Setlist Milky Way Gas Station: 37 Part 1Neutral Why? 37 Part 2 Moon Phases |
Pictures
Milky Way Gas Station by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge.
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Line up Milky Way Gas Station: (left to right)Jan Peter Bast: keyboards Rob IJpelaan: guitar and vocals Harald Veenker: drums Boudewijn Geels: bass Niels Hoppe: guitar |
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Setlist The Dame: General DisarrayWater Tumbles Down The Last Dance Unfazed Thy Father’s Bidding Losing Sight |
Pictures
The Dame by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge.
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Line up The Dame: (left to right)Thijs de Ruijter: keyboard Marian van Charante: lead and backing vocals, guitar Stephen de Ruijter: electric guitar Michel Krempel: bass and backing vocals Remco Engels: drums |
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Setlist Kyros: Two Frames Of Panic Monster Noumenon Sacrifice Rumour Technology Killed The Kids Sentry Boiling Point/ Ego/ Dilate |
Pictures
Kyros by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge.
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Line up Kyros: (left to right)Joey Frevola: guitars and keyboard Robin Johnson: drums and percussion Adam Warne: lead vocals and keyboards Peter Episcopo: bass and backing vocals |
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Pictures
GU-RU by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge.
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Setlist GU-RU: Kingdom WithinCosmic Rain Peace Frankenstein Biscuit Zenith Asylum Glass Houses Heavenly Where Were You Flex Poundshaft Line up GU-RU: (left to right)Naomi Perera: flute, vocals Lee Spreadbury: keys, vocals Malcolm D'Sa: drums |
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Setlist Moonparticle: Leon’s Experiment Helium I Helium II Hurricane Esmeralda 1000 Year Rose Winter Mountain Michelangelo Don’t Stop Reverend Mum Venetian Poison Polystar White Light |
Pictures
Moonparticle by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge.
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Line up Moonparticle: (left to right)Drew Richards: rhythm guitar and noises Belle Scar: lead vocals Niko Tsonev: lead guitar Laurie Lowe: drums Tiernan Godel: bass |
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Setlist HeKz: QuetzlcoatlDisconnect The World Bring The Fire Ultimatum For Our Lives A Pound Of Flesh Line In The Sand Trecena |
Pictures
HeKz by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge.
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Line up HeKz: (left to right)Al Beveridge: guitar and backing vocals Mauro Zarattini: keyboards Matt Young: bass and vocals Tom Smith: guitar Kirk Brandham: drums |
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Setlist IO Earth: SolitudeStrangest Ways In Life New World Madness Hold On The Creation Race Against Time Find A Way |
Pictures
IO Earth by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge.
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Line up IO Earth: (left to right)Dave Cureton: lead guitar, lead and backing vocals Luke Shingler: saxophones, flute, EWI Rosanna Lefevre: lead and backing vocals Jez King: violin, guitar Christian Jerromes: drums Adam Gough: keyboards, programming, guitar, vocals Christian Nokes: bass |
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