NIGHT OF THE PROG FESTIVAL V
Loreley (near Koblenz), Germany
Friday, 3rd & Saturday, 4th September 2010

For the fifth time "WiV Entertainment" has managed to put together a truly great festival for all lovers of progressive rock in Germany but certainly also for fans in surrounding countries. Some unique shows are to be expected and the line up as one can appreciate below is nothing less than spectacular.

GALAHAD

These British proggers are celebrating their 25th birthday this year. They have over 10 albums to their credit, and the (only!) three releases reviewed by DPRP (Year Zero - 2000, Resonance - 2006 and Empires Never Last - 2007) were all DPRP recommended. Their refined melodic music is among the best UK prog has to offer and their live performances are known to be very enthusiastic and energetic. After a few gigs in the UK extensively, this will be one of the few shows on the mainland if not the only!

ARS NOVA

This internationally acclaimed Japanese act, originally a female trio but now a quartet consisting of two ladies and two gents, performs not too often outside of Japan. The band used to play classic keyboard dominated prog in the vein of E,L & P, but since the guitar has been added the music shifted towards an even more exiting and diverse kind of prog-rock. Their latest effort Seventh Hell from 2009 was reviewed quite favourably (7.5 out of 10) by DPRP colleague Geoff Feakes.

THREE FRIENDS

Gentle Giant remains one of the legendary names in prog-rock with the likes of Yes, Genesis and Pink Floyd. Although the band never had the pleasure of being commercially successful like the other bands mentioned above, their influence on the genre of prog rock is undisputed. Because of the undying devotion of many fans worldwide and the yearly GORGG-event (Global On Reflection Gentle Giant), Gary Green and Malcolm Mortimer, both former members of GG decided to recreate GG's music and if possible create new music. The first line up performed in 2008 under the name of "Rentle Giant". For a short period of time legendary keyboard player and composer for GG, Kerry Minnear, was part of the new formed band but unfortunately left the band in 2009. The performance on the stage of the Loreley will be the first performance on Europe's mainland in 2010.

TWELFTH NIGHT

Another legendary band from the UK returns to the stage since a few years with fresh energy and a new show. Also for the first time the reformed band will play on Europe's mainland in their current line up. Long time member Andy Revell left the band last year and his replacement is Dean Baker. A theatrical and bombastic 2 hour show is scheduled for Twelfth Night, when the daylight will have disappeared. Both DPRP-colleagues Jerry van Kooten (website) and Mark Hughes (merchandise) play an important role in the revival of this sympathetic outfit. Need I say all older albums by the band got the DPRP recommended tag?

PALLAS

Pallas will be headlining the first night of this prestigious festival. The origins of this illustrious band date back to the mid seventies. Although the band seemed to have broken up in the mid eighties, they returned gloriously with the album Beat The Drum in 1998 and delivering top-class albums approximately every three years. Most likely the band will be performing their masterpiece The Sentinel for the very first time after 25 years in it's entirity. This must be a great spectacle and Pallas too are scheduled to play (at least) a two hours show! All the studio albums by Pallas were honoured by a DPRP recommended tag as well as their live DVD from 2008. The Scottish 'pride of prog' is now fronted by singer Paul Mackie and have recently released a live MP3 album called Reel & Raw, not reviewed by DPRP yet.

MOONGARDEN

Moongarden are one of the best known bands in the genre from Italy. Although only their 2004 album got the DPRP recommended tag, the band certainly has a lot of fans throughout Europe. Formed in the early nineties, the current line up seems to be stable and in the new millennium the band released several fine albums. Their melodic prog is always centered around their dream to merge symphonic and electronic elements with intelligent pop music. With Mangala Vallis drummer Cocchi on drums the band recently released their sixth studio album A Vulgar Display Of Prog and undoubtedly they will play a great deal of this new album in the Loreley.

SOLSTICE

Solstice is also one of the bands from the UK. Influences of bands like Camel and Iona and in their first incarnation also of Yes contributed to the somewhat 'cult-status' of this outfit. Many fans never would have expected Solstice to return to the stage and studio. Their strange history and different line-ups led to several impressive albums in 1984, 1993, 1997, 2002 (live) and 2010. All their albums were favourably reviewed by DPRP and all got the DPRP recommended tag. Their latest pride Spirit will be featured in their show in the late afternoon. Melancholy and Celtic influences guaranteed!

SYLVAN

A festival in Germany without a German band would be quite awkward. Of course Germany has some great bands in the genre of progressive rock and certainly Sylvan is one of them. They have been around for just over 10 years now and delivered 7 studio albums so far. All of them except for their debut Deliverance, which wasn't reviewed by DPRP, were DPRP recommended. No question about the craftsmanship of this outfit, playing what people like to call genuine 'neo-prog'. As sole representatives of their country Sylvan will deliver a great live show. Their live DVD Posthumous Silence: The Show (also DPRP recommended) already prove the band is more than capable to fulfill the expectations of all their fans and probably win some more with their upcoming gig!

GAZPACHO

Gazpacho is the only representative from Scandinavia on the festival, a band which started their career as support band for Marillion. Very atmospheric music, still with influences of the more relaxed side of Marillion. No dazzling solos but great melodies, strong compositions and a marvelous ability to enchant their audience. They already proved that during last year's performance on the same festival and all of their albums are DPRP recommended, including the live DVD from their Loreley show from 2009. The band is currently working hard on their new album and no doubt they will play some of their new songs next to old favourites.

MARILLION

Marillion - one of the big names in UK progressive rock of the last century. Although the music of the band drifted away from 'pure' prog for quite a few years, it's most likely the band will adjust their show and play some of their older and/or more progressive stuff. The fans will be in for a real treat by Hogarth and his companions and it might well be that the upcoming show will be one of the highlights of the festival and will mark the glorious return of a band so very successful on that same stage 25 years ago! All their last releases were DPRP recommended. Although Silmarillion was founded around 1978, the foundation of the Marillion we all know best has been realized in 1980 so the band are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.

THE ENID

England's best kept secret and cult-band The Enid is the other headliner for this fifth edition of the Night Of The Prog. The band seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth in 1999 but was revived again a year ago. A spectacular come back marked by the release of Arise and Shine, partly existing songs re-recorded and partly new works followed by the new studio album Journey's End, both DPRP recommended. The band plays bombastic progressive rock, mostly heavily (and heavenly) orchestrated with distinctive influences from classical music as well as some folk influences and of course rock! Their first 'big' show in Birmingham in April this year is about to be released as a DVD. For this occasion the band will play in their current line up and for 1 1/2 hours. The second show by this exceptional band on Europe's mainland for many years!