.... may be interested to know about Y-prog 2013, a progressive rock festival based at the Corporation in Sheffield from Friday 15 March 2013 to Sunday 17 March 2013. There are 16 bands on two stages. Headline acts are: Friday Riverside (main stage) Saturday The Enid (main stage) Sankara (stage 2) Sunday It Bites (main stage) Jump (stage 2) Full details can be found on the Corporation web site or Y-prog Facebook page. I know that prog is not everyone's taste, and that people may not have heard of any of the bands, but if you want a flavour, there is the full Reality Dream Concert (1hr 28min) by Riverside on YouTube.
Dream Theater anyone? A bit over twenty minutes for the track but you could listen whilst doing the rest of your interneting! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH_9lJxeiXg&feature=related Surely the best exponents of this genre around at the moment.
Also Hard Rock Hell Prog 6-7th April 2013 at the Magna Centre, Rotherham bands confirmed are HAWKWIND / THE ENID / CARAVAN / MOSTLY AUTUMN / THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN / IT BITES / ULI JON ROTH / THE REASONING / VON HERTZEN BROTHERS / MAGENTA / TOUCHSTONE / TESSERACT / HAKEN / HERTZENTESSERACT / AEON ZEN / ENOCHIAN THEORY / ORDER OF VOICES / ANTLERED MAN / ALSO EDEN / IEEARTH / THE DREAM CIRCUIT
Re: Also Hard Rock Hell Prog 6-7th April 2013 at the Magna Centre, Rotherham I would not describe most of that lot as Hard Rock. Still, a very interesting line up and comparable to Y-prog I think.
Re: Dream Theater anyone? I tend to find American prog a bit contrived. I have not seen Dream Theater, and they may be better live. Mike Portnoy always attracts rave reviews for his live performances. I have seen Spock's Beard, who I think are similar, though not as well regarded obviously, and I was not impressed. I tend to prefer the European style of prog as represented by Riverside (Poland), Sylvan and RPWL (Germany), Gazpacho (Norway) and especially Magenta, Pendragon, Frost and IQ (GB).