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Festival News: First Three Bands For NEARfest 2010 Announced

Posted on Saturday, July 25 @ 07:30:00 UTC by nightowl

The first three bands have been announced for NEARfest 2010, scheduled for June 18 - 20, 2010 at the Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem, PA - it's annual home. Ray Loboda, announced the first of the three Forgas Band Phenomena on July 7 thusly: "Jim, Kevin and I are pleased to announce that France's Forgas Band Phenomena will grace the NEARfest stage in the 2010 edition. Drummer and composer Patrick Forgas has been releasing jazz-rock gems that showcase his compositional and and arranging skills for over 30 years. Forgas, who has been hailed as 'the French answer to the Canterbury scene' since he first burst upon the scene in 1977 with his *****tail album, will present songs from his fourth album, Axis Of Madness as well as others from his catalog.



"In addition to the many Canterbury comparisons, also heard is a commonality with the band that Frank Zappa led with George Duke & Jean-Luc Ponty; great tunes and arrangements in a fusion style with excellent 'jazz' soloing. The group perform music that combines the most attractive aspects of jazz and rock composition with inspired solos. The quality of the music and performances is obvious from the first note and we are pleased that it isn't only us who noticed; press has been unbelievably enthusiastic towards this group's music! Please extend a NEARfest handshake to Cuneiform's very own, Forgas Band Phenomena."

On July 20, the second two were announced, beginning with Three Friends. "NEARfest is honored to present as our 2010 Saturday Night headliner, Three Friends. This is why we maintain hope in our lives, the hope of experiencing the reemergence of Gary Green and two of his long time friends in a new band called Three Friends. This is not a Gentle Giant reunion, but a new band that will deliver faithful interpretations of the wonderful music of Gentle Giant and create new music as well. Kerry Minnear, Malcolm Mortimore and Gary along with four other friends in Roger Carey, Andy Williams, John Donaldson and Mick Wilson, complete the live lineup.

"The Gentle Giant story is known to many of us, revered by us, and considering the relatively short active life span of the band, many progressive fans hold them closer to the heart than any other classic band. From the early days of Simon Dupree and the Big Sound right on up to The Missing Piece/Civilian era, Gentle Giant never stopped pushing the boundaries of what was considered progress in their music. A plethora of official information can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentle_Giant, www.blazemonger.com/GG/Gentle_Giant_Home_Page and at www.threefriends.info. Please give a mammoth round of applause for Gary, Kerry, Malcolm and friends as they present to us, the NEARfest faithful, an evening with Three Friends."

And finally, Astra: "Jim, Kevin and I are pleased to announce that Astra will be opening the 2010 edition of NEARfest Saturday. With their heads floating in the mist of Europe's original psychedelic and progressive eras, Astra brings their melodic sound, symphonic landscapes and cosmic atmospheres to the East. They began their space odyssey under the winter sun of San Diego, CA in the year 2001, and with the joining of new drummer/multi-instrumentalist David Hurley in 2006 and guitar wizard Brian Ellis, the planets aligned and Astra was complete. Already making a name for themselves on the West Coast, they've shared the stage with such like-minded and diverse acts as Dungen, Winter Flowers, Jennifer Gentle, Bigelf, and their good friends and San Diegan brethren Earthless - to name a few. The band released their debut album entitled The Weirding on Rise Above Records to rave reviews. Mellotron lovers unite, NEARfest attendees get ready to settle in for an Astral experience and welcome Astra to our festival extended family."

[Source: NEARfest]

Posted in Festival News