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Festival News: IQ and Hamadryad Join FMPM Line-up

Posted on Thursday, March 08 @ 16:50:53 UTC by nightowl

[We have a pair of press announcements from FMPM, this is the first, the second one follows (in this same block)] - IQ and Hamadryad join the line-up for the Le Festival Des Musiques Progressives De Montreal (FMPM) (or the Montreal Progressive Music Festival).

One of the most storied bands of the second wave of British progressive rock of the early 80s, IQ was one of a small number of British bands including Marillion, Pendragon, Twelfth Night, and Pallas, that carried the torch of progressive rock when many of the original proponents were no longer active. In their career spanning twenty-five years, they have released over a dozen studio and live albums and three DVDs, and are one of the most popular and best-selling independent progressive rock bands in the world.



IQ has headlined progressive rock festivals around the world, and are a two-time headliner of the North East Art Rock Festival in the United States. Their elaborate symphonic rock, featuring extensive guitar and keyboard leads and the dramatic vocals of Peter Nicholls, has gained a legion of fans worldwide and their return to Montreal has been greatly anticipated. Their only North American date of 2007 will feature the world premiere of some of the material from their next album, due for release in October, with a full multimedia presentation.

Montreal's Hamadryad has gained worldwide recognition since their 2001 debut release Conservation Of Mass. This album led to the band's invitation to the prestigious Baja Prog festival in Mexico in 2002. An experienced live outfit, their hard-edged sound influenced by the classic prog bands has been refined over the intervening years. After 2004's Safe In Conformity, they performed at the Rites of Spring Festival in early 2006. One of Montreal's most popular progressive rock bands, we are pleased to have them join our line-up.

This year's FMPM will be held at the Pierre Peladeau Center, in the Salle Pierre Mercure. A beautiful and intimate auditorium seating just under 800, the Pierre Peladeau Center has fantastic acoustics and sightlines. It is also conveniently located in the Latin Quarter of Montreal, only blocks away from the Olympic Stadium in case you needed to get there at some point in the weekend. While we have a great appreciation for the high quality of the Ges?, we feel now is the right time to move to a venue that can accommodate everyone interested in seeing this line-up perform, rather than see a lot of people get shut out.

Regular and Gold tickets will go on sale this Friday [March 9], at www.progquebec.com. If you have pre-ordered your gold tickets, remember to log in some time that day to finalize your order. Gold tickets will cost $160 this year (about $135 US), while regular tickets are priced at $95 (about $80 US). Gold tickets offer preferred seating, our eternal gratitude, and maybe some other neat stuff along the way.

Plans are brewing for a Friday pre-show or possibly some Saturday counter-programming for Genesis for any of you who hate Phil Collins. All of this is still in the works. What I can say now is that Montreal is the place to be this September and I hope you will join us then and enjoy.

[Second press release]

ProgresSon Music, in association with Unicorn Digital, announces a weekend of concerts following the Genesis show, celebrating Quebec's progressive music heritage, to be held at Salle Pierre Mercure in the Pierre Peladeau Center, reputed to have the best acoustics in Canada!

Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 1:30PM:

THE STRAWBS are one of the most well respected British progressive bands of all times. Their highly successful 1970s albums, Hero And Heroine, Ghosts, Grave New World, Bursting At The Seams, Burning For You and Deep Cuts, rightfully acclaimed as classics, mix passionate symphonic rock and folk. Having packed the Montreal Forum and received extensive airplay on CHOM-FM, fans in Quebec have been waiting for over 25 years to see The Strawbs again, featuring the complete original electric formation of David Cousins, Dave Lambert, Chas Cronk, John Hawken, and Rod Coombes.

SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA, one of the great bands from Sweden, is a founder of Rock in Opposition. Since their first album in 1970, they have combined instrumental dexterity, tight interplay, sophisticated compositions, and infectious humor. Samla's first ever appearance in Canada will feature original members Lars Hollmer, Coste Apetrea, and Lars Krantz, with famed Japanese drummer Tatsuya Yoshida.

Montreal's Hamadryad has gained worldwide recognition since their brilliant 2001 release Conservation of Mass. The group?s hard-edged sound melds elaborate compositions with splendid musicianship influenced by the great classic groups, translating into raw power on stage.

Sunday, September 16, 2007 at 4:PM:

IQ is one of the original bands from the second wave of Genesis-influenced British progressive rock of the early 1980s. Having released over a dozen albums during their 25-year career, IQ is one of the most popular progressive rock bands in the world. Their melodic sound, featuring extensive guitar and keyboard leads, and dramatic vocals, has gained a huge cult following. IQ's highly anticipated return to Montreal is the group?s only North American date in 2007, and will feature the world premiere of some of the material from a new album to be released in October.

Outaouais valley-based NATHAN MAHL, led by keyboardist and composer Guy LeBlanc, has been at the forefront of the modern symphonic rock sound since 1983. LeBlanc joined the British group Camel in the 1990s embarking on a world tour. With a sixth album entitled Exodus coming out in 2007, it is finally time for MAHL to make another high-profile appearance and stun fans with the group?s musical virtuosity.

Montreal's homegrown VILLE EMARD BLUES BAND, comprising one of the largest stages in history including up to 25 musicians, was nominated for Most Promising New Group at the 1975 Canadian Juno Awards, a category won by Rush. Chris Gagnon, the son of former band leader Bill Gagnon, now heads-up this unique ensemble. VEBB will perform a special set of its most energetic jazz-rock, featuring tracks by related groups Contraction and Toubabou, which will be recorded live and released on CD in 2008.

Reserved seating tickets ($95 includes all 6 shows) will go on sale at noon on Friday March 9 at www.progquebec.com (best seats/lowest fees), www.admission.com, and Pierre Peladeau Center.

A limited number of Gold tickets ($160) entitling holders to reserved seats in the center of the first 8 rows will be available exclusively at www.progquebec.com. For information please consult www.fmpm.net and direct inquiries to info@fmpm.net. ProgresSon Music is a non-profit corporation supported by the AV Preservation Trust and Canadian Heritage, whose mission is to assist Quebec artists in reissuing music through its ProgQuebec label, and help artists promote their music through live performances.

Posted in Festival News