German progressive metallers BLIND GUARDIAN will release their 10th studio album, At The Edge Of Time, in North America on August 24th. A deluxe edition digi-pak with a bonus CD (6 songs, 1 video, and a documentary) plus a code for exclusive content at a special fan-only site will also be available.

Artwork for the new album was created by Colombian artist Felipe Machado Franco (Iced Earth, At Vance, Axel Rudi Pell).

The track listing for At The Edge Of Time is as follows:

01. Sacred Worlds (9:17)
02. Tanelorn (5:58)
03. Road Of No Release (6:30)
04. Ride Into Obsession (4:46)
05. Curse My Name (5:52)
06. Valkyries (6:38)
07. Control The Divine (5:26)
08. War Of The Thrones (4:55)
09. A Voice In The Dark (5:41)
10. Wheel Of Time (8:55)

A single, “A Voice In The Dark,” will be released in Europe on June 25th. The track listing is:

01. A Voice In The Dark (5:45)
02. You’re The Voice (4:43)
03. War Of The Thrones (5:20)

Photos from the recording sessions for At The Edge Of Time can be found at Metal-Hammer.de.

A 30-second trailer to the song “A Voice In The Dark” is available on the band’s homepage. Visit BLIND GUARDIAN online at www.BLIND-GUARDIAN.com & www.myspace.com/BLINDGUARDIAN.

Roger Waters The Wall Live — European Dates Announced

Fans in Europe, your wait is over: Roger Waters announced today that he will bring The Wall Live to Europe for a 28-date tour in the Spring of 2011. Kicking off in Lisbon on March 27, the tour will cross the continent before wrapping up in Dusseldorf on June 18. The complete list of confirmed dates can be seen below.

As with the North American tour, RogerWaters.com will offer fans the chance to get premium tickets to the tour with our members-only presales, starting very soon. Members can log in to their accounts now to indicate interest in up to five cities on the upcoming tour. Not yet a member? Create an account now.

DATE VENUE LOCATION
Mar 21, 2011 Atlantico Pavilion Lisbon, PT
Mar 25, 2011 Palacio de Deportes Madrid, ES
Mar 29, 2011 Palau Sant Jordi Barcelona, ES
Apr 1, 2011 Mediolanumforum Milan, IT
Apr 2, 2011 Mediolanumforum Milan, IT
Apr 8, 2011 Gelredome Arnhem, NL
Apr 12, 2011 Sports Arena Budapest, HU
Apr 15, 2011 O2 Arena Prague, CZ
Apr 18, 2011 Atlas Arena Łódź, PL
Apr 23, 2011 Olympiski Moscow, RU
Apr 25, 2011 SKK Arena St. Petersburg, RU
Apr 27, 2011 Hartwall Arena Helsinki, FI
Apr 30, 2011 Telenor Oslo, NO
May 4, 2011 Ericsson Globe Stockholm, SE
May 7, 2011 Parken Copenhagen, DK
May 15, 2011 O2 Arena London, UK
May 17, 2011 O2 Arena London, UK
May 18, 2011 O2 Arena London, UK
May 20, 2011 Manchester Evening News Arena Manchester, UK
May 21, 2011 Manchester Evening News Arena Manchester, UK
May 23, 2011 O2 Arena Dublin, IE
May 27, 2011 Sportspaleis Antwerp, BE
May 30, 2011 Bercy Paris, FR
Jun 3, 2011 SAP Arena Mannheim, DE
Jun 6, 2011 Hallenstadion Zurich, CH
Jun 10, 2011 Colorline Arena Hamburg, DE
Jun 15, 2011 O2 Arena Berlin, DE
Jun 18, 2011 Esprit Arena Düsseldorf, DE

DWEEZIL ZAPPA TO RELEASE RETURN OF THE SON OF… ON JUNE 22

**2 CD-Set Features 14 Live Recordings of Frank Zappa Classics by the Zappa Plays Zappa Band**

**Acclaimed Zappa Plays Zappa Tour to continue through Summer and Fall**

ROTSO Cover Dweezil Zappa continues to keep the amazing music of his father alive with the June 22nd release of Return Of The Son Of…, a sprawling two-disc live collection of 14 Frank Zappa classics performed lovingly by the Zappa Plays Zappa band. The album was produced by Dweezil and recorded over the last 2 years with a majority of the songs captured at a three-night residency at The Morse Theatre in Chichago in October 2008.

Return Of The Son Of… follows up the 2008 album Zappa Plays Zappawhich won a Grammy Award that year for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

Over the past five years, Dweezil has been on a grass roots campaign to expose his father’s music to a wider audience with the Zappa Plays Zappa project, and in the process educate the audiences to the musical depth beyond the humorous songs that may have accidentally been broadcast on radio. Too often, he says, people’s opinions of Frank’s work are based on casual exposure to his “novelty” crossover songs. “If the only thing you’ve ever heard is ‘Dancin’ Fool’ or ‘Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow’ or ‘Valley Girl’,” says Dweezil, “then you really haven’t even scratched the surface of Frank’s music. In our shows we make a concerted effort to give people a broader perspective of his music and it really speaks for itself.”

In support of Return Of The Son Of…, Dweezil and the band are gearing up for a continuation of the acclaimed Zappa Plays Zappa tour that kicks off on June 3rd in Mexico City. The dates will run through the end of July, with a schedule of fall dates soon to be announced. Dweezil is also in the midst of producing an as-yet-untitled DVD for a fall release.

TOUR DATES
June 3 - Mexico City, Mexico - Teatro de la Ciudad
June 5 - Ozark, AK - Wakarusa Festival
June 6 - Kansas City, MO - Crossroads
June 7 - Denver, CO - Paramount
June 8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Depot
June 10 - Ventura, CA - Majestic Theater
June 11 - Santa Rosa, CA - Harmony Fest
June 12 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theater
June 13 - Portland, OR - Roseland
June 14 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theater
June 15 - Vancouver, BC - Orpheum
June 17 - Richmond, VA - Botanical Garden
June 18 - Pittsburgh, PA - Palace Theater
June 19 - Tarrytown, NY - Music Hall
June 24 - Woodstock, NY - Bearsville Theater
June 25 - Providence, RI - Lupo’s
June 26 - Westbury, NY - Westbury Music Theater
June 27 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
June 28 - Verona, NY - Turning Stone
June 29 - Niagara Falls, NY - Rapids Theater
July 1 - Bridgeport, CT - Klein
July 2 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino
July 3 - Great Barrington, MA - Mahaiwe
July 4 - Oxford, ME - Nateva Festival
July 5 - Moncton, NS - Capitol Theater
July 6 - Halifax, NS - Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
July 9 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
July 11 - Weert, Netherlands - Bospop Festival
July 12 - Antwerp, Belgium - Openluchttheater
July 14 - Tel Aviv, Israel - Hangar 11
July 19 - Nice, France - Nice Jazz Festival
July 21 - Cambridge, UK - Corn Exchange
July 22 - Brighton, UK - Brighton Centre
July 23 - Wolverhampton, UK - Civic Hall
July 24 - London, UK - Classic Rock Festival
July 25 - Liverpool, UK - Summer Pops Festival
July 26 - Glasgow, UK - Royal Concert Hall
July 27 - Gateshead, UK - Sage
July 30 - Tokyo, Japan - Fuji Rock Festival

Buckyball Music presents a Benefit and CD Release Party Saturday, May 22 for the Bazilo School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Featuring:

The Lighthouse Kids percussion group
Marc Wagnon’s jazz ensembles
Jazz vocalist Sarah Pillow
Guitarists Jake Hertzog & Van Manakas
and music from Marc Wagnon’s
latest release: “Earth is a Cruel Master”

Venue:
The Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery St (one block north of Houston St)
New York, NY 10012 Phone: 212 334 6415
Saturday, May 22nd, 7 pm to 9:30 pm
Suggested Donation: $15

If you cannot attend the event, but would like to make a donation ($5, $10, $15, or more- any amount would help)
you can send a check to Buckyball Music, Inc., P.O. Box 2034, NYC 10101
with “Bazilo School” written in the memo line. We thank you, and the kids thank you!

When the earthquake shattered the town of Port-au-Prince, it rendered many people who were of modest means even closer to disaster.

Buckyball Music learned about the Bazilo School through one of Marc Wagnon’s drum students, Francois DesRavines, who lost family members and houses in Port-au-Prince. Although he is blind, he went to Haiti and brought help in the form of free meals to the students at the school. Upon returning, he brought back some pictures and short videos of his trip. After seeing them, we were inspired to help the school.

The school was founded by singer/percussionist Zao Jakata, and part of his mission is to teach music alongside standard curriculum. But now, in this state of continuing emergency, the first necessity is to feed the needy kids who attend the school. This also serves as a way to attract kids to the school so they can continue to be educated as their country rebuilds itself.

ALL profits from the benefit will go directly to the school, which includes the door donation as well as half of all proceeds from the sale of merchandise.

Marc Wagnon’s new album “Earth is a Cruel Master” was scheduled for release on the day the earthquake occurred, and while the title is eerily relevant, it is meant to draw attention more to human made disasters than those coming from nature. The evening presents an opportunity to demonstrate that we should think of the Earth as a spaceship with limited resources that need to be managed (Buckminster Fuller first said), and this kind of natural disaster is a reminder of its might.

Twelfth Night’s next gigs with Roy and Dean will take place in London and Wath-upon-Dearne at the end of the month.
Tickets are still available for both of these shows. At both gigs Twelfth Night plan to play 2 sets, starting around 8pm, and finishing around 10:40pm, with an interval of about 20 minutes somewhere in the middle. This means they will be playing over 2 hours on both nights.

The Luminaire in Kilburn is a dedicated music venue, with a great atmosphere. As it is a smaller venue, with a small stage, limited lighting, etc, the emphasis here will be firmly on the music. The venue reminds us a bit of the Target in Reading, which of course holds such special memories for us, and we anticipate a more relaxed, less formal, show. Just seeing us fit all our gear in there will be a treat… And finally if that wasn’t enough incentive – the bar stays open until 1am! 28 May 2010, The Luminaire, Kilburn, London

Tickets from the venue, the Classic Rock Society or We Got Tickets, or ring the CRS on 01327 310088.

The following night TN return the home of the CRS – and are excited to tell you about a very special offer that they are offering everyone who comes along to this particular show.

Twelfth Night are planning to record and film this performance and have engaged the services of a professional company to do this. Providing they get a decent recording of the show, Twelfth Night are offering all ticket holders the opportunity to buy the subsequent DVD at a very special price when it is released.

29 May 2010, Montgomery Hall, Wath-upon-Dearne, Yorkshire

Tickets from the Classic Rock Society, or ring the CRS on 01327 310088.

Oh and by the way, Clive has told the TN press office that a “very old” piece of music will be performed for the first time since 1983, at both London and Wath… now what could that be?

Future Plans

Night of the Prog, 2010

As you may know Galahad and Twelfth Night have been invited to play at what is probably the largest and most prestigious European Progressive Rock festival this Summer, at the beautiful setting of Loreley on the banks of the Rhein in Germany. The final line-up has now been confirmed. Roy and Dean will play with both bands on the same evening!

Friday 3 September 2010

16:30-17:30 Galahad (UK)

17:45-18:45 Ars Nova (Japan)

19:00-20:30 Three Friends (UK)

20:45-22:45 Twelfth Night (UK)

23:00-01:00 Pallas (UK)

Saturday 4 September 2010

12:45-14:00 Moongarden (Italy)

14:15-15:45 Solstice (UK)

16:00-17:30 Sylvan (Germany)

17:45-19:45 Gazpacho (Norway)

20:30-22:30 Marillion (UK)

23:00-01:00 The Enid (UK)

All timings are approximate and subject to change.

Hi everyone,

Rich from Aeon Zen here with an update from the studio about the new album.

I have finished recording all the guitars, bass, drums and keyboards myself and right now I’m working on instrumental mixes of the album which I can then lay the vocals on and mix them into. I have to say, I’m extremely pleased so far, these songs are sounding like everything I had hoped for and then some! From the laid back parts, to the proggy crazy parts, to the headbanging parts, it’s all sounding great!

I’ve managed to get some pretty crushing guitar tones for the heavy parts and some really nice and pretty tones for cleans through the Line 6 POD XT and Peavy Revalver as well. For the guitars on this album I’ve actually used a mixture of the Ibanez Universe (as featured on the last Aeon Zen album “A Mind’s Portrait”) and my lovely new Caparison Dellinger 7 SE. The bass is actually DI’d into IK Multimedia’s fantastic Ampeg SVX amp simulator plugin, so that’s sounding great too, lots of low end while still retaining all the clarity, just like you would expect from any Ampeg amp. The drums are sounding as good and powerful as ever through the Roland TD-20KX, the dynamics on that kit are outstanding!

I actually now have all the vocal tracks back from the singers to go on the album, Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus), Jem Godfrey (Frost), Andi Kravljaca (Silent Call), Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard), Jonny Tatum (Eumeria) have all contributed their amazing voices to this album, as well as the tracks that I’m singing myself. So once I’ve done these instrumental mixes and got everything sounding nice and consistent there, I will get to work on making these vocals as awesome as they can possibly be.

So everything is starting to take a very definite shape. I’m very excited and I can’t wait for you all to hear this!

I hope to start putting up some “making-of the album” videos on youtube soon, so be sure to keep your eyes open for them.

Also, there is a brand new Aeon Zen track, entitled Visions (with Andi Kravljaca on vocals) off the new album “The Face of the Unknown”, being featured on the cover CD of the upcoming issue of Classic Rock Presents Prog Magazine (Prog , so be sure to pick up a copy for the first chance to hear this new, never before heard track.

In the mean time, take a listen to this album preview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3A9mBECjqA

So it’s back to work now for me… Rock on and I’ll talk to you all again very soon!

Rich Hinks

> Frontiers Records to release the anticipated YOSO debut album

> Former members of YES and TOTO return with a new band
>
> Napoli, May, 2010 – The term “Super-Group” can only describe the band
> arising out of two of the most creative bands of the past 30 years: YOSO
> is formed out of TOTO’s brilliant lead vocalist Bobby Kimball and the
> creative force of former YES members, Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood, thus
> equalling the magic of YES with the voice of TOTO. However, YOSO is much
> more than a combination of two classic rock groups. The band’s debut album
> “Elements” - which comes together with a bonus live CD where the band
> plays some old and new classics – presents a fascinating combination of
> the sound of YES (”90125″/”Big Generator” era) and TOTO, with a very
> interesting and original sound that truly encompasses the styles.
>
> “Elements” will see the light of day on July 2nd in Europe and July 27th
> in the USA, where the band has already scheduled a number of tour dates in
> support of the album’s release, on Frontiers Records.
>
> Even though the band’s heritage is from 2 classic bands, YOSO intends to
> become its own identifiable entity in a very short time, YOSO’s collective
> mission is to make the next decade one where YOSO’s music will be held up
> alongside their classic rock backgrounds as a band as important as TOTO
> and YES.
>
> Billy Sherwood recalls: “YOSO was started when I suggested to Bobby
> Kimball we should write some new music and form a band, we had been
> working together on various tribute projects I was producing and one thing
> lead to another, before too long we had 5 songs in the can and were well
> on our way to making a record and thinking seriously about taking it to
> the next level. Once there was a few songs underway the concept grew into
> the band we now have, “YOSO”.
>
> YOSO line-up was later rounded out with two amazingly gifted musicians:
> Johnny Bruhns as the guitarist and background vocalist and Scott Conner on
> drums, percussion and background vocals.
>
> YOSO does indeed have the magic of YES and the voice of TOTO. However, in
> 2010 the band intends to convince fans of both bands that the brilliance
> of YOSO will be just as celebrated in the years to come.
>
> “Elements” tracklisting includes:
> Yoso; Path To Your Heart; Where You’ll Stay; Walk Away; The New
> Revolution; To Seek The Truth; Only One; Close The Curtain; Won’t End
> Tonight; Come This Far; Time To Get Up; Return To Yesterday.
> Bonus live CD: Yoso; Rosanna; Owner of a Lonely Heart; Walk Away; Good For
> You; Yes Medley (Yours Is No Disgrace/Heart of the Sunrise/South Side of
> the Sky/Starship Trooper/I’ve Seen All Good People); To Seek the Truth;
> Hold The Line; Cinema; Gift With a Golden Gun; White Sister.
>
> More song streaming, live clips and info available on:
> www.myspace.com/yosohq
>
> YOSO - US Tour dates (more TBA)
> 11 August - Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA
> 12 August - The State Theatre, Falls Church, VA
> 15 August - Ramshead Tavern (Ramshead Onstage), Annapolis, MD
> 17 August - B.B. King’s Blues Club and Grill, New York, NY
> 19 August - Kent Stage, Kent, OH
> 20 August - Syndicate Dinner Theatre, Newport, Ky
> 21 August - Lake Clementia Amphitheatre, Rancho Murieta, CA
>
> YOSO
> Bobby Kimball; vocals; Tony Kaye: keyboards, background vocals; Billy
> Sherwood: bass, vocals; Johnny Bruhns: guitar, background vocals; Scott
> Conner: drums, background vocals.
>
> Weblinks: www.myspace.com/yosohq / www.frontiers.it /
> www.myspace.com/frontiersrecords

BO HANSSON SWEDISH KEYBOARD LEGEND PASSES AWAY

Bo Hansson the Swedish organist and composer has passed away at the age of 67. Hansson worked with Janne “Loffe” Karlsson in the duo Hansson & Karlsson in the late 1960s. Hannson & Karlsson were signed by Polydor, playing progressive Hammond organ based music and releasing three albums between 1967 and 1969. They became immensely popular in their home country and Europe, and even reached the ear of Jimi Hendrix, who took time out from his tour to jam with the duo, along with George Clemons on drums and Georg Wadenius on guitar, at the Klub Filips in Stockholm in late 1967. Hendrix went on to record a Hansson song, “Tax Free”. The music can be defined as instrumental jazz-rock and psychedelia and the band setting was limited to the drums and organ, without vocals. Hansson is probably best known for his musical interpretation of Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”, entitled ‘Music Inspired by Lord Of The Rings. Released on Charisma Records after gaining a cult following in Britain due to import copies filtering over from Sweden, the album was his biggest success, reaching the Top 20 on the UK Album Charts in 1972. Due to his pioneering work with both Hansson & Karlsson and his solo excursions into space rock, in recent years Hannson received the status of a living legend in his native Sweden.

ROCK IN OPPOSITION 2010 - FRANCE EVENT

A new edition that will explore new directions and cover many genres: from Peter Brötzmann adventurous free jazz to Sleepytime Gorilla Museum’s surrealistic metal and Gong’s joyful mysticism. And that will feature a few exceptional acts: Art Bears Songbook in French exclusivity and Thierry Zaboïtzeff, a long-time awaited guest who was one of the masterminds behind Art Zoyd, a group that constitutes a reference for the promoters of the Festival. So, here it comes: the official program of the 2010 Rock In Opposition Festival!

September 17th - 6.00 PM OFFICIAL OPENING COCKTAIL (PROFESSIONNALS/PRESS/INSTITUTIONS), 7.00 PM GENEVIEVE FOCCROULE plays ANTHONY BRAXTON (B), 9.00 PM CASPAR BROTZMANN MASSAKER (Germany), 11.00 PM SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM (USA).

September 18th - 3.30 PM AQUASERGE (F), 5.30 PM T. ZABOITZEFF /Cross The Bridge (Austria / France), 8.30 PM FULL BLAST (Broetzmann - Pliakas - Wertmueller - Williams), (Germany, Switzerland, USA), 10.30 PM GONG (UK / Australia / France).

September 19th - 3.00 PM MIRIODOR (Canada), 5.30 PM THREE FRIENDS plays GENTLE GIANT (UK), 8.15 PM JANNICK TOP / INFERNAL MACHINA (France), 10.30 PM ART BEARS SONGBOOK (UK / USA). Tickets can be booked online on RockTime Site.

Mystery and Hamadryad album launch at the Olympia

Montreal-based Mystery, featuring Benoit David, the current lead singer of Yes, along with Hamadryad, will both officially launch their latest releases with a double-bill show on Saturday, May 22 2010 at the Olympia de Montréal (1004 St-Catherine Street East, Montréal • 514-845-3524).

For Mystery, One Among the Living is their 5th studio album, and for Hamadryad, their 4th release is entitled Intrusion. These two québécois bands have been part of the prog rock scene for the past decade and both have a style that is very much their own.

Mystery’s music has evolved over the years just like a fine wine. The various lineup changes have brought together all the parts that make of them one of the most respected symphonic prog rock bands. With their clever mix of art rock and classic rock, Hamadryad adds a touch of energetic motion, transporting the listeners into an exceptional musical adventure.

This show will also celebrate Mystery’s return from their highly anticipated gig at RoSFest 2010 in Gettysburg, PA, and Hamadryad’s upcoming European tour scheduled to begin in August 2010 where they will headline the prestigious Crescendo festival in France. Both bands will also promote the release of their new albums and will tour throughout Quebec in 2010.

Tickets are on sale at the Olympia boxoffice and through Admission and cost $39 / $49. www.admission.ca