The Northern England Art Rock Society (Free subscription) | 12/01/2009
Progeny 3 have announced a further two bands for their festival which takes place at the Assembly in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England on the 8th/9th May 2010. The announcement is as follows... Firstly, we are very pleased to welcome to the stage The Future Kings Of England From Suffolk, England, FKOE have released three albums over the past 5 years, the third of which, The Viewing Point, just...
A packed Forum ejoyed sets by The Steve Hillage Band and Gong. Hillage's band played a half-hour set, and were joined by Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth and Theo Travis as Gong. Both bands were very loud, choosing to rock out rather any hippie noodling. In addition, to the loudness there was a blinding visual and lighting show. It's good to see a band with members in their 70s playing with as much energy...
That's right - Gong. With the Steve Hillage band as support. At the Picture House in Edinburgh. Having seen Yes last week, I'm obviously working my way through the bands whose logos I used to have etched on my schoolbag. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but have to report that it was all rather marvellous. Firstly, Steve Hillage. Now, I last saw him when I was a 17-year-old in 1979. And yet, 30...
It was at the Academy, an OK venue I think, not too big and with a good view of the stage. Unfortunately they don't allow photography inside, so no pics I'm afraid. Gong have basically got a classic line-up back together and they have a new album too - which I posted here a while back. The touring line-up is (I think) Daevid Allen - voice, guitar Steve Hillage - guitar Gilli Smyth – voice, space...
HE'S been banned from Paris and London but still preaches a pothead pixie philosophy and sings about flying teapots. Welcome to the wacky world of 71-year-old Daevid All
I remember an Daevid Allen interview were he said that in the sixties his favourite guitarist was always Jeff Beck because he was so inconsistent. Sometimes, he just wasn't up for it and was barely mediocre, but on the days the stars were right he was godlike. This is something Beck pretty much admits to in this months issue of Word. Allan wasn't so keen on Jimi Hendrix because there was never any...
Most would think prog into disco doesn't go, but as the cosmic tones of both Chrome Hoof and Jean Pierre Massiera's music attest, sometimes the stars align. At least that's what happened last night at the Barbican. Both artists got down to some of the most danceable prog you could imagine, warming up the stage and setting the controls for the heart of the sun in preparation for Magma, prog royalty...
A group of American freaks hanging out in Paris who joined up with an exiled Daevid Allen post-Soft Machine to form what has been referred to as Proto-Gong (aka Banana Moon #1), existing from late 1967 through 1968. They recorded this one LP in Paris in Spring 1968 before D.A. and Gilli Smyth did their Gong thing. The LP contains 6 tracks dominated by Standlee’s meandering flute and occasional...
The celebrated psychedelic rock band, GONG, have today announced the world premiere of their brand new Japanese animated video “How To Stay Alive,” taken from their highly anticipated forthcoming new studio album “2032” (released 21st September). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw8ZESzpL3M The video is a wonderful manga animation of Daevid Allen’s drawings undertaken by...
Photo from Leaky Sparrow – Gong – Herzberg Music Festival – July 17, 2009 - More pics here After Crosby, Stills & Nash (with our without Young) who is the best band ever? Gong … yes, Gong! You know this pataphysical freak out band that rose 40 years ago with a magisterial album called Camembert Electric … I hope you had the chance to hear it almost once in your life....
Here are a couple of pics of the Lounge on the Farm festival, it really was a fabulous day. The peron in the mad black and metallic hat is me, on my mobility scooter, and as you can see Gong's lightshow was fantastic. Daevid Allen gave a fabulous performance- where does all that energy come from- amazing!
On one of my earlier posts, I mentioned that I was hoping to find a single image to sum up the festival. I couldn't find one, but this one says quite a lot: As with the previous days there was lots of wandering round, but luckily the ground had dried up so no wellies were needed. Fairly early on we saw a lot of Tom Jones' set on the Pyramid stage and he was really very good. I expect that will do his...
In preparation for the forthcoming Lounge on the Farm Festival, which showcases new music talent from our local Kent area, BBC South East is to run a series on the Canterbury Scene, one of Kent's great musical and cultural legacies. Featuring an interview with hippy god Daevid Allen, get the full lowdown on the cathedral city's prog rock history thanks to the BBC: The Canterbury Sound
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