To be called Map Of The Past, it’s currently being recorded at Outhouse Studios in Reading and will be on the Inside Out label. However, the band will be selling a limited edition  double A sided single on their upcoming tour with Mostly Autumn. This is to have the songs Map Of The Past and Wallflower. It will be available on CD and as a seven incher.

The tour dates are in October:

Fri. 14: Newcastle Riverside

Sat, 15: Workington Carnegie

Sun, 16: Glasgow The Arches

Tue.18: Nottingham Rescue Rooms

Wed. 19: Sale Waterside Theatre

Fri. 21: Clitheroe Theatre

Sat. 22: Holmfirth Picturedrome

Sun. 23: Pontypridd Municipal Arts Centre

Mon. 24: Wavendon Assembly

Wed. 26: Leamington Spa Assembly

Thu. 27: Bilston Robin 2

Fri. 28: London Islington O2 Academy

Find out more at www.itbites.com

WHERE: Haggis Farm Polo Club, Barton, Cambridgeshire

WHEN: August 4-7

Renowned for its beer selection (70 are available) among other amenities, Cambridge Rock is regarded as one of the best small festivals in the summer. There are stalls, jugglers and a craft tent. Oh, and they even welcome dogs!

But it is the music that rightly attracts most attention. This year there are four stages, and here’s a sample of some of the acts performing.

Thursday, August 4

Stage One

The Hamsters

Ultimate Eagles

Pure Floyd Show

Split Whiskers

The Skynyrd Experience

Friday, August 5

Stage One

Eddie & The Hotrods

John Otway Big Band

Heather Findlay

Stage Two

Kyrbgrinder

Paul Mennel

Also Eden

Saturday, August 6

Stage One

Quireboys

Larry Miller

Aireya 51

Panic Room

Sunday, August 7

Stage One

The Enid

Caravan

Mostly Autumn

The John Young Band

Credo

JEBO

Find out more at http://cambridgerockfestival.co.uk/

Words: Malcolm Dome

Walking through, the first sight on site are the 21st century morris dancers, who look like black metal nutters dressed up for a posh wedding as they wield what look like baseball bats! Anthony Burgess should have written this into A Clockwork Orange. The droogs would drool with envy.

First band on to the Main Stage on Sunday, July 24 are Love Fungus, introduced by TV personality James May. In fact, this lot are only on the bill because they’re being filmed for the next series of Man Lab. The approach is rap metal and rather clichéd in a late 90s style, but a pleasant enough early diversion.

Heaven’s Basement are the acknowledged and expected opening band on the Main Stage. Just a few years ago, they were hot and happening. British melodic rockers whom some tipped to be the new Def Leppard. But things have been going wrong since then, and today they look and perform like a band who know their time has gone.

On the Metal Hammer Stage, The Treatment emphasise why they’ve now surpassed Heaven’s Basement. Vibrant, focused and full of cranked-up songs. The future belongs the them.

They actually are the second band on this stage, following the impressively intelligent metal of Furyon, a band who can shake any trees yet also have depth of musicianship.

Meantime, over at the Prog Stage, Pallas get everything right into gear with an impassioned performance that climaxes on the deft and evergreen Arrive Alive. They pave the way for The Enid, whose unique brand of classical prog might be bonkers – but is also spellbinding. Robert John Godfrey et al bring back memories of the Reading Festival in 1983 as the set ends with The Dambusters Theme, featuring snippets of Land Of Hope And Glory and Also Sprach Zarathustra. Evocative in the sunlight.

Over on the Main Stage, Saint Jude more than live up to expectations as their groove-riddled blues rock provides the perfect showcase for vocalist Lynne Jackaman’s incredible vocals.

Lynne is the first female on stage at this year’s festival, but she only just beats Sonja Kristina, who leads Curved Air through an extravagant set on the Prog Stage. She really is the earth mother of progressive music, still has a sensual voice and a vital presence.

Dashing over to the Metal Hammer Stage, Gentleman’s Pistols again show why they are such a cult band. Their mix of blues, stoner and hard rock is both a trip back to the early 70s, but also makes them one of the 21st century’s most iconic underground bands.

Sweden’s Graveyard follow the Pistols with a similar approach, albeit much more straightforward. But it’s an enjoyable romp nonetheless.

If only the same were true of Michael Schenker on the Main Stage. He starts well enough, with Into The Arena and Armed & Ready, and one hopes these would be harbinger of a set predicated on classic MSG. Instead, we get two songs from an album not even released as yet, plus Scorpions and UFO tracks. Now, one from each of those bands would have been expected and more than acceptable. But big brother Rudy is on stage, so we get Another Piece Of Meat (fair enough) and Rock You Like A Hurricane, despite Michael having nothing to do with the latter. OK, his drummer today is Herman Rarebell, who is on the Scorpions original. But this is billed as Michael Schenker, not Schenker/Rarebell. We also get Pete Way dancing on for the UFO interlude, and Doogie White stepping out to sing one of the new tunes. All a bit messy, and Michael Schenker’s guitar is often lost in the mix.

Thunder, though, show everyone how it’s all done. They come on to a huge reception and deliver a totally crowd-pleasing set which… well, pleases the crowd. The band sound huge and having the time of their lives, with Danny Bowes once more proving he as an all-time great voice. Thunder are claiming this was a one-off, never to be repeated. Yeah, sure!

Mostly Autumn have come through the gears so well that they seem to be a logical choice for the third-on-the-bill slot on the Prog Stage. Their folk-rock approach is exactly right for this time in the afternoon. And anyone who believes they’ve been elevated above their capacity is soon made to rethink such a rash opinion.

Spock’s Beard are sublime as they follow Mostly Autumn. Their sophisticated, American take on the genre is backed up by an easy manner with the crowd. A definite winner.

As are Black Spiders, in a similar slot on the Metal Hammer Stage. They’ve a vibe somewhere between rock’n’roll and punk. Plus an assertive stage conviction. It all adds up to a band who pull a big crowd and make everyone enjoy the musical heat. The Spiders are surely destined for major honours.

On the Main Stage, it’s Black Country Community who step up next. Eagerly anticipated, this supergroup are still coming to terms with being a band. Glenn Hughes is in his element out front, but the impression is that Joe Bonamassa is taking time to find his niche. But the music is outstanding, the goodwill from the crowd is a torrent and the version of Deep Purple’s Burn is majestic. Hang on, didn’t Hughes recently insist the band won’t be doing any songs from their past? Oh well, it’s a festival. Let’s forgive them.

So, to the headliners. On the Metal Hammer Stage, Neurosis overcome the potentially disastrous situation of playing in daylight. The music is so intense and atmospheric, it usually relies on a light show that’s as much a part of the performance as the instrumentation. But tonight, they overcome all hazards and tripwires. This is a monumental reminder of why they can suck the soul right of out of you, and then replace it in a somewhat damaged yet elevated form.

Not to be outdone, Jethro Tull are at their finest on the Prog Stage. The area is absolutely packed and Ian Anderson leads the band through 80 minutes that pulse with life and some fascinating choices. Thick As A Brick and Hot Night In Budapest are astounding, while it’s fascinating to hear the way they treat Mother Goose and Hymn 43. Inevitably, the main set ends with Aqualung, to major cheers. At this juncture a lot of people drift away; they are quickly sucked back, though, when the band not only return for a well-deserved encore, but are joined by Joe Bonamassa for Locomotive Breath. Hearing the way the Black Country Communion man dovetails with regular Tull guitarist Martin Barre is a revelation. Let’s hope this guest appearance leads to more collaborations between band and the master American guitarist.

Finally, it’s down to Dream Theater to close not only the Main Stage but the whole festival. And they rise to the occasion brilliantly. Mike Portnoy might be gone, but Mike Mangini slots so comfortably into his position that he’s hardly missed. The great thing about the new drummer is that he already has his own reputation, and never feels the need to try and prove he’s worthy of the new position. Even Mangini’s solo has an ease and self-confidence. And the rest of the band seem so relaxed in a set that rightly concentrates on the classics, but has hints at what we can expect from new album A Dramatic Turn Of Events.

It’s a fine way to end two days which made Victoria Park victorious in the world of rock and metal.

WHERE: : London Victoria Park

WHEN: : Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24

The second High Voltage Festival promises to be bigger and better than last year’s inaugural event. The list of acts really span the whole spectrum or rock and metal, with the emphasis on quality. This is the line-up with the stage times

Judas Priest – 20.35-22.50

Slash – 18.55-19.55

Thin Lizzy – 17.35-18.25

Queensryche – 16.20-17.05

Rival Sons – 15.20-15.50

Skin – 14.25-14.55

Michael Monroe – 13.30-14.00

John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest – 19.35-20.50

Neal Morse – 18.00-19.00

Anathema – 16.45-17.30

Caravan – 15.30-16.15

Amplifier – 14.30-15.00

Von Hertzen Brothers – 13.30-14.00

Electric Wizard – 21.00-21.45

Grand Magus – 19.45-20.30

Sylosis – 18.30-19.15

Triggerfinger – 17.15-18.00

Ravens Creed – 16.15-16.45

Primitai– 15.15-15.45

Attica Rage – 14.15-14.45

JULY 24

Main Stage

Dream Theater – 20.20-22.20

Black Country Communion – 18.35-19.35

Thunder – 17.15-18.05

Michael Schenker Group – 16.00-16.45

Saint Jude – 15.00-15.35

Heaven’s Basement – 14.00-14.35

Jethro Tull – 19.20-20.35

Spock’s Beard – 18.00-18.45

Mostly Autumn – 16.45-17.30

Curved Air – 15.30-16.15

The Enid – 14.30-15.00

Pallas – 13.30-14.00

Neurosis – 18.45-20.25

Black Spiders – 17.30-18.15

Graveyard– 16.30-17.00

Gentlemans Pistols – 15.30-16.00

The Treatment – 14.30-15.00

Furyon – 13.30-14.00

Of course, there’s lots more happening, including an Evel Knievel Exhibition, a beer festival (with a full complement of bands playing) and the Ace Cafe. The last will also have live performances from The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Aaron Keylock and Allegra Shock.

Find out more at www.highvoltagefestival.com

Alongside our guide to this month’s High Voltage Festival, the newest addition in the prog festival calendar, we interview every prog band on the bill including:

Caravan, interviewed by snooker loopy Steve Davis!

Curved Air’s frontwoman Sonja Kristina, interviewed by Rise Above/Cathedral mainman Lee Dorrian.

Prog’s biggest ever roundtable as Jon Lees’ Barclay James Harvest, Anathema, Mostly Autumn and Amplifier collide at Prog Towers – and contribute to our renaissance-inspired cover masterpiece!

We also bring you:

Ian Anderson’s editor’s message, hotly-tipped new band and reissue review picks.

Chris Squire and Trevor Horn present the new Yes album Fly From Here.

Jan Akkerman discusses the major event of Minor Details.

Jon Anderson on how every day counts in Survival And Other Stories.

Dave Greenslade keys in with tales of Colosseum, Count Basie and new Roots.

New bands Cryptex, Moonwagon, Wobbler and the Ian Anderson-approved Dogma.

The Prog eye view of that reunion at Roger Waters’ O2 Wall show as well as Rush, Pendragon, Tangerine Dream, Von Hertzen Brothers and more on tour.

Plus our essential guide to prog festivals, tours and releases in the coming summery months. Yes, we said summer (puts away umbrella and wellies).

Did we say there’s a free nine-track CD, too? With an exclusive Big Big Train track? And a bumper 19-page review section featuring Yes, CCLR, Mostly Autumn, Carl Palmer, Andy Sears, Queensryche, Devin Townsend, John Wetton, Marillion, The Flower Kings and more?

We don’t half spoil you…

The new issue of Classic Rock Presents Prog – out now!

Here they are:

Fri. 14: Newcastle Riverside

Sat, 15: Workington Carnegie

Sun, 16: Glasgow The Arches

Tue.18: Nottingham Rescue Rooms

Wed. 19: Sale Waterside Theatre

Fri. 21: Clitheroe Theatre

Sat. 22: Holmfirth Picturedrome

Sun. 23: Pontypridd Municipal Arts Centre

Mon. 24: Wavendon Assembly

Wed. 26: Leamington Spa Assembly

Thu. 27: Bilston Robin 2

Fri. 28: London Islington O2 Academy

Find out more at http://www.mostly-autumn.com/ or http://www.itbites.com/

They’ll be appearing on July 23.

Michael Monroe and his band join a spectacular line-up that also features exclusive festival performances from headliners Judas Priest and Dream Theater, plus UK festival exclusives from Black Country Communion, Jethro Tull, Queensryche, Thunder, Neal Morse and Spock’s Beard. And  performances from Slash, Michael Schenker Group, John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest, Skin, Rival Sons, Amplifier, Von Hertzen Brothers, Caravan, The Enid, Pallas, Saint Jude, Anathema, Curved Air, Mostly Autumn, Neurosis, Electric Wizard, Evile, Grand Magus, Graveyard, Sylosis, The Treatment, Triggerfinger, Raven’s Creed, Primitai, Attica Rage, Black Spiders, Gentleman’s Pistols and Furyon…

 The 2011 event will also see the inaugural High Voltage Beer Festival. The Beer Festival with have its own area with traditional bench table seating in a marquee that will have one side open with seating inside and outside. 

It will feature a stage for acoustic/folk/blue grass/country/blues music that will be made up of bands selected from GetMeOnStage.com. 14 bands will be selected from unsigned acts that submit to play. These submissions will go live on the day of the announcement. All acts that submit will be listened to. For details go to: http://www.getmeonstage.com/. 

Beer will come from Sambrook’s, Hog’s Back, Brodie’s, Redemption, Wychwood, Dark Star, Ascot Ales, Windsor & Eaton, Twickenham Ales, Gadd’s, Ha’penny, Crouch Vale and Fuller’s. 

Tickets to High Voltage are priced £99 (for weekend tickets) and £56.50 (for day tickets) – subject to booking fee. VIP tickets will be available at £105.00 for the day, £199.00 for the weekend – subject to booking fee. There will also be various VIP and hotel packages available, at varying price levels to suit. 

High Voltage is also pleased to announce the new deposit scheme. This applies to any weekend ticket (i.e VIP weekend or standard weekend) and allows customers to spread the cost of the ticket over 2 payments. General Admission and VIP weekend tickets can be purchased with an initial £50 deposit plus booking fee, with the final payment due on June 1st. More info can be found at www.highvoltagefestival.com/tickets/deposit-scheme. 

Tickets are available from http://www.highvoltagefestival.com/

Graveyard

Sylosis

The Treatment

Triggerfinger

They’ll join a spectacular line-up that also features exclusive festival performances from headliners Judas Priest and Dream Theater, plus UK festival exclusives from Black Country Communion, Jethro Tull, Queensryche, Thunder, Neal Morse and Spock’s Beard. And  performances from Slash, Michael Schenker Group, John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest, Skin, Rival Sons, Amplifier, Von Hertzen Brothers, Caravan, The Enid, Pallas, Saint Jude, Anathema, Curved Air, Mostly Autumn, Neurosis, Electric Wizard, Evile, Grand Magus, Raven’s Creed, Primitai, Attica Rage, Black Spiders, Gentleman’s Pistols and Furyon…

 The 2011 event will also see the inaugural High Voltage Beer Festival. The Beer Festival with have its own area with traditional bench table seating in a marquee that will have one side open with seating inside and outside. 

It will feature a stage for acoustic/folk/blue grass/country/blues music that will be made up of bands selected from GetMeOnStage.com. 14 bands will be selected from unsigned acts that submit to play. These submissions will go live on the day of the announcement. All acts that submit will be listened to. For details go to: www.getmeonstage.com. 

Beer will come from Sambrook’s, Hog’s Back, Brodie’s, Redemption, Wychwood, Dark Star, Ascot Ales, Windsor & Eaton, Twickenham Ales, Gadd’s, Ha’penny, Crouch Vale and Fuller’s. 

Tickets to High Voltage are priced £99 (for weekend tickets) and £56.50 (for day tickets) – subject to booking fee. VIP tickets will be available at £105.00 for the day, £199.00 for the weekend – subject to booking fee. There will also be various VIP and hotel packages available, at varying price levels to suit. 

High Voltage is also pleased to announce the new deposit scheme. This applies to any weekend ticket (i.e VIP weekend or standard weekend) and allows customers to spread the cost of the ticket over 2 payments. General Admission and VIP weekend tickets can be purchased with an initial £50 deposit plus booking fee, with the final payment due on June 1st. More info can be found at www.highvoltagefestival.com/tickets/deposit-scheme. 

Tickets are available from www.highvoltagefestival.com 

Ticketmaster (24 Hour): 0844 847 1708.

HMV tickets: 08448222602 (opening times: 8am-10pm Monday to Friday; 9am-9pm weekends).

The guitar great will be on the main stage, making his only UK festival appearance of the year.

Slash will join a 2011 line-up that includes exclusive performances from headliners Judas Priest and Dream Theater, UK festival exclusives from Black Country Communion, Jethro Tull, Queensryche, Thunder, Neal Morse and Spock’s Beard, and performances from Michael Schenker Group, John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest, Skin, Rival Sons, Amplifier, Von Hertzen Brothers, Caravan, The Enid, Pallas, Saint Jude, Anathema, Curved Air, Mostly Autumn, Neurosis, Electric Wizard, Evile, Grand Magus, Raven’s Creed, Primitai, Attica Rage, Black Spiders, Gentleman’s Pistols and Furyon…

The 2011 event will also see the inaugural High Voltage Beer Festival. The Beer Festival with have its own area with traditional bench table seating in a marquee that will have one side open with seating inside and outside.

It will feature a stage for acoustic/folk/blue grass/country/blues music that will be made up of bands selected from GetMeOnStage.com. 14 bands will be selected from unsigned acts that submit to play. These submissions will go live on the day of the announcement. All acts that submit will be listened to. For details go to: www.getmeonstage.com.

Beer will come from Sambrook’s, Hog’s Back, Brodie’s, Redemption, Wychwood, Dark Star, Ascot Ales, Windsor & Eaton, Twickenham Ales, Gadd’s, Ha’penny, Crouch Vale and Fuller’s.

Tickets to High Voltage are priced £99 (for weekend tickets) and £56.50 (for day tickets) – subject to booking fee. VIP tickets will be available at £105.00 for the day, £199.00 for the weekend – subject to booking fee. There will also be various VIP and hotel packages available, at varying price levels to suit.

High Voltage is also pleased to announce the new deposit scheme. This applies to any weekend ticket (i.e VIP weekend or standard weekend) and allows customers to spread the cost of the ticket over 2 payments. General Admission and VIP weekend tickets can be purchased with an initial £50 deposit plus booking fee, with the final payment due on June 1st. More info can be found at www.highvoltagefestival.com/tickets/deposit-scheme.

Tickets are available from www.highvoltagefestival.com

Ticketmaster (24 Hour): 0844 847 1708.

HMV tickets: 08448222602 (opening times: 8am-10pm Monday to Friday; 9am-9pm weekends).

Words: Malcolm Dome

Holland’s Within Temptation return with The Unforgiven (Roadrunner). Their best album to date, this is a symphonic tour de force, with some tremendous songs all given a real over the top treatment. The record that should finally lift the band out of the shadow of Nightwish.

In case you’re wondering whether to get a copy of the Whitesnake Fan Pack, it’s worth pointing out that the band’s new album, Forevermore (Frontiers), is one of the best they’ve done in the past two decades. The songs are strident and melodic, the playing first rate and David Coverdale’s vocals are better than many might have feared. You get this album free with the magazine – bargain.

Van Der Graaf Generator are in fine form with A Grounding In Numbers (Esoteric). It’ll remind fans of their early days, but is also a definite step into a modern era. Prog rock for those who love to be dazzled by sophisticated yet eerie sounds and a sense of surreal humour.

Having the chance to revisit the classic Derek And The Dominos’ debut album Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (Polydor) compounds the fact that this is one of the great albums of the 1970s. Now 40 years old, the record is stunning, with a lot more to offer besides the astonishing Layla itself. This does pose the question as to whether Eric Clapton ever actually did a better album – and yes, this does take into account Cream and Blind Faith.

Savatage were one of those bands who helped to define power metal in the 1980s, and introduced elements of progressive music. This can easily be felt on perhaps their finest album, Streets: A Rock Opera (eARmusic). Originally put out in 1991, this reissue helps to confirm that it’s still a concept record that hits hard and cogently. The late Criss Oliva’s guitar work is staggering and puts many so-called current virtuosos in the shade.

Heather Findlay made her name as vocalist with Mostly Autumn. Now she’s out on her own. And The Phoenix Suite (Black Sand) is proof that she’s lost none of her special allure. A five-tracker this will not only appeal to those who enjoyed her work with the former band, but should also ensure Heather picks up new fans among anyone who likes their prog to be invitingly melodic, while also having a certain introspective atmosphere.

If you’re expecting something unexpected from Duff McKagan’s Loaded on The Taking (Armoury), then prepare to be disappointed. This is in the same vein as everything else from the band. Namely powerhouse melodic rock with a punk syringe stuck right up the grooves. An album that has little in common with Guns N’ Roses or Velvet Revolver, nonetheless it is Duff really showing his roots and where his musical devotion lies.

Finally, guitar hero Brian Robertson releases his first ever solo album. Diamonds And Dirt (SPV/Steamhammer) has elements from his days with Thin Lizzy and Motorhead, but stands in its own right. The songs are strong (including writing collaborations with Phil Lynott and Frankie Miller), the playing impassioned and the presence of musicians from Europe, MSG and Treat adds a Euro flavour. Hopefully, this will revive Robertson’s profile.